Assembly Proceedings, March — April 1671. 273

An Act Impowring the Commissioners of the County
Courts to Levy and rayse Tobacco towards the
defraying the Necessary Charges of their Counties

Forasmuch as in the Intervalls of Assemblyes in this Pro-
uince there haue been Severall Necessary Charges laid out and
Expended in the Severall and Respectiue Counties of this Pro-
vince by the severall and Respective Comissioners of the said
Counties and others for the good and welfare and Conservacon
of the peace of and within the said Counties and which ought
to be borne by the Severall and Respectiue Counties distinctly
and haue been formerly vsed and accustomed to be Reimbursed
defraid payd and Satisfyed by and out of the County Leavy
Leavyed and assessed by the Comissioners of the said Respec-
tive Countyes by an Equall Assessment vpon the persons and
Estates of the Inhabitants of the said Severall and Respectiue
Counties But the said Comissioners of the said County Courts
not haueing Sufficient warrant or Authority to rayse such
Leauy The freemen of this Prouince in this present Generall
Assembly Doe humbly pray that it may be Enacted And Bee
itt Enacted by the Right Hon^ble the Lord Proprietary of this
Prouince by and with the aduice and Consent of the upper and
lower houses of this present Generall Assembly And the au-
thority of the same That for the future itt shall and may be Law-
full to and for the Respective Comissioners of the severall and
Respective County Courts within this Province att their Severall
and Respective Courts to be held for the said Countyes vpon
Examinacon had before them of the Publick Charges of their
said Severall and Respective Counties and allowance by them
made of the same to Leavy and Rayse Tobaccoes for payment
and satisfaccon of the said severall and Respective County
Charges and the Sherriffes Sallary for Collecting thereof by an
Equall Assessment of the goods and Chatties of the freemen
and Inhabitants of the said Severall Countyes any act Lawe
Custome or vsage heretofore had and made to the Contrary
hereof in any wise Notwithstanding Provided alwayes that the

Liber
WH&L

accompts of the said County Charge be kept vpon Record
faire written in a booke by themselues signed by the Clarke of
the said County Court And that vpon Complaint of any per-
son that the said Charges are not allowable or that he is over-
charged or otherwise agreived the said accompts shall be Ex-
amined and Rectifyed by the Prouinciall Court of this Prouince

An Act against divulgers of fake news

Whereas many Idle and Bussie headed people doe forge
and divulge falce Rumors and Reports to the great disturbance
of the peace of the Right Hon^ble the Lord Proprietary and his

p. 51