586 Assembly Proceedings, May ib-June 11, 1697.

L. H. J.

The said Bill with the following ordinance Sent up to his
Maty^ties Hon^ble Councill by Major Dent, Cap^t Blay and M^r
Ferry.

By the house of Delegates June the 11^th 1697.
Voted and Resolved that the Kings Armes and the Countrys

Armes distributed according to order of his Ex^cy the Gov^r

and Councill be kept well fixed and in good repaire at the
County charge as also the carrying and removeing them to
those places where they are lodged.
That the officer with whom the Arms powder or Amunition
is or shall be lodged give two Receipts for the Same one to
his Ex^cy the Gov^r another to be kept among the Councill
Records, which arms amunition &c are not to be disposed of
(Except powder as shall be hereafter ordered) by the officers
where lodged unless by order of his Ex^cy or of the field officers
in Case of Invasion or Insurrection (which God prevent) upon
forfeiture of treble the worth of the said arms and amunition

to be disposed of for purchasing more.

That upon the dismissall Death or Removall of any officer
with whom Arms and Amunition are Lodged, the next field
officer with one Cap^t doe imediately goe and take an accompt
of the said Arms and Amunition and secure them untill they
receive some further order there about from his Ex^cy the Com-
mander in Chiefe to whome they are with convenient Speed
to send.
That if it appears that the Arms and Amunitions have been
Embezled by any officer with whom they are or heretofore have
been lodged, or by the heirs Ex^rs or Ad^rs of any such officers
that the value thereof shall be first satisfied out of the said
deceased officers Estate.
That considering the powder of this province is generally
decayed and of little value, that it may be Lawfull for each
respective officer with whome it is lodged to sell or dispose of

p. 154

one halfe of the same, provided that within six months they
provide the same Quantity of good new powder in its place,
or answer for the same twelve pence Sterl: p pound to his
Ex^cy And that if any such officer having disposed of halfe the
old powder [as aforesaid shall have put the same quantity of
good new powder in its place, he may then dispose of the
other halfe of the old powder] on the like terms and con-
ditions. And that in case the said powder cannot be changed
and made good as af^d it be changed and made good yearly at
the County charge to be assessed by the Com^rs
W Bladen Clk: of the house of Delegates.

The aforegoing ordinance was brought down to the house
thus subscribed.