222 Proceedings of the Council of Maryland, 1761-1769.

Lib. C. B.
No. 20

The Remonstrance of the Reverend Philip Hughes Rector
of Coventry.

To His Excellency Horatio Sharpe Esq^r Governer and
Commander in Chief in and over the Province of Maryland.

Humbly Sheweth. That your Remonstrant was Inducted
to the Parish of Coventry, on the fifth day of last December
1767, and immediately repaired thither. Hearing of the fac-
tious Spirit, which did prevail among some of the Parish-
ioners, and earnestly desirous to have Peace restored on the
sound Basis of Harmony, and Good will, your Remonstrant
obtained Letters, from a very worthy Gentleman, to facilitate
an Introduction to the two Principal Persons in the Opposition
to a Lawful Induction, and the reputed Authors of all the
disturbances and distractions begun by them and fomented
among some deluded People.
That he met his Vestry on the 2 I^st of said Month in the
Church Yard of Rahoboth, that his Induction was then and
there Read, that the Church had been secured by the Vestry,
with Boults and Nails and the Key taken from the Sexton, by
them, some Weeks before your Remonstrant was appointed.

p. n

That M^r Allen, in the Name of the Vestry, informed your
Remonstrant, that they would be well pleased if the People,
who should be assembled for that purpose, would elect him,
they being the real Patrons, because they were the Founders,
but if they did elect Him he must resign the Governor's In-
duction, and take One from them, and then he should receive
the whole Salary, lacking one pound of Tobacco; That the
Vestry, as Representatives of the People, would receive no
Clergyman without their Election.
That when your Remonstrant demanded the Keys to per-
form Divine Service, on Christmas Day, he was refused until
the Consent of the People should be obtained, and, not hearing
from any Person on that head, he took Possession of his
Church on Christmas day, read his Induction, then Prayers
and Preached before Sufficient Evidence, and the next day
took the Oaths by Law required; That the Meeting of the
Parishioners, for their pretended Election, was appointed on
the Eleventh day of last January, at which time he was desired
to attend, which he refused to do; That Papers were posted
up in several publick places, requiring the Attendance of the
Parishioners, to know if they would accept of the Minister
Inducted by the Governor, which Question being put on the
Day appointed, they refused, the Greater part by far having
never seen nor known your Remonstrant, It was a sufficient
Objection to the Leaders that he shewed a Spirit not suitable
to their purpose, that, at this Tumultuous and Seditious Meet-