Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1681-85/6. 41

Defence of the Province, but cavill with the words of their
owne vote of the tenth instant inserted into the Act, and other
clauses soe that they rendred the Act little to the Defence of
the Province and soe persisted till the 14^th of September. On
the ffifteenth Wee found the Evill wee feared had overtaken
us, Murders were committed by the Northern Indians, and
wee pressed our two houses to come to some result that wee
might send away the Officers to their severall Charges who
as members of the two houses were there detained from the
necessary Defence of the Province: The 16^th September our
Upper house thought fitt to press the lower house to declare
themselves in the point concerning the protection of our friend
Indians at Pascattoway, The warr being begunn by the
Northern Indians but they refused to meddle in it, soe that wee
found our selves obleiged to end this chargeable consultation
and to endeavour the protection of his Maj^ties Subjects here
committed to our charge, and to the end things might not be
worne out of Memory chose rather to adjourne this Assembly
till the first November next; who must remember their owne
Votes, that the Warr is begunn by the Northern Enemy and
not by us, that they if any body must answer for the blood that
is already spilt and not Wee who pressed them to a timely
prevention. And Wee doe declare to the whole world that
as wee doe certainly know there were many understanding
honest well meaneing Gentlemen in the Lower house that did
lay these things to heart and would have prevented the mis-
chiefs that have happened had they not been outvoted soe we
doe as certainly know that all those struglings for Imaginary
priviledges were countenanced by a party in the lower house
onely in hopes to gett more members of their faction Elected
who would alwayes oppose Musters Traineings, and all pro-
tections by armes without which noe Governm^t can subsist,
and who from time to time breake all Laws of that nature
made, and for Conscience sake (as they pretend) will see their
brother or father murdered rather then stirr one foote to his
Defence or expend one penny for his protection; And yett
these are the men that traduce us and lay the fault of these
chargeable consultations at our doores, as if all the delays of
protection had sprung from Us, but as wee are well assured
We have done our endeavour to expedite the protection of
his Maj^ties Subjects, soe we hope all rationall men will judge
aright of our Actions, and in future Elections beware of
Chooseing Delegates who shall endeavour to stifle their pro-
tection in its birth, and if any Lawes shall be made for the
publick Safety maugre their endeavours shall be the chiefe
breakers of them and Traducers of the Government and Gov-
erno^rs for doeing their Duty, and that for Conscience sake as

Liber R.