296 Assembly Proceedings, April 30-May 14, 1696.

U. H. J.

This Board has Perused the message of your House by
your Clerk sent touching the Ships &c and for answer return
that they are of Opinion it will Conduce most to his Majestys
Service that the Ships now in the Country be Cleared as they
are got ready and for the Reasons already laid before the
House which this Board takes to be good Reasons
Signed p Order
Hen Denton Clk Concil.

The said Message sent by the Clerk of this Board who re-
turns and says that the House was Adjourned until Monday
morning but that he delivered the same to the Speaker at his
Lodgings

May 4^th 1696

p. 861

Brought from the House of Burgesses by Major Hammond
and Major Dorsey the following answer to the above message
sent them from this Board viz^t

By the House of Burgesses May the 4^th 1696

The House Concur with the Opinion of his Majestys honble
Council that the Ships be Cleared
Signed p Order
W Bladen Clk Assembly.

The which being read as also the Proposalls made to the
House for the same it is Considered that Hot weather now
coming on and the time for the worms biting therefore his
Excellency is pleased to demand of the Board whether it may
not be most for his Majestys Service that what Ships can be
got ready by the last of June may be Cleared as fast as they
can be got ready or otherwise to be stopt till the Fleets
arrival that such Ships as cannot be got ready by that time
may run up into the Freshes to lye secure from the worm the
which was well Approved of & an Order to the said Intent
drawn up and issued as follows viz^t

By his Excellency the Gov^r' & Council May 4^th 1696.

Upon Representation and by mature advice in Council &
from the House of Burgesses received Ordered that what
Ships are now in the Country be Cleared as fast as they can
gett ready provided such ships can be ready to sail by the last
of June next and that no Ships after the said last of June be
Cleared to sail until further Order whereof the several
Collectors and naval Officers within this Province are to take
due notice and to Conform themselves thereto Accordingly