A narrative of the miseries of New-England, by reason of an arbitrary government erected…

It was thought by wise men, that the Remembrance of Dudley and Emp•son, who in the days of King Henry the 8th were executed for acting by a like Commission, would have deterred them from doing so, but it did not, for Laws are made by few of them, and indeed what they please: nor are they printed: as was the Custom in the former Governments, so that the people are at a great loss to know what is Law and what […]. Olny, one Law they are sensible of, which doth prohibit all Town-Meetings, excepting on a certain day once a year; whereas the Inhabitants have occasion to meet once a Week▪ for the Relief of the Poor; or other Town-Affairs. But it is […] to penetrate into the Design of this Law, which was (no Question) to keep them in every Town from Complaining to ⟨p. 3⟩to England, of the Oppression they are under: And (as Laws have been establishst) so Moneys have been raised by the Government in a most illegal and Arbitrary way, without any consent of the People. Sir Edmond Andross caused a Tax to be levied of a Penny in a Pound on all the Towns then under his Government: and when at Ipswich and other places, the Select Men (as they are styled) voted, that inasmuch as it was against the common Privileges of English Subjects to have money raised without their own Consent in an Assembly or Parliament; That therefore they would petition the King for Liberty of an Assembly before they made any Rates; the said Sir Edmond Andross caused them to be imprisoned and Fined, some 20 l. some 30 l. as the Judges, by him instructed, should see meet to determine; yea, and several Gentlemen in the Country were Imprisoned and bound to their Good Behaviour, upon mere suspicion, that they did encourage their Neighbours not to comply with these Arbitrary Proceedings. And that so they might be sure to effect their Pernicious Designs, they have caused Juries to be picked of Men who are not of the Vicinity, and some of them mere Strangers in the Country, and no Freeholders; which actings are highly illegal. One of the former Magistrates was committed to prison without any Crimes laid to his Charge, and there kept half a Year without any Fault; and though he petitioned for a Habeas Corpus, it was denied him. Also inferior Officers have extorted what Fees they please to demand, contrary to all Rules of Reason and Justice. They make poor Widows and Fatherless pay 50 s.

It was thought by wise men, that the Remembrance of Dudley and Empson, who in the dayes of King Henry the 8th were executed for acting by a like Commission, would have deterred them from doing so, but it did not, for Laws are made by few of them, and indeed what they please: nor are they printed: as was the Custom in the former Governments, so that the people are at a great loss to know what is Law and what . Olny, one Law they are sensible of, which doth prohibit all Town-Meetings, excepting on a certain day once a year; whereas the Inhabitants have occasion to meet once a Week for the Relief of the Poor; or other Town-Affairs. But it is to penetrate into the Design of this Law, which was (no Question) to keep them in every Town from Complaining to