Assembly Proceedings, J line 2-July 22, 1699. 447

The Honble Thomas Tench Esq^r Thomas Brookes Esq^r Coll
Iohn Courts & M^r Iames ffrisby Enter the house & p^rsent the
following Message and bring Back the Bills Last sent

By the Councill in Assembly Iuly the 21^st 1699.

Wee have Considered the Catalouge of Laws Laid before
us & advised to be Continued in their native dress & approved
very well of the Care and wisdome theirin yet as Every Gen^ll
Rule may admitt of some Exception soe on this occassion wee
thinke it becomeing us to Recommend to you M^r Rob^t Blackis-
ton & M^r Rob^t ffinley a Gent that hath Constantly attended
his Maj^tys Service in Ireland & fflanders from the Begining to
the End of the Late warrs & now Came here w^th his Ex^cy th^t
they may by some Publick ordinance or otherwise be allowed
to hold any Imploym^t or office they or Either of them shall be
found Capable off nowithstanding the Bill in favour of natives
Wee beleive it very agreeable w^th our Duty & affection to his
Maj^tie and our native Country to Lett such instance therefore
fall upon these have soe signally attended the Service of Both
Especially in such pticularsas this w^ch Cannot have any Inflew-
ance to Impead the Gen^ll drifft of that Lawe but may doe
them Good & the Country noe harm
Signed p Ord^r
W Bladen Clk Councill

Proposed by the Comittee of Laws that a Gratuity of Two
hundred & ffifty pounds be P'sentedto his Ex^cy w^ch was agreed
on Nemine Contradicente.

Original
Journal.

Resolved that a message be prepared to be sent his Ex^cy
to acquaint him thereof & pray his Ex^cys Excuse that the same
be not paid untill the Spring

By the house of Delegates July 21^st 1699.

May it please yo^r Ex^cy.
Yo^r Ex^cys Signall and repeated fauours still norrishes the
hopes of our future Happyness under yo^r Ex^cys Good Gover-
nm^t w^ch wee Can doe noe Less then make an acknowledgem^t
of Suitable to our weake abillityes wherefore wee make this
our humble offring of Two hundred & ffifty pounds Sterl:
But because in Most Countyes there is Two years Leaveys to
be paid wee would willingly therefore Discharge the whole
publick Leauy by the p^rsent Stock and therefore Desire yo^r
Ex^cy not to take it amiss if wee Cannot reasonably pay that

p. 82