MARCH 1692-3.−−−5th WILLIAM & MARY.

ACT VI.

An act for continuing the Rangers at the head of the four great Rivers.

WHEREAS it is verry necessary and beneficiall for the defence of this theire majesties dominion and the inhabitants thereof that the rangers at the heads of the four grate rivers be continued.

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, one lieutenant, eleaven soldiers and two Indians well furnished with horses and other accoutrements be continued leived armed and mustered to range and scout about the great rivers and in such other places as shall be most likely to discover our enemies and that the pay of each soldier leived or to be leived armed and mustered shall be as followes, viz. the leiutenant or comander of each party of soldiers finding himselfe horse, accoutrements, furniture, amunition and provisions, shall have and receive five thousand pounds of tobacco and casque out of the publique levie for one whole yeare, and soe after that rate for a shorter time, and each souldier finding himselfe horse, armes, furniture, ammunition and other necessaries, three thousand pounds of tobacco and casque for one 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 whom he belongs eight yeards of duffils and two barrels of Indian corne for his service for one yeare, and soe proportionable for a shorter time, and the said lieutenant shall be reimbursted by the publique, and that the said lieutenant doe take care and provide by warrant from the commander in chiefe of the county wherein he resides, for each of the said Indians an able horse bridle and sadle for which the owner or owners of said horse or horses furnished as aforesaid shall have and receive from the county in the next publique levie after the rates of eighty pounds of tobacco and casque for one month, and soe proportionable for a longer or shorter time and that the said comander in chiefe of the respective counties take care that the said officers and souldiers be duly 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 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 emergency all such souldiers which the governour with the advice and consent of the councell shall levei 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 at all times by and with the advice and consent of the said 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 said councell shall seeme most conduceable to the advantage of this theire majesties dominion, which said souldiers shall receive pay and be satisfied proportionably to the time they shall be in service and after these rates: viz. Each captain finding himselfe horse, armes, ammunition, provision and all other necessaries ten thousand pounds of tobacco and casque for one year and soe proportionable for a shorter time, and every private souldier finding and providing himselfe with horse, armes, amunition, provision and all other necessaries three thousand pounds of tobacco and casque for one yeare and soe proportionable for a shorter time.

And be it further enacted by the authority oforesaid, and it is hereby enacted, That for the future if any English other christians or Indians shall bring any newes or give any inteligence to any of theire majesties officers civill or military such officer to whome the same shall be brought shall diligently inquire into and examine the grounds thereof, and if such newse prove true and be of use and 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 court when such inteligence shall be given are hereby impowered to consider what reward such person bringing newes and giveing inteligence shall deserve, and certifie the same to the next generall assembly for allowance, and if the newes and inteligence be false 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 Aprill, which shall be in the year 1694 and no longer.