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

Original
Journal.

and servants, which is endorsed past the Board without any
alteracon (which said Bill was againe read the third time in
the house and ordered to be engrossed.)

p. 199

Also severall proposalls from his Ex^cy the Gov^r and his
Maty^s hon^ble Councill, whereon debated and Resolved as fol-
loweth, viz^t that.
I^st As to the proposall for Confirming the proceedings of
the Assemby seeing the house is sufficiently satisfyed, with
the proceedings of the Assembly and do not think it necessary
to make any such Act of Confirmation. His Ex^cy dos in his
Matys [name] Comand the house to make a direct answer to
these following articles, which said articles do more Imediately
Concerne the publick and if can be made out to be true then
the Severall proceedings since that time must consequently
prove erroneous.
Put to the Question whether or no the house shall make any
answer to those Severall Articles of Cap^t Slye as by his Ex^cy
is required.
And Carried by Majority of voices no answer to be made.
Whereupon Resolved the following Message be sent to his
Ex^cy the Gov^r and his Matys hon^ble Councill.

By the house of Delegates March the 30^th 1698.

As to his Ex^cys Comand (in his Maty⁵ name) to this house
to make a direct answer to the 7^th 8^th 9^th & 14^th Articles of
charge exhibited ag^t his Ex^cy the Governour by Gerard Slye.
The house do say that notwithstanding such comand they
hold themselves free whether they will make answer thereto
or not. This house humbly conceiving the difference between
your Ex^cy and M^r Gerard Sly doth not affect them and that the
law is open. Signed p order.
W Bladen Clk: house Del:

The answer of the house to the proposall for an Ordinance
to pass ag^t those that persuade and entice the Inhabitants out
of this province this Board conceive is not according to the
proposall for that it was not intended to barr or hinder any
persons that were minded to depart the province as the house
seems to infer, but ag^t such as persuade and intice the people
out of the Country by sinister and specious pretences as is
well known not onely to some of his Maty^s hon^ble Councill, but
also to severall of the members of the house of Delegates hath
been practiced and done which thing is reckoned to be one of
the greatest grievances now in this province and highly neces-
sary to be discouraged by some such means.