|
Councills and instigacon of the Jesuits, either in these or any
other grievances or oppresions, and yet these are the men
that are our Cheif Judges at the Comon Law in Chancery of
the Probat of Wills and the Affairs of Administration in the
Upper House of Assembly, and Cheif military Officers and
Commanders of our forces, being still the same individuall
persons, in all these particular qualifications & places.
These and many more even infinit pressures and Calamitys,
wee have hitherto layne with patience under and submitted to,
hoping that the same hand of providence that hath sustained
us under them would at length in due time release us. And
now at length for as much as it hath pleased Almighly God,
by meanes of the great prudence and conduct of the best of
Princes our most gracious King William to putt a check to
that great inudation of Slavery and Popery, that had like to
overwhelm their Majcstys Protestant Subjects in all their Ter-
ritorys and Dominions (of which none have suffered more or
are in greater danger than ourselves) Wee hoped and ex-
pected in our particular Stations and qualifications, a propor-
tionable shew in soe great a blessing.
But our greatest grief and consternation, upon the first news
of the great overture and happy change in England, wee
found ourselves surrounded with strong and violent endeav-
ours from our Governors here (being the Lord Baltemores
Deputys and Representatives) to defeat us of the same.
Wee still find all the meanes used by these very persons
and their Agents, Jesuits, Priests, and lay papists that are of
malice can suggest to devise the obedience and loyalty of the
inhabitants from their most sacred Majestys to that height of
impudence that solemn masses and prayers are used (as we
have very good informacon) in their Chappells and Oratorys
for the prosperous success of the popish forces in Ireland,
and the French designs against England, whereby they would
involve us, in the same crime of disloyalty with themselves and
render us obnoxious to the insupportable displeasure of their
Majesties.
Wee every where have not only publick protestations against
their Majesties rights and possessions of the Crown of Eng-
land, but their most illustrious persons vilefied and aspected
with the worst and most trayterous expressions of obloquie
and detraction.
Wee are every day threatened with the loss of our lives,
libertys and Estates of which wee have great reason to think
ourselves in eminent danger by the practises and machinacons
that are on foot to betray us to the French, Northern and other
Indians of which some have been dealt withall, and others
invited to assist in our distruccon, well remembering the
|
P. R. O.
Colonial
Papers.
|
