Assembly Proceedings, April 1650. 269

should thinke it fitt that those who had bene faithfull to vs, and
don good Service in the Recovery, and Preservation of that
Province vnder our obedience should be depriued by lawe of
their iust dues truely therein, they confirme what they after-
wards also write in the same letter (videlicet) that they under-
stood not the said Sixteene Lawes for if they had, and well
considered them they would haue found in them a speciall pro-
vision made for satisfaction of all those who had served, and
bene faithfull to vs, in the said late troubles there by an Equall
Assessment vpon all the Inhabitants of that Province, which is
the iustest and vsuall way in all Civill Kingdomes and Common-
wealths for defraying of publick charges. It was never yet heard
of, in any other Christian Countrey, but there, that vpon any occa-
sion of forreigne or domestick warr a People should Soe
unreasonable as to expect that the Prince State should
beare the charge thereof out of their owne privat and p ticular
fortunes which would putt them into a farr worse condition
then the meanest Subiect, because farr more lyable to destruc-
tion then any other, whereas the Preservation of their Estates
and persons ought to be in the first place provided for, and
the last that should suffer any preiudice when there were no
other remedy, left, But not vsed as wee have bene in the first
place vndon. And such of the Assembly as were Soldyors neede
not wonder as they doe in their said letter that Wee should thinke
it fitt that a Levy should be made vpon themselves to pay
themselves ffor in all other Countreys as by Experience is
scene now in England) where any Officers or Soldyors have

U. H.

Journal
1659-69

any Estate of their owne, their proportionable part of all Taxes
raised for publick defence or other Charges is as iustly due
from them out of their Estates to the Prince or State of every
such Commonwealth, as any perticuler Soldyors pay is due to
him, for it is as naturall and iust that all People should contri-
bute proportionably to their owne defence, as it is for any
Prince or State to defend and protect them, Wherefore the
Assembly there may cease to wonder, as they also doe in the
said letter that such exactions should be required, and made
vpon a People who had bene loyall and faithtull to vs,
and as they alleage had conquered that place for vs for
which wee haue paid as appeares full dearely. Wee are well
Satisfied that many there deserved very well of vs, and truely;
as wee haue bene sollicitous to find out who they were. Soe
we shall not be vnmindfull of them vpon all occasions to
their advantage of honnor and proffitt as God shall enable vs
in that place. But it is possible and too often scene that many
persons who haue by some actions very well deserved of others,
haue afterwards by other Actions quite drowned, and deser-
vedly lost the meritt of the former, In which Case Certainely

p. 14