The Upper House. 71

land might have been able to inform his Council of State here
whether such Alteration which related only to that of the
Kings Letter might be consistent with his Lordships Charter
which we are of Opinion is of Great Security both to the
Liberty and rights of the People of this province We leave it
therefore to any impartial Judge upon due recollection of
the matter whether we have failed in our duty and not rather
done the Part of true Patriotts as well as of faithful counsillors
of State. However our House having consulted M^r Attorney
General upon that part of the Oath relating to the Kings
Letters who Gave it as his Opinion that the Inserting that
Clause of the Letters in the Oath of A Judge can be of no
Prejudice to the Charter of this Province we are therefore
willing to concurr with you in that Particular notwithstand-
ing our former precaution therein

U. H. J.

Gentlemen We are very sensible of the Great Charge which
this Session will bring upon the Country and are therefore
willing to bring this Business to as Speedy a conclusion as
possible without Giving any just cause to our Country of
laying any ill Steps at our Door and as a convincing Evidence
thereof we have prepared such a draught of an Oath as will
in our opinions prove most Agreable to the Office of a Judge
as well as the Security of our constitution which we are as
desirous of Preserving as its Possible for any of your House
to be We do not condemn your Vigilancy in that point but we
think it very hard that you should do us the Injustice of Sus-
pecting us either as An Upper House or as his Lordships
Council of State to be Enemies to it We therefore propose
the draught of the Oath herewith sent you to be taken by all
the judges of the Courts of Law
Signed p order. S. Skippon Cl. Up Ho.

Sent by Col^o Holland and Col^o Young with the following
draught of an Oath

I A B do Swear that as a Justice of the County Court in
County in the Province of Maryland or as a Jus-
tice of the Provincial Court in the Province of Maryland In
all Articles of his Lordships Commissions to me directed I will
do equal Law and right to all the Kings Subjects rich and
Poor according to the reasonable Laws Statutes and Customs
of England and the Acts of Assembly & Usages of the Prov-
ince of Maryland I will not delay any person of common
Right for the Letters of the King the Lord Proprietary
or any other person whatsoever nor for any other cause and
in case any Letters shall come to me contrary to Law I will do
nothing by them but cause them to be entred on Record &
certify the King, the Lord Proprietary or Governor for the

p. 155