The Quaker Vindicated - 7
"What these People intended by their coming down armed", says he, "let themselves declare". This is no bad instance of Philopatrius's modesty, as we see he is ashamed to mention their intention, for it would be too ridiculous to suppose he could feign ignorance of it so late in the day; more especially as, he says, they sent "several Petitions", which not being mention'd in the Declaration, &c. must be a piece of private intelligence which he was let into. But the style of both these Pieces is so wonderfully similar, that it is more than possible the same Lucina ushered them into the world.
To elucidate this matter, let us see what reason the Citizens of Philadelphia (including the few armed Quakers) had to put themselves in a defensive posture: — News was brought to them of a great Number of armed Men being on their way towards the City; their design being, as they gave out, to kill all those Indians (Friends of this Province) in the Barracks, Men, Women and Children, that were under the Protection of the Government, and to force their way through all opposition, or die in the attempt; and likewise threatened what they would do to several of the Citizens. The Inhabitants therefore, (shocked at so inhuman and illegal a project) entered into an Association, at the request of the Governor, to strengthen the hands of Magistracy, and oppose the extravagant designs of the Rioters, few of whom were Freeholders or Men of Property, the majority of them being people the Caballers had in pay. But the Citizens of Philadelphia had no design to offer them the least injury, unless they should use violence; which evidently appears from the measures they entered into with them.
