Assembly Proceedings, Mar. 8, 1697/8-Apr. 4, 1698. 65

An Answer shall be returned to the Certificate from the
Ordinance Office
As to the Protested bill of Ex^a allowed M^r Benjⁿ Hall It is
not Consist' with the hono^r of this house to Delay the paym^t
of soe Just a Debt and of w^ch we are soe well Satisfied.
Therefore humbly pray Y^r Ex^ncy and Councill will Consent to
the payment thereof
As to the paym^t of his Maj^ties Councell^rs As far as the over-
plus tob^o will Extend the house agree they may be Equally
Allowed
As to the proposall ab^t the Leavy Law We doe say
that we make Use of noe p^rsidents in the Lord Balte-
mores time That in the Assembly held in 1692: in his Ex^ncy
Govern^r Copleys time two of the hon^ble Councill were Added
to the Comittee of Acco^tts but not Admitted being denyed
their Votes, and thereupon did not Sit in the s^d Comittee And
for the Appointing of the Publique Leavey Assesed that
Assembly they did not Sitt nor were they Appointed by the
Law therefore nor euer since till the last Assembly
The s^d Gentⁿ not being Elected or being the representatiues
of the Country haue noe right to dispose of the Publique
Assessm^ts

Original
Journal.

And if his Ex^ncy and his Maj^ts hono^ble Councill will not
Assent to the law as proposed wee Cannot to any Alteracon.
Wee haue Instantly made Answer to all things th^t were pro-
posed according to the Sence of this house though perhapps
not to Ex^ncys Satisfaction But know not why wee should be
Detained here on purpose to Constrain us to Comply with
Your Ex^ncy in those things w^ch are not agreeable to the Sence
of the house nor for the Advantage of the Country
As to the Acco^tts of Govern' Copleys time We doe not think
it worth our time to look back so farr upon the s^d Acc^tts not
knowing where to haue Satisfaction for anything Amiss
therein Signed p Ord^r
W Bladen Cl Dom

It is remarqued on the Answer of the House this day
brought by M^r Campbell & Others.
I^st That the bill of Revivall not passing can in no waise be
laid to the Charge of his Ex^ncy or his Maj^ties hono^ble Councill
considering the passing it in those words could be directly
opposite to one if not both of those two Royall Instructions of
his Sacred Maj^tis laid before you; therefore you are the Cause
of all the ill Consequences that shall happen for want of
Reviving those Laws which will Expire at the End of this
Sessions.
2^d About M^r Sewell. This Board doe say th^t tho: you

p. 103