. . the sum of tenne shillings
sterling . . . .
"Whereas the inforceing of the conscience in matters of Religion hath
frequently fallen out to be of dangerous Consequence in those commonwealths
where it hath been practised, . . . be it therefore also by the Lord
Proprietary with the advice and consent of this Assembly, ordeyned and
enacted . . . that no person or persons whatsoever within this Province . .
.professing to beleive in Jesus Christ, shall from henceforth bee any waies
troubled, molested or discountenanced for or in respect of his or her
religion nor in the free exercise thereof . . . nor anyway compelled to the
beleif or exercise of any other Religion against his or her consent, soe as
they be not unfaithfull to the Lord Proprietary or molest or conspire
against the civill Government . . ."
* "Archives of Maryland, Proceedings and Acts of the General
Assembly", vol. I, pp. 244-247.
CHAPTER XI. COMMONWEALTH AND RESTORATION
On the 30th of January, 1649, before the palace of Whitehall, Charles the
First of England was beheaded. In Virginia the event fell with a shock.
Even those within the colony who were Cromwell's men rather than Charles's
men seem to have recoiled from this act. Presently, too, came fleeing
royalists from overseas, to add their passionate voices to those of the
royalists in Virginia. Many came, "nobility, clergy and gentry, men of the
first rate." A thousand are said to have arrived in the year after the
King's death.
Pages:
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120
121
122
123
124
125
126
127
128
129