398 Assembly Proceedings, April — May 1661.

U. H.

Journal
1659-69

That the writt was directed to the Sherriffe to make procla-
macon for the Eleccon of Burgesses is that when the Freemen
had mett itt was in their power to elect Burgesses any persons
quallifyed for the Employment that was not disabled by Cryme
then already Committed that the number of persons to be
Elected was in the expresse words left to the Sherriffe, but
only soe as he did represent the body Aggregative of the
County and the only person to whome the lawe directs the
Writts for Summoning Assemblyes Soe that vpon the whole
matter it was in the Sherriffes power to restrayne only persons
disabled by lawe to elect or be elected and the determinacon
of the number and of the persons to be Elected in the Freemen
of the County and this wee thought fitt to certefye
Signed by the order of the Governor and Councell
John Gittings Clrk.

Ordered that M^r Bateman and Mr Lloyd doe goe [to] the
lower howse with the two peticons yesterd[ay] referred to the
Lower howse their Consideracon together with three coppyes of
Acts of Assembly yett in force with the Answere of the Gov-
ernor and Councell touching the writts of Plleccon of Burgesses

The Vpper howse Adjourned till three of the Clock in the
Afternoone.

The howse again mett p^rsent as before

Vpon Receipt of a message sent by the lower howse to the
Governor &c in theis words

p. 81

The Burgesses humbly desire that an Acte be passed with
Consent of both howses of Assembly that Members or Bur-
of Assembly now attending and ever hereafter haue
free erty of speeche in deliuering their opinion and Censures
without p^rjudice either of themselves their persons or Estates
to any bill propounded or what shall be propounded by them
for the Good and liberty of the Inhabitants
William Brctton Clk

Whereupon the Vpper howse sent to them for a Conferrence,
whereupon the Speaker and the whole howse comeing into the
upper howse the Governo^r assured them that they might haue
all liberty of Speech and that there was noe necessity of mak-
ing such an Acte as was desired and that they should have as
much liberty as any Burgesses had or haue in the Parliam^t of
England or Magna Charta did afforde them in England with
which the rest were satisfyed and waved the request for the Acte

The Vpper howse have Adjourned till tomorrowe tenn of the
Clock in the morn.