120 Assembly Proceedings, Mar. 10, 1697/8-Apr. 4, 1698.

Original
Journal.

Secretary and Chancellor of this province this Board do say
that upon dischargeing what is due to them untill this present
time upon the former Ordinance of Assembly which can on
noe wise be denyed them; It is agreed that for the future
they shall be allowed onely 150^ls tob: p day during theire
attendance upon Councill in Assembly unless they shall be
called to councill out of Towne.
The house consent thereto.
That the vote of the house relating to the militia wants
explanation not knowing whether you Intended the reference
to the next hon^ble Assembly or next Sessions of Assembly.
It was meant If it should be referred to the next Sessions of
Assembly or not and carryed in the negative the sense of the
house being that it should not be referred att all.
The Resolve as to Sloops and Shallops takeing pmitts and
is assented to but wants explanation to particularize the late
Act of parliament.
The house are willing that it should be so explained Viz^t
An Act made in the 7^th and 8^th years of his present Matys
reigne, entitled an Act for preventing frauds and regulating
abuses in the plantation Trade.
About the publicque Ferryes seeing the house has thought
fitt to Lay South River and Severn ferryes aside. It is pro-
posed that all other publicque Ferryes be likewise layd aside.
The vote of this house was intended against them all.
Severall answers to questions in theire Lordsp^s the R^t
Hon^ble the Lords of the Council for Trade and foreigne plan-
tations Letter read & approved of.
And first as to Soldiers Transporting themselves into this
province, we Can give small encouragement unless they be
tradesmen or have sufficient stock to qualify them to procure
them land and other necessaryes usefull for this Country.
As to agents to appear for us qualifyed by Act of Assembly
It is the opinion of this house that considering the meaness of
our Circumstances and abilityes we apprehend them wholly
useless, But when we have any matters of Importance to lay
before theire Lordsp. we shall authorize some fitting person
for that purpose.
As to what becomes of White Servants.
After they have served theire time they are well lookt on,
and theire masters cloath them well and give them all other
necessaryes for one year. And those that be Industrious and
frugall purchase Estates, but negligent and careless persons
run the same fate here as in other Countryes.

p. 198

An act for decideing differences between Masters and Ser-
vants, read the first and Second times and passed.
House adjourned for 2 houres.