record, of the children, and legatees of the testator or deceased person: And the said orderers of the affaires of the towne, are to see every such will and inventory, to bee exhibited in the publique courte, within one quarter of a yeare, where the same is to be registered: And the said orderers of the affaires of the towne, shall doe theire indeavors in seeing that the estate of the testator bee not wasted nor spoiled, but improved for the best advantage of the children or legatees of the testator, according to the minde of the testator, for theire, and every of theire use, and theire and every of theire allowance and approbation; But where any person dyeth intestate, the said orderers of the affaires of the towne, shall cause an inventory to bee taken, and then the publique courte may graunt the administration of the goods and chattles to the next of kinn, jointly and severally, and devide the estate to wife, (if any bee) children or kindred, as in equity they shall see meett. And if no kindred bee found, the courte to administer for the publique good of the common; provided there bee an inventory registered, that if any of the kindred, in

future time appeare, they may have justice and equity done unto them. And all charges that the publique courte, or the orderers of the affaires of the towne are at, about the trust committed to them, either for writing or otherwise, to bee paid out of the estate.

Whereas allso it was recomended by the commissioners, that for the more free and speedy passage of justice in each jurissdiction, to all the confederates, if the last will and testament of any person, bee duely prooved in, and duely certified from any one of the colonyes, it bee without delay, accepted and allowed in the rest of the colonyes, unless some just exception bee made against such will, or the prooving of it; which exception to bee duely forthwith duely certified back to the colony where the said will was prooved, that some just course may bee taken to gather in and dispose the estate without delay or dammage; And allso, that if any knowne planters or settled inhabitants, dye intestate, administration bee graunted by that colony unto which the deceased belong, though dying in another colony: And the administration being duely certified to, bee of force for

the gathering in of the estate, in the rest of the colonyes, as in the case of wills prooved, where no just exception is returned: But if any person possessed of an estate, whoe is neither planter, nor settled inhabitant in any of the colonyes, dye intestate, the administration (if just cause bee found to give administration) bee graunted by that colony where the person shall dye and departe this life, and that care bee taken by that governement, to gather in and secure the estate, untill it bee demaunded, and may bee delivered according to rules of justice; which uppon due consideration, was confirmed by this courte, in the behalfe of this colonye, and ordered to bee attended in all such occassions, for the future; provided, the Generall courtes of the other colonyes, yeild the like assent thereunto.

SCHOOLES.

It being one cheife project of that old deluder, Sathan, to keepe men from the knowledge of the scriptures, as in former times, keeping them in an unknowne tongue, so in these latter times, by persuading them from the use of tongues, so

that at least, the true sence and meaning of the originall might bee clouded with false glosses of saint seeming deceivers; and that learning may not bee buried in the grave of our forefathers, in church and commonwealth, the Lord assisting our indeavors;

It is therefore ordered by this courte and authority thereof, That every towneshipp within this jurissdiction, after the Lord hath increased them to the number of fifty howshoulders, shall then forthwith appointe one within theire towne, to teach all such children, as shall resorte to him, to write and read, whose wages shall bee paid, either by the parents or masters of such children, or by the inhabitants in generall, by way of supplye, as the major parte of those who order the prudentialls of the towne, shall appointe; provided, that those who send theire children, bee not oppressed by paying much more then they can have them taught for, in other townes.

And it is further ordered, That where any towne shall increase to the number of one hundred families or howshoulders, they shall sett

up a grammar schoole, the masters thereof, being able to instruct youths, so farr as they may bee fitted for the university, and if any towne neglect the performance hereof, above one yeare, then every such towne shall pay five pounds per annum, to the next such schoole, till they shall performe this order.

The propositions concerning the meintenance of schollars at Cambridge, made by the commissioners, is confirmed.

And it is ordered, That two men shall bee appointed in every towne within this jurisdiction, whoe shall demand what every familye will give, and the same to be gathered and brought into some roome, in March; and this to continue yearely, as it shall bee considered by the comissioners.

SECRETARY.

It is ordered and decreed, That within twenty dayes after the session of every Generall courte, the secretary thereof, shall send forth copies of such lawes and orders as are or shall bee made, at either of them, which are of generall concernement for the governement of this com