Assembly Proceedings, Sept. 16-Oct. 2, 1696. 467

province for printing the Laws made every Sessions &c and
that he the said Bladen at his own proper cost and charges
would send for such press with the Appurtenances provided
his Excellency the Governor would Give him Leave to make
use of the same this House are of opinion that the same will
be of Great advantage to this Province & humbly desire his
Excellency will be pleased to Give leave to the said Bladen to
make use thereof when arrived according to his proposall
Signed p Order W Bladen Clk assembly.

October 2^d 1696

Approved of by his Excellency and Council provided he
Gives security according to his Majestys Royal Instructions to
his Excellency
Hen Denton Clk Council.

U. H. J.

Brought from the House of Burgesses by several members
thereof the following Message together with several Resolves
in answer to the last Remarks sent them from this Board viz^t

By the House of Burgesses October the 2^d 1696

The House understand by the messengers last sent that his
Excellency is not Satisfied with our last Message under an
apprehension that his Excellency lies under imputation of
receiving the countries money because some single Persons
without reason and contrary to Truth may let fall such
Expressions
We are very sorry his Excellency should so apprehend us
and therefore to clear Ourselves and the whole Province
whom we represent we do hereby publish and declare with
one consent that at all times past we have found his Excel-
lency free from the least Tendency that way. That he hath
always treated us with Justice and Honour not considering so
much his own as our good and never either required or used
any of the Countries money but on the contrary hath several
times lent us money of his own and received nothing but the
principal again and the money that his Excellency has now
received from us is no more than what he lent us and lain a
considerable time out of and this we sincerely declare and
desire it may be Accepted of from us.
Signed p Order W Bladen Clk Assembly

Assented to by his Excellency and his Majestys honourable
Council
Hen Denton Clk Council

p. 921