The Upper House. 447

By his Ex^ncy the Gov^r and Councill in Assembly
May the 18th, 1705

To the protestants of Maryland

My friends

I have thought fitt to Advise You to take Care in time to
Defend Yourselves from that Wicked Contrivance of Darnall
& the Popish Priests in their agreeing with the French and
other heathens to destroy You all The Proceedings of Mary-
land are Easily brought to us over Potowmack River can any
people think that the Queen sent a Governour amongst you
to be Ruled by Darnall or any other Papists We hear that an
Act of Assembly was made ag^t the Popish Priests to blind the
people but how long was it before they had their Liberty and
the Protestant Ministers silenced, have a Care of a Popish
Plott least you have Cause to Repent when it is too late this
from a friend is all att present.
The above is a Copy of a Scandalous Seditious Libell pub-
lished in S^t Mary's County to the great dissatisfaction of her
Ma^tys Loyal Good Subjects but more especially with a Milicious
Intent to render the Administrations of the Govermnt here
odious and suspected You cannot but Remember that what
was done in Order to checquing & Restraining the Extrava-
gancys of the Popish Priests Came first from Your house and
had the Ready Assent of his Ex^ncy & this Board so likewise
what was done last Sessions in Suspending the Execution
thereof for 18 months was first moved in your House and
Represented by You as Reasonable to this Board wherefore
wee doubt not your Candour in publiqly Resenting so Base
and unjust an Abuse and Calumny of his Ex^ncy & This Boarde
as by the said Libell is Offered ag^t them.
Signed p Order W Bladen Cl Counll

M^r Muschamp and Eleven other Members bring from the
house the following Answer to his Ex^ncys Speech, viz.

Original
Journal.