name for the colonial legislative body that served from 1662 to 1675, levied a tobacco tax to finance the repurchase of the Northern Neck (Webb 18). The Long Assembly served for nearly 14 years because Berkeley continually prorogued the legislature to prevent elections (Hawke 244).
By 1676, the tax had raised approximately ú7,000, with ú5,000 allocated to Berkeley at his discretion, which probably went towards personal expenses. Thus, less than ú2,000 was directed towards the lawful purpose for which the money was collected. As it turned out, none of the money was even needed, for the grant of the Northern Neck had als
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