ges of our Collony, for want of aid money, to be in great danger, and for prevention of which,

It is enacted and ordered by this Court or Assembly, and authority thereof, That there shall be a tax laid upon all our inhabitants of this his Majesty's Collony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, viz.: of a penny on the pound, according to the true value of every man's rateable estate. And this money so raised, shall be in speciall for the said messenger and not otherwise to be disposed, till the said messenger shall be satisfied of this his demands; and if there be any overplus, it shall be to answer where the Collony is indebted.

And for a method for the levying of this said rate :

We enact and order, That the Magistrates of every respective town shall by warrant forthwith warn in the inhabitants of each town, to choose two or three honest and able men to take a true list of every man's rateable estate; and of all lands and meadows, housing, merchants and tradesmen, shall be by these said men rated at their wisdom and discretion, according to the yearly profit. And for negro servants and cattle, we set these certain prices, for these men to make this rate by:

As oxen, four years old and upwards, at three

Steers, three years old, and all cows at two

00.00 30

All sheep at one year's old and upward, at five

head,

pence per score,

All swine above a year old, at a half penny per

All horses and mares above three years old, at three pence per head,

All two years old horses and mares, at one penny per head,

All year olds, at a half penny per head,

All negro men servants, per head,
Negro women servants, per head,

- 00 00 01

00 01 8 0

- 00 00 10 0

Further, we order, That the Constables of each town having warrant from a Magistrate and Conservators, shall collect and gather in said rate and bring it in to the Generall Treasurer, by the 25th of December next, where he shall have his charges disbursed for transportation; and upon any neglect hereof, [by] said Constables, their estate shall respond.

And whereas, complaint hath been made to this Assembly of the thinness of the Assemblys, whereby the Collony's business is neglected, for prevention of which,

It is enacted and ordered by this Assembly and the authority thereof, That there shall be a certain salary for the Governor, Deputy Governor, and for every Assistant, annually, to wit: ten pounds a year for the Governor, and six pounds for the Deputy Governor, and four pounds a year for every Assistant, to be paid by the Treasurer.

We also enact and order, That every Deputy shall be allowed three shillings a day for their service in the Generall Assembly.

And if any of said Deputies shall neglect or refuse to appear in their Majesties' Courts of Generall Assemblys, to serve therein, for every such default, they shall pay into the Treas ury six shillings a day.

It is further enacted and ordered, That if any person shall upon lawful notice given to them, refuse or neglect to bring in a list of their rateable estate to the said persons so chosen to make this rate; for this their default, the said persons so chosen, shall rate them at their wisdom and discretion.

Voted, Ordered, that a copy of these acts of the Court be sent to each town, under the seal of the Collony; and the Clerk to have for each copy six shillings, in or as money, and to send said copies with all expedition may be.

Voted, Ordered, that the acts of the Court be published in the open street, under the seal of the Collony, by beat of drum.

Voted, The Assembly, upon the publication of the acts, is dissolved. A true copy, attest, JOSEPH JENCKS, Clerk.

Proceedings of the Generall Assembly held for the Collony of Rhode Island and Providence Plantations at Newport, the 5th of May, 1696.

DEPUTIES.

For East Greenwich.

Capt'n Thomas Fry,

Mr. John Spencer.
For Kings Town.

DEPUTIES.

Mr. Lodowick Updike.

For James Towne.

Mr. Nicholas Carr,

Mr. Ebenezer Slocum.

Mr. Andrew Willet,

The Governor chosen Moderator of this Assembly.
The Recorder chosen Clerk.

Peter Greene, James Greene, Jabesh Greene, Robert Potter, Nathaniel Gorton, Phillip Sweet, James Sweet, James Briggs, Jno. Rice, Jun'r, Rufus Greene, Jno. Waterman, Peter Stone, Jno. Lippitt, John Condlong, Samuel Gorton, Jun'r, Jno. Gorton, Jun'r, Wm. Collings, Edw. Carter, Jno. Warner, Jun'r, Samuel Wickham, Tobias Brown, Robert Hudson, Wm. Potter, Jno. Tripp, Jun'r, Benj. Potter, Tho. Cornell, Jun'r, George Cornell, Jeremiah Lawton, Adam Lawton, Peter Barker, Samuel Thurston, Jno. Stanton, Jun'r, Joseph Palmer, William Phillips, John Phillips, George Hazard, Stephen Hassard, Rob't Hassard, Stephen Willcock, Thomas Willcock, Enoch Place, Benoni Sweet, Job Jenny, Jno. Eldridge, Robert Hannah, Samuel Warden, Ephraim Bull, Joseph Hull, Job Card, Jno. Holloway, James Reynolds, Jun'r, Henry Tibbetts, Jun'r, Edw. Greene, Joseph Reynolds, John Sweet, Ephraim Pray, John Mowry, Edward Smith, Christopher Smith, Tho. Smith, Nathaniel Waterman, Jun'r, James Beake, Daniel Sweet, Joshua Davis, Rob't Nichols, Wm. Spencer, Robert Spencer, Thomas Greenall, Thos. Rathbone, William Rathbone, Jno. Rathbone, Daniel Tosh, James Danielson, Mr. Hancock, John Michell, Thomas Michell, Thomas Duchings, Joseph Rathbone, Edward Sands, Mr. Banning, Edward Mott, Nathaniel Winslow, Joshua Raymond, all the persons above named, are admitted freemen of the Colony, by vote of the Assembly.

This Assembly for making freemen, is dissolved.

At the Generall Assembly and Election held at Newport, on the 6th day of May, 1696.

The Governor chosen Moderator of the Assembly.
The Recorder chosen Clerke of the Assembly.

Voted, Mr. Benedict Arnold, and Capt'n Samuel Cranston, are appointed to open the proxure votes.

Voted, Mr. Richard Arnold, and Capt'n Jonathan Holmes appointed to receive the votes from the freemen and put them into the hat.

The Charter openly read in the Assembly.

By the Election was chosen the following, who were severally engaged.

The Assembly adjourned to eight o'clock, the 7th instant.

May the 7th.

Voted, That whereas it hath been proposed to this Assembly