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

Original
Journal.

ing the Indians this house Confiding in yo^r Ex^ncys good Con-
duct and well knowing you never exposed us to unnecessary
Charges doe humbly referr itt to yo^r Ex^ncys Discretion to Con-
tinue the Rangers att New Scotland at such place as you shall
think fitt untill the Indians doe come in (but humbly advise
that it may bee so near the Inhabitants that they may heare
any allarm upon occasion And that upon Accomodacon with
the Indians yo^r Ex^ncy will be pleased to call in those Rangers
whom this house do not think fitt further necessary to be
kept out Sign'd p Ord^r
W Bladen Cl Dom Del

Brought from the house of Delegates the following Mes-
sage by m^r Staly & M^r Young.

By the House of Delegates Mar^ch 29^th 1697/8

May itt please yo^r Ex^ncy
Vpon reading a certaine Letter from a Reverend Minis-
ter of the Church of Eng^ld which yo^r Ex^ncy was pleased to
comunicate to us Complaining to yo^r Ex^ncy that the Popish
Priests in Charles County do of their own Accord in this violent
& rageing Mortality in that County make itt their business
to goe up and the County to psons houses when dying &
frantick and endeavour to seduce and make prosellites of them
& in such Condition boldly presume to administ^r the Sacrament

p. 26

to them Wee have putt itt to the Vote in the house if a Law
should be made to restrayne such their p^rsumption or not and
have concluded to make such Law at p^rsent but humbly
Intreat yo^r Ex^cy that you would be pleased to Issue your
proclamation to Restrayne and prohibite such their Extrava-
gant and p^rsumptious behaviour.
Signd p Ord^r
W Bladen Cl Dom Del.

Brought from the house of Delegates by M^r Mill and three
other members the following Message Viz^t

By the house of Delegates March the 21^st 1697/8.

Yo^r Ex^cys Commands to attend you in Councill sent by by
the hon^ble Thomas Tench and James Frisby Esq^rs We have
received and assure your Ex^cy that We are very ready to obey
them; But for as much as our Speaker cannot Without Mani-
fest Danger of his Life venture out so farr from his Chamber.
We humbly desire your Ex^cy will be pleased to deferr such