The extension of the Hæbeas Corpus act to the plantations, by queen Anne, appears to have been only by instructions to the governors, and not by any act of parliament. By what prerogative could she extend that act to the colonists, were they not before entitled to its benefit? If entitled to, it was unjust in any power to deny them the advantage of the act; and the royal favour to the Virginians, consisted solely in the queen’s _asserting to her subjects their legal rights and properties_ (as the burgesses expressed themselves) by giving suitable directions on the business. The high sense of colonial liberty exhibited by the _York_ and _Massachusetts_ general courts, was opposed by the _English_ government. [1696.] An act was passed by the parliament, declaring that “All laws, bye-laws, usages and customs, which shall be in practice in any of the plantations, repugnant to any law made or to be made in this kingdom, relative to the said plantations, shall be void and of none effect.” There might be no design on the part of the ministry of taxing any of the colonies; but about 1696, a pamphlet was published, recommending the laying a parliamentary tax on one of them. It was answered by two others much read; which totally denied the power of taxing the colonies, because they had no representation in parliament to give consent. No answer, public or private, was given to these pamphlets; no censure passed upon them; men were not startled at the doctrine, as either new or illegal, or derogatory to the rights of parliament.[53] Though the parliament might not then claim the right of taxing, they claimed the right of punishing disobedience to their laws, with the loss of charter privileges. In the 11th of _William_ III. an act was passed [1699.] for the trial of pirates in _America_, in which there is the following clause, “Be it further declared, _that if any of the governors, or any person or persons in authority_ there, shall _refuse to yield obedience to this act_, such refusal is hereby declared to be a _forfeiture_ of all and every the _charters_ granted for the _government_ or _propriety_ of such plantation.”