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

Original
Journal.

p. 22

The hon^ble Coll^o Hen: Jowles Tho: Brook & James ffrisby
Esq^r appoint^d to joyne in the s^d Comittee
It is pposed by this Board that a Law bee made for the
most expeditious & easiest way of trying & deciding Differ-
ences between M^rs and Serv^ts & Serv^ts & M^rs there appearing
no absolute necessity for the same as by a Case happening
before this board sitting att a Court was heard & determined
this night. Vpon perusall of the sev^ll County leavy this year:
It is recomended to the house to consider whether the late
practice of sending out Venire facias's from the County Courts
ag^t serv^ts & others th^t have bastards may not be too Chargable
and dilatory Way of pceeding: therefore pposed th^t a more

expedious way bee found out if possible to hear & determine

such matters.
Itt is likewise recomended th^t some means or other bee
used to restraine the refractoriness of Seamen.
The hon^ble Thomas Brooke Esq^r upon his Applicacon leave
to retire home.

Att a Councill in a Gen^ll Assembly
the 19^th day of Mar^ch 1697/8.

The Councill again Sate & were all p^rsent as yesterday
except the hon^ble Tho: Brook Esq^r
Brought from the house of Delegates the following Message
by M^r Campbell M^r Lane M^r Hickes Maj^r Lowe M^r White
M^r Carvile M^r Tilghman M^r Elisha Hall M^r Sam^ll Young
M^r Whittington M^r Wilmer & M^r Jenkins Viz^t
To his Ex^ncy ffrancis Nicholson Esq^r and his Maj^tys hon^ble
Councill.

p. 23

The humble Address of all the Delegates of his Maj^ty
province of Maryld now in Assembly sitting
Whereas It was complained to us that M^r George Plater
M^r William Dent & M^r Robert Goldsborough had signed a
certain oppinion about Law which yo^r Ex^ncy was generously
pleased to lett us have att our Request this house upon full
hearing of them their arguments and Presidents have resolved
that it is a very dangerous opinion giveing Liberty to the
depriving and forejudging his Maj^ties Subjects of their ffreehold
and livelyhood upon bare suggestions without any presentm^t
of their Peers and to the exasperateing yo^r Ex^ncy against his
Maj^tys Justices of this province for ptecting people in their
Rights according to their oathes to the great Vexation of his
Maj^tys Subjects & dishonour of his Maj^ty. But if yo^r Ex^ncy &
Councill will at the humble Address of his Maj^tys Subjects