Assembly Proceedings, April 1662. 437

Reasons why the Acte p^rscribeing how to give
Evidence to those of tender Consciences cannot
pass.

i The Assembly hath admitted and obliged the Judges to
proceed according to the Lawe of England and in that Lawe
wee can take noe mans life nor dispose of any mans Estate
but by the oathe of lawfull wittnesses
2 Many Lawes of this Province not to be repealed directly
in words p^rscribe an oathe vpon the holy Evangelists
3 Persons though not of tender consciences if they have a
mind to pleasure a freind knoweing such a Declaracon not to
binde soe severely in conscience as an oathe, will be apt to
p^rtend tendernes of conscience, Soe to waue a perjury before
God.
4 It will render all Testimonyes taken in this Province in-
valid in any Co^rt either in England or other plantacons:
5 Vpon the like Acte tendered the last Assembly noe per-
son would engage or promise that all persons p^rtending a
tendernes of Conscience would soe give Evidence if setled by
a Lawe
John Gittings Clre:

Then was read the Acte appoynting Sherriffs
Voted that it pass

Ordered that the Acte touching Runawayes and the Acte
concerning Indians be sent to the Lower howse with the
Amendm^ts
The howse adjourned till nine
of the Clock to morrow morn:

Fryday the 11^th of Aprill
Present as Before
Then was p^rsented this following peticon

To the Right hono^ble the Leiutent: Generall
with the rest of the wo^pfull the
members of the Vpper and
Lower howse

The humble peticon of the Inhabitants of
S^t Mary's County by way of aggreivance
by their Burgesses &c.

U. H.
Journal
1659-69

Humbly sheweth
That whereas the Generall Burden and charge of Grand
juryes in Refference to Provinciall Co^ts doth lye vpon the per-

p. 132