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

L. II. J.

Whereupon your Ex^cy was pleased to prorogue this house
and being againe mett, and still finding the said M^r Clarke in
prison Your Ex^cy we hope will hold us excused if we Judge
it our duty to our Country still to Insist on our priviledges
and againe humbly to supplicate your Ex^cy to Suffer the said
M^r Clarke to serve in this house, the house of Delegates in
this province have always claimed as their birth right the
same priviledges as the house of Comons claime in England.
Neither his present Maj^ty nor any of his Royall procurators,
nor the Lord Baltemore during his Government ever denyed
us them.
And therefore if in this case the house of Comons might
claime their priviledge we also hope for the same from your
Ex^cy he standing in our opinion as a Rightly Qualified member
of this house, once more make our humble address that if
your Ex^cy and Councill shall Determine and adjudge that a
member of the house of Comons in England in like case
ought not to have priviledge of parliament, and by conse-
quence the said Clarke ought not to have priviledge wee
will for the present acquiesse in such Judgment (saving to
ourselves at altimes Liberty to produce authorityes and presi-
dents) but if your Ex^cy and Councill. shall adjudge and
determine that a member of the house of Comons in the like
case ought to have priviledge of Parliament them by conse-
quence lett our member have his priveledge and that noe man
receive any markes of your Ex^cy displeasure nor reproach for
peticoning for his attendance here, which being read.
It was put to the vote if the said address should be sent to
his Ex^cy and Councill. And Carried by the Majority of voices
that it be sent.
The house adjournes till to morrow Morning Eight of Clock.

Dies Saturnij Octob^r 29^th 1698

House mett and were called over, whereof were absent,
Cap^t Rich^d Hill, Cap^t Thomas Waughop, M^r George Ashman,
M^r W^m Hemsley, and M^r Philip Clarke.

p. ²34

Cap^t Hill for his non appearance according to the rules of
this house Censured to loose his dayes allowance except he
shews a Reasonable Excuse for his non appearance.
Ordered that Major Iohn Low, M^r Iohn Whittington, M^r
Benj^a Hall, M^r Walter Campbell, M^r Sam^ll Young and Major
W^m Barton goe downe and present the address on the behalfe
of M^r Philip Clarke to his Ex^cy and Councill.
Read a peticon of M^r W^ra Coursey of Talbott County and
Eliz^a his wife praying that an Act may be made to Impower
them to sell and make acknowledgments of Severall Lands