494 Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1696/7-98.

          P. R. O.   there, tho the Plantacons were named in it (and may be they

                are of opinion, that because they have pretended to add new

                Penaltyes to the Acts for Trade &c. made in Engld. their so

                doing may be as the Grass to hide their Snake: but I think it

                is one with Rattles, by which he is easily discovered, and then

                as easily destroyed) unless they gave a sanction to it by way

                of Friendly Caution to their spirituallized Brethren.

                  And 1 have observed that a great many People in all these

                Provinces and Colonies, especially in those under proprietors;

                and the two others of Connecticot, and Rhode-Island. think

                that no Law of Engld. ought to be in force, and binding to

                them; without their own consent. For they foolishly say, they

                have no Representatives sent from them selves to the Parlia

                ments in Engld. And they look upon all laws made in Engld.

                that put any Restraint upon them, to be great hardships. I

                will endeavor to get all the Laws, Ordinances, and Proclam

                acons of Pensylvania, and West-Jersey, in order to send them

                to yor LordPs but I fear it will be a difficult thing to obtain them

                if they know they are for strangers: especially for me: for Mr

                Pen writes that Mr Moor's and Captn Snead's corresponding

                with me, is villanous in them and not well in me. All the

                publick Correspondence that I have had with them concerning

                illegal trade, Pyrats, Privateers &c. I have sent accounts of,

                and copys of their letters to yor LordPs and I think it my duty

                so to doe, till I have yor Lordps Commands to the Contrary.

                And I intend to keep Copys of them: because I think I ought

                to have them by reason that his Majesty hath impowered me,

                upon Vacancys, to appoint a Judge &c. allso to see whether

                any of these things concern his Majestys Interest in general,

                and this his Province in particular.

                  With Submission to yor Lordps if this Pensylvanian Law

                should be in force there, it would be an example for the other

                Proprietor's Governments to make such an one: And upon the

                like Occasions, they may enact others as repugnant to the

                Laws of Engld.

                  And I humbly beg leave of yor LordPs to make this proposal,

                vizt. that all Governours in these parts of the World; whether

                they have his Majestys Royal Commission, or Proprietors; or

                be elected by the People, as in Connecticot, & Rhode-Island,

                be obliged to give good security for the due performance of

                the Trust reposed in them especially for the due observance

                of the Oaths which they are obliged to take, made in the 7th

                & 8th years of his Matys Reign for prventing Frauds &c. and

                that they take no Rewards directly, or indirectly, from any

                Pyrats, or Privateers: and that they neither incourage, harbour,

                or protect them, but will, to the utmost of their powers, use all

                lawfull means to have them apprehended Secured; in order to