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

Lib. L. L.
No. 1.

Clearing the sum of two pounds one shilling and four pence
under pretext of Secretarys Fees besides other Fees to sev^ll
the Inferiour Officers for writing their Entrys, Permitts and
clearings, which said Secretaries and other Officers Fees as
aforesaid were not only Illegall and unreasonable but also

p. 67

unjust being exacted and extorted from the aforesaid Masters
of such ships or Vessells as aforesaid without any pretence or
Colour of Law or Justice whatsoever but for that it doth
appear to this p^rsent Generall Assembly that there is a neces-
sity of selling Fees for the maintaining such Officer or Officers
as shall be from time to time app^td for Entring and clearing
such Ships or Vessells as aforesaid Be it therefore Enacted
by the King and Queens most Excellent Majestys by and
with the advice and consent of this present Generall Assembly
and the Authority of the same, that from and after the Publi-
cat" hereof every Master of a Ship or Vessell Trading into this
Province upon clearing his Ship or Vessell as aforesaid, shall
allow and pay unto his Majestys Governour for the time being,
the sum of forty shillings and no more, for such his Entring,
Clearing & Granting Permitts as aforesaid, their said Majes-
ties Governor being hereby oblieged to find Officers who shall
give good and Sufficient Security to such their Majesties
Govern^r as aforesaid for due Execution of the premisses, and
that they shall not aske demand or Exact from any Master so
cleering as aforesaid any Fee gratuity or reward whatsoever
or him delay in his dispatch in Expectation of a Fee Gratuity
or reward as aforesaid to be by such Master tendred for the
reasons and causes aforesaid but that every such Officer or
Officers so nominated and appointed as aforesaid being guilty
of the premisses upon due proof thereof made, shall for every
such default forfeit and pay the sum of twenty pounds sterl.
one half thereof to our Soveraign Lord and Lady the King

p. 68

and Queen for support of Government, the other half to the
Party grieved to be recovered by Action of Debt Bill plaint or
Information wherein no Essoyn Protection or Wager of Law
to be allowed. Provided always and tis the true intent and
meaning of this Act, that no Inland Sloop Trading from Vir-
ginia hither or from hence to Virginia and noe farther shall
be by this Act or any thing herein conteyned oblieged to pay
the said sum of thirty shillings Sterl. for such their Entring
and clearing as aforesaid but that the Master of every such
sloop so Trading as aforesaid shall at the time of his clearing
such Sloope as aforesaid, pay unto their Majesties Governour
for the time being the sum of Ten shillings sterl. and noe
more for such his Entry pmitt clearing as aforesaid, any thing
before menconed to the contrary notwithstandg. Provided
also that this Act nor any thing therein Conteyned shall be
adjudged, construed or taken to Extend to the Fees due to