Assembly Proceedings, April 1-26, 1684. 39

this province I must for the quicker dispatch of the business
of this Assembly (I haveing but few dayes more to spend with
both houses) declare that many of those alteracons inserted in
the said bills are such as I shall not be willing to allow of, and
because I would have noe bills p^rsented unto me by this
Assembly the day of the sessions but such as I may safely and
be willing to sett my hand unto. I doe now declare what
alteracons I will allow off, and to which I will be ready to sett

U. H. J.
Original.

my hand when the bills are p^rsented desireing that what I now
declare by this may not be drawne into an example and
become p^rsidentiall in future Assemblys for my doeing this
(as I have said before) is onely to putt a speedy end to this
meeting w^ch my other affaires forces me too:
ffirst as to the alteracon desired to be made in the Act
touching Judicature, It is not safe to have Justice administred
according to the lawes of England, where the lawes of this
province are silent, without due regard had by the Governo^r
or Cheife Judge and the Justices in Court to the Consistency
of such lawes of England to the Constitucon and p'sent Con-
dicon of this Assembly, it seeming to me unreasonable that
since his Majestie of ever blessed memory out of the fullness
of his Royall power was graciously pleased to permitt me
with the consent of the ffreemen to make such wholesome
Lawes as should be Consonant to reason and not repugnant
to the lawes of England, I should by an Act obleige and tye
vp the ffreemen of this province to be concluded by such of
the lawes of England as may ruine them, or at least be greately
injurious in severall respects to them, I am therefore willing to
admitt of this alteracon, that where the Lawes of this Province
are silent Justice may be administred according to the lawes
of England, if the Governo^r or Cheife Judge and the Justices
of my Court shall find such lawes Consistent with the Con-
dicon of this Province: To a Bill with this alteracon I will sett
my hand, but not otherwise.
Secondly. The alteracons desired in the bill for the pun-
ishing of Certaine Offences against the peace and safety of this
Province, I doe except against being willing to allow of this
amendment onely that where it is left to the Court to order
one or more of the punishm^ts enumerated in the old Act for
punishing &c^a That the Court shalbe restrained to one or

p. 44

two of the said punishm^ts in the said Act, with this amendment
and noe other alteracon I shalbe Contented and will sett my
hand to a bill to be drawne up for that purpose onely and not
otherwise.
Thirdly: To the bill touching the leavying of warr and
defraying the publick Charges of the province sent vp to you
from the Lower house, I conceive it time lost for you to

p. 45