"This is what I intended to have recommended to you: but Mr. Middleton's telling me, in the name of the rest, that you would not act _with_, and your surprising message since, that you will not receive any thing _from_ me, in conjunction with my council, has made it necessary for me to take this occasion of talking with that plainness and freedom so extraordinary a proceeding of yours requires. And, first, I must take notice of your message, wherein you say, you own me as Governor, because I am approved of by the King; but that you disown the council to be a legal one, nor will act with them on any account whatsoever; and this is subscribed by all your members: but, upon examining, I find it to be pretty dark and evasive, and seems as if you would avoid expressing in plain terms, what I have too much cause to fear is your design, I mean, to renounce all obedience to the Lords Proprietors: and this I cannot but think you propose from all your words and actions. You say, you acknowledge me, because I am approved of by the King; but you take no notice of my commission from the Proprietors, which is what makes me Governor. The confirmation of the King, only signifies his majesty's approbation of the person the Lords Proprietors have constituted; but it is my commission and instruction from them, that not only grants, but limits my power, and contains the rules by which I must act, and are to warrant and vouch my actions; therefore, to avoid declaring in express terms your renouncing the Lords power, and at the same time doing it in effect, is to create perpetual doubts and disputes, and is not acting with that sincerity and plainness which ought to be used in all public debates, and especially in matters of so great concern as this is, and upon which so great consequences depend.