The Lower House. 453

A Petition of Anthony Parker praying releasement from Charles
County Gaol read & Ordered a bill be brought in according to prayer
John Rousby Esq^r from the Upper House Delivered M^r Speaker
the Petition of the Vestrymen & Church Wardens of William and
Mary's Parish in Charles County. Indorsed thus, [The text of the
indorsement is printed at page 375.]
Which Petition was read here and referred to the Consideration of
the next Assembly.

L. H. J.

The Bill Entituled an Act Ascertaining the form of the Oath of
Judge or Justice was read the second time and passed and sent to the
Upper House by M^r Beale and Twenty four more,
They return and Acquaint M^r Speaker they Delivered the same.
M^r Dulany brought in the Address to the Governour concerning
the Libells; Ingrossed,
The Address was in these words Viz.

To His Excellency Samuel Ogle Esq^r Governour of Maryland. The
humble Address of the Lower House of Assembly.

May it please your Excellency.
It is with the greatest Concern we Acquaint you that some per-
sons We hope and believe very obscure & Inconsiderable ones have
presumed to Address a great Number of Infamous & Scandalous
Libles (which We have unanimously Voted to be of pernicious Con-
sequences) to Several Members of this House highly reflecting on
the Right Honourable the Lord Proprietary your Excellency and the
Legislature.
To Insinuate that your Excellency had any Sinister Views in
Suppressing the Late Riotous proceedings which had they been Suf-
fered to gone on, would very Probably have compleated the ruin
of the Country, is such a Demonstration of the Malice and folly of
these Libellers as at once Arises our Indignation and Contempt;
And we Embrace this occasion to Assure your Excellency that as
We have the most Grateful Sense of your just and prudent Conduct
in taking the Early and proper Measures you did to Secure the
peace and Property of the People of Maryland, so we have the
Greatest Abhorrence and Detestation of any Attempts to Misrepre-
sent you or to Create any jealousy or Difference between your
Excellency and the Legislature, And to the End that the Authors
of these Libels may be brought to Condign Punishment and others
Deterred from such pernicious practices, We request your Excellency
to take the most proper and Effectual Measures by Offering a reward
or otherwise for the Discovery of them and that M^r Attorney General
may have Directions to prosecute them when Discovered according
to the Utmost Rigour of the Law.

p. 368