118 Assembly Proceedings, August—September 1681.

U. H. Journal
1659-98

he had read their Address p^r two Members of their house, the
Contents being very Surprizing gave his Lordship Occasion
to ask the Bearers whether they had Commission to Speak
thereunto to which they said yes; his Lordship Designing to
ask them what the Lower house intended to doe in the Mean
time, it requiring Some Considerable time to Make New Elec-
tions, they replyed that that would be no Impediment for that
they intended to go on in their Business, his Lordship did then
ask them whether they did conceive the Speaker and Mem-
bers now Assembled were a House Sufficient to proceed in
Business to which they said they were which Seemed to Con-
tradict the Tenor of their Message
The Chancellor in writing gives them the heads of their
Message
The Speaker declares that their intent was to have waited
this Morning on his Lordship for his Gracious Answer to their
Address and therefore Desired the Excuse of his Lordship
and this house for their Weakness in Answering not fore-
knowing what his Lordship and this house would Say there-
unto—
He says that by his Lordships Writt for the Conveening
this Assembly 1676 four Delegates were Elected but two
only Summoned by his Lordships Writt which gave Such
General Dissatisfaction that the People by their Representa-
tives then Obtained his Lordships New Writts for the calling
all the Delegates—
The Summ of all is the Lower House request is that this
Assembly which Commenced with four Delegates in a County
may Still have their Complement during this Assembly, The
are desired to withdraw for Some time
Put to the Vote (whether the last Act for Electing Burgesses
&c. that part for Electing four in a County being Disassented
by his Lordships Proclamation upon this Convention) Now
Sending out Writts to fill up the Vacancies of the Lower house
may not be Binding as an Act for the future to Summon four
Delegates for each County in Succeeding Assemblys
The Secretary is desired to go to the Lower house to desire
them again to come into this house his Lordship was ready to
receive them.
He returns & they will Send Answer by a Member of their
own.
The Speaker and Members of the Lower house Enter; his
Lordship does declare to them that by his Proclamation by
which they are now called, the Law for four Delegates is Suffi-
ciently Disassented to, and that otherwise he would Gratifie
their request in issuing out Writts for filling up the Vacancies;
he desires to know whether they cannot Safely proceed as
they are to their Business—