Assembly Proceedings, February — March 1638/9. 81

levyed unto the Lord proprietarie and his heirs a Custome of
five pounds of Tobacco for every hundred weight of Tobacco
so shipped or to be Shipped and that no owner of any Tobacco
servant Factor or Merchant attempt to Ship or export any
Tobacco to be transported as aforesaid before such time as
such owner factor or Merchant Shipping or attempting to Ship
such Tobacco have made a true & perfect entry of the same
in the booke of the Collector of the Lord Proprietary to be
kept for that purpose and have satisfied the said five pounds
of Tobacco for every hundred weight to be exported as afore-
said or otherwise contracted with or secured the Collector for
the same upon pain of forfeiture of all Tobaccos w^ch Shall be
shipped or attempted to be shipped to the contrary hereof
before such true and perfect entry made and such Custome
satisfied Contracted for or Secured as before is limitted &
appointed

Memorandum That at the first meeting of the Assembly on
the 25^th day of February 1638 was Enacted and ordeined one
Act as followeth

An Act For the Establishing the house of
Assembly and the Laws to be made therein

Whereas The Kings Majestic by his Letters pattents hath
given and granted full free and absolute power and authority
to the Lord proprietary of this province to make and ordeine
any laws apperteining to the state of this Province by and with
the advice assent and approbation of the freemen of the same
or of the greater part of them or of their Deligates or deputies
and to that end to Assemble the said Freemen or their deligates

Liber
C & W H
p. 61

or deputies in such sort and forme as to the said Lord pro-
prietarie should seem best By Vertue Whereof Severall writts
or Summons have been directed to certain Gentlemen to appear
personally at this Assembly and to the rest of the freemen in-
habiting within the Severall hundreds of this Colony and the
Isle of Kent to elect their delegates or deputies in their names
and steeds to be present at the same and accordingly all the
freemen of the said severall hundreds and of the Isle of Kent
(some few excepted) have elected certain persons to that end
and the same their Election have subscribed and returned upon
record and their said Dellegates and Deputies are now assem-
bled accordingly. Be it therefore Enacted and ordeined by the
said Lord proprietarie of and with the advice assent and ap-
probation of the Freemen and of the delegates and deputies

p. 62