Assembly Proceedings, August—September 1681. 203

Liwfull witnesse or Evidence not being the Party Jnjured or
dampnifyed shall Restore ffour fold to the owner of the thing
or goods soe stolen or purloyned as aforesaid, The value
thereof to bee adjudged by the Court where & when the
offender shall bee Convicted as aforesaid any Law Statute or
vseage to the Contrary Notwithstanding Provided always that
all Conviccons as aforesaid bee vpon & by a verdict of Twelve
Lawfull men of the vicinity or Neighbourhood & not otherwise
Provided neuerthelesse that where any person or persons
whatsoeuer shall att any time heereafter happen to bee accused
& Convicted as aforesaid, of any the Crimes aforesaid, in any
the County Courts aforesaid, to the value of not aboue one
Thousand pounds of Tobacco & shall afterwards happen to
Comitt the like Crime to that value the Justices of the County
Courts shall haue power to hold plea of the second offence
Butt if the party shall happen the Third time to Comitt the
Like Crime then the Justices of the seuerall County Courts
shall nott haue power to hold plea thereof, butt shall Comitt

Liber W. H.

the said party accused to prison till hee find bayle, (if by Law
bayleable to Answere his Crime att the Prov^ll Court of this
Province who are to proceed ag^t such Criminall according to
the Lawes of England, & the Justices of the said County
Courts are to bind ouer the partys Prosecuto^rs to prosecute att
the said Prov^ll Court, & to send a Transcript of the Record of
the first & Second Conviccons of the said Criminall vnder the
seale of the said County Court to the end the Justices of the
Prov^ll Court may apporcon such punishm^t as the Third offence
of such person Criminall shall Justly deserve, & the Law will
allowe of, Provided alsoe that the Justices of the County Courts
although they haue power to putt offend^rs into the Pillory as
aforesaid, yett they shall not haue power to Cropp theire yeares
or mutilate any member. This Act to endure for Three yeares
or to the end of the next sessions of Assembly, which shall
first happen.

An Act concerning Negroes & Slaves—

Bee itt enacted by the Right Honourable the Lord Prop^ry by
& with the Advice & Consent of the vpper & Lower houses of
this p^rsent Gen^ll Assembly & the authority of the same, that
all Negroes & other Slaues already Imported or heereafter to
bee Imported into this Province shall serve (durante vita) &
all the Children already borne or heereafter to bee borne of
any Negroes or other Slaues within this Province shall bee
Slaues to all intents & purposes as theire fathers were for the
Terme of theire naturall Liues.

p. 174