Assembly Proceedings, Mar. 10, 1697/8-Apr. 4, 1698. 109

administration of Iustice and likewise other officers necessary
and usefull in his Matys Goverment, comitted to the Imediate
care and charge of your Ex^cy and that the honour obedience
and respect due to Authority may be preserved and not by
the vulgar slighted and contemned.
We humbly beseech your Ex^cy will be pleased to use all
suitable and direct means to support encourage and main-
taine the same and with a kind and favourable aspect receive
what we here begg leave to offer to the consideration of the

Ex^cy for redreoe thereof which are as followeth.

The Justices of the severall County Courts have been
arrested and by strict and unusual means compelled to make
theire appearance att Annapolis, as grievous offenders when
in truth their faults if any were very Small, and pardonable to
the lessening the esteem due to theire offices, and to theire
great damage and Expences, and in like manner have the
Vesterymen of Severall parishes been dealt with all upon very
slight occasions to theire greate loss and hinderance.
Further more we humbly make known to your Ex^cy that
your Ex^cy sitting in view of the Provinciall Court strikes an
awfull fear upon Attorneys, Iuror^s and Suitors, giving theire
attendance there, and seems to restreine that liberty and free-
dom heretofore used to the great dissatisfaction of the Country.
All which we humbly Submitted to your Ex^cy great wisdom.
Signed p order
W Bladen Ctk. house Del:

By the house of Delegates March 25^th 1698.

This house having again Maturely debated what his Ex^cy
was pleased yesterday to offer in relation to the Law proposed
for new Modelizing the Militia do finde no reason to recede
from their former vote thereon, and resolve not to make any
such law.
Signed p order W Bladen Clk: house Del:

This Message and the above address sent to his Excellency
and his Maty^s honourable Councill, by M^r Harris, M^r Hawkins,
M^r Elisha Hall, M^r Benj. Hall, M^r Ferry, M^r Leech and M^r
Lane.

Original
Journal.

M^r Charles Carroll Clk: of his Lordsp^s Land office, and M^r
Charles Gregory Clk: to the Hon^ble S^r Thomas Laurence
Barr^t his Matys Sec^ry appear in the house according to Sumons
last Wednesday to the said S^r Thomas and M^r Carroll.
M^r Gregory presented M^r Speaker with a letter from his
master and an order of King and Councill.

p. 188