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L. H. J.
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lick Declaration which are so Easy, as Even their duty re-
quir'd, Viz: that they should not Interfere with the Affairs
of Government which did not Appertain to them, and not to
pervert the Protestants from their faith, and by Consequence
from their Allegiance, as is the Constant Practice of the
numerous Jesuits here. Woud to God the poor protestants in
foreign parts now indeed under persecution on the Score of
Religion might be Indulged with the same Lenity the Roman-
ists enjoy here, the papists having Insinuated in Great Britain
that they were persecuted in this Province In order to obviate
that Calumny, I was obliged at the opening of the last Sessions
of Assembly to make them a Publick Challenge (which I now
again repeat) to give one Instance wherein any of their Com-
munity, were persecuted or even prosecuted by Law for Con-
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p. 10
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science Sake. The only reply made on their part, was by a
Gentleman who Informed me some of the Principall of the
Roman Catholicks had Shewed him a paper that was In-
tended to be presented me by them, in which, he sayed they
seemed to acknowledge they had not been persecuted ; But at
the Same time it contain'd Some things which Looked Like a
Claim of Rights at the mention of this I expressed my Dislike
to their Claim, and doubt not my so doing, and the hopes they
had of my Sudden Removeall from my Station were the Reas-
ons that paper was never offered me.
Gentlemen.
The pretence of the Papists that Maryland was granted
as an asylum to them from the Rigour of the penall Laws in
England is a position of theirs has Long amused the world,
and perhaps I am the first that has Discovered or at least main-
tained it was an Imposition, for they Cannot have a better
Right than what the Charter admits them to and in my
opinion, there is so far from a provision being made therein
that the Government should be in their hands in any degree,
that there is not even an exception made for the free exercise
of their Religion.
It has been affirmed, that Cecilius Lord Baltimore Pub-
lished a declaration, Inviteing all persons that believed in the
name of Jesus to Settle and inhabit this Province promising
them all equall Priviledges yet I presume it will be admitted,
that Noble Lord Cou'd not give greater powers than he had.
For after all the Priviledges and Immunityes mentioned in
the Charter towards the Conclusion there is this proviso made
viz: " Provided always, that no Interpretation be admitted
thereof, by which God's holy and truely Christian Religion,
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