188 Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1647-1648.

Liber A.

incurred w^lsoeu^r But being prevented by Death. Thomas
Greene Esq his L^ps Gouerno^r is hereby willing to confirme the
same. And doth hereby acquitt the s^d John Dandy from all
such penalties & censures.
Tho: Greene

[Letter of Edward Hill.]

p. 68

Honored S^rs
June 22^th I doubt not but yo^w are familiar, to such unhappy
passages, as were the first inducem^ts to mee, for the enter-
tainem^t of the gouerm^t of Mary-Land. And allthough the
spetious pretence of th^t clause of (absence) in the Gouerno^rs
Commisⁿ was the whole pretended title of a reinuation. I am
confident it would not be held sufficient to the usage of force
(euen by his L^p) agst his L^ps gouerm^t then instated one me for
these ensuing reasons,
first. The late Gouerno^r being out of the Prouince had not
power to grant Commisⁿ for to rule them.
2^ly His L^ps Counsell had then the immediate power, in the
Election & choyce of a Gouern^r w^ch as the state of things then

btoud, they supposed it absolutely necessary for the safty of

the Prouince to confirme mee independent of any contradiction
but his L^p and this by Assembly.
3^ly If the late inuasion should be held lawfull, I doubt not
but yo^w are sensible to what a slauery the Kings freeborne
subiects & soe consequently yo^rselfes are inuolued in when
the single power of the Gouerno^r should disanull his owne,
and the country's Act, by a Countermand, his owne, I say,
though acted by another person.
Gentlemen I presume uppon this to make this position, th^t
the gouerm^t of the s^d prouince is as inherent to mee, till his
L^ps pleasure be further knowne, as his L^ps right in the s^d Pro-
vince, or as yo^w his Counsell. What insufferable losses both of
fortunes, & creditt I haue sustayned, I doubt not, but report
hath brought it to yo^w But inducem^t of freinds w^th the
throngs of those, th^t haue bene ruinated by the uniust breatch
of the Composition are dayly clamarious in my eares. Soe th^t
euen Justice, if not creditt, or losse will force me, I feare, to
some strange ouerture in th^l busines. I am alltogether unwill-
ing to moue the stone violently, what inundation, losse, &
ruine it will produce to the whole, I am not ignorant of, I had
rather some moderate way were taken for the satisfaction on
all sides. Occasion (by the death of the late Gentlⁿ) is now bald
all discontents may be easily pacifyed, & brought to good
tearmes of qualification Peace may breath a quiett possessⁿ
unto them, & every one there resident. But if the storme
once breake out, it is to be feared, th^t proceeding from such