Assembly Proceedings, May 8-22, 1695. 147

To his Ex^ncy the Govern^r in Councill.
By the Burgesses of Assembly, May 13^th 1695.

This House do humbly Signify vnto your Ex^ncy That
Whereas James Welch hath barbarously Murdered his
Master, for which crime he is now in the Custody of the
Sherriffe of this County and lyes upon the Countyes Charge ;
Wee desire your Ex^ncy will be pleased since at present there
are Severall Justices of the Provinciall Court present now in
Town to give your Speciall Comission of Oyer & Terminer
to try the said James Welch. And Wee do further Signify
unto your Ex^ncy that there are now two Prisoners under Sen-
tence of Death in the Custody of the Sherriffe of Sn^t Maries
County which lye upon great Charges to the Countrey.
Wherefore Wee humbly pray your Ex^ncy will be .pleased to
proceed therein, as jn your Wisdom you shall think fit, to the
End the Province may be disburthen'd of so great and unnec-
essary charge.
Signed p Ord^r W Bladen Clk Assembly.

To which said Message the following Answer was (by Ord^r)
drawn and sent to the House by the hon^ble Coll John Addison
together with the aforegoing Petitions Referred; Viz^t

By his Ex^ncy the Govern^r & Councill in Assembly.
May 13^th 1695 :

Pursuant to the houses desire, this Board have Ordered a
Speciall Comission to issue for Trying of James Welch in
your Message named, & have accordingly appointed Friday
next to be the day of Tryall, and as to the two Condemned
Prisoners remaining in the Custody of the Sherriff of Sn^t
Maries County, you make mention off; the said Sherriff
hath already Obliged himself to take no ffees, but for further
Satisfaccon of the house this Board does Acquaint you that
this day an Express has been sent to Require the said Sher-
riffes Attendance here, from whom the house may Receive a
certain Account.
Signed p Order Hen Denton Cl Concil.

Upon Representacon of the House of Burgesses Ordered
that Special Comission issue out of their Ma^ts high Court of
Chancery, for the Tryall of one James Welch now in Custody
for Murdering his Master, Constituting and appointing the
hon^ble Robert Smith Esq^r and the Rest of the Provinciall Jus-
tices now in Town, Justices for the said End and purpose,

Original
Journal.