Assembly Proceedings, May — June 1676. 501

That if Crimes of soe high a nature Shall deserve noe great^r
punnishment, then what is inflicted by that Act, Offences of a
Lower nature will not require any, and by this meanes and
through Such proceedings as these, noe Comissions Instruc-
tions, powers and directions for the future will ever be Ob-
served, and to noe purpose will it be to thinke to tye Up any
Officer by Such hereafter, and Soe all Authority will become
Rediculous and Contemptible Jn fine by this Act the Lower
house of Assembly will have owned the Actions of the Said
Truman more then (as they ought to haue done) detested and
abhorred them and Soe Render the Governm^t Odious To all
people that Shall become Acquainted with the proceedings
Signed by ord^r
Lower house June 2 1676 Rich Boughton Clk of
the Assembly

This paper being read in the Lower house and the Debate
Reassumed in this house touching the Said bill of Attainder,
and Voted Nemine Contradicente that the Said Majo^r Truman
for his Crime does not deserue death in Regard th^t Seav^ll Cir-
cumstances th^t appeared at his Tryall doe extinuate his Crime
very much, as the Unanimous Consent of the Virginians
and the gen^ll Jmpetuosity of the Whole feild as well Mary-
Landers as Virginians upon the Sight of the Christians Mur-
dered at M^r Hinsons, and them very Indians that were there
Killed being proved to be murderers both of them and Seav^ll

U. H.
Journal
original

other Christians And in Regard alsoe th^t it appeares to this
house th^t the Said Crime Was not maliciously perpetrated or
out of any designe to Prejudice the province, But meerely out
of ignorance and to p^rvent a mutiny of the Whole Army as
well Virginians as Marylanders Wherefore This house doe
not think fitt to Recede from theire former Vote
Signed by ord^r of the house
Robert Ridgely Clk of the
Lower house of Assembly

The house is adjowrned till 10 a Clock
To morrow Morning

On Fryday June the 2^d the house met

Present The Hono^ble Chancellour Secretary & Survey^r Gen^ll
Coll Sam" Chew Coll Jesse Wharton Coll Tho Taylor

This house tooke into Consideration the many benefitts th^t
have acrued to this province by the Continuall Rangeing of
our horse men and therefore desire the Lower house to con-
sider th^t noe neighbour Jndian will attempt any thing to the

p. 36