Query XIII.

'' Whereas by the authoritie of the parliament wee the commissioners appointed by the councill of state authorized thereto having brought affleete ^ force before James cittie in Virginia to reduce that collonie under the obedience oj the commonwealth of England, ^finding force raised by the Goiiernour ^ countrey to make opposition against the said fleet whereby assured danger appearinge of the ruine Es? destruction of the plantation, for preve?ition whereof the Burgesses of all the senderall plantations being called to advise & assist therein, Ff L 218 ] nppon long & serious debate, and in sad contempla^ tion of the great miseries ^ certain destructioji nxihich %vere soe neerely hovering over the ivhole countrey; Wee the said Commissioners have thought jitt ^ condescending ^granted to signe ^ confirme under our hands, scales Es? by our oath, Articles bearinge date %mth theise presents, and do further declare that by the authoritie of the parliament y commonvoealth of England derived unto us their commissioners, that according to the articles in generall wee have granted an act of indempnitie £sP oblivion to all the inhabitants of this coloney from all words, actions, or writings that have been spoken acted or writt against the parliament or commonwealth of England or any other person from the beginning of the world to this daye. And this we have done that all the inhabitants of the collonie may live quietly ^ securely under the com- tnonwealth of England. And we do proinise that the parliament and commonwealth of England shall confirm ^ make good all those transactions of ours. Wittness our hands ^ scales this Vith of March 1651. Richard Bennett—Seale. W"^- Clai- borne—Seale. Edm. Curtis—Seale/' The colony fuppofed, that, by this folemn convention, entered into with arms in their hands, they had fecured the an- cient limits* of their country, its free tradetj its exemption from taxationljl * Arr. 4. f Art. 7. J Art. 8.