264 Assembly Proceedings, April 1650.

U. H..

Journal
1659-69

Councell here, and Such as are best read in Antiquities That
the Bishops of Durham before Henry the Seventh his tyme
heretofore King of England Had and did Exercise all Royall
Jurisdiction within the said Bishoprick or County Pallatine,
though of later Yeares their Jurisdiction was much diminished
by an Act of Parliament made in the tyme of the said King
Henry, And this Wee thought fitt to signify vnto you, for your
better satisfaction herein, But truely the Scruples and exceptions
aforesaid are soe weakely grounded That although wee are
confident that most of the Assembly (through want of due con-
sideration, or vnderstanding of the true reasons of those who
suggested those Scruples vnto them, and not out of any Evvell
intention towards vs, did for the present waue their Consent
vnto all the said lawes sent by vs. Yet it is clere to all vnder-
standing Men that those Suggesters had other Secrett reasons
why they opposed those lawes, then those pretended ones on
the Peoples behalfe, and such as tended to the preiudice of our
Just Rights there, which they thought not fitt publickly to avowe
least the Gennerallity of the People there out of their loyall
affection and fidellity to vs, should dislike them, and obstr
their sinister designes therein, ffor it is well know there
that some haue heretofore acquired great Proportions of land
in that Province from the Indians and have possessed them
without our Consent, or a Grant from vs. And have
presumed to dispute their pretended Tytles therevnto even with
vs, and our Right, making a question what Right the King of
England had to grant any thing there, And no doubt if they
had had power would have maintained it by force against vs,
But wanting that for the present, they haue, and doe still it
seemes Endevour to obstruct any thing which may tend to the
manisfestation, strengthning or publick acknowledgm^t of our
Right to the land, and dominion of that Province, hopeing per-

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haps hereafter, if they can by maintaineing Jellousies betweene
vs, and the people there exasperat either side to any Violent
proceedings, one against the other, that then in all probability,
a Great division and ffaction among the People themselves will
followe, in wh^ch confusion they may hope to mould a party fitt
for their tournes to reviue their ould pretended Right from the
Natiues to those, and perhapps divers other lands, privatly
acquired in the same manner. And soe in pursuite of that
designe of making themselues Lords and Masters of the Pro-
vince, adventure the ruine of all the People there, by Civill
warrs among themselues, Although it be most probable, if this
great danger be not tymely prevented, as well as foreseene
they themselues who pursue such a wicked designe are like in
the first place to perish in it. By wofull experience it hath bene
found in divers nations that noe one thing hath soe certainely