pardoned by King James II.”  This is an extract from the note.  It is now ascertained that Talbot was not taken to England for trial, as Lord Baltimore, in his letter of the 6th of July, 1685, affirmed it was the King’s pleasure he should be; but that he was tried and convicted in Virginia on the 22d of April, 1686, and, on the 26th of the same month, reprieved by order of the King; after which we may presume he received a full pardon, and perhaps was taken to England in obedience to the royal command, to await it there.  The conviction and reprieve are recorded in a folio of the State Records of Virginia at Richmond, on a mutilated and scarcely legible sheet,—­a copy of which I present to my reader with all its obliterations and broken syllables and sad gashes in the text, for his own deciphering.  The MS. is in keeping with the whole story, and may be looked upon as its appropriate emblem.  The story has been brought to light by chance, and has been rendered intelligible by close study and interpretation of fragmentary and widely separated facts, capable of being read only by one conversant with the text of human affairs, and who has the patience to grope through the trackless intervals of time, and the skill to supply the lost words and syllables of history by careful collation with those which are spared.  How faithfully this accidentally found MS. typifies such a labor, the reader may judge from the literal copy of it I now offer to his perusal.

[Transcriber’s note:  Gaps in the text below are signified with an asterisk.]

  By his Excellency

Whereas his most Sacred Majesty has been Graciously pleased by his Royall Com’ands to Direct and Com’and Me ffrancis Lord Howard of Effingham his Maj’ties Lieut and Gov’r.  Gen’ll. of Virginia that if George Talbott Esq’r. upon his Tryall should be found Guilty of Killing M’r Christopher Rowsby, that Execution should be suspended untill his Majesties pleasure should be further signified unto Me; And forasmuch as the sd George Talbott was Indicted upon the Statute of Stabbing and hath Received a full and Legall Tryall in open Court on y’e Twentieth and One and Twentieth dayes of this Instant Aprill, before his Majesties Justices of Oyer and Terminer, and found Guilty of y’e aforesaid fact and condemned for the Same, I, therefore, ffrancis Lord Howard, Baron of ffingham, his Majesties Lieu’t and Gov’r.  Gen’ll.  Of Virginia, by Virtue of aj’ties Royall Com’ands to Me given there doe hereby Suspend tion of the Sentence of death his Maj’ties Justices * Terminer on the * till his Majesties erein be nor any * fail as yo* uttmost * and for y’r soe doing this sh*

  Given under my and * Seale

  the 26th dayof Apri*

  EFFINGHAM

  To his Majesties Justices
  of Oyer and Terminer.

  Recordatur E Chillon Gen’l Car*

  [Endorsed]

Talbott’s Repreif from L’d Howard 1686 for Killing Ch’r.  Rousby Examined Sept. 24th 26th Aprill 1686 Sentence of ag’* Col Ta Suspended Aprill 26* 1*86

PRINCE ADEB.