246 Assembly Proceedings, Mar. 16, 1701/2-Mar. 25, 1702.

Original
Journal.

By his Ex^cy the Gov^r and Councill in Assembly
March 19^th 1701/2

Whereas In the late Act for regulateing Ordnarys there
was a good and beneficiall clause enacting that noe Ord^ry
keeper w^tsoever within this province should creditt any Sailor
belonging to any Merch^t Shipp or Vessell tradeing within this
province for more then the vallue of Twenty Shillings Curr^t
money dureing their stay here for the time of one voyage,
which said clause is now omitted in the p^rsent Law for regu-
lateing Ord^rys But for that dailey experience shews the abso-
lute necessity of such a clause to restraine the said Ordnarys
from harbouring and entertaining such Saylers to the Great
Prejudice of the owners and masters of vessells to whom such
Sailors belong who generally neglect and delay to performe
their Duty's and obey the Lawfull comands of their Masters
to the Great disservice of his Mat^ys and prejudice of trade
within this province. Preventing and impedeing the dis-
patch thereof and very often when such Sailors have spent
their wages in such Ordnarys occasioning and induceing them
to runn away and disert the vessells whereto they belong:
It is proposed that it be ordained and be it ordained by his
Maj^s Honb^l Councill and the Dellegates of this p^rsent Gen^ll
Assembly that noe Ord^ry Keeper w'soever within this province
Do p^rsume to harbour or entertain such Saylors to the neglect
of their service to their respective Comanders and p^rjudice of
the dispatch of any Shipp or Vessell thereby under the paine
and penalty of being suspended from keeping such ordnary and
that noe Ord^ry keeper whatsoever shall creditt any such sailor
for more than five Shillings dureing any one voyage, under
the penalty of Looseing his Debt and being fined to our Lord
the King five pounds Sterling whereof one halfe to the in-
former the other halfe to the vestry of the Parrish where such
Ordnary is kept.
Signed p order
W Bladen Clk: Councill.

March 19^th 1701/2.

The house of Delegates concurrs herewith
Signed p order W Taylard clk: house Dell:

Peticon of the Inhabitants of Prince George County.
Read. The Consideracon thereof is referred till tomorrow
morning.
Bill for the releife of Kent and Calvert Countys, Read 2^d
time and doe pass