University of Virginia Library

H. APPENDIX H.

[Page 213.]

The following is a copy of the denunciation of George Keith, and
his printed address; proclaimed by the common crier, in the Market
place, Philadelphia, August 25, 1692.

"At a Private Sessions held for the County of Philadelphia the
25th of the 6th month, 1692, before Arthur Cook, Samuel Jennings,
Samuel Richardson, Humphrey Murray, Anthony Morris, Robert
Ewer, Justices of the County.

"Whereas the Government of this Province, being by the late
King of England's peculiar favor vested, and sithence continued in
Governor Penn, who thought fit to make his and our worthy friend
Thomas Lloyd his deputy governor, by and under whom the Magistrates
do act in this Government—And whereas it hath been proved
before us, that George Keith being a resident here, did, contrary to
his duty, publickly revile the said Deputy Governor, calling him an
Impudent man, telling him he was not fit to be Governor, and that
his name would stink, with many other slighting and abusive Expressions,
both to him and the Magistrates; and he that useth such
exorbitancy of speech towards the said Governor, may be supposed
will easily dare to call the Members of Council and Magistrates
Impudent Rascals, as he hath lately called one in an open Assembly,
that was constituted by the Proprietary to be a Magistrate—and he
also charges the Magistrates who are Ministers here, with engrossing
the Magistratical Power into their hands, that they might usurp
Authority over him, saying also, he hoped in God ho should shortly
see their Power taken from them; and otherwise conducted in a
most undecent manner. And further the said G. K. with several of
his adherents, having some few days since, with an unusual insolency,
by a printed sheet, called An Appeal, &c. Traduced, and vilely misrepresented
the Industry, Care, Readiness and Vigilancy of some
Magistrates and others here, in their late Proceedings against some
Privateers, viz. Babit and his Crew, in order to bring them to condign
punishment, whereby to discourage such attempts for the future;
and hath thereby also defamed and arraigned the Determinations of

Provincial Judicatory against Murderers; and not only so, but by
a wrong insinuation, have laboured to possess the readers of their
Pamphlet, that it is inconsistent for those who are Ministers of the
Gospel to act. as Magistrates. Now, forasmuch, as we, as well as
others, have borne, and still do patiently endure from the said George
Keith and his adherents many personal Reflections against us, and
their Gross Revilings of our Religious Society; yet we cannot without
the violation of our trust to the King and Governor, as also to the
inhabitants of this Government, pass by or connive at such part of
the said Pamphlet and Speeches, that has a tendency to sedition
and disturbance of the peace, as also to the subversion of the present
Government, or to the aspersing the Magistracy thereof.—Therefore
for the undeceiving of all people we have thought fit by this Publick
Writing, not only to signify that our Procedure against the persons
now in the Sheriff's custody, as well as what we intend against others
concerned, in its proper place, respects only that part of the said
printed sheet, which appears to have the tendency aforesaid, and not
any part relating to Differences in Religion. But also, these are to
Caution such who are well affected to the Security, Peace and Legal
Administration of Justice in this Place, that they give no countenance
to any Revilers and Contemners of Authority, Magistrates or Magistracy;
as also, to warn all other persons, that they forbear the future
publishing and spreading of the said Pamphlet, as they will answer
the contrary at their peril. Given under our Hands and County-Seal,
the Day, Year and Place aforesaid.

• "Arthur Cook,    Humphrey Murrey,
• Samuel Jennings,    Robert Ewer,
• Samuel Richardson,    Anthony Morris."

George Keith published an answer to the foregoing, in which he
denies that he blamed Governor Lloyd and the magistrates, for their
proceedings against the privateers [pirates;] or, that be called in
question their power, as magistrates, respecting that business; that
their conduct, as magistrates, relating to the pirates, was commendable,
&c.; that he only asserted, "that as quakers and ministers, the
magistrates in hiring and fitting out men to fight, had acted diametrically
opposite and contrary to the often declared and known principle
of the quakers, not to make any use of the carnal sword."

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