252 Assembly Proceedings, Oct. 20 Nov. 12, 1698.

L. H. J.

Gent^r If any man has or does desire freedome to Debate
at Randome without any regard to the Dignity of his Maty^tie
and hon^r of his Gov™' and under the nature of priviledge to
arraigne prerogative you cannot Expect but that his Ex^cy will
deter such from their practices in order to prevent their pun-
ishment, nor can we in hon^r or in duty advise otherwise.
In your fourth Article you desire would receive into his
protection the Justices of peace and those that serve his Maj^ty
for no reward.
You seem to intimate by this that the Justices are all out
Lawed for. all other psons are under his Maj^tis protection, and
his Ex^cy has never restrained that protection either to Justices
or others so long as they carry themselves in dutifull obedi-
ence to his Maty^y and his Laws.
Its true there has been severall Iustices lately Questioned

p. 263

for Leavying Tob^o on his Maj^tys Subjects Contrary to Law
some of whome appeared inocent and were discharged and
others manefestly Guilty.
And are you in Earnest aggreived that those were Ques-
tioned for their misfeazance and the Country reimbursed the
Tob^o so wrongfully taken from them, or must none be ques-
tioned though upon never so strong grounds but such as are
before hand proved Guilty.
We are sorry to find such an Arbitrary Temp^r as Reigns in
some of you and that you can so easily disguise and Impose
it on others.
To Your fifth article desireing his Ex^cy to abstaine from
calling the clks: of your Comittees (the clks: of the house you
mean) upon Oath to discover all done in it &c. You may be
sure we se through this disguise and pfectly understand what
you drive att. Why all this trouble and care to keep your
words and actions in the Darke, will not they endure the light,
if in your consultacons you proceed upon the rules of hon^r and
honestly, which in your Station you ought, what matter who
knows it.
But if under the pretence of serving your King and Country
in this Eminent Station, you are any of you manageing base
designes ag^t his Maj^tys Governm^t and the Country, why should
not such thereby be detected and others thereby cautioned, but
it is plaine you would not have your words and Actions
knowne which is enough to cause suspicion, and its much
unlike those hon^ble Gentⁿ who you would equalize yo^rselves
w^th the house of Comons who dayly make publick their votes
and proceedings.
Your sixth article ab^t Jury's which you say is a Bulwarke
ag^t Arbitrary Governm^ts and pray that no Jury's may at any