APRIL 1695.−−−7th WILLIAM & MARY.

ACT I.

An act appoynting Rangers att the heads of the four great rivers.

WHEREAS it is verry necessary and beneficiall for the defence of this their majesties dominion and the inhabitants thereof that rangers be levied on the frontiers of the fower great rivers.

Be it therefore enacted by the governour, councell and burgesses of this present generall assembly and the authority thereof, and it is hereby enacted, That from and after the first day of May next one lieutenant, eleaven soldiers and two Indians well furnished with horses and other accoutrements be levied, armed and mustered, to range and scout about the heads of the great rivers and in such places as shall be most like to discover our enemies, and that the pay of each officer and soldier levied or to be levied armed and mustered shall be as followeth, viz. the lieutenant of commander of each party of soldiers finding himselfe horse, furniture, armes amunition and provision shall have and receive five thousand pounds of tobacco and casque out of the publick levy for one whole year, and soe after that rate for a longer or shorter time, and each soldier finding himselfe horse, armes, furniture, amunition and other necessaries, three thousand pounds of tobacco and cask for one yeare and soe after that rate for a longer or shorter time.

And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, and it is hereby enacted, That the two Indians by this act appoynted shall each of them have and receive from the Lieutenant of the Raingers to whome he belongs, eight yards of duffils and two barrels of Indian corn for his service for one yeare, and so proportionable for a longer or shorter time, and the said lieutenant shall be reimbursed by the publique, and that the said lieutenant doe take care and provide by warrant from the Commander in chiefe of the county where he resides for each of the said Indians, an able horse, bridle and saddle, for which the said owner or owners of the said horse or horses furnished as aforesaid shall have and receive from the county in the next publique levy, after the rate of eighty pounds of tobacco and casque for one month, and so proportionably for a longer or shorter time, and that the commander in chiefe of their respective counties take care that the said officers and soldiers be truly mustered and an account thereof sent from time to time to the secretaries office, and forasmuch as there is no certainty of future events and therefore uncertaine how to provide for the effectuall defence of the country, and to the end it may be provided for with the least charge.

Bee it enacted by the authority aforesaid, and it is hereby enacted, That upon any emergency all such soldiers which the governour with the consent and advice of the councill shall levy, arme and muster for the better defence of this country shall be paid out of the publick levy, and that the governour may from time to time and att all times by and with the advice and consent of the councill disband and discharge all forces raised or to be raised by virtue of this act, as to the said governour with the advice and consent of the said councill shall seem most conducible to the advantage of this their majesties dominion, which said soldiers shall receive pay and be satisfied proportionably to the time they shall be in service pay and be satisfied proportionably to the time they shall be in service and after these rates viz. Each Captain finding himselfe horse, armes, amunition, and provision, and all other necessaries, ten thousand pounds of tobacco and casque for one year, and so proportionably for a longer or shorter time, each Lieutenant finding and providing himselfe with horse, armes, amunition and provision and all necessaries five thousand pounds of tobacco and casque for one year, and so proportionably for a longer or shorter time.

And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, and it is hereby enacted, That for the future if any English or other christians shall bring any news or give any intelligence to any of their majesties officers civil or military, such officers to whom the same shall be brought, shall diligently inquire into and examine the grounds thereof, and if such news prove true and be of use and service to the government, that then he or they ringing the same shall be rewarded, but if false punished as the crime shall deserve, and the county courts where such intelligence shall be given are hereby empowered to consider what reward such person bringing news and giving intelligence shall deserve and certifie the same to the next generall assembly for allowance, and if the news and intelligence be false to cause such punishment to be inflicted on the person telling the same, as his crime shall deserve. −− This act to continue in force untill the last day of October, which shall be in the year 1696 and noe longer.