18    Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1698.

              Lib. X. Read the humble Petition of Iames Brains Commander of

                  the Ship Iames & Benjamin of Londo vizt

                  October To his Excellency Francis Nicholson Esqr Capt

                  22d 1698 General & Governor in chief in & over his Majstys

                  Province & Territory of Maryland

                    The humble Petition of Iames Brains Commander of the

                  Ship Iames & Benjamin & now riding in South River

                                  Sheweth

                    That your Petitioner was never so suprized as at the hearing

                  of the Depositions this day read to him before your Excellency

                  in as much as thereby he is accused of such things as never

                  entred into his thoughts to utter against your Excellency or

                  the Government & if he should utter any such speeches must

                  declare himself thereby to the whole Province (which daily re

                  ceive the happy Effects of the Iustice moderation and every

                  way advantageous influence of your Excellencys Govt) to be

                  an ill man & render himself odious among those of his own

              p. 172    Calling who in a peculiar manner must needs own their hap

                  piness in having a person of your Excellencys extraordinary

                  Conduct in the furtherance of trade & Cherishing to your

                  great cost & Expence those concerned therein to rule over

                  them in this Province

                    But the more Grievous to your Excellencys Petitioner is the

                  said accusation because he has often recd amongst great

                  many undeserved Marks of your Excellencys Goodness in

                  such a Degree that he must needs be lookt upon the most

                  ungrateful of men should any thing come from him that may

                  in the least tend to calumniate your Excellency

                    Therefore he humbly prays that according to your Excel

                  lencys wonted Clemency & your peculiar desire of promoting

                  the Interest of all fair Traders into your Govt that your Excel

                  lency would be pleased to remit the Prosecution with the Guilt

                  of those things your Petitioner is accused withal Iustly de

                  serves, that the employ he is Concerned in may not Suffer

                  having only this to say for himself that if he should speak such

                  words (which he never remembers to have done) they were

                  such as he had no ground to say & in themselves utterly false

                  & further that he shall with all industry endeavour to manifest

                  himself as he really is a well wisher to your Exclcy and the Govt

                  & abhorror of such persons as should have any inclination to

                  the contrary

                    In humble hopes of your Excellencys forgiveness your

                  Petitioner can do no more then pray &Ca

                                                   Iames Brain