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P. R. O.
Colonial
Papers.
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watching their opportunities, in a surprising and treacherous
manner, and therefore som are cut of in the field before thy
see their enemy or can recover their houses, others are treath-
end in their houses, men, weomen and children and the houses
pluntered before any neighbour corns to know of it, which is
the cause that many plantations are deserted directly (aske the
people in patoesk, gunnpowder river, bushriver, susquahana
rivers ecorith, & others, neither it is not true, at Ritch: Wilton,
was not Longe cut off, his wyff with two chilldren and another
weeman, both high with child, and two lusty able men but the
third escaped by runninge, and all the house pluntered Ritch:
Wilton himselfe beeinge at his neighbours attworke and mean
while knew nothing of it, and after this manner goes the poore
planter to rak, and must pay taxes and leavies for souldiers
too, which the great ones keep for their owne defence, but the
poore outside plantations must defend themselves as well as
they can, which is, every one is listed under a captaine, and
when the misschiefe is done, thy press som men to goe to see,
and when thy com to the place somtimes after the Indians are
gone, and thy buruy the dead, with all the haest thy can and
soe returne from whence thy came. The Grandees about
Sf Marys and the midle of the Country mean while beeing
securely guarded by the outside plantations and able gangs or
guarrised, knows nothing of it, nor will beleeve, and therefore
upon the people's great complaint, all the assistance that came
from owr Governor was of late a proclamation which comanded
that 10 men of the neighbourhood should resort together into
one plantation and fortify them selves, but if above 10, should
assemble together besids the family of the house, should be
punished as rebells and mutiniers; and so all is uppon that
ketch pray produce that proclamation to the people of Eng-
land, otherwise no man will beleeve this is true. And thus wee
live and goe like unto the butchers sheep in the pastor, and
this is owr rulers and proprietary's paternall care, for owr great
leavies and doings thy so much bragg off.
O yee Assemby men why are yee so meal mouthed and
affraighted to speke the truth and for the people's comon
good and the publick wellfare of the Country ? Wee doe pro-
test against the assentings and enactings and sumons you
before owr souveraigne judge and Kings Majesty and his par-
liament in England, to declare with and for us, uppon your
solemne Oaths and consciences as you or either of you will
answer the contrary before the great judge of Heaven and
Earth, wether this complaint and outcry is not true and the
very truth itselfe. Nay that a great many enormities more
will be discovered and privat wrongs made appear, when time
shall serve, to represent all other transactions.
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