that the Lord Baltamore hath continually ever since their seat. ing there, interposed in the matters of Government in Virginia by the potency of his friends in the late Kings Court, both by placing and displacing the Governours, Counsellors, and Supream Officers, as they stood affected or were displeasing to him.

Mr. Bennet and Captain Claiborn being two of the Commissioners, that were imployed by the Parliament to reduce Virginia and Maryland, are strangely taxed by Lord Baltamore for being his declared enemies: indeed, it seems for their service to the Parliament, he is become implacable towards them, though Captain Curtis, another Commissioner now in England, and all Maryland can testifie how unwilling, and how tenderly they did any thing there, and how much they desired and endeavoured to have declined any alteration, if either Captain Stone the Governour or the Councel, would have issued out Writs in the name of the Keepers of the Liberty of England, and have promised to govern according to the Laws of England; both which they refused under their hands: and the Commissioners being sent to Maryland, is since owned by the Report of the Committee of the Councel of State, and the Lord Baltamore taxed and blamed for not issuing out Writs as they required them; and therefore seems a bold aspersion for the Lord Baltamore to publish, that Maryland being struck out of their commission, was afterwards by some mistake put into the Commission the second time: and as strange it seems, that now since the reduction of Maryland the Lord Baltamore in opposition and contempt of the Supream Authority of England, should cause his Governor and Councel most falsly and rebelliously to revolt and recede from the same, and give instructions under his own hand, as he had lately done, to issue out all Writs and Proceedings in his own name onely: which they have accordingly done, and not the least mention of the Lord Protector's name in all their Government. This the said Commissioners, though they received confirmation of their Commission from the Parliament under the Seal, (the Original the first time miscarrying) yet bore with a long time onely by Letters out of Virginia, admonished Captain Stone and that Councel of their error, and protested against their actings: but they continued obstinate. The Commissioners were desirous still to expect and attend a settlement and determination out of England, and to intermeddle as little as they could. But about a yeer since Lord Baltamore sends over Instructions and Commands to Captain Stone and his new made Councel, all or most Papists, or indifferent, to seize the Lands and Estates of all such as would not take the Oath of fidelity (as he stiles it) before specified. But the people of

Maryland generally abhorred this Oath and justly as is conceived, especially those of Patuxent and Severn declined to take it, as being against their Engagement, incompatible with their subjec tion to the Commonwealth of England, and incongruous to swear to serve two absolute Superiours, whereupon Captain Stone and his Counsel proclaim them seditious, and rebels to Lord Baltamore, and forget not to include the two Commissioners, though in Virginia under the same name, with other opprobious terms: whereupon the people of Paturent, Severn, and Kent often and earnestly apply themselves if possible to have relief from those Commissioners, yet they still desirously forbore to intermeddle, hoping it would be done out of England, until after many solicitations Mr. Bennet and Captain Claiborn with onely two men in July last went thither in a Boat, yet using all fair means: but how ill they were treated for their moderation, and intended to be surprised by night, and made Prisoners, and how they were necessitated to prevent greater mischief and the present ruine of hundreds of Families to interpose to have that Oath suspended, and the Government managed in the Lord Protector's name; (which being denied to avoid bloodshed, they re-assumed the Government out of those hands that so ill-managed it, and placed it in others for the time being under his Highness the Lord Protector, until he should please to signifie his further pleasure) will appear in a Declaration then and herewith published, together with the peoples Petition, the Commissioners answer thereunto, and an Order for setling the Government in the hands of Captain William Fuller, and

others.

The Lord Baltamore also since gives particular Commission and Command to seize the persons of those Commissioners, under his Hand and Seal, dated in November last; and for their service to the Lord Protector to proceed againt them as abettors in mutiny and sedition; chides, and upraids Captain Stone for cowardise, provokes him to fighting and bloodshed, (a course too often acted in Maryland) appoints another Governor in case he decline it, and yet sends no revocation of the Commissioners reducement, though he acknowledges he sought it earnestly of the Lord Protector but could not obtain it; yet to blinde and delude Captain Stone and his Counsel, there came over a Letter of Recommendation from his Highness of one Captain Barbar, and by what practise or mistake is not known, a subscription thereon to Captain Stone Governour of Maryland. And by this (together with a Copy of that Petition of the Merchants and others trading to Virginia, brought in by Mr. Eltonhead,

and sent over by Lord Baltamore,) Captain Stone, and all Maryland fall to arms, and disarm and plunder those that would not accept the aforesaid Oath. A part of them at last stood upon their guard, onely sought to Captain Stone to shew his Commission, and they would submit; he caused to imprison their Messengers, and being of far greater number, assaulted them at their houses, threatens to have their blood, calls them Round-head Rogues and Dogs, brought whole bagfuls of chewed Bullets, rolled in powder, saying, The Devil take him that spares any; and so falls on upon the day dedicated to the Virgin Mary, with the word Hey for St. Mary: but the Protestants commanded their men not to shoot upon pain of death, until some being slain by a volly of shot from the Marylands, they defended themselves, and God confounded Capt. Stone and all his Company before them there were near double the number in Prisoners to the Victors, twenty slain, many wounded, and all the place strewed with Papist beads where they fled; but the Proceedings thereof, and how the arm of the Lord was revealed, and his mighty power manifested even to admiration, together with the success, and the evils drawn upon themselves, appears by the relation thereof, at this time also published by a Messenger from thence.

The Lord Baltamore pretends in print, his entertainment into Maryland of the Parliaments Friends thrust out of Virginia; but those very men whom he so stiles coming thither being promised by Captain Stone, that he would declare urging the Oath upon them, complain of it to the Parliament, are in answer thereunto vilified by Lord Baltamore, and publickly taxed for obscure factious fellows, and in his later Letters termed the basest of men, and unworthy of the least favour or forbearance; such advantages doth he make on all sides, at such a distance, and in such incomposed times, that he confidently takes the liberty to aver such extream and contrary things which amaze other men that see them. The place as himself confesses, had been deserted, if not peopled from Virginia. He might with more reason scruple to supplant the Rights of the most considerable conjuncture of worthy men that ever undertook such an Adventure, as Plantation out of England; which hath been the beginner and of all the rest. parent

The late King James revoked the Virginia-Companies Patent, for denying him to alter the Government, for which he had fundamentally provided to give Instructions from time to time, and was the same, which the last King did by his Commission to Sir Willian Davenant, of which the Lord Baltamore speaks so

much, and makes such inferences as serve his own ends. But the Truth is, all that can rightly and properly be collected from thence is onely this, (his right to the Soil being in express words reserved) if the King might dispose of the Government of Maryland, why not the Parliament, as they have done; and why not the Lord Protector as he also hath done? Another of those Fundamentals was, That no Papists should be tolerated to remain in Virginia, but sent away if they would not take the Oath of Allegiance, and was so practised: this the old Lord Baltamore refusing, stayed not in Virginia; and, Hinc illa lachryma, to all those that were of the Councel, who with their wives and children have not suffered a little for it; of which onely Colonel Matthews and Colonel Claiborn remain alive. His son this Lord Baltamore now publishes himself a Recusant, and avers contrarily that the Laws against Papists and Recusants extend not thither; yet his Patent sayes, No interpretation shall be admitted thereof, by which God's holy and truely Christian Religion, or the allegiance due to the Successors of the State of England, should suffer any prejudice or diminution.

By all which surely it's most evident, This County Palatine aimed and coveted by him, appears disagreeable to Law and to his own Patent and as a Monster unlike the rest of the Dominions of the Commonwealth of England, and contrary to the late Platform of Government under his Highness the Lord Protector; yet hath he omitted no means to inforce his Dominion on those men that are most unwilling to submit to him as an absolute Prince and hereditary Monarch. Neither doth that instance of the Roman Commonwealth in his printed Pamphlet hold for him, who though they permitted and continued many Kingships over people that formerly had them, as is now done in Virginia among the Indians; yet he cannot shew, that ever they constituted King over the people of Rome to govern absolutely over them, as this case pleads for, to have a negative voice, yea, and a power ad placitum, in all things that is before specified, to the great regret of the Inhabitants, the oppression of many, and the obstruction of justice, of which Maryland hath afforded no mean examples and Complaints.

But although Virginia seeks the re-establishment of her bounds so often assured under the great Seal of England, and otherwise, yet to renew any such Authority as this of Maryland, or that of the Company over her, she desires it not; but to be from time to time under such Government as the State of England shall appoint.

Duplicate Instructions for Captain Robert Dennis, Mr. Rich. Bennet, Mr. Tho. Steg, and Capt. William Claiborn appointed Commissioners for the reducement of Virginia, and the Inhabitants thereof to their due obedience to the Commonwealth of England.

W

Hereas the Parliament of England by an Act intituled, An Act prohibiting trade with Barbadoes, Virginia, Bermudas and Antego, hath committed to this Councel several powers therein expressed, for the setling, reducing, and governing the said Islands, printed copies of which Acts are herewith delivered you. In pursuance whereof, a Fleet is now set forth victualled, armed, and manned under the command and conduct of Captain Robert Dennis, to effect by the blessing of God the ends aforesaid; and for the management of that service you are hereby joyntly nominated and appointed Commissioners and for your better directions and proceedings therein, you are to follow these Instructions following:

Such of you as are here to repair on board the ships, John or the Guinny Friggot of the States, which of them you shall think fit, and winde and weather permitting to sail to Virginia, as Captain Robert Dennis shall direct and appoint. And upon your arrival in Virginia, you, or any two or more of you, (whereof Captain Robert Dennis to be one) shall use your best endeavours to reduce all the Plantations within the Bay of Chesepiak to their due obedience to the Parliament and the Commonwealth of England.

For which purpose, you, or any two or more of you, (wherof Captain Robert Dennis to be one) have hereby power to assure, pardon, and indemnity to all the Inhabitants of the said Plantations that shall submit unto the present Government, and Authority as it is established in this Commonwealth; in which pardons you may make such limitations and exceptions, as you or any two or more of you, whereof capt. Robert Dennis to be one, shall think fit.

And in case they shal not submit by fair wayes, and meanes you are to use all acts of hostility that lies in your power to enforce them, and if you shal find the people so to stand out as