The Lower House. 477

Country's Safety will animate you to a strict Enquiry & can
never believe any Time more proper to consider of it than
when we are threatned by all Sorts of Enemies abroad & Vil-
lains in our own Bowels which would enervate & unhinge
your Constitution.
Gent. Her Majesty's Honble Council advised me to meet
you at this Time that by the prudent Assistance of your well
digested Considerations we may unanimously join to suppress
every thing that dares disturb your Peace or the quiet Enjoy-
ment of your Fortunes, Industry & Care which a steady
Heartiness may now establish to your lasting Honour.
I am resolved Gent, during my Administration what her
Majestys & her good People here have so prudently Set apart
for the Defence of this Province shall be disposed of to no
other Use whatsoever but for the Safety, Preservation and
Quiet of every individual Member thereof.
And I doubt not but these frequent chargeable Alarms will
so invigorate your Resolutions we may be ever in a Posture to
crush all Sorts of Disturbances before they are formed into
open Hostilities, and dare assure you if you will adhere to some
Methods I shall presume to lay down which shall neither be so

Lib. 41.

burthensome or impracticable (as at present) your Posterity
will be obliged to this present Assembly for their future
Tranquility.
I'll transmit to M^r Speaker some Letters about the New
York Affairs as likewise an Account of a Criminal lately con-
demned & some other Accomplices not yet brought unto Tryal
by whose Vows & Oaths to be secret to this horrid Combina-
tion you will be thoroughly sensible the Scene was laid to a
very bloody Purpose.
Gent. As you very well know the Occasion of this Meeting
when you have well considered the several Instances Contri-
vances & Papers relating thereto if we are uneasy for the future
blame not a Gentleman who will never be wanting to do his
Duty to the best of Queens my Sovereign or his strict Friend-
ship & viglant Care over the Province her Majesty was
graciously pleased to constitute me Governor.
Which being ended M^r Speaker & the rest of the Members
took their Leave & returned to their House where M^r Speaker
having taken the Chair Ordered his Excellency's Speech be
read in the House which was read accordingly, &
Ordered it be read again to Morrow Morning
M^r Thomas Greenfield Col^o James Maxwell & M^r Thomas
Frisby ordered a Committee for Election and Privileges
Ordered M^r James Wootton be desired to attend the House
for Prayers in the Church at Seven O'Clock in the Morning &
five in the Afternoon.

p. 23