Assembly Proceedings, May 10-June 9, 1692. 537

Pleas, Plaints & other dem^ds whatsoever as liberally, frankly,
freely, fully, Lawfully and securely as if they & either of them
had been naturall free born people or Subjects any Law use-
age or custome to the contrary notw^thstanding
June 2^d 92 June the 2^d 1692
Assented to by the Counc^ll Board The house of Assembly
Signed p Ord^r have assented
John Llewellin Clk. Signed p Ord^r
Hen. Denton Clk.

Lib. L. L.

No. 1.

An Act for Securing Creditors.

Whereas there are Prisons in every County now built and
forasmuch as they were intended for the safe keeping of
Prison^rs that Creditors might be secured to have their debts
paid after Judgement and Execution Served and that Crimi-
nalls might be brought to condigne Punishment Be it Enacted
by the King and Queens most Excel^t Majesties by and with
the Advice and Consent of this p^rsent Generall Assembly and
the Authority of the same, That every Sherriff within this Prov-
ince That shall have any Prisoner committed to his Charge in
any Criminall case whatsoever shall safe keep the said Prisoner
untill they be delivered by due course of Law, and if any
Sherriff shall suffer any such Prisoners to Escape Voluntarily or
negligently shall forfeit twenty thousand pounds of Tobacco the
one half thereof to their Majesties for the support of Govern-
ment, the other half to be Employed in the Strengthning the
Prison of the County and maintenance of poor prisoners Be
it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that when any
person or persons are taken by the severall and respective
Sherriffs of the Sev^rall and respective Counties in Execution
for debt or upon other mean process the s^d Sev^rall & respec-
tive Sherriffs shall safely keep & restrain the s^d Prison^rs by
such means & in such Man^r as Prison^rs in England by the Law

p. 2OI

of England are and may be restrained and if any Sherriff shall
Voluntarily or negligently suffer any such Prisoner to Escape
such Sherriff shall pay the debt or damages to the Person who
obtained Judgement and sued out Execution or other mean
Process against the said Prisoner And if any person Im-
prison'd for fellony or other Crime deserving death shall
attempt or Endeavour to break Prison shall Imediatly thereupon
be secured by the Sherriff or Goaler in Irons and any Person
so Imprisoned for felony or other Crime deserving Death as
aforesaid that shall break Prison shall be Punished with Death.
June 2^d 1692 June the 2^d 1692
Assented to by the Councill Board. The house of Assembly
Signed p Ord^r have Assented
John Llewellin Clk: Signed p Ord^r
Hen: Denton Clk.

p. 202