378 Assembly Proceedings, July 11-August 8, 1732.

U. H. J.

promise to give you all the Assistance in my power to put an end to
the Dispute to general Satisfaction: And this I conceive to be a better
way, and more advantageous to the Country than for me to Assent
to any Act contrary to my Instructions which will give His Lordship
such Just Reason to dissent to it; And I propose as an Expedient,
untill the matter can be happily Settled according to His Lordships
and your own desires that the severall Majestrates take any of the
Oaths which have usually been taken before the Dispute began about
the Judges Oath, that may lay them under the strictest Obligation
to Administer Justice equally and uprightly to the People Accord-
ing to the usage and Constitution of the Province
Samuel Ogle

p. 175

Form of an Oath of Judge or Justice

You shall swear that as a Justice of the Provincial Court of Mary-
land in all Articles of his Lordships Commission to you directed,
you shall do equall Law and right to all the Kings Subjects Rich and
Poor, According to the Laws Customs & directions of the Acts of
Assembly of this Province; and where they are Silent, According
to the Laws Statutes and Reasonable Customs of England as have
been used and Practised in this Province: and not delay any person
of Common right for any cause or pretence whatsoever: And in Case
any Letters shall come to you contrary to Law, that you do nothing
by them but cause them to be Entered on Record, and Certifye the
King the Lord Proprietary or the Governor (for the time being)
of them and proceed to Execute the Law notwithstanding the said
Letters: That you shall hold your Courts According to the Acts of
Assembly and the Directions in your Commission that you shall do
and procure the profitt of the Lord Proprietary in all things where
you may lawfully and reasonably do the same: And that you shall
not Debarr or hinder the Prosecution of Justice, nor take any Gift
bribe or fee for delaying or rendering of Judgment but shall behave
yourselfe Justly honestly and faithfully to the best of your knowledge
and understanding so long as you shall Continue in the said Office
So help you God.

The following Message being prepared is sent to the Lower House
by Col Ward and Michael Howard Esq^r

By the Upper House of Assembly 17^th July 1732
Gentlemen.
On reading and Considering the Bill sent up from your House by
M^r Beale and 24 more prescribing the form of an Oath to be taken
by the Judges and Majestrates in this Province, We find it much the
same with that Contained in the bill passed last Session by both
Houses for that purpose but refused by our late Governor; And as his