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reasonable, but We presume to acquaint Your Majesty, that
the Government of Pensilvania thought fit not only to con-
sider it in another Light, but to make Use of it for Purposes
destructive of the Laws and Properties of Your Majestys
Subjects; For that Government under Pretence that those
Parts of the Country lay to the Northward of a Line mentioned
in an Agreement now under the Cognizance of Your Majestys
high Court of Chancery to determine whether It shall bind
the Lord Baltimore Lord Proprietary of this Province, was
pleased to issue a Proclamation under a specious Colour of
preserving Peace, but really to inflame and incite the Inhabi-
tants of their Borders (which that Government then acknowl-
edged was filled with People of more than Ordinary Spirit)
to the Commission of horrid & Cruel Violences
It is with the most sensible Concern May it please Your
Majesty that We must own those Designs of the Government
of Pensilvania had too soon their desired Effects, for an Armed
Multitude pretending to be Inhabitants of the Province of
Pensilvania headed by a Sheriff and Magistrate of that Prov-
ince beset the house of One Thomas Cresap, who had always
held the Land he then lived on under a Title from the Lord
Proprietary of Maryland, acknowledged himself Tenant of
that Province and constantly paid his Taxes and Dues to the
same, and acted for some time past as a Magistrate thereof;
And in further Execution of their pernicious Intentions, these
outragious People set fire to the house (in which there was
then the Owner his Wife Children and Six other men) and
burnt the same down to the Ground with all the Effects of the
said Owner to a very considerable Value; Nor was the Spirit
of these Incendiaries allayed by this bold Violation of Your
Majestys Laws; but when the unhappy Wretches then in the
house endeavoured to save and defend themselves from the
Flames, and those merciless Men, a continual firing of Guns
followed, which occasioned the Death of One and wounding
Others of Your Majestys Subjects who had been in the house;
then the Owner with four of his Companions were seized and
hurried into the Goals of the Province of Pensilvania where
they now lye.
This Proceeding by Fire and Sword to establish the Bounds
which are now in Dispute before the high Court of Chancery
filled Your Petitioners as well as all Other of Your Majestys
Subjects of these Two Provinces with such terrible Apprehen-
sions, that an immediate Application was made from this
Government to the Government of Pensilvania for their As-
sistance in discountenancing such Violences, and bringing the
Offenders to condign Punishment; And lest they should escape
a just Return for their Wickedness by any Doubt which the
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Lib. M.
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