18 Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1667-75.

P. R. O.

Colonial Pa-
pers, Vol. 21,
No. 133.

But as if no such order had been ever made or as if that
order had signified nothing those of Virginia were pleased
in the year 1666 (as appears by their said Representation)
again to apply to those of Maryland in the same affair,
and did prevail with the Major part of the Assembly in
Maryland, to pass such an Act as in the said Representacon
is mentioned, but with much difficulty as appears by the
Representers own acknowledgement. Neither doth the Lord
Baltemore think it strange that the Councell & Major part
of the Assemblies of both Collonies (which consist of the
ablest Planters) should agree to such Cessacons, or that the
Merchants here should desire the same, it being in truth
the way to make them rich in one year, and upon the very
first essay, and to compell the poorer planters to enter into
new servitudes to the more rich to gain subsistance Never-
thelesse the speaker (& some other considerable members
of the Assembly of Maryland) in whom regard to the public
quiet had overuled all other consideracons well forsaw that
such an Act (which did in effect tye up poor men's hands
from working out their necessary livelyhood) would very
probably endanger the peace of the Province and provoake
the people to sedition, he therefore when he saw it was
carried by the Major part of the said Assembly by a letter
to the Lord Baltemore signed by himself, and some other
members of the same Assembly, sought relief agst so great
a grievance, neither was it reputed such in Maryland alone,
for your Ma^ties abovemenconed Order of the 25^th of November
1664 for the prohibiting any Cessacon was received (as he

hath bin well informed) w^th much satisfaction by the generality

of the people of Virginia also By which it appears how vaine
that pretence of the Representers is, when they say that the
Lord Baltemores disassent to the Cessacon in Maryland had
like to have bred disturbance amongst the people in the
Colony of Virginia.
The Lord Baltemore therefore agrees it to be true that in
persuance of the said Orders of the 25^th of November 1664
and not any private interest of his own (as these Repre-
senters suggest) he did by a particular Instrument (according
to Custome) declare his dissent, disagreement and disapproba-
tion of and unto the sayd Act in Maryland.
The last Clause of the said Representation is an offer to
make a bargain w^th y^r Majesty, the effect of which is that if
your Majesty will please to order a Cessacon for one year
to the ruin of all the poor planters of the Colonies, & to the
damage of your Majesty of at least four score thousand
pounds in yo^r Ma^ties customes and excise for Tobacco for
that year, and all this to give them and others of the richer