The Lower House. 379

Butt that upon complaint humbly made to his late Ma^ty in
Councill, and proofe made by Sir Thomas Laurence his Maj-
estyes then Secretary, of the injury done to his said office, his
late Majesty was pleased to disallow the said Law soe obtained
by Coll Copley, and by order of Councill dated March 2^d 1693
to restore the said Sir Thomas to the full profitt of the said
Ordinary Lycences, upon the Kings Secretary in manner and
forme it was ev^r before
That this Law of Ordinary Licences being among others
but a Temporary Law hath since 1694 been severall tymes
revived, but comeing lately to determine, the last Sessions of
the Burgesses of this assembly mett in October 1703 takeing
noe notice of all theire former acts, nor of his late Majestyes
order in Councill, all confirmeing the Right of the said Secry
to the profitts of the said Lycences, nor makeing any objections
to his psonall behav^r or conduct why he should be deemed
unfitt or unworthy to Enjoy the Same, as he had ev^r Enjoyed
itt, did Settle, and Vest the profitts of the said Ordinary
Lycences, by a new Bill in the Justices of Every respectiue
county to be applyed yearely toward the Defrayeing the pub-

P. R. O.

lick charges of every respectiue County in this Province, but
this Bill was dissented to by the honble the president

May itt please your Excy
This being the present case her Majestyes Secretary humbly
referrs itt to yo^r Serious consideraon, and requesteth your
Excys protection of himselfe, and the perpetuall Rights of his
office, from which by the bill aforesaid, one third part of the
profitts thereof are alienated and taken away, That your Excy
would please to discountenance the said Bill, and Direct the
Law to be revised in its old course and forme, since the
cou ntry cannott be off without the use of such ordinaryes duely
qualified and regulated
And yo^r pet^r shall as in duty bound ever pray
Tho: Laurence

Which said case being read and Debated & considered on
Its resolved the following Message be sent in Answer thereto

By the house of Delegates
Aprill the 28^th 1704

The case of Sir Thomas Laurence has been considered,
this house haue noe Resentment, against Sir Thomas her
Ma^tys present Secry nor anything to alleadge against his meritt
but because the p^rsent applicaon of them fines by the late bill

p. 24