148 Records Illustrating the History of Maryland

P. R. O.

Colonial
Papers.

House and many arms were taken by the said Coode and his
party, Smiths men said they were willing to march with him
upon any other occasion, but not to fight for the papists
against themselves, he alledged they mistook the case it was
not religion but the settled peace, Government and Lawes of
the Land, th^t he then endeavoured to preserve, from the En-
croachment of such as had no legal pretence to it, many said
we doubt not they have power from England to justifie their
proceedings (soe far were the people misled by them) Smith
answered if they have any power from the King of England,
we are all obliged to stand by them, you may be sure they
have none, for if they could produce any such thing, need not
to take up armes, for I am confident all Maryland will not
afford one man to oppose the King's authority, therefore all
such as are voluntarily and freely willing to go with me to
preserve the Government and peace of the Country, draw of
from the body, soe having about forty men; Smith marched
with them to Mattapany the garrison and place where the Gov-
ernment then was, Coode and his party had soe possest the
minds of the people of the necessity of displacing all papists,
for that the Indians were coming forthwith to kill all the
Protestants, soe that in few days after Smith being at Matta-
pany it was beseiged by said Coode, and a strong party of his
accomplices, and Mattapany surrendered upon termes, all this
while the pretence was against none but papists, but Smith
himself being a Protestant and all his men except only four
were Protes^ts nevertheless Smith had not been at home above
two or three days, when armed men came, seized and carried
him to prison, and by a Letter from new made Cap^t John
Paine, to new made Captain Michaell, was urged to be careful
to take Smith, for that he was going to England with Cap^t
Johnson Johnson being sailed, Smith had his liberty again
now most of the responsible men of this Province being dis-
satisfied at the proceedings of those violent and malitious men,
which have now usurped the power, for saith all judicious
men, whenever his Majesty of greate Britaine, shall signifie his
pleasure to this Country, there will be no resistance therefore
noe need of taking armes, the better to put a cooler upon their
evil actions, Code and his Adherents call an Assembly, sev-
eral of Smith's neighbours and friends being all Protestants,
desired his advice in this Case, and within his Opinion might
be the great end and designe of calling the Assembly to which
Smith replied, he believed the design was to have an Assembly
to approve of what they had done, but for his part was for
choosing no Burgisses, but declaring under his hand against
all choice, until a Lawfull power from England, and they that
bad taken the records and Magazine to look to the safe keep-
ing and delivering them to a lawful power when it came, most