272 Assembly Proceedings, Sept. 5-Oct. 3, 1704.

Lib. L. L.
No. 64.

Be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that from hence-
forth all such necessary Charges of such Warr and Souldier pay
as aforesaid shall be payd discharged and defray'd by a Publiq
Levy by an equall Assessment upon the Taxables of this Pro-
vince by the Consent of the ffreemen of this Province by their
Representatives in a Generall Assembly or out of the publiq
Treasury of this Province and no otherwise whatsoever.
And to the Intent that the Inhabitants of this Province may
not be abused by having their goods and provisions prest by
loose and idle persons who many times abuse their Comissions
and the people.
Be it further enacted by the Authority advice and Consent
that from henceforth the Comissioners of each respective
County shall yearly and every Year viz. Between the twenty
ninth day of September and the twenty fifth day of December
Nominate and appoint two honest and substantiall Men of their
Countys to be presse Masters for the year ensuing And if any

p. 64

one dye or depart the County or be lame or Sick within that
time that then the next Justice of the peace to nominate and
appoint one other in his stead that if occasion require they and
no other shall impress Victuals & other things given them in
Charge to be passd by Warrant from his Excellency the Gov-
erno^r in Chief for the time being And if any other but press-
masters so appoynted shall presume upon pretense of any
power as a press Master to Seize take press or Carry away any
goods or Comoditys of any the Inhabitants of this Province
shall pay to the persons greived treble the value of the Goods
and Comoditys so as aforesaid unjustly pressd.
Provided that no pressmaster or any person or persons
whatsoever shall presume at any time to Seize press or Carry
away from the Inhabitants resident in this Province any Arms
or Amunition of any kind whatsoever upon any duty or Service
or upon any Account whatsoever any law Statute or usage to
the contrary hereof in any wise notwithstanding.
And be it likewise Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that
the Comissioners of any County Court within this Province
who shall not between the seven and twentyeth day of Sep-
tember and the five and twentyeth day of December in each
respective year by precept from the County Court Signd by
the County Court Sign'd by the Clerk by the Court nominate
and appoynt such and so many press Masters for every County
as aforesaid shall each of them forfeitt and pay unto her
Majesty for the Support of Governm^t the sume of five hun-
dred pounds of Tobacco And such Press Masters who shall be
so nominated and appointed as aforesaid by such precepts as
aforesaid to him or them directed and shall thereupon refuse
or neglect to serve and truly perform and execute the said