8 Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 16g8.

           Lib. x.    the future it appearing to us that your Excellency is desir

                ous & inclined rather to caution & prevent the evil than

                punish for it & not to take advantage against any for

                what is past provided they behave themselves as they ought

                for the future & we hope all persons take due notice & con

                form themselves as they will answer the Contrary at their

                utmost peril

              Robert Smith      Tho Tasker         Justices

           John Hammond                             of the

                    Richard Hill     Ino Hawkins   Provl Court

                  To his Excellency Francis Nicholson Esqr Captain General

                & Commander in chief of the Province of Maryland

                  We whose Names are Subscribed being present on Saturday

                last being the 3d Instant in the Provincial Court at which time

                your Excellency was pleased with his Majestys honble Council

                to come & declare to the Court & County then present the

                several Devises & wicked Machinations that of late had most

                maliciously & falsly been Invented studied & spread abroad

                to the defaming & Scandal trouble & desquiet of this happy

                Govt & the Honr & Verascity of the Govr as well as by what

           p. 158 you were then pleased to declare & make publick as by several

                other pregnant reasons & proofs being so fully & Clearly

                Vindicated & the malitious designs aforesaid so palpably de

                tected & their contrivances we hope almost brought to nought

                & supprest we conceive ourselves obliged in Gratitude & good

                manners to your Excy & in Love & Good will to our Country

                humbly represent the same to your Excy & pray

                  1 That you will Continue this your Goodness & care of us

                  2 That you will by some proclamation or other publick

                instrument (as your wisdom shall advise) make the same known

                through the whole Province not only to Quiet the minds of

                those that may have any distrust or doubt but to warn &

                caution all others to avoid such wicked designs & Contrivances

                or the least to Engage or be seduced by them that thereby

                they may avoid those just Punishments that some are deser

                vedly fallen into for the same

                  In this we speak our own hearts & minds & we verily be

                lieve of all those that heard the same & humbly Subscribe our

                names.

                        Robert Smith Tho Staly

                        Ino Hammond Ias Keech

                     Richard Hill   Ino Thompson

                        Tho Tasker Ino Hawkins

                        Ino Pollard