Assembly Proceedings, March — April 1671. 301

and with the Advice & Consent of the vpper & Lower
Howses of this p^rsent Generall Assembly and by the Autho-
rity of the Same That from and after the ffirst day of January
next Comeing if any pson or psons whatsoever Inhabitant
within this Province and having a Plantacon Seated Shall
and will by himselfe or his Servants or any other by him
Imployed or hyred Cause or Procure to be tilled any Quan-
tity of ground or Land vppon his or their PlantacOn afore-
said and therevppon Sowe any Lyneseed otherwise called
fflax Seed or Hemp Seed and shall vppon Reaping the Cropp
of Such Tilling and Sowing Cause the Said Cropp of flax or
hemp to be Brakt Swingled & made Merchantable ffitt for Sale
Such Person or Persons Inhabitants within this Province and
having a Seated Plantacon as aforesaid shall for those Two
yeares after the said ffirst day of Ianuary next for his and their
Encouragm^t in Soe good a work demand have & Receive the
Sume or Quantity of one hundred pounds of Tobacco for Every
one hundred pound of hemp or fflax Soe by him or them Sowed
Brakt Swingled or made Merchantable and fitt for Sayle or
cawsed to be Sowen Brakt Swingled and made Merchantable
and ffitt for Sayle as aforesaid and Soe proportionably after
that Rate for any greater Quantity to be paid vnto him or them
by the Com^rs of the Severall and Respective County Co^rts and
Reased out of the County Leavies of the Respective Counties
where such fflax or Hemp shall be Sowen brakt swingled or
made as aforesd Provided such Person or psons making such
fflax or hemp as aforesaid shall by pducing the Same to the
Comissio^r of the Said County Courts or to any other pson or
psons by them from Time to Time to be Appointed or by any
othe wayes or meanes whatsoever Satisfie and make it appeare
to the Said Com^r of the Said Severall & Respective County
Courts that he or they or his or their Servants have made or
caused to be made any or Such Quantity of fflax or hemp not
vnder one hundred pounds weight) and Soe brakt Swingeld
made merchantable and ffitt for Sayle as aforesaid
Provided allwaies and it is the True intent & meaning of this
Act that Such Person or Persons Inhabitant within this Province
and keeping a Plantacon and Cawsing Such fflax or Hempseed
to be Sowen and Such fflax and Hemp to be made as aforesaid
Shall notwithstanding the said Paym^t of one hundred pounds
of Tobacco for Every hundred pounds of fflax and Hemp made
as aforesaid be att Liberty to make vse of sell and dispose of
Such his or their fflax or hemp Soe made as aforesaid as he or
they shall think fitt And to the intent that Every pson or psons
Soe Sowing and making hemp and fflax as aforesaid may be
the Rather Encouraged to Sow and make Considerable Quan-
tities thereof it is hereby declared That noe pson or psons In-

P. R. O.

Colonial En-
try Book
No. 53