572    Appendix to Council Proceedings, 1696—1729.

              B. M. much reflected on thereby we humbly begg leave of your

             Vol. 26. Lordshipps to doe his Excy what Justice wee can by acquaint

                  ing your Lordshipps with the reasons and motives of that

                  Letter & what wee know of our one knowledge of his

                  present Excy since that time.

                    As to the motives It was purely at the Instance and

                  averrmt of his sd Excy Lyonell Copley Esqre and Mr Black

                  istone who was the onely person wth whome he permitted

                  private Conference or Imparted secrets to both of whome

                  did assure us that they had great reason to suspect such

                  things as is mentioned in the first part of that Letter and

                  said that they had sever” Informations and should in some

                  time gett proof of such practises in his sd Excy Francis

                  Nicholson Esqre as are there mentioned and thereupon the

                  Clk. having by Ordr as wee conceive prepared a Letter for

                  us to signe It was tendred to us and wee desired to Signe

                  it which wee did but never after heard any proofe of those

                  allegacions nor anything more of them.

                    But since that upon better acquaintance and knowledge

                  of his Excy Governr Nicholson wee find the direct contrary

                  principles in him to what was then asserted, that he is so

                  farr from Dis-affecting the then and present Constitution

                  of Governmt that it hath been his great care and studdy to

                  preserve and Improve the same by the best measures and

                  meanes he can.

                   And as to Conntenanceing Papists &c wee find nothing

                  in him tending that way unless it be his administering Jus

                  tice to them where it is due without distinguishing one Sect

                  from another but on the contrary our Journals and all other

                  records makes appeare and wee are assured that none has

                  ever done more both by his persuasions and examples &

                  large Guifts to propagate the Protestant religion in this

                  Province then hee.

                    This wee thought ourselves obliged in Justice to say to

                  yor Lordshipps to vindicate the Honor of his Excy and wype

                  of the aforesd reflections in a manner imposed on

                      Lordshipps most humble Servants

                                       Nich:    Greenberry

                                        Tho. Tench

                                        John Courts

                                        Tho. Brooke.

             Vol. 25.         [Wm. Penn to E Randolph.]

                                       Warminghurst, 16 Oct. 1697.

                  Edward Randolph.

                   I shall not fail to oblige Cl. Markham to use his Authority

                  to right the Interest of the Crown in all respects, and if thou