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

L. H. J.

By the House of Burgesses, Sept^r the 21^st 1696.

This house have carefully and maturely considered the last
message and the objection made ag^t the quallification of Col
John Cood presented to this house as a Burgess, And that
we might be fully informed appointed our Comittee of Elec-
tions and Priviledges to enquire and examine into the matter,
and who accordingly done so and made their reporte
Whereupon the following Question in this house, Whether
the house will concurr in the reporte of s^d Comittee that the
said Cood was not quallified to sitt here or not, and there-
upon It is carryed and resolved by Majority of voice in this
house that the said Cood is quallified to sett in this house as a
member,
Whereupon we humbly present him to have the usuall
oaths administered
Signed p order
W Bladen Clk Assembly

Sent p Major Smallwood and M^r Hutchison who are
ordered to present the said Col. Cood to be sworne.

M^r Jenkins and Cap^t Blay sent to acquaint the hon^bl! S^r
Thomas Laurence Bar' that this house is ready to receive his
Reporte.
Who returne to the house and say they have delivered
their Message. The hon^ble S^r Thomas Laurence Bar^t Col.
George Robotham, Col Charles Hutchins, Thomas Brooke
Esq' James Frisby enter the house where being admitted,
His hon^r S^r Thomas Laurence gives an acc^t and acquaints the
house how the Affairs of this Province had been transacted
by him in England.
Then came the following Message from his Ma^tys hon^ble
Councill, by the hon^ble John Addison and Thomas Brooke
Esquire, viz.

By his Ex^ey the Gov^r and Councill 7^br 21^st 1696

The Message by Major Smallwood and M^r Hutchison in
relation to M^r Cood [was received and read here and] this
Board does conceive that the [question thereabout put is not]
rightly answered for that it is not disputed whether he is
rightly] chosen but whether he is a Deacon or priest [and so

p. 110

not qualified to] sit by the Law of England. An answer
[thereto is by this] Board [positively] demanded.
Signed p ord^r Hen: Denton Clk. Councill