The Lower House. 129

he then Breathed Rage and fury Threatned Distruction Conserted
with his People the Murther of some and Burning the Houses of
Others the Inhabitants of Lancaster County Could now think them-
selves no Longer Safe after such a Discovery while the person Ap-
pointed to Execute all these designs was so Strongly Supported so
furiously Animated and furnished with Such means of Distressing
them but as the Principles of the People who first Settled the Prov-
ince of Pensilvania and of those who at present have the Administra-
tion of the Government are well Known to be against all Millitary
force and being Sensible that all Millitary Attempts of One Sub-
ject of the Crown of Great Brittain upon another are Unwarrantable
they therefore only granted Legal Warrants to the Sheriff of Lan-
caster County for Apprehending the said Cressap that he might in
a Course of Justice answer for the Notorious Offences he had Com-
mitted and the said Sheriff having for Some time been possessed of
a Warrant from the Provincial Judges for takeing the Said Cressap
on a Charge of Murther found by the Coroners Inquest the People
being Justly allarmed by so manifest a Prospect of their Danger
Called upon the Sheriff at all Events to Execute his Warrant in
which they would Assist him for that they rather Chose at all
Hazards to Attempt the Takeing that Dangerous and Barbarous
man than to live Continually Exposed to his Violences Accordingly
the Sheriff Attended with a Number of the Inhabitants of the Coun-
try (who Consist mostly of German Protestants and Other Euro-
peans of the Communion of the Churches of England and Scotland

L. H. J.

Lib. No. 45

of late years Arrived here) Went Over to Cressaps Dwelling in the
morning Early, read at the Doore in his hearing and in the Hearing
of his Accomplices in the House the Warrant he had to take him,
requireing him to Surrender himselfe, but was answered only with
Horrid Oaths and Imprecations and the Utmost Scurrility of Lan-
guage and soon after he fired at the Company who also Discharged
Some Shot at his House but without Intention of Doeing any Hurt ;
and thus they Continued untill Near Sunset when the People pro-
voked by his Abuses and frequently fireing and finding no Other
Possibility of Takeing him alive Set fire to the House which Con-
sisted of some round unhewen Timber Logs Piled one on Another
of not above the Value of five pounds Sterling and to which he had
no right having before released his Tortious Possession to one of
our Inhabitants and the House being on fire the Said Cressap with
his Accomplices rushed out Loaded with Arms and fireing upon the
Sheriff and his Company they wounded one of the Sheriffs men and
happened to Kill one of their own before Said Cressap was Taken but
notwithstanding the Takeing that Turbulent man we have Still Just
reason to Apprehend yet further and greater Injurys from that
Government large and Tempting rewards being promised in Procla-
mations And Otherwise by their Deputy Governour before the Take-

p. 736