Upon the same grounde and[173] reason their lops, together with the rest of the Counsell[174] and Company, are humbly besought[175] by this general[176] assembly that if in that other clause wch exempteth Captaine[177] Martin and his people from all services of the Colony &c., they shall finde any resistance against[178] that equality and[179] uniformity of lawes and orders intended nowe by them to be established over the whole Colony, that they would be pleased to reforme it.
In fine, wheras[180] Captaine[181] Martin, for those ten shares allowed him for his personal[182] adventure and[183] for his adventure of £70 besides, doth claim 500 acres a share, that the Treasurer, Counsell and Company woulde vouchsafe to give notice to the Governour[184] here, what kinde[185] of shares they meante he should have when they gave him his Patent.[186]
The premisses about Captaine Martin thus resolved, the Committies[187] appointed to consider what instructions are fitt to be converted into lawes, brought in their opinions, and[188] first of some of the general[189] instructions.
Here begin the lawes drawen out of the Instructions given by his Maties Counsell of Virginia in England to my lo: la warre,[190] Captain Argall and Sir George Yeardley, knight.
By this present Generall Assembly be it enacted, that no[191] injury or oppression be wrought by the Englishe[192] against[193] the Indians whereby the present peace might be disturbed and antient quarrells might be revived. And farther[194] be it ordained, that the Chicohomini are not to be excepted out of this lawe; untill either that suche[195] order come out of Englande, or that they doe provoke us by some newe injury.
Against Idlenes, Gaming, durunkenes & excesse in apparell the Assembly hath enacted as followeth:
First, in detestation of Idlenes[196] be it enacted, that if any men be founde to live as an Idler or renagate, though a freedman, it shalbe[197] lawfull for that Incorporation or Plantation to wch he belongeth to appoint him a Mr to serve for wages, till he shewe apparant signes of amendment.
Against gaming at dice[198] & Cardes be it ordained by this present assembly that the winner or winners shall lose all his or their winninges and[199] both winners and loosers shall forfaicte[200] ten shillings a man, one ten shillings whereof to go to the discoverer, and the rest to charitable & pious uses in the Incorporation where the faulte[201] is comitted.
Against drunkenness be it also decreed that if any private person be found culpable thereof, for the first time he is to be reprooved privately by the Minister, the second time publiquely, the thirde time to lye in boltes 12 howers in the house of the Provost Marshall & to paye his fee,[202] and if he still continue in that vice, to undergo suche severe punishment as the Governor[203] and Counsell of Estate shall thinke fitt to be inflicted on him. But if any officer offende in this crime, the first time he shall receive a reprooff from the Governour, the second time he shall openly be reprooved in the churche by the minister, and the third time he shall first be comitted and then degraded. Provided it be understood that the Governr[204] hath alwayes[205] power to restore him when he shall, in his discretion thinke fitte.