564   Appendix to Council Proceedings, 1696—1729.

           B. M.                         Philad. June 24th 1697

        Vol. 25. May it please Yor EXncy

                   Sr, I rec'd yours the 16th of June 1697 the day after I went

                 with Mr Robinson to Capt. Markham. I ask't him if he had

                 received a letter from the Rt Honble the Lords of the Privy

                 Councill he said noe, after some time pausing he said he had

                 rec'd one from the Lords of the Trade of the Foreign Planta

                 tions. I told him I suppos'd it was from the Right Honble the

                 Lords of the Privy Councill, he seemed not to understand it

                 was. He rec'd it the morning before and instead of publish

                 ing the proclamation as directed forthwith, the Pyrates had

                 notice of it immediately. Mr Robinson the night before had

                 desired him to order those 3 Pyrates that were in Prison to be

                 better secured and a gaurd sett over them, but nothing was

                 done that two of them made their Escapes that night. I had

                 information where they were the next day, we desired him to

                 issue out a Generall Warrant to raise a force and armes to

                 take them, but there was nothing done to any purpose, that

                 any might se there was liberty enough for them to make their

                 escapes. I suppose Mr Robinson will informe the whole

                 matter and likewise of a Riote of about a hundred of Saylors,

                 most of them has run away from Maryland and Virga We have

                 narrowly inspected into all the Vessells here and cannot find

                 they belong to any. We took eight of them. I would have

                 sent them to Virga on board the men of Warr,but the Deputy

                 Govr would not, we fin'd them five pounds apiece and impri

                 sonmt till they pay'd it, but the Govr intends as I understand

                 to sett them at liberty. Here is a sloop of 10 Guns from Caro

                 lina whose master was one of the Pyrates, that by all circum

                 stances these Pyrates intend to make their escape in. Capt.

                 Markham after much intreaty to grant a warrant to search her

                 for those that broke prison (as they call it) but not a word of

                 the other Pyrates that are as guilty as they, there is one of

                 them taken, the Governr seems concern'd at his being taken.

                 I have writt to Coll. Quarry and given him an Accot of what

                 has happened since he went. Mr More presents his most

                 humble Service to yor Exncy If yor Exncy pleases to Honor me

                 with yot Commands in any respect I shall be ready to Execute

                 them as yor Exncy's

                              Most faithfull & most obedient Servt

                                                  Robt Snead.

                                          Philadelphia 7br 8th 1697

                   Sr, yor Exncy was pleased to Honor me, with a letter dated

                 August the 16th last & what I writt yor Exncy before concern

                 ing those Pyrates is truth and every tittie can be proved when

                 ever it shall be questioned, as for those Saylrs that we had in