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 The Court and Bar of Colonial Virginia.

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Colony, are to be conformable to the orders and constitutions of the Church of England. . . . And that the Gov. and Counsell do take care that all non-conformists, upon notice of them, shall be compelled to depart the colony with all convenience.

as belonging to a privileged class, he struck a popular chord and was wafted on to fame. Laws for regulating the intercourse of the people with the Indians, and for protection against their incursions occupy an important place in the early legislation. The duties of ministers and church war The following was enacted as a precau dens were laid down in specific enactments tion against Indian treachery. which extended to their personal deportment It is onitred, That no person or persons shall as well as official acts. It was enacted : dare to speake or parlie with any Indians, either That ministers shall not give themselves to excess in drinkinge or riott, spendinge their tyme idelie by day or night, playinge dice, cards or any other unlawful game, but at all tymes convenient they shall heare or reade somewhat of the holy scriptures. . . . And endeavour al ways to profit the Church of God. . . . and should be examples to the people to live Christianlie.

The saying, " laws are made to be broken," found no- exception in those regulating the clergy in Virginia, and for more than a cen tury they had the name of a frolicking set, many of them spending more time in gaming, riding to the hounds and drinking than in their ministerial duties, and then were only perfunctory and official in their performance. The instances where 'they were "examples to the people to live well and Christianlie " were the exception and not the rule. The pay of the ministers was provided for in tithes of tobacco, and sometimes, also, of "corn, calves, kids and pigs," and these not being always easy to barter to advantage, it is in evidence that they liberally consumed their tobacco in chewing and smoking, and fared sumptuously upon roast pigs. It was in an effort of the ministers at a later period, to prevent the planters from commuting their stipends into payments of money at their option, in a suit at law called the " Parsons Cause," that Patrick Henry first developed his marvelous eloquence. Be ing counsel for the County Collector in that case, in opposing and denouncing the exac tions of the "parsons" who were regarded

in the woods or in any plantation, yff he can possibly avoid it by any meanse. And not to suffer them, especially the Mattawombes. to make any ordinarie resort or abode in their houses. That men go not to worke in the ground without their arms (and a centinell upon them). That every dwellinge house be pallisaded in defence against the Indians, That no man go or send abroad without a sufficient party well armed. That there be deiv watch kept by night.

As more friendly relations obtained, there was much legislation regulating trade with the Indians, and defining their landed rights, etc. Tobacco, being the principal crop, as well as the standard of value in barter, or the currency of the colony, much legislation was required to regulate the volume as well as the quality of it. This was done by re stricting the quantity allowed to be raised, and by regulating the processes of its culture, gathering and marketing. Where this failed the price of it was fixed in standard English money. The planting of tobacco was a privilege, it being enacted : That all gunsmiths and nailors, brickinakers, carpenters, joiners, sawyers and turners be com pelled to worke at their trades and not suffered to plant tobacco or corne, or doe any other worke in the ground. That noe person whatsoever shall plant or tende above two thousand plants of tobaccoe for every head within his family including woemen and children. That if any man hereafter who shall make