Act of Mar. 2, 1642, no. 23, VA. CODE (R. & W. & G. Bartow 1823).

"ACT XXIII.

    BE it also enacted and confirmed, that what person or persons soever shall sell or barter with any Indian or Indians for peece, powder and shott and being thereof lawfully convicted, shall forfeit his whole estate, the one halfe to the informer the other half to the vse of the county where such ffact shall be committed, And if any person shall barter or trade with the Indians for any other comodities such person shall suffer imprisonment at the discretion of the Governour and Counsell, And whereas it is informed that divers persons do entertaine Indians to kill deare or other game, And do furnish the said Indians with peeces, powder and shott, by which great abuse, not onely the Indians (to the great indangering of the collony) are instructed in the vse of ovr arms, But have opportunity given them to store themselves as well with arms as powder and shott, Be it therefore enacted, That what person or persons soever within this colony, shall lend any Indian either peece, powder and shott, It shall be lawfull for any person meeting with any such Indian so furnished, to take away either peece, powder or shott, so as such person taking away either peece, powder or shott do carrie the same to the comander of the county, and acquaint him therewith, which said comander is hereby authorized to give possession to the informer either of the peece, powder or shott so brought before him, And the said commander is further required, to make a strict inquiry and examination to find out such person that did lend or give such peece, powder or shott to the Indians, And in case the said commander or other commanders in examination shall find any person by just proofe delinquent in the premises, he or they are to bind over the said party to answer the same, before the Governor and Counsell the ensuing quarter court, And in such case the party delinquent for his just offence shall forfeit two thousand pounds of tobacco, the one halfe whereof shall be and come to the King’s majesty, the other halfe to the informer, And it is further enacted that such delinquent for his second offence shall forfeit his whole estate, one halfe to the King, the other halfe to the informer. And this act to be of force after publication hereof in each county."