Assembly Proceedings July 1-10, 1696. 427

of each respective County in such maner as the publick leavy
of this province heretofore have been and still are Collected
who shall deduct five pounds of Tobb: p Cent out of it for his
Sallary and shall pay the surae remaining after such deduction
to the Vestrymen of each parish now Established by Law or
theire Order to the minister of the parish Lawfully instituted
and inducted and till that can be legally done or some other
way prescribed by the appointment of his Matys Governor for
the time being to such place or parish and the better to
Enable the s^d Vestrymen appointed by the aforesaid Law to
performe their Trust in all things by this Act reposed in them.
Be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid by and with
the Advice and Consent aforesaid That the severall Vestry-
men of the Severall Parishes within this Province be hereby
Constituted and appointed in the nature of a body Corporate
to the uses following (that is to say) to the Maintenance of a
Minister to the building of a Church and to the use of the
Parish, Viz. person Enabled and Impowered by the names of
the principall Vestryman and names of the rest of his Bretheren
Vestrymen of such parish to receive and take into theire
Custody and Possession to the uses profitt and benefitt afore-
said any Lands Tenements Hereditaments money Tobbacco
Goods Cattle or Chattells heretofore Given to the uses afore-
said or which hereafter shall be Given by any pious and well
disposed person or persons whatsoever of what nature and

Lib. L. L. 2

kind soever they be and by what maner of way soever the
same be given granted and bestowed either by Deed of Gift
Executed in their life time or by theire Last Will and Testa-
ment in writeing, Verball Will promise or otherwise and made
Capable and Enabled by that name to sue and be sued att
Law in any Action Reall, personall or mixt for or Concerning
any such Lands Goods or Chattells to the uses af^d and in any
Suite brought by them for any Lands Goods or Chattells
deteined from them unless they Recover in the suite in favour
of the Church and uses aforesaid untill a Sufficient Stock or
fund of money or Tobbacco in their hands to maintaine the
same they shall not pay any ffees to any Office belonging to
any of his Matys Courts of this province nor to any Councill
Attorney or Sollicitor att Law but the Severall Courts when
Desired shall Assigne them Gratis nor shall they pay any Cost
of Suite to the Defendant if Cast in the s^d suite and by the
same name to the uses aforesaid they are further Enabled to
purchase any Lands or Tenements (without Licence of Mort-
main) as also any Goods or Chattells and dispose of the same
to the uses and profitts af^d as fully and Amply to all intents
and purposes as any Body Corporate might or could do any
Law Statute usage or Custom to the Contrary notwithstanding

p. 128