Assembly Proceedings, April 30-May 14, 1696. 371

House again met [Mr Boothby] and Major Thompson
returne and say they have delivered their [message]
The hon^ble Colonel George Robotham Col. Charls Hutch-
ins & Colonel John Addison came down to the house and
bring with them the seVall Bills this Day sent up to his Ma^tys
hon^ble Councill except the Bill for laying the publique Levy of
this province which bills af^d are assented to by his Ma^tys hon^ble
Council.
Ordered that Col. Darnalls Declaration set up at the Door
of this house be entred upon the Journall & then again
put vp.
Cap^t Hill Mr Tasker Mr Boothby and Mr. Low sent to his
Ex^cy and the hon^ble Councill with the following Report from
the Comittee of Agrievances May the 12^th 1696.
It is complayned of to this Comittee that manifest & great
Decay of Trade in Severall parts of this province adjoyning to
our neighbouring Colonyes doth dayly happen by Shipps
leaving this province by reason of the too great Strictness in
taking security from Masters of Shipps which is very difficult
to procure, and imposing Oathes on them, and unless his Ex^cy
can abate the severity thereof here or procure the same Strict-
ness in our Neighbour Colonyes, it may prove of ill Conse-
quence to this Province.
This house humbly desire his Ex^cy would be pleased to rep-
resent the same to the R^t Hon^bLe the Corn" of the Customs &
take such other Measures therein as in his Wisdome he shall
thinke fitt

Original
Journal.

Mr. John Ollivers petition read. And put to the Question
if the Pet" and others under their Circumstances shall not
pay Levys, And carryed nemine contradicente in the Affirm-
ative.
Capt. Hill [and the rest of the members] returne and say
they have delivered [their message and that] his Ex^cy
recomend that the Justice[s of the Provinciall Court] and
his Ma^tys hon^ble Councill may be of the [Committee for laying
the pub]lique Levy to be layd before [his F.x^cy]
Whereupon [the following Message sent] to his Ex^cy the
Gov^r & his [Ma^tys hon^ble Councill]

By the house [of Burgesses, May] the 13^th 1696.

In answer to what [his Ex^cy and the] hon^bLe Board have
been pleased to recomend to [this house] to witt that his Ex^cy
and his Ma^tys hon^bLe Councill should be joyned to the Comittee
appointed by this house for laying and assessing of the pub-
lique Levy. We say that as it is the undoubted Right and
priviledge of the Representative Body of this province to con-

p. 28