Assembly Proceedings, October—November 1682. 355

The two preceeding Messages sent to the Lower house p.
Coll Coursey—
Coll William Stevens & Coll William Digges Enter the
house
Coll Digges p. Order from his Lordship produces the
Address of the Lower house to his Lordship Touching the Bill
for Electing and Summoning Delegates &^t together with his
Lordships Answer thereunto in the following Letter Viz^t—

Gentlemen
Tis with very great trouble that at any time I am Compelled
to Deny a request made by the Delegates and Deputies of
this Province, and I am the more at this time, in regard that
my not Answering your desires in your Late Address I shall
run some hazard (as by the same you seem to hint) of having
my Good Intentions towards the Freemen nf Maryland railed
in Question by you, however I must resolve to return you
this Answer, that I think your late request is of that Nature,
that it will as well be inconvenient for the Freemen to accept,
as it may be dangerous for me to Grant: What Priviledges
and Powers I have by my Charter are from the King, and that
of Calling of Assemblies in such manner and way as I shall
think fitt being an undeniable one amongst the rest, I cannot

U. H. Journal
1659-98

Deem it Honourable Nor safe to Lodge it in the Freemen as
you have desired, for it would be as reasonable for me to give
away my Power of Calling and Dissolving of Assemblies, as to
give that of Choosing the Number of Delegates, and such
Persons as think much I should hold my Power in the Latter
would not long be Satisfied afore they requested the power
from me of the former: against this I cann have no Assurance
should I once grant what you have so unkindly desired:
Therefore I hope you will not hence forward press any thing
of this Nature to me, being resolved never to part with Powers
my Charter gives me but always to Exercise them for the Ease
and welfare of the Freemen under my Care, and by so doing
I shall ever be left able to render a good Account of my great
Charge here to my Sovereign Lord the King, by whose great
grace favour and Goodness I enjoy all I have And So I rest
Your very Loving friend
Mattapony 3^d Nov^r 1682 C: Baltimore
For the Speaker and the rest of the Genl.
of the Lower house of Assembly—

Coll Henry Coursey returns from the Lower house
Came on a Message from the Lower house M^r Thomas Burford
to acquaint this House that they did Concurr with the Opinion
of this house in drawing up Articles of Impeachment against

p. 452