Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1696/7-98. 525

      deservedly found Guilty of abusing a person under whose Lib. X.

      Government all Discerning people may plainly see their own p. 147

      happiness.

        That your Petitioners said Crief & Misfortunes Is the more

      heavy to him by understanding that his inconsiderate words

      & actions have by some of the people of the Province been

      improved to that Degree as to breed some discontents in the

      minds of some of the Inhabitants where by your Excellencys

      Govt might have recd some trouble tho never in the least

      imagined or intended by your Petitioner.

        And that your Petitioners sincerity in this his humble Sub

      mission to your Excellencys Clemency may be the more

      apparently known to the world he unfeignedly offers with all

      the Candor imaginable to answer truly to all Such questions

      as your Excellency shall please to put to him whereby your

      Excellency may receive further satisfaction in the discovery

      of any matter that may give your Excellency the least discon

      tent so far as he is Capable of doing to confirm your Excel

      lency in the belief of your Petitioners sincerity in this matter

      he humbly offers to deliver unto your Excellency the very

      original of the late Articles framed by Mr John Cood Sent

      under his own hand who is the main Instrument of your

      Petrt present misfortunes and whose Company & Corre

      spondence your Petitioner for his own safety will for the future

      avoid & in as much as your Excellencys humble petitioner

      hath thus sincerely & with all humility left himself to your

      Exclcys mercy & has offered to do anything in his Power &

      Knowledge that may in any wise conduct to your Excellencys

      Satisfaction he humbly hopes your Excellencys Goodness will

      so far Condescend as to remit the punishment due to his

      Guilt & permit him to go home & mind his own private p. 148

      Affairs which for the future shall be the only thing your

      Petitioner shall meddle withal therein your Exllcy will highly

      oblige your Petitioner always to pray for your Excellencys

      happiness

                                        Gerard Sly

      To his Excellency Fra:

      Nicholson Esqr Capt

      Gen' & Commdr in Chief

      of this his Majestys Province

      of Maryland most humbly present this

        Advised thereupon that W Sly do of himself make a free

      & full discovery & deliver all Original Letters & papers past

      between him and others that have been concerned with him &

      Cood in raising the late disturbances & Comotions.