192 Assembly Proceedings, August—September 1681.

Liber W. H.

not bee abused by haueing theire goods & Provisions pressed
from them by Loose & Idle ffellowes who many times abuse
theire Comissions & the People, Bee itt enacted by the Author-
ity aforesaid, That from henceforth the Comission^rs of each
Respectiue Countys shall yearely & euery yeare vizt, betweene
the nine & Twentieth day of September & the ffiue & Twen-
tieth day of december nominate & appointe Two Honest &
Substantiall men of theire Countys, for euery Hundred to bee
presse Masters for the yeare ensueing, & if any one dye or
departe the Country or bee Lame or sicke within that time,
that then the next Justice of peace to nominate & appointe
another in his stead, that if occasion Requier they & none else
shall Impresse victualls & other things giuen them in Charge
to bee pressed by warr^t from the Lord Prop^ry his Heires or
Successo^rs or his or theire L^tt Gen^ll & Governo^r for the time
being, And if any other butt such presse masters soe appointed
shall presume vpon p^rtence of any power as a presse master to
seize take presse or Carry away any goods or Comoditys of
any the Inhabitants of this Province shall pay to the person
greiued Treble the value of such goods & Comoditys soe as

p. 164

aforesaid vnjustly pressed, Provided that noe Pressemaster nor
any other person or psons whatsoeuer, shall presume att any
time to take seize presse or Carry away from any Inhabitants
Resident within this Province any Armes or Aminicon of any
kind whatsoeuer, vpon any duty or Service vpon any account
whatsoeuer vnder the penalty aforesaid, any Law Statute or
vseage to the Contrary heereof in any wise notwithstanding,
And bee itt Likewise enacted by the Authority advice & Con-
sent aforesaid, that the Comission^rs of any Respectiue County
Courts within this Province who shall not betweene the nine &
Twentieth day of September, & the said ffiue & Twentieth clay
of december, in each Respectiue yeare, by precept from the
County Court Signed by the Clerke of the Court, nominate &
appoint such & soe many Presse masters for euery hundred
within theire County as aforesaid, shall each of them forfeite
& pay vnto the Right Honourable the Lord Prop^ry the sume
of ffiue Hundred pounds of Tobacco, And such Presse masters
who shall bee soe nominated & appointed as aforesaid, by
such p^rcept as aforesaid, to him or them directed, & shall
therevpon Refuse or neglect to serve & duely & truely to
execute & performe the said place & office of Presse master
shall forfeite & pay vnto the Right Honourable the Lord
Prop^ry for euery time hee or they soe nominated & appointed
as aforesaid shall Refuse or neglect to serve as aforesaid the
sume of ffiue hundred pounds of Tobacco.
And for the more & better Incouragem^t of such Souldiers as
shall in time of warr venture in the service of the Country