568   Appendix to Council Proceedings, 1696—1729.

              B.  M. & shewed him the Commission & Patent he had from the

             Vol. 25. Earl of Romney in relation to Prizes and told him that he

                  heard there was one Robt Chinton Edmund Lassell and a

                  Dutchman that were in Prison wch were suspected to be of

                  Everyes Crew saying the Goal was insufficient to keep them

                  therefore desired they might be better secured, who said they

                  should that night. The next morning Mr Cole the Landlord

                  of the house where this informant lodged came up into his

                  bedchamber & told him that Robt Chinton & a Edwd Lassell

                  had broke Prison & were gone. That about ten of the Clock

                  that day he waited upon the Governr again & told him it was

                  a very ill-managed business to lett the two Principal Crirni

                  nails about Town escape after manner, who fOr answer said

                  that he was neither Shff nor Goaler & tht the County ought to

                  be fined for leting thr Goale be insufficient. That the same

                  day or next day after be went to the Prison to see the Place

                  where they were said to make their escape & at the bottom

                  of the doore did see where there had been a board about 14

                  inches long & 10 inches broad ript off but could not possibly

                  believe tht men of tht bulke could get through at such a place

                  especially Chinton who is said to be a very fat gross man

                  That the sd morning they brake Prison the Governt issued out

                  a Hue and Crye to take them wth a promise (by the Bellman)

                  of a reward of five pounds a piece to any one that should

                  apprehend them. That in the afternoone one Hannah Witt

                  came to this Informant & Mr Francis Jones before whome she

                  made oath she had seen the sd Chinton & Lassell three times

                  that day among a parcell of bushes neer a place called the

                  Centure in Philadelphia, Chinton having a sword by his side a

                  pistoll in one hand, another stuck in his girdle & a musket

                  upon his shoulder. One John Claypole Sheriff of Philadelphia

                  County being then by told the woeman that he was sure she

                  was mistaken for tht they were not there. Whereupon this

                  Informant went to the Governr & acquainted him with these

                  matters & desired he might have his speciall warrant to appre

                  hend them seeing they were so nigh, to wch the Governr made

                  auswer that he knew of no business this informant had with

                  any warrant nor that he need trouble himselfe about them;

                  however told him afterwards that if he would write a warrant

                  himselfe he would signe it, which accordingly this Informant

                  did by direction of the sd Governr Ordering the same to be

                  made directable to the Sherriff wth a blanck to be left for other

                  persons names to be inserted by the sd Sherriff, whom, he

                  thought fitt. That this Informant carryed the sd warrant to the

                  sherriff & acquainted him wth the Governr's Comands relating

                  thereto, but he utterly refused to fill up the warrant & said he

                  would not go unless this Informant went with him, by which