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The Oath of a Counsellor of State in

Maryland.

A: B. Do swear that I will be true and faithfull to the Right Honorable Cecilius Lord Baron of Baltemore, the true, and absolute Lord and Proprietary of this Province of Maryland, and his Heirs, and him and them: and his and their Right, Royal Jurisdictions and signiory, and every of them into and over the said Province and Islands hereunto belonging wil at all times defend and maintaine to the utmost of my power, and will never accept of, nor execute any Place, Office, or Imployment within the said Province, any way concerning or relating to the Government from time to time, but from his said Lordship, or his Heirs, Lords, and proprietaries of the said Province, under his or their Hands and Seal at Arms. The peace and welfare of the people of this Province I will ever procure, as far as I can: I will aid and assist the administring and execution of Justice in all things to my power: to none will I delay or deny Right, for fear, favor, or affection; I will to my best skill, and according to my heart and conscience, give good and faithful Counsel to the said Lord and Proprietary, and his Heirs, and to his, and their Lieutenant and chief Governor of this Province for the time being, when thereunto I shall be called; I will keep secret all matters committed or revealed unto me, or which shall be moved or debated secretly in Councel, and faithfully declare my mind and opinion therein, according to my heart and conscience: And if any of the said Treaties and Councel shall touch any the Privy Counsellors of this Province, I will not reveal the same to him so touched or concerned, but will keep the same secret until such time as by the consent of the Lord Proprietary, or chief Governor here for the time being, publication shall be made thereof; I will as a Counsellor, as a Justice, and Commissioner, for conservation of the peace of this Province, do equal right unto the poor, and to the rich, to the best of my understanding and judgment, according to the Laws from time to time in force within this Province; and in default thereof, according to my best discretion, and generally in all things will do as a faithful Counsellor to the Lord Proprietary; And I do further Swear, I will not by myself, or any other person, directly or indirectly trouble, molest, or discountenance any person or persons in the said Province, professing to believe in Jesus Christ, and in particular, no Roman Catholick, for, or in respect of his or their Religion, nor in his or her free exercise thereof within the said Province, so as they be not unfaithful to

his said Lordship, nor molest or conspire against the Civil Government established under him. So help me God, and the Contents of this Book.

That whosoever shall call any one an Idolater, Papish Priest, Jesuite, Jesuited Papist, &c. to forfeit ten pounds; and that no Papist shall be troubled for exercise of his Religion, so as they be faithful to his Lordship.

Whosoever shall be accessory to the running away of an Apprentice, shall suffer death; but the party himself, if apprehended, to serve his time double.

Whosoever shall counterfeit his Lordships Seal or Sign Manual, shall suffer the loss of his hand, imprisonment during life, or pains of death, or confiscation of Lands or Estate, or any one or more of them as the Governor, and Chancellor, and Councel, shall think fit.

His Lordship suffers Dutch, French, or Italian Descents to plant, and enjoy equal priviledges with the British and Irish Nations.

And lastly, In one of his Laws he mentions the High and Mighty Prince Charles, the First of that name; and in another expresseth, That none shal transport any Tobacco's in any Dutch Vessel bound for any other Port than his Majesties.

Unto all which Exceptions, Answer having been made by the Lord Baltamore, which is hereunto annexed; the same is humbly submitted to the Judgment and further direction of this Honorable House.

It hath been confessed by the Lord Baltamore, That one Captain Green his Lieutenant-Governor of Maryland, did soon after the death of the late King, proclaim his Son Charles Stewart King of England, &c. for which his Lordship saith he did by a Writing under his hand and seal (which is one of the parchments remaining with this Committee) revoke the Commission granted to the said Captain Green, and appointed one Stone in his room: but there is no such cause mentioned in the said Writing.

It likewise appears, That in March 1651. the Governor and Councel of Maryland, being required by the Commissioners that were sent thither, to issue forth Writs in the Name of The Keepers of the Libertie of England; they refused the same, saying, They could not do it without breach of their Trust and Oath.

SSSS

To the Honourable, Richard Bennet, and Col. William Claibourn, Esqires, Commissioners of the Commonwealth of England, for Virginia and Maryland.

The Humble Petition of the Commissioners and Inhabitants of Severne, alias Ann Arundel County.

Sheweth,

T

Hat whereas we were invited and encouraged by Captain Stone, the Lord Baltamore's Governor of Maryland, to remove ourselves and Estates into this Province, with promise of enjoying the liberty of our Consciences in matter of Religion, and all other priviledges of English Subjects; And your Petitioners did upon this ground, with great cost, labor, and danger, remove ourselves; and have been at great charges in building and clearing: Now the Lord Baltamore imposeth an Oath upon us, by Proclamation, which he requireth his Lieutenant forthwith to publish; which if we do not take within three months after publication, all our Lands are to be seized for his Lordships use. This Oath we conceive not agreeable to the terms on which we came hither, nor to the liberty of our Consciences as Christians and free Subjects of the Common-wealth of England: Neither can we be perswaded in our Consciences by any light of God, or engagement upon us, to take such an Oath; but rather humbly conceive it to be a very real grievance, and such an oppression as we are not able to bear; neither do we see by what lawful power such an Oath, with such extream penalties can by his Lordship be exacted of us who are free Subjects of the Common-wealth of England, and have taken the Engagement to them. We have Complained of this grievance to the late honorable Councel of State in a Petition

subscribed by us, which never received any answer, such as might clear the lawfulness of such his proceedings with us: but an aspersion cast upon us of being Factious fellows; neither have we received any Conviction of our error in not taking the said Oath, nor Order by that power, before whom our Petition is still depending, to take it hereafter; neither can we believe that the Common-wealth of England will ever expose us to such a manifest, and real bondage (who assert themselves, The maintainers of the lawful Liberties of the Subject) as to make us Swear absolute subjection to a Government, where the Ministers of State are bound by Oath to countenance and defend the Roman Popish Religion, which we apprehend to be contrary to the Fundamental Laws of England, the Covenant taken in the three Kingdoms, and the Consciences of true English Subjects: and doth carry on an arbitrary power, so as whatever is done by the people at great costs in Assemblies, for the good of the people, is liable to be made Null by the negative Voice of his Lordship; But affirmative Propositions and Commands are incessantly urged, and prest, and must not be denied.

In Consideration whereof, we humbly tender our Condition and Distraction, upon this occasion falling upon the hearts of all the people, to your view and Consideration, intreating your honors to relieve us according to the Cause and the power wherewith you are intrusted by the Common-wealth of England: the rather, because upon such an exigent as this, we have none to flie to but your selves the honorable Commissioners of the Common-wealth of England; not doubting but God will direct you into what his mind and will is in this matter concerning us, and that you will faithfully apply your selves to our Redress in what is Just, and our lawful Liberty; which is the Prayer of your poor Petitioners.

Severn River, the 3 of January, 1653.

Subscribed by Edw. Lloyd, and 77. persons of the House-keepers, and Freemen, Inhabitants.

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To the Honorable Richard Bennet, and Colonel William Claibourn, Esquires, Commissioners for the Common-wealth of England, within the Bay of Chesopiak.

The humble Petition of the Inhabitants of the North-side of Patuxent River in the Province of Maryland.

Sheweth,

T

Hat we being reduced by your Honors from that Tyrannical power exercised over the people of this Province by the Lord Baltamore and his Agents, unto the Obedience of the Common-wealth of England, to which Government we have Subjected and Engaged, and have by your Honors been often enjoyed reall conformity and obedience to the same, and not to own any other power or Authority as we will answer the contrary: In subjection whereunto, we have had peace and freedom hitherto, which with all thankfulness we cannot but acknowledg, and in our continued obedience, do expect from the Parliament next under God continued peace, liberty, and protection from the pride, rage, and insolency of their, and our adversaries: Now so it is, may it please your honors, that of late the Lord Baltamore doth by his Order and Agents seek to set over us the old form of Government formerly exercised by him in this Province, which we did conceive, by the blessing of God upon your honors endeavors, had been fully made Null and void; yet notwithstanding, by the Arbitrariness of his own will, he appoints Laws for us, and sets up Popish Officers over us, outing those Officers of Justice appointed by you; issuing forth Writs in his own name, contrary to your honors Order and ap

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