The Lower House. 361

them to returne to their own house Imediately to make Choice
of a Speaker.
After which the said members returned and there unani-
mously made choice of Coll Mathew Tilghman Ward a mem-
ber returned to serve as a Delegate for Talbott County for
their Speaker who in his place disabled him selfe to undergoe
soe weighty a Charge and Earnestly desired them to proceed
to a new Choice which being denyed and he placed in the
Chair —
Then he prayed they might give him leave to disable
himselfe to his Excellency.
After which Coll Phillip Hoskins and Cap^t Codd are sent
to acquaint his Excellny that the Delegates have made Choice
of their Speaker and to know when his Excellency will have
him presented for approbation
They returne and Say they acquainted his Excellency
thereof.
Whereupon Lt Coll Young and Coll Addison from the
upper house acquaint the Delegates that his Excellny Comands
them to prsent their Speaker before him in the upper house.

Whereupon the house repaired to his Excellcy as aforesaid
and prsented Coll Mathew Tilghman Ward for their Speaker
to his Excellcy the Governor where the said Mr Speaker decently
and Submissively addressing himselfe to his Excellcy offered
severall reasons disabling him from Serving in that Station,
and therefore made humble Suit to his Excellency to be dis-
charged, and that his Excellcy will be pleased to Comand the
Delegates to make choice of an abler person which Excuses
his Excellny would noe ways admitt of, being well Satisfied of

Lib. R. U.

the skill and knowledge of the said Coll Mathew Tilghman
Ward in the Publick affairs of this Province and required him
in his Lordship the Lord Proprietary's name to accept of the
said place.
After which Mr Speaker in the name of the whole Lower
house desired his Excellency on his Lordship the Lord Proprie-
tary's behalfe that the Delegates of this Assembly may have the
freedom of Speech as of right and by Custome they have
used and all their ancient and Just priviledges and Liberties
allowed them and that in any thing he shall deliver in the
name of the Lower house if he shall Comitt any Error noe
fault may be imputed to the Lower house but that he may
resort to them againe for declaration of their true intent and
that his Error may be pardoned.
And Lastly as often as necessity for the Right Honble the
Lord Propriatarys Service and the publick good shall require

p. 137