206 Assembly Proceedings, August—September 1681.

Liber W. H.

vexatious & vnjust suites of Law, Provided always that this
Law nor any thing therein Contained shall bee Construed or
extend to the benifitt of any person debto^r as aforesaid, either
Runnawayout of this Province or willfully absconding himselfe
w^thin the same from his said Credito^rs butt that hee may bee
proceeded ag^t as before this Law made, any thing in this Act
to the Contrary thereof notwithstanding, This Act to Con-
tinue for Three yeares or to the end of the next Sessions of
Assembly.

An Act for restraining the exportacon
of Leather & Raw Hides Deare & Elke
Skins out of this province for the
encouragem^t of Tanners & Shoemakers.

Whereas itt is found by dayly experience that the exportacon
of Leather Raw & vndressed Tanned & vntanned Hides, &
deare & Elke Skinns, which are frequently exported & Carried
out of this Province, tend much to the greate hinderance of all
Tanners Shoemakers & other Tradesmen whose Trades are
supported & Carryed on by Leather & soe neccessary to bee
encouraged & advanced for the good & benifitt of this Prov-
ince, & all the Inhabitants thereof being of greate vse &
Comodity for Cloathing in this Province, for p^rvencon whereof
for the future, The delegates of this p^rsent Generall Assembly
doe pray that itt may bee enacted And bee itt enacted by the
Right Honourable the Lord Prop^ry of this Province by & with
the advice & Consent of the vpper & Lower houses of this
p^rsent Gen^ll Assembly & the authority of the same that from
& after the ffiue & Twentieth day of december now next
ensueing, what person or persons soeuer shall endeavour or
attempt to export out of this Province either by Land or water
any Raw Tannd or vntanned Hides dressed or vndressed
Skinns whatsoeuer, of any Ox Steere Bull Cow Calfe Deare
or Elke by Shipping the same on board any Shipp or vessell
bound for any other porte or place, or Loading on horse backe
or other Carriage by Land, for the intent & purpose as afore-
said shall for the ffirst offence forfeite all such Skinns or Hides
soe attempted to bee exported or Carried out of this Province
as aforesaid, & Likewise the sume of Twenty Shillings sterling

p. 177

for euery Skinn or Hide as aforesaid, And for the Second
offence hee or they Transgressing as aforesaid shall forfeite all
such Skinns or Hides soe attempted as aforesaid, & the sume
of fforty Shillings Sterl for euery Skinn & Hide as aforesaid,
& for euery offence after that hee or they Transgressing as
aforesaid shall forfeite all such Skinns & Hides as alsoe the