[431] And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That each inhabitant so inlisted shall be furnished with good fire-arms, and that the fire-arms belonging to this Colony, wherever they are, shall be collected and put into the hands of such inlisted inhabitants as have not arms of their own; and that each inlisted inhabitant that shall provide arms for himself, well fixed with a good bayonet and cartouch box, shall be paid a premium of ten shillings; and in case such arms are lost by inevitable casualty, such inhabitant pro viding himself as aforesaid shall be allowed and paid the just value of such arms and implements so lost, deducting only said sum of ten shillings allowed as aforesaid: said premium of ten shillings to be paid as soon as such inhabitant shall provide such arms as aforesaid. That where the afore said provision fails, sufficient arms shall be impress’d, completely to arm and equip said inhabitants: the said impress to be limited only to the arms belonging to house-holders and other persons not on the militia roll; and in case any house holder or other person shall voluntarily furnish any inlisted inhabitant, not able to procure arms for himself, with a good gun, well fixed with a good bayonet and cartouch box, shall have and receive a premium of ten shillings, and in case of loss shall receive the value thereof, deducting the said ten shillings as aforesaid; and also that every person from whom any gun shall be impress’d, as aforesaid, shall be paid for the use of such gun the sum of four shillings, and in case of loss shall be paid the just value of such gun, deducting the sum of four shillings aforesaid; and that a particular account be taken of the arms that may be used, and the same be all apprized by indifferent judges; and that if any inlisted inhabitant through negligence shall lose or damage the arms found for him, as aforesaid, such loss or damage shall be deducted out of his wages.

And it is also further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That three thousand stands of arms be procured as soon as may be, and held in readiness to be used for the special defence and safety of this Colony. And also, that the number of five hundred spades, five hundred pick-axes, three hundred narrow axes, and five hundred tents be procured for the use of this Colony.