Assembly Proceedings, July 1-10, 1696. 415

things of different natures, therefore recomends to them to
pass it as proposed; for that if it should go in the words
fundamentall laws of the Kingdom of England it would occa-
sion them to carry their causes to Westminster. But if they
think fitt to draw up a Declaratory Act of their Rights and
priviledges he will pass it here and use his interest for the
passing thereof in England.
After which the members repaired to their house, and
entered into Debate concerning the said Bill.
Put to the Question and carried by Majority of voices that
a Comittee be appointed to draw up reasons for or ag^e passing
the s^d Bill.
Appointed of the s^d Comittee, Cap^t Dent, M^r Boothby, M^r
Clarke Cap^t Hill, Col: Codd, Major Hutchison, Major Thomp-
son, M^r Robert Smith, and M^r W^m Hutchison.

House adjourned for 2 hours.

Original
Journal.

Post Meridiem The House met.

Major Dent and the other members this day appointed a
Comittee to draw up Reasons for or against passing the Bill
for Religion, Enter the house and present Severall reasons for
and ag^t passing the s^d Bill as proposed which were read in the
house and these in the following Message [sent up to] his
Ex^cy and his Ma^tys hon^ble Councill, Viz^t

By the house £of Burgesses July the 9^th] 1696

We have with [our utmost care and Scrutiny] considered
the clause in the law [for Religion; And] as we are earnestly
desirous to propogate the same [out of the sense] of our duty
to God loyalty to his most sacred Ma^ty and in] imitation of his
Ex^cy most noble and worthy example, so we conceive we ought
not altogether to be unmindfull of the Rights and libertyes of
ourselves and those we represent. We are earnestly desirous
rightly to understand his Ex^cy and to be Rightly understood
by him, and therefore have endeavoured to find out an
accofnodation of words, that may answer all Intents, by putting
in the words, Laws and Statutes of England instead of the
words fundamentall laws of England.
We are not in the least doubt of our Rights or Libertyes
being infringed by our Gracious Soveraigne or our noble and
worthy Governor; and do sincerely acknowledge that his
Ex^cy Governs by the fairest measures and freest adminiscon
of the Laws we are capable of understanding and therefore
have not the least apprehension of his invading our Rights
and priviledges, We firmly believe ourselves and those we

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