Assembly Proceedings, July 1-10, 1696. 393

his Excellency signifying his Assent thereto by signing them
with this Indorsement viz^t

July the 8^th 1696

On the behalf of his Majesty King William the third I will
these to be Laws
Francis Nicholson

Afterwards his Excellency was pleased to tell them that the
Bill here presented Relating to Religion had been considered
and that he is sorry to find them so stiff in a matter of that
nature which as it is now drawn his Majesty will not Assent to
for that His Majesty has declared he will not Assent to any
Law that contains things of different nature in it as this does
wherein they joyn Eclesiastical & temporal matters together
being pleased also to signify that he hopes they dont question
his Majestys hindering or debarring them of any priviledges
due to them as Englishmen who came over to preserve and is
now actually engaged for the defence of their Liberties and

U . H. J.

that if they question himself they are Obliged to declare it and
to draw up a Law by it self which might explain the rights
and priviledges they require for that if such a Law should
pass as they have now drawn it wherein they claim their privi-
ledges according to the fundamental Laws of England they
must go with their Causes to Westminster Hall according to
the Opinion of the Kings Attorney General and other
Learned Lawyers in England which they would do well to
Consider and whether the course they are now taking would
not instead of Gaining the People a Liberty enslave them the
more therefore his Excellency yet hoped that they would con-
sider these things and not make good the old English proverb
upon themselves viz^t of being Like the Cow that gives a good
Pale of milk and kicks it down with her Foot for that it is
Confessed this Assembly has been instrumental in making
many good Laws which is hoped will tend to the Glory of
God the Kings Honour and the good and Welfare of the
Country but by Leaving Religion at this rate unsetled undoes
all again therefore was pleased to prorogue them till the ninth
Instant the which stands accordingly prorogued.

At a Council in a General Assembly According to Proroga-
tion mett & held the ninth day of July in the eighth year of
the reign of our Lord King William the third &c Annoq
Domini 1696 Present

p. 897