Aug. 4th, 1619.
It is fully agreed at this generall[445] Assembly that in regarde of the great[446] paines and labour of the[447] Speaker of this Assembly (who not onely[448] first formed the same Assembly and to their great ease & expedition reduced all matters to be treatted of into a ready method, but also his indisposition notwthstanding wrote or dictated all orders and other expedients and is yet[449] to write severall bookes for all the Generall[450] Incorporations and plantations both of the great charter, and of all the lawes) and likewise in respecte of the dilligence of the Clerke and sergeant, officers thereto belonging. That every man and manservant of above 16 yeares of age shall pay into the handes and Custody of the Burgesses of every Incorporation and plantation one pound of the best Tobacco, to be distributed to the Speaker and likewise to the Clerke and sargeant of the Assembly, according to their degrees and rankes, the whole bulke whereof to be delivered into the Speaker's handes, to be divided accordingly. And in regarde[451] the Provost Marshall of James citty hath also given some attendance upon the said Generall Assembly, he is also to have a share out of the same. And this is to begin to be gathered the 24th of February nexte.
In conclusion, the whole Assembly comaunded[452] the Speaker (as nowe he doth) to present their humble excuse to the Treasurer[453] Counsell & Company in England for being constrained by the intemperature of the weather and the falling sick of diverse of the Burgesses to breake up so abruptly—before they had so much as putt their lawes to the ingrossing. This they wholly comited to[454] the fidelity of their speaker, who therin[455] (his conscience telles him) hath done the parte[456] of an honest man, otherwise he would be easily founde[457] out by the Burgesses themselves, who wth all expedition are to have so many bookes of the same lawes as there be both Incorporations and Plantations in the Colony.
In the seconde place, the Assembly doth most humbly crave pardon that in so shorte[458] a space they could bring their matter to no[459] more perfection, being for the present enforced to sende home titles rather then lawes, Propositions rather then resolutions, Attemptes then Acchievements, hoping their courtesy will accepte our poore indevour, and their wisedome wilbe[460] ready to supporte the weaknes of this little flocke.
Thirdly, the General Assembly doth humbly beseech[461] the said Treasurer,[462] Counsell & Company, that albeit it belongeth to them onely to allowe or to abrogate any lawes wch we shall here make,[463] and that it is their right so to doe,[464] yet that it would please them not to take it in ill parte if these lawes wch we have nowe brought to light, do passe currant[465] & be of force till suche time as we[466] may knowe their farther pleasure out of Englande: for otherwise this people (who nowe at length have gotte[467] the raines[468] of former servitude into their owne swindge) would in shorte time growe so insolent, as they would shake off all government, and there would be no living among them.
Their last humble suite is,[469] that the said Counsell & Company would be pleased, so soon as they shall finde[470] it convenient, to make good their promise sett downe[471] at the conclusion of their comission for establishing the Counsel[472] of Estate & the General[473] Assembly, namely, that they will give us power to allowe or disallowe of their orders of Courte, as his Maty[474] hath given them power to allowe or to reject[475] our lawes.
In sume Sir George Yeardley, the Governor[476] prorogued the said General[477] Assembly till the firste of Marche, which is to fall out this present yeare of 1619, and in the mean season dissolved the same.
FINIS.
I certify that the foregoing is a true and
authentic copy taken from the volume
above named.
JOHN McDONAGH,
Record Agent,
July 14th, 1871.