Assembly Proceedings, Oct. 20-Nov. 12, 1698. 185

to it otherwise we Can' Advise his Ex^cy to desert the Charge
or Delegate it on others. And as for your p^rtended Jealousies
of Clarkes and others we understand not your riddles and
dark sayings we would have you Speake plaine and Intelligent
And if you know of any Clk or others th^t have Injured you
therein let us know and we will take Care to Impech them.
Your second [and third] Articles are much of one Nature
wherein you desire his Ex^cy may not Deter or overawe the
house from frely debating matters and that no member be
Called before the Councill or sent for we Admire you will not
speak plaine and shew when and where how and in what his
Ex^cy hath so dealt with any member of your house otherwise
you seem afraid of Invisible nothings and are not Capable of
a Remedy Gen^t If any man Either has or dos desire fredom to
debate at Random without any reguard to the dignity of his
Ma^ty and hon^r of his Governm^t and under the name of Privi-
ledge to arraigne prerogative you Can't Expect but that his
Ex^cy will Deter such from those practices in order to p^rvent
there punishment nor Can we in hono^r and Duty advise other-
wise
In your 4^th Article you desire that the Govern^r would receive
into his Protection the Justices of Peace as those that serve
his Ma'^s for no reward & you seem by this to Intimate that
the Justices are all out lawed for all other psons are under his
Ma'^ys protection and his Ex^cy has never restrained that protec-
tion either to Justices or others so long as they Carried
themselves in Dutifull Obedience to his Ma^ty and his Laws.
Its true there has been severall Justices lately Questioned for
levying Tobbacco on his Ma^tys Subjects Contrary to law some
of whom appeared Innocent and were discharged and others
manifestly guilty And are you in earnest aggrieved that those
were questioned for their misfeazance and the Country reim-
bursed the tobb: so wrongfully taken from them or must none
be questioned tho upon ever so strong Grounds but such as
are before hand proved guilty we are sorry to find such an
Arbitrary Temper as reignes in some of you and that you Can
soe easily disguise and Impose it upon others.
To your 5 article desireing his Ex^cy to abstaine from Calling
the Clks of the Comittees the Clarke of your house you mean
upon Oath to Discover all done &c you may be sure through
this disguise we perfectly understand what you drive att why
all this trouble and Care to keep your words and Actions in
the Dark will they not endure the light if in your Consultations
you procede upon the rules of hono^r and honisty (which in
your Station you ought) what matter who knows it but if
under the p^rsent seruing your King and Country in this Emi-
nent Station you are any of you managing base designs against

Original
Journal.