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P. R. O.
Colonial
Papers.
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desire to know what Law of England, or this Province I have
violated.
By all that I have either read, heard or understood, all
officers both military and civill, first have their Comissions
publickly read, and then expect to be obeyed in their severall
stations, and noe otherwise, for if he that hath a Commission
for the peace, only should take upon him to command an
army, or a Generall of an Army, because he is such, should
assume the Bench, and take the place of one of the twelve
Judges, I doe believe small obedience would be used or shewn
to their commands, and they must severely answer for the
same to the King.
I desire to know what lawes I have broaken, and by what
power I am thus taken, and kept a close prisoner.
To the best of my remembrance, it was in the reigne of
King Charles the first of blessed memory, when an Act of
Parliament was made to put downe the Court of Starr Cham-
ber, for that they vexed and greeved the people, contrary to the
Grand Charter, Where it is sett forth at large the priviledges
belonging to an Englishman, and that none shall be taken or
imprisoned, but by writt originall, & matter of record, and
shall be heard before Justices, (which I take to be men in law-
full Comss:) and the Judgement shall be according to the
common course of the Law, & the old lawes of the Land.
Should the Lord High Chancellor of England, temporal Lord,
Bishop or any person whatsoever, molest any of His Majesty's
Subjects, in Body or Estate, contrary to that law (as I doe
conceive I now am) such person so offending shall for the first
offence, forfeit 500. pounds good and lawfull money of Eng-
land, to the party grieved, his Executors or Adminrs which
shall sue for the same, as I am an Englishman, fear cannot soe
much drown'd my reason, as to make me believe I am this day
bound to obey the man which is only in hopes to morrow, to
have a Commission to act in that spheere.
Wee are all satisfied that the Lord Baltemore had good
right to the Proprietaryshipp of this Province, nor doe we
know that it is anywaies taken from him, if he or his officers
shall presume to act longer then they have just power, they
must answer for it, and I am apt to believe in such case, the
Lord Baltemore will first be called upon, and then his several
Officers, to answer according to their severall Offences. Which
I doubt not their sacred Majesties will cause to be truly exam-
ined into and whenever there shall come a lawfull power from
England either by some person sent from thence or a Comis-
sion to some Gentleman or gentlemen that are in this Country
I shall be as just and faithfull to support the government to
the best of my ability as any man.
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