the Churche Where Sir George Yeardley, the Governour, being sett down
in his accustomed place, those of the Counsel of Estate sate nexte him
on both handes, excepte onely the Secretary then appointed Speaker,
who sate right before him, John Twine, clerke of the General assembly,
being placed nexte the Speaker, and Thomas Pierse, the Sergeant,
standing at the barre, to be ready for any Service the Assembly should
comaund him. But forasmuch as men's affaires doe little prosper where
God's service is neglected, all the Burgesses tooke their places in
the Quire till a prayer was said by Mr. Bucke, the Minister, that it
would please God to guide and sanctifie all our proceedings to his
owne glory and the good of this Plantation. Prayer being ended, to the
intente that as we had begun at God Almighty, so we might proceed w^th
awful and due respecte towards the Lieutenant, our most gratious and
dread Soveraigne, all the Burgesses were intreatted to retyre
themselves into the body of the Churche, w^ch being done, before they
were fully admitted, they were called in order and by name, and so
every man (none staggering at it) tooke the oathe of Supremacy, and
then entred the Assembly....

These obstacles removed, the Speaker, who a long time had bene
extreame sickly and therefore not able to passe through long
harrangues, delivered in briefe to the whole assembly the occasions of
their meeting. Which done, he read unto them the comission for
establishing the Counsell of Estate and the general Assembly, wherein
their duties were described to the life.

Having thus prepared them, he read over unto them the greate Charter,
or comission of priviledges, orders and lawes, sent by Sir George
Yeardly out of Englande. Which for the more ease of the Committies,
having divided into fower books, he read the former two the same