Assembly Proceedings, May 10-June 9, 1692. 313

by the Inhabitants Called Fort Dutys and not Port Duties as
it is now termed in the said Act, upon which Evidence and
perusall of the Law, and fully Debating the Same, this house
do unanimously Declare that the said 14^d p^r Ton doth of right
and according to the Intentions of the Makers of that Law
belong to the Crown, and humbly desire their Majestys Royall
Assent to an Act to Invest the same in their Majestys and
Successors for ever; It Seeming very unequal to them that the
Crown of England should be at that Charge of Building Forts
which is absolutely Necessary for securing Ships in time of
Warr and Securing their Majestys Dutys in both times of
Peace and Warr and the Lord Baltimore receive the Money
given by his Majesties Subjects for that End & purpose but
more Especially when We Consider the great Revenue his
Majesties Clemency has still Allowed and Afforded his Lord-
ship out of this Province and how Little it cost him and his
father in Seating the Same; It being Chiefly peopled at first
by Unpeopling their Majesties Colony of Virginia invited in
hither with their families and Estates by a Snare; fertile Soil,
and the Specious pretence of Liberty of Conscience.
3dly. As to the Demand of the fines and Amerciaments
to the late happy Revolution so farr as they were Legall his
Lordship We humbly Conceive ought to have them, but what
hath since Legally Accrued, and forever for the future are the
undoubted rights of the Crown of England, the one arising
from the breach of their Majesties Laws, and the other an
Antient Prerogative of the Crown by Custom immemoriall
for their false Clamour in his Courts of Judicature
4thly As to the Demand of Wafts, Strays, Wild horses,
and Hoggs this house say that such a franchise can no ways
Suit with the Nature and Constitution of this Province nor
any New Seated Plantation, the Same being very numerous
and the Country uncleared of Wood, and every Mans Tract
of Land so large that it is impossible to fence the Same in ;
so that the whole Stock of the Country run promiscously one
amongst the other and every Mans property only distin-
guished by his proper Mark Entred upon Record so that by
such a Grant his Lordship would Entitle himself and Engross
into his hands the whole Stock of the Province, and destroy
every Mans property in the Same, Some Mens Stocks wan-
dering Ten or Twenty Miles from their Plantation which the
Law of Necessity requiring, the said Franchise ought not to
be Admitted till the Conveniency of the Province will give
leave thereunto which we humbly offer and Submitt to their
Majestys Pleasure, And whereas unmarked wild Cattle
Horses and Hogs were by an Act of Assembly given to his

U. H. J.