ous deliberation.

"Your petitioners humbly conceive that those who live in this age are no
less than others concerned in that advice of the wise man, to keep the
King's commandment, because of the oath of God, and not to be tardy to
go out of his sight that doth whatever pleaseth him; wherefore they
desire that seeing his Majesty hath already taken no little displeasure
against us, as if we disowned his Majesty's jurisdiction over us,
effectual care be taken, lest by refusing to attend his Majesty's order
for clearing our pretences unto right and favour in that particular, we
should plunge ourselves into great disfavour and danger.

"The receiving of a Charter from his Majesty's royal predecessor for the
planting of this colony, with a confirmation of the same from his royal
person, by our late address, sufficiently declares this place to be
part of his dominions and ourselves his subjects. In testimony of which,
also, the first Governor, Mr. Matthew Cradock (as we are informed),
stands recorded _juratus de fide et obedientia_, before one of the
Masters in Chancery; whence it is evident that if any proceedings of
this colony have given occasion to his Majesty to say that we believe he
hath no jurisdiction over us, what effectual course had need be taken to
free ourselves from the incurring his Majesty's future displeasure by
continuance in so dangerous an offence? And to give his Majesty all due
satisfaction in that point, such an assertion would be no less
destructive to our welfare than derogatory to his Majesty's honour. The
doubtful interpretations of the words of a patent which there can be no
reason to hope should ever be construed to the divesting of the
sovereign prince of his Royal power over his natural subjects and liege
people, is too frail a foundation to build such transcendent immunity
and privilege upon.

"Your petitioners earnestly desire that no part will so irresistibly
carry on any design of so dangerous a consequence as to necessitate
their brethren equally engaged with them in the same undertaking to make
their particular address to his Majesty, and declaring to the world, to
clear themselves from the least imputation of so scandalous an evil as
the appearance of disaffection or disloyalty to the person and
government of their lawful prince and sovereign would be.

"Wherefore your petitioners do here humbly entreat that if any occasion
hath been given to his Majesty so to resent any former acti