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Exemption from military employment for ten years.And for the better encouragement of the said adventurers, officers, and soldiers, be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that neither they, nor any of them, nor any of their tenants or servants residing upon any of the lands to be set out and allotted unto them in the said counties, save such as shall be under the pay of the Commonwealth, shall be put upon any military employments for the space of ten years next after their dividents and alotments of land made unto them as aforesaid, without their own consents, further or otherwise then to defend themselves and their own plantations against the enemies of the Commonwealth in those counties, cities, towns and places aforesaid; and in such case to be conducted and commanded by their own officers, chosen by themselves, and approved of by the said commissioners or commander-in-chief there of the forces of this Commonwealth for the time being.
Gross surveys.And whereas, for the more speedy and effectual setling the adventurers, officers, and soldiers, in the said forfeited lands, power is given by the commission, and instructions under the great seal, in this Act before-mentioned, for the taking and returning a gross survey of the said forfeited lands, as in and by the said commission and Persons possessed of more land than their proportion may buy the overplus or restore it. instructions is at large expressed and directed. Be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, that in case the said adventurers, officers, or soldiers, or any of them, shall upon such gross survey be possessed of more land than is due unto them or any of them for their respective proportions, it shall be and hereby is made lawful for them or any of them, within the space of two years, from and after the twenty-fourth of June, which shall be in the year one thousand six hundred fifty and four, to purchase the overplus thereof from the said commissioners at three years' value, ready money, according to what it was let for, or worth to be let in the year one thousand Otherwise such lands to be resurveyed. six hundred and forty, or otherwise to restore the said overplus for the use and benefit of the Commonwealth. And in case the said adventurers, officers, or soldiers, or any of them, do forbear to purchase or restore the same for the space of the said two years,