Assembly Proceedings, Sept 6-0ct. 2, 1696. 453

An Act for reviving the Temporary Laws of this Province
read and thought needless & as to the Reason why the same
should not pass a Copy of one of his Majestys Royal Instruc-
tions is ordered to be sent to the House for their Satisfaction
viz^t

One of his Majestys Royal Instructions to me

And therefore you shall not enact any Law which shall be
once enacted by you except upon very urgent occasions but
in no Case more then once without our express consent

The said Message was sent by Col^o Greenberry and Col⁰
Hutchins 29^th September instant
Fr Nicholson

Saturday September the 26^th 1696 The Council again Sate
and were Present

His Excellency Francis Nicholson Esq^r Captain General &c.

Sir Thomas Lawrence Baronet Secretary Col^o
George Robotham Col^o Nicholas Greenberry Col⁰
The honble Charles Hutchins Col^o David Browne Col^o John
Addison Thomas Brook Esq^r James Frisby Esq^r

Read a petition from several of the merchants of New York
which were Ordered to be Referred to the House of Bur-
gesses for their consideration it relating to the Ten p Cent
Act And was returned from the House Indorsed and Rejected
Upon motion made by the honble Col^o John Addison and
Thomas Brooke Esq^r that they might be permited to go home
the said Col^o Addison urging some pressing Occasion which
required his attendance there and the said Esq^r Brooks urging
that his Servants are now in hand about building a Mill and
could not go forward therew^th without his presence, Col⁰
Robotham also desired the leave of this Board to retire home
in Order to the looking after two several Cargoes of Goods
which require his hast at this time
His Excellency was pleased to say that his Majestys Royal
Instructions unto him does direct that he shall not hold Coun-
cils to do any Business of consequence under the number of
five of the Gentlemen of the Council being present unless in
case of Absolute necessity therefore acquainted them that
they would do well to agree among themselves about it who
should go or stay so that five might be left and he should be
willing thereunto whereupon was Given by Consent for the
three aforementioned Gentlemen to go

U. H. J.