ing inhabitants, might
afford to serve at easier rates, and yet do the business more
effectually; they were raised under the title or name of rangers.

Sec. 127. After this the Lord Colepepper returned again for England, his
second stay not being much longer than the first; and Sir Henry
Chicheley being dead, he proclaimed his kinsman, Mr. Secretary Spencer,
president, though he was not the eldest member of the council.

Sec. 128. The next year, being 1684, upon the Lord Colepepper's refusing to
return, Francis, Lord Howard of Effingham, was sent over governor. In
order to increase his perquisites, he imposed the charge of an annual
under seal of twenty shillings each for school masters; five pounds for
lawyers at the general court, and fifty shillings each lawyer at the
county courts. He also extorted an excessive fee for putting the seal to
all probates of wills, and letters of administration, even where the
estates of the deceased were of the meanest value. Neither could any be
favored with such administration, or probate, without paying that
extortion. If any body presumed to remonstrate against it, his
lordship's behavior towards that man was very severe. He kept several
persons in prison and under confinement, from court to court, without
bringing them to trial. Which proceedings, and many others, were so
oppressive, that complaints were made thereof to the king, and Colonel
Philip Ludwell was appointed agent to appear against him in England.
Whereupon the seal-money was taken off.

Sec. 129. During the first session of assembly in this noble lord's time,
the duty on liquors imported from the other English plantations, was
first imposed. It was then laid, on pretence of lessening the levy by
the poll, for payment of public taxes; but more especially for
rebuilding the State house, which had not been rebuilt since Laurence
burnt it in Bacon's time.

This duty was at first laid on wine and rum only, at the rate of three
pence per gallon, with an exemption of all such as should be imported in
the ships of Virginia owners. But the like duty has since been laid on
other liquors also, and is raised to four pence per gallon on wine and
rum, and one penny per gallon on beer, cider, lime-juice, &c.; and the
privilege of Virginia owners taken away, to the great discouragement of
their shipping and home trade.

Sec. 130. This lord, though he pretended to no great skill in legal
proceedings, yet he made great innovations