288 Assembly Proceedings, June 29-July 22, 1699.

Original
Journal.

Upon that his most sacred Ma^tys Royall Instruction requir-
ing the Test and Association to be signed & the Oaths &c to
be taken Ordered that the hon^ble Colonel Henry Iowles
Thomas Tench Esq^r and Colonel John Courts go dovvne to
the house attended by the Clk of this Boarde and administer
the Oathes appointed by Act of parliam^t instead of the Oathes
of Allegiance & Supremacy to M^r Speaker and the rest of the
house of Delegates. Who goe downe to the house and bring
upp the Test and Association Signed by M^r Speaker & the
severall Members of the house of Delegates and likewise
reporte that they had Administred the said Oaths which M^r
Speaker & the severall Members tooke.
The af^d Colonel Henry Jowles Thomas Tench Esq^r &
Colonel John Courts sent to Comand M^r Speaker and the
house to attend his Ex^ncy in Councill.
The af^d Gentⁿ returne and say that Mr Speaker and the
house are ready to attend his Ex^ncy in Councill.
His Ex^ncy is pleased to Comunicate to the Boarde what he
intends to lay before the house of Delegates And desires their
opinion whether there was any thing omitted which might be
necessary to be further added thereto Whereupon they make
Answer that they see nothing amiss but what is very fitting
therein.

p. 5

Came Mr Speaker Attended by the house of Delegates and
being Admitted his Ex^ncy was pleased thus to bespeake them

Gentlemen
Since his Maty amongst the rest of his many Graces to me
has been pleased to hono^r me with the Comand of this his
province, I shall never be wanting to make it my uttmost En-
deavours to discharge that duty Incumbent upon me with all
Zeal to his Maty and the Welfare and Advantage of this
place. I have Allready had the honour of Serving his Maty
in a Governm^t in America, And in Justice to his Subjects in
those parts where I have been; No people that have the
happiness of his Matys Governm^t and ptection can be or are
more ready and forward to Demonstrate their Satisfaction
then the Inhabitants there. I do not in the Least doubt but I
shall find the same good Harmony here.
I need not Enumerate the many blessings & benefitts this
province has received (which you Cannot but be very Sencible
of) by his Matys now Imediate Eye upon you and takeing you
under his own protection for which we can never do Enough
in bending all our thoughts & Endeavours to Exert and Give
some Signall a prooff of our uttmost Loyalty and Gratitude to
so great and Glorious a prince as we have the blessing to be