OCTOBER 1693.−−−5th WILLIAM & MARY.

ACT I.

An act appointing Rangers on the frontiers of the four great rivers.

WHEREAS it is very necessary and beneficiall for the defence of this their majesties dominion and the inhabitants thereof, that rangers be levied on the frontiers of the four 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 last day of Aprill 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 other places as shall be most likely to discover our enemies and that the pay of each officer and soldier levied or to be levied, armed and mustered, to range and scout about the heads of the great rivers and in such other places as shall be most likely to discover our enemies and the pay of each officer and soldier levied or to be levied, armed and mustered, shall be as follows, viz. the lieutenant or commander of each party of soldiers finding himselfe horse, furniture, armes amunition and provision shall have and receive out of the publique levie five thousand pounds of tobacco and casque for one whole yeare, and soe after that rate for a shorter time, and each soldier finding himselfe horse, armes, furniture amunition and other necessaries three thousand pounds of tobacco and casque for one whole yeare and soe after that rate for a shorter time.

And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, and it is hereby enacted, That the two Indians by this act appointed shall each of them have and receive from the lieutenant of the rangers to whome he belongs eight yards of duffils and two barrells of Indian corne for his service for one yeare and soe proportionably for a shorter time, and the said lieutenant shall be reimbursed by the publique and that 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 owner or owners of the said horse or horses furnished as aforesaid shall have and receive from the country in the next publique levie after the rate of eighty pounds of tobacco and casque for one month and soe proportionably for a longer or shorter time and that the comander in chiefe respective counties take care that the said officers and soldiers be duely mustered and an account thereof sent from time to time to the secretaryes office, and forasmuch as there is noe certainty of future events and therefore incertaine how to provide for the effectual defence of the country and to the end it may be provided for with the least charge.

Be it enacted by the authority aforesaid, and it is hereby enacted, That upon any emergencye all such soldieres which the governour with the advice and consent of the councell shall levie, arme and muster for the better defence of this country, shall be paid out of the publique levie and that the governour may from time to time and att all times by and with the advice and consent of the councell 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 councell shall seem most conducible to the advantage of this their majesties dominion, which said soldiers shall receive pay and be satisfved proportionably to the time they shall be in service, and after these rated (viz.) Each captain finding himselfe horse, armes amunition and provision and all other necessaryes, ten thousand pounds of tobacco and casque for one yeare and soe proportionably for a shorter time, each lieutenant finding and providing himselfe with horses, armes, amunition and provision and all other necessaries five thousand pounds of tobacco and casque for one yeare and soe proportionably for a shorter time, and every private soldier finding and providing himselfe with horse, armes, amunition and provisions and all other necessaries, three thousand pounds of tobacco and casque for one yeare and soe proportionably for a shorter time.

And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, and it is hereby enacted, That for the ffuture if any English or other christians or Indians shall bring any news or give any intelligence to any of their majesties officers civill or military such officers to whome the same shall be brought shall diligently inquire into and examine the grounds thereof, and if such news prove true and be of service to the government that then he or they bringing the same shall be rewarded, but if false punished as the crime shall deserve, and the county courts where such inteligence shall be given are hereby impowered to consider what rewards such person bringing news and giving inteligence 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 until the last day of Aprill, which shall be in the yeare 1695 and noe longer.