our hands such of our rebellious
subjects as have taken up arms against us, for which
traitorous practices some of them have suffered death
according to law; so we have been graciously pleased to extend
our mercy to many others by ordering their transportation to
several parts of our dominions in America, where they are to
be kept as servants to the inhabitants of the same; and to the
end their punishment may in some measure answer their crimes,
we do think fit hereby to signify our pleasure unto you, our
governor and council of Virginia, that you take all necessary
care that such convicted persons as were guilty of the late
rebellion, that shall arrive within that our colony, whose
names are hereunto annexed,[340:B] be kept there, and continue
to serve their masters for the space of ten years at least.
And that they be not permitted in any manner to redeem
themselves by money or otherwise until that term be fully
expired. And for the better effecting hereof, you are to frame
and propose a bill to the assembly of that our colony, with
such provisions and clauses as shall be requisite for this
purpose, to which you, our governor, are to give your assent,
and to transmit the same unto us for our royal confirmation.
Wherein expecting a ready compliance, we bid you heartily
farewell. Given at our court at Whitehall, the 4th of October,
1685, in the first year of our reign.

"SUNDERLAND."

Virginia made no law conformable to the requisitions of the king.

James the Second, strongly resenting the too democratical proceedings of
the Virginia assembly, ordered their dissolution, and that Robert
Beverley, as chief promoter of these disputes, should be disfranchised
and prosecuted,[340:C] and directed that in future the appointment of
the clerk of the house of burgesses should be made by the governor.
Several persons were punished about this time for seditious and
treasonable conduct. In May, 1687, the assembly was dissolved. In the
spring of this year Robert Beverley died--the victim of tyranny and
martyr of constitutional liberty: long a distinguished loyalist, he
lived to become still more distinguished as a patriot. It is thus in
human inconsistency that extremes meet.

The English merchants engaged in the tobacco trade, in August, 1687,
complained to the