The Lower House. 281

Loss of time in Attendance of Courts and when on a hearing
the Greatness of their Oppression by such severe prosecutions
have been made App^r they have been dismissed the Court and
Could recover no Cost ag^t the said Birchfield because of his
Acting on behalf e of the Crown altho the Trouble and Charge
of such Defence might have been Saved to the people in Case
the Af^d Birchfield or his Attorney had not proceeded after

L. H. J.

soe uncommon and Imethodicall a manner ag^t such Defend^t
without Demand or notice Severall of them having declared
in their answers upon Oath that they were never demanded by
the said Maurice Birchfield Esq^r or any other on her Maj^tys
behalf to give any Acc^t of the matters in the bill untill they
were Served with Subpoena to answer the same of which they
declare the said Maurice Birchfield might have had the utmost
Satisfaction they were able to give upon Subpena to Testifie
or request made without being put to the Unnecessary Charge
to answer the same in form According to the Proceedings of
the Court of Chancery
And Because the said Maurice Birchfield Esq^r is an Officer
Imployed under his Majestic in the Affairs of the Crown wee
have been very Tender of giving any Countenance to the
persons Damnifyed to seek any remedy ag^l him for the Dam-
age they have Sustained by the rigour of such proceedings Ag^t
them or to make any act here to remedy the Aggrievance Com-
plained of, altho we are well Satisfyed the Avaritious & Liti-
gious Temper of the pson Imployed by the said Maurice
Birchfield Esq^r as his Attorney at Law for the Sake of In-
creaseing his ffees has been the Chief Cause of the Aggriev-
ance Complained of, And only begg the favour of your L^dps
to take w^l methods your L^dps in your Great Wisd'om shall
think proper for the procureing such necessary Cautions to
be given to such officers for the future as may prevent their
oppressing his Majesties [Subjects] here at his Majesties own
Expence and Charge by having the dues of the Crown wasted
in the prosecuting needless Suites at Law without any Cause
or Very Trifleing Sumes for recovery of which the Laws of
the Land give Remedy by a Justice of the peace's Warr^t.

May it Please your L^dps

P. 109

Your two houses of Assembly doe in the last place begg
leave to assure you that nothing Transacted in this present

Sessions hath been Carryed on with any design of Drawing
the Papists into a Persecution But that notwithstanding any
act that wee have made they may Still if they Please Enjoy the
Same Indulgence they formerly had by the Connivance of the
Goverm^t, so long as they demean themselves Peaceably and
without Offence.

p. 110