All the above appeared by their proxie, Mr. Giles Brent. Col. Francis Trafford, Esq., Roger Oliver, Mr. James Neale, Excused for their absence, as being out of the Province, or County. Robert Ellison, John Harrington, John Stigg, Joseph Gregory, Suspended from amercm't till they have notice that their presence is required, by themselves, or their Proxies. John Court, Mr. Dracutt. All these following amerced 20 lbs. tobacco for not appearing by them selves or proxie upon call, till they purge their contempt: William Hawkins, Ellis Beach, Robert Nicholls, John Thatcher, Henry Brooks, William Tomson, William Durford, Jo. Hampton, John Norton, Thomas Orly, Thomas Thomas, Isaac Edwards, Nicholas Cossin, William Bretton, Robert Tully, Simon Richardson, Richard Hill, Henry Hooker, Thomas Boys, Thomas Baldridge, Thomas Willis, Henry James, Thomas Allen, Christopher Carnoll, Edward Cottam, Thomas Davis, Nicholas Keytin, Mark Pheypo, Henry Lee, William Marfennes, John Robinson, carp. John Langworth, John Medley, James Cauther, Mr. Thomas Weston being called, pleaded he was no freeman, because he had no land, nor certain dwelling here, &c., but being put to the question it was voted that he was a freeman, and as such bound to his appearing, by himself, or proxie, whereupon he took place in the house." In the afternoon Francis Gray and Thomas Franklin, whose names do not appear in the morning's proceedings, appeared by proxie. Two hundred and sixteen freemen are named. Sedgrave, Beach, and Carnoll, the servants of 1638, were freemen in 1642, and members of this Assembly. It appears that none of the Jesuits were summoned, although Father White and others were then in the Province. In the original emigration, I think by far the largest number were servants and under indenture. The claims for land grants show that each of the persons of quality had brought out many servants. Thus John Lewger arrived, November 28, 1637, with his wife and one son, and three maid servants, and three men servants, and a boy. The "twenty gentlemen" probably averaged six servants, male and female. sup The adventurers who came over in the first six years, I pose came on the same general plan, to wit: men of property removing their fortunes with their families, of servants, mechanics and laborers. The Conditions of Plantation advise them what sort of mechanics to take out. The expiration of the terms. of service had made freemen of many of the servants by 164041, whereby the political power and control passed to the Pro testants. Therefore, Father Henry More, in his letter to the Cardinal Prefect, in 1641-42, cited in full in the text, says that Lewger summoned an Assembly consisting almost entirely of heretics. This was the Assembly of October 25, 1640, which passed the law touching marriages. The Puritans from Virginia came in 1649-50, and settled at Providence, and the Protestant majority I think must constantly have increased. Baltimore invited Germans, French, Spaniards, and Italians, to come in. Very few came. The facility with which Ingle overturned the government of Leonard Calvert, proves that the population sympathized with the Parliament. The curious coup d'etat of Fendall, proves that the people sympathized with the Puritans, and refused to acquiesce in the delivery of the Province to Baltimore. The Protestant Associators of 1689, overthrew the government without a blow. Thus Ingle in 1644, the Puritans in the battle of Severn in 1655, Fendall's usurpation in 1659, and the Protestant Associators and John Coode in 1689, all prove to me that the Protestant majority was constantly recalcitrating against the Roman Catholic minority, who enjoyed the offices and controlled the Upper House. orities do not rebel four times in forty-five years, without gross oppression and cruelty. Min No cruelty nor oppression ever existed under Cecil or Charles Calvert; hence, I infer that the commotions above named, were the struggles of the majority to obtain control and privileges. The ascertained population at different periods also tends to prove this hypothesis. 1667, February 8, the Assembly sat at Patuxent. |