Assembly Proceedings, October—November 1678. 57

and discharged without which this Provinc Cannot be defended
& Secured Bee itt Enacted by the Right Hon^ble the Lord Propr^ry
by and with the aduice and Consent of the upper and lower
houses of this present Generall Assembly & the Authority of
the same That from henceforth all such Necessary Charges of
such warr and Soldiers Pay as aforesaid shall be paid dis-
charged and defrayed by a Publick Leavy by an equall Assess-
ment vppon the Taxables of this Province by the Consent of the
freemen of this Province by their representatives & in a Gen-
erall Assembly and noe otherwayes whatsoever according to
the Clause in An Act entituled An Act of gratitude to his
Excellency Charles Calvert Esq^r Captaine Generall of Mary-
land
7^thly And to the end that the Inhabitants of this Province
may not be abused by haveing their goods and Provisions
prest from them by loose & idle fellows who many times abuse
iheir Comissions and the people Be itt Enacted by the
Authority aforesaid That from henceforth the Comissioners of
each Respective County within this Province shall yearely and
every Yeare Viz^t between the Nyne & twentieth day of Sep-
tember and the five and twentieth day of December nominate
and appoint two honest and Substantiall men of their Counties
for every hundred to be pressemasters for the yeare ensueing
and if any one dye or depart the Country or be lame or sick
within that time That then the next Justice of peace to nom-
inate and appoint another in his stead that if Occasion require
they & none elce shall impresse Victualls or other things given
them in Charge to be pressed by Warrant from the Lord Pro-
prietary his heirs or successors or his or their Leivtenant
Generall & Gouernour for the time being And if any other
but such pressemaster soe appointed shall presume uppon pre-
tence of any power as a pressemaster to seize take presse or
Carry away any goods or Comodities of any the Inhabitants
of this Province shall pay to the person grieved treble the value
of such goods or Comodityes soe as aforesaid unjustly pressed
Provided that noe pressemaster or any other person or persons
whatsoever shall presume att any time to take seize presse or
carry away from any Inhabitant resident within this Province
any armes or Amunition of any kind whatsoever vpon any
duty or service vppon any accompt whatsoever vnder the pen-

Liber W. H.
& L.

alty aforesaid any law Statute or vsage to the Contrary hereof
in any wise notwithstanding
8^thly And for the more and better encouragement of such
Soldiers as shall in the time of warr venture in the service of
the Country and defence thereof against any Indians Bee itt
Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That the free Booty Prize
Pillage and Plunder or any Indian seized or taken Prisoner

p. 138