Assembly Proceedings, Oct. 20-Nov. 12, 1698. 183

Whereupon the Gentⁿ say they thinke not
A Bill for the more Effectuall Surpressing cursing and
swearing read the first tyme
A Bill impowering the Vestrys to levy tob: to repair their
Churches and purchase Reg^r Books &c read the first tyme
A Bill for preventing the Sheriffs Serving Delegates and
Justices to serve as Jurymen read the first tyme
A Bill for Speedy conveying publicke Lres & pacquettes
read the first tyme
A Bill to buy Land at the Coole Springs &c read the first
tyme
Upon again reading the Message of the House relating to
to M^r Mason his Ex^cy says he does not conceive the suspend-
ing him any Infringem^t of the Law for that he was disabled by
Conviction &c
This Board adjourn'd till to morrow morning at 8 of the
Clock
Tusday No^r the 8^th the Councill in Assembly sate p^rsent as
yesterday
The hon^ble Thom^s Brooke and James Frisby Esq^rs sent to
Comand M^r Speaker and the house to attend his Ex^cy in
Councill
Whereupon came M^r Speak^r and the house to attend his
Ex^cy in Councill Where he is pleased to tell them that M^r
Rob^t Mason was indicted and by his own Confession convicted
& Stands bound by Recognizance being found to be a malig-
nant pson by severall Oaths As to their Expressions of
infringing the Laws for the ten p Cent 4^d p Gallon &c his Ex^cy
shews them his Ma^tys Royall Comissions which he has the
hono^r to bear shews them the statutes of England and Booke
of Laws of this province & defies them all to tax him of the
breach of Infringem^t of any of them or of his Ma^tys Royall
Instructions
Askes them if any mony or tob. raised the Acts for Imposi-
tions on Offices Liquors and haue been otherwise disposed of
or applyed then according to the Directions of the said Laws.

Original
Journal.

If he had gone about to pockett any they might have had
some Grounds but so farr from that that he Could not gett the
mony pursuant to Ordinance of Assembly to this Day from
M^r Smithson to pay the Workemen imployd on the publique
Worke.
That he had the Experience to his sorrow what it was
to find a Country without any fund whereby to supporte
them and therefore According to his promise would Consent
that half the Countrys Stock now in Bank should be appro-
priated toward the defraying the publick Charge this
year.

p. 36