PROTEST AGAINST LORD BALTIMORE'S OATH PROC

LAMATION, 1653

"Petition of the Commissioners and Inhabitants of Severne, alias Ann Arundel County (Maryland) to the Honourable Richard Bennet, and Col. William Claibourn, Esquires, Commissioners of the Common-wealth of England, for Virginia and Maryland." From Peter Force's "Tracts and Other Papers Relating to the Origin, Settlement, and Progress of the Colonies in North America," Vol. II., Washington, 1838. (See page 41.)

That whereas we were invited and encouraged by Captain Stone, the Lord Baltamore's Governor of Maryland, to remove ourselves and Estates into this Province, with promise of enjoying the liberty of our Consciences in matter of Religion, and all other priviledges of English Subjects; And your Petitioners did upon this ground, with great cost, labor, and danger, remove ourselves; and have been at great charges in building and clearing; Now the Lord Baltamore imposeth an Oath upon us, by Proclamation, which he requireth his Lieutenant forthwith to publish; which if we do not take within three months after publication, all our Lands are to be seized for his Lordships use. This Oath we conceive not agreeable to the terms on which we came hither, nor to the liberty of our Consciences as Christians and free Subjects of the Common-wealth of England: Neither can we be perswaded in our Consciences by any light of God, or engagement upon us,

(From "Side Lights on Maryland History," by Hester Dorsey Richardson, with consent of the author)

to take such an Oath; but rather humbly conceive it to be a real grievance, and such an oppression as we are not able to bear; neither do we see by what lawful power such an Oath, with such extreme penalties can by his Lordship be exacted of us who are free Subjects of the Common-wealth of England, and have taken the Engagement to them. We have Complained of this grievance to the late honorable Councel of State in a Petition subscribed by us, which never received any answer, such as might clear the lawfulness of such his proceedings with us: but an aspersion cast upon us of being Factious fellows; neither have we received any Conviction of our error in not taking the said Oath, nor Order by that power, before whom our Petition is still pending, to take it hereafter; neither can we believe that the Common-wealth of England will ever expose us to such a manifest, and real bondage (who assert themselves, The maintainers of the lawful Liberties of the Subject) as to make us Swear absolute subjection to a Government, where the Ministers of State are bound by Oath to countenance and defend the Roman Popish Religion, which we apprehand to be contrary to the Fundamental laws of England, the Covenant taken in the three Kingdoms, and the Consciences of true English Subjects: and doth carry on an arbitrary power, so as whatever is done by the people, at great costs in Assemblies, for the good of the people, is liable to be made Null by the negative Voice of his Lordship; But affirmative Propositions and Commands are incessantly urged, and prest, and must not be denied.

In Consideration whereof, we humbly tender our Condition and Distraction, upon this occasion falling upon the hearts of all the people, to your view and Consideration, intreating your honors to relieve us according to the Cause and the power wherewith you are intrusted by the Common-wealth of England: the rather, because upon such an exigent as this, we have none to

Virginia and Maryland.

OR,

The Lord Baltamore's printed CASE,

uncafed and answered.

Shewing, the illegality of his Patent and ufurpation of Royal Jurifdi&ion, and Dominion there.

With,

The Injustice and Tyranny practifed in the Government, against the Laws and Liberties of the English Nation, and the juft Right and Intereft of the Adventurers and Planters.

Alfo.

Afhort RELATION of the
Papists late Rebellion against the Go-
vernment of his Highnefs the Lord Pro-
tector, to which they were reduced by the Parli
aments Commiffioners; but face revolting,
and by Lord Baltamere's instructions

caused to affault the Protestants there in
their Plantations,were by a far leffer
number repulfed,some slain,and

all the reft taken Prisoners.

To which is added,

A brief Account of the Commiffioners proceedings in the reducing of Maryland, with the Grounds and Reafon thereof; the Commiffion and Instructions by which they a&ted ; the Report of the Committee of the Navy, concerning that Province; and fome other Papers and Paflages relating thereunto: together with the Copy of a Writing under the Lord Baltamore's Hand and Seal, 1644. difcovering his Practices, with the King at Oxford against the Parliament, concerning the Londoners and others trading in Virginia.

For the oppreffion of the poor, for the fighing of the needy, now will I arife, faith the Lord, I will fet him in safety, from him that guffith at him, Pfal. 18.5.

Leader, printed, and are to be fold at the Crown in Popes-bead-Ally, and in 173 flmimfice-Hall, 1655.

flie to but your selves the honorable Commissioners of the Common-wealth of England; not doubting but God will direct you into what his mind and will is in this matter concerning us, and that you will faithfully apply your selves to our Redress in what is Just, and our lawful Liberty; which is the Prayer of your poor Petitioners.

Severn River, the 3 of January, 1653.

Subscribed by Edw. Lloyd, and 77. persons

of the House-keepers, and Freemen,
Inhabitants.