The number of burgesses present at the session commencing in March, 1659, was thirty. Colonel Edward Hill, who had been disfranchised, was now unanimously elected speaker. Colonel Moore Fantleroy, of Rappahannock County, not being present at the election, "moved against him, as if clandestinely elected, and taxed the house of unwarrantable proceedings therein." He was suspended until the next day, when, acknowledging his error, he was readmitted. Any member absent from the house was subject to a penalty of twenty pounds of tobacco. A member "disguised with overmuch drink" forfeited one hundred pounds of tobacco. A burgess was required to rise from his seat, and to remain uncovered, while speaking. The oath was administered to the burgesses by a committee of three sent from the council. FOOTNOTES: [234:A] Hening, i. 402, 422; Burk's Hist. of Va., ii. 107. [234:B] Hening, i. 424. [234:C] Burk's Hist. of Va., ii. 116. An Armenian was imported by Digges for the purpose of making silk. [236:A] Burk's Hist. of Va., ii. 116. [237:A] Hening, i. 434, 482. [239:A] The governor and council were as follows: Colonel Samuel Matthews, Governor and Captain-general of Virginia, Richard Bennet, Colonel William Clayborne, Secretary of State, Colonel John West, Colonel Thomas Pettus, Colonel Edward Hill, Colonel Thomas Dew, Colonel William Bernard, Colonel Obedience Robins, Lieutenant-Colonel John Walker, Colonel George Reade, Colonel Abraham Wood, Colonel John Carter, Mr. Warham Horsmenden, Lieutenant-Colonel Anthony Elliott. CHAPTER XXVI. 1659-1661. Death of Oliver Cromwell--Succeeded by his Son Richard-- Assembly acknowledge his Authority--Character of Government of Virginia under the Commonwealth of England--Matthews dies-- Richard Cromwell resigns the Protectorate--Supreme Power claimed now by the Assembly--Sir William Berkley elected Governor--Act for suppressing Quakers--Free Trade established-- Stuyvesant's Letter--Charles the Second restored--Sends a new Commissioner to Berkley--His Reply--Grant of Northern Neck-- The Navigation Act. ON the 8th of March, 1660, the house of burgesses having sent a committee to notify the governor that they attended his pleasure, he presented the following letter:--