Records Of The Colony Of Rhode Island And Providence Plantations, In New England Page 561, Image 563 (1857) available at The Making of Modern Law: Primary Sources.

Laws from a meeting of the Governor and Council of Rhode Island January 22, 1676-77. Ordered, the Council taking in their serious considerations not only the inconveniencies, but the discontent which arises in several inhabitants of this Island, by reason that several Indians do pass and repass on and off this Island, with guns and ammunition, showing no ticket or order so to do, these are to order and authorize any inhabitant of this Island that shall meet any Indian or Indians with either gun or guns, or ammunition to take them from him or them, and bring both guns, ammunition, and Indians before the governor or Deputy Governor, to be examined of the reason of their so doing, and to dispose of them according to either their discretions.