492 Court and Testamentary Business, 1656/7.

         Liber B. The Gage for hhds

          No. 3. Whereas divers Masters of Ships have Complained to this

             Court that they making Charter parties in England according

             to the Ordlinary Gage of Virginia hogsheads and finding by

             Experience they Canmiot perform their obligations by reason of

         p. 257    the Extraordinary Size amid Bigness of the Caske made in this

             Province without Extraordinary losse in their ffraight besides

             the disappoimiting of divers merchants amid planters fraighting

             upon the Said Ships, and also do Resolvedly declare that if

             Some remedy be not Speedily provided in time premisses, the

             will Chuse rather, tottally to decline the trade, then put them-

             selves and owmiers, to Such apparent amid umiavoidable losse,

             The Court taking the Samne into Consideration and weighing

             time Condition of the Inhabitants, for the Encouragement of

             Trade, have thought fitt to mnake a Standing Gage for all To-

             bacco hhds to be made within this Province, amid the Gage to

             be observed by all Coopers and others, Settimig up Caske,

             untill it Shall be farther ordered by an Assembly And all

             Magistrates are hereby athorized & required in their respec-

             tive Limitts, both upomi Complaint or View of Such Caske not

             made according to the Said Gadge (hereafter Specified) to

             destroy them, The Gadge to be Viz. 43 Inches in Length and

             26 imiches over in the head.

                    Order to Paul Simpson for Attachmt on the Estate of

                    John Pritchard

               Whereas Paul Simpson hath made appear to this Court that

              John Pritchard is indebted unto him the said Simpson time

             Sume of Eleven hundred poundis of Tobacco and Caske amid

             the Said Pritchard being non resident in this Province, The

             Court cloth order that attachmt be Granted against time Estate

             of the said Pritchard to time value of one Thousand five hun-

             dred pounds of Tobacco to be Respomisible for the said debt

              untill a Legall cleterminacomi.

                      p. 258             Capt William ffuller   Mr Michael Brookes

                                         mr Richard Preston,    Mr William Parker

          Present mr Edward Lloyd,          William Parratt

                                         mr Tho: Meeres,

             John Lord  Whereas mr John Lord hath Exhibited to this

             Ann Hamond Court a Bill of Seven hundred pounds of Tobacco

             and Caske Due from John Hamond to Nicholas Watkins, amid

             also an order of Court obtained at James Towne the 6 of De-

             ceiiiber 1650 upon the Bill to be paid by the Said Hamond,

             And the Said Lord Impleading Ann Hammond for Satisfac-

             tion according to the Said order, but not Shewing any power