Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1753-1761. 179

my arrival at Fort Frederick repeated it to Captain Dag-

worthy, being then afraid to deny what I had declared on the
Road, lest by recanting and contradicting myself, I should
lessen my own Credit and be at least punished as an Im-
postor. this was my only Reason for falsyfying to Colonel
Cresap and to your Excellency as often as I have been
examined, but as I find I can no longer deceive you I sol-
emnly declare that I never was at M^r Neal's, or any other
Mass House in my Life, that I was never in Company with
M^r Neale or Wheeler, and that every Word that I have here-
tofore told you concerning them, M^cDonald, Diggs, Crayton

Lib. J. R.

& U. S.

& Burk was absolutely false. I have now given a true Ac-
count of myself and how I have spent my Life, and if your
Excellency will make Enquiry, the several persons that I have
lived and worked with will confirm what I have said, I never
have taken up Arms against the English, or joined the ffrench
or Indians against them, I appeal to the Captives that were
recovered at Kittaning for the Truth of what I have spoken
concerning Kirking Pauley's manner of treating me, and if
ever any of the English prisoners that are now at Fort du
Quesne shall escape, I am satisfied they will certify that I
was there used as T have related, and that I made my Escape
in the manner I have mentioned. I am exceedingly sorry
that I have so long imposed on your Excellency, I hope you
will pardon me, and that I shall not be hanged for telling such
a Story as I did when I was made to believe that I had no
other Way to save my Life. Upon hearing the aforegoing
Depositions, and the Recantation of William Marshall, it is
the Opinion and Advice of this Board to his Excellency that
the before mentioned Bennett Neale, Ignatius Wheeler,
Ulick Burk, John Cretin, Thomas Burgen, Darby Tool, and
James M^cDonald be discharged, and being called in they
were discharged accordingly:
10^th January 1757.. Ordered by his Excellency the Gov-
ernour that proclamations issue to the Sheriffs of the several
Counties, as follows.

Maryland ss. By his Excellency Horatio Sharpe Esq^r
Governor and Commander in Chief in and
over the province of Maryland.

A Proclamation

Whereas the present general Assembly of this province
stands prorogued to the 31^st Day of March next, And where-
as his Majesty's Service requires their meeting before that
time, I have therefore thought fit with the Advice of his
Lordships Council of State to publish and declare, and I do

p. 152