200 Assembly Proceedings, April — May 1669.

Liber
W H &L
p.34

Acts made at a Generall Assembly begun and held att
Saint Maryes in the Province of Maryland Xiij die Aprilis
XXXvij Ccecilij &^ca Annoq. Domini MDCLXIX^o

The Honourable
Charles Calvert Esq^r Gouernour —

An Act for the Continuance of peace with and proteccon of
our Neighbours and Confederate Indians in Choptanke River

It being most Just that the Indians the auncient Inhabitants
of this Province should have a Convenient dwelling place in
this their native Countrey free from the Incroachment and
oppression of the English and more Especially such who are in
league with us and for their friendship to vs are in danger to
be destroyed by their Neighbour Nations our Enemyes And
whereas Ababco Hatsawapp and Tequassimo have of late

p.35

given large Testimonies of their fidelity toward us in delivering
up the Murtherer of Captain John Odber For which they are
in danger to be Cutt of and destroyed by the Wiccomesses and
their Confederates the Matwha's Indians Bee itt Enacted by
the Right Hon^ble the Lord Proprietary by and with the advice
and Consent of the upper and lower house of this present
Generall Assembly that all that land lyeing and being on the
south side of Choptanke River Bounded Westerly by the free-
hould now in the Tenure and occupacon of William Dorrington
And Easterly with the Creeke falling into the said River of
Choptanke Commonly by the English called or knowne by the
name of Secretary Sewalls Creeke for breadth and from the
said River side three miles into the woods for length shall be
vnto the said Ababco Hatsawap and Tequassimo and the
people under their government or Charge and their heires for
ever any Law vsage Custome or graunt to the Contrary hereof
in any wise Notwithstanding To be held of the said Lord Pro-
prietary his heires Lord and Proprietary or Lords and Proprie-
taryes of this Province under the yearely Rent of six Beavor
skinns to be paid to his said Lordship and his heires as other
Rents in this Prouince by the English use to be payd.
And Bee itt further Enacted by the Authority advice and
Consent aforesaid that itt shall and may be Lawfull for the
Gouernour of this Province for the tyme being to rayse out of
this Province such and soe much Tobacco by an Equall Assess-
ment vpon the Estates of the freemen of this Province as he shall
be out of purse in procureing a League with the Matwhas Indians
in which the said Ababco Hatsawap and Tequassimo & their
people and subjects shall be Included Provided the said League
be had and Concluded within three yeares next Ensueing from
the last day of this present Generall Assembly —