Assembly Proceedings, June 29-July 22, 1699. 507

the Writt Expressing the True Cause of Action the Sherriffe
shall not require a Baile Bound Exceeding the Sufne of Eight
Thousand pounds of Tobbacco all tho the Damage be laid in
the Writt for any greater Sum whatsoever and any Sherriffe
Offending herein shall forfeitt the sufne of four Thousand
pounds of Tobbacco the one halfe thereof to his Ma^ty his heires
and Successors Towards the Supporte of Governm^t the other
halfe to the party grived to be recovered in any Court of
Record within this Province by Action of Debt Bill Plaint or
Information wherein no Essoyn Protection or wager of Law to
be Allowed And to the end that Publick Creditors may be
Speedily Satisfyed their debts due from the Publick Be it
Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That every Publick Cred-
itor in this Province shall be att his Election to make Application
to the Governor of this Province for the time being to put
Such Sherriffe Bond or Bonds in Suite or otherwise may
Imediatly have an Action of Debt ag^t Such Sherriffe in the
County where the fact Ariseth for such publick Tobbacco as
shall be due to such Creditor And to the end th^t no Officer or
other Person may be Surprized or unjustly molested either
upon the Acc^t of Payment or Collection of Publick dues be it
likewise Enacted that no person or persons haveing publick

Lib. L. L.

Tobbacco to them due or ffees in any Sherriffs hands to Collect
and that do not Sherrif to such Sherriffe or Sherriffs their de-
pendance and resolution of Makeing use of the Same on or
before the five and Twentieth day of December in the Year
the Same shall to him or them be due shall have Take or
Demand any benefitt or Advantage by this Act Allowed for
that present Year and so every Year Successively nor shall the
Sherriffe of any the respective Countys leavy by way of Execu-
tion for any publick dues or Officers ffees or from any the
Inhabitants within this Province where they have not made a
Demand thereof att or before the Twentieth day of January for
the p^rsent Year & so every Year Successively And where any
person haveing publick Tobbacco or ffees in such Sherriffs
hands and have made their Demands thereof as aforesaid or
the said Sherriffe demanded any Publick dues or Officers ffees
of the respective Inhabitants within his Bailywick within the
times before limitted such Demandant shall be obliged to take
the Same and discharge such Debtor for such and so much as
shall be by him received and upon refusall of receiving thereof
the said Tobbacco so Intended to be paid as aforesaid being
Viewed and found Merchantable by Two honest men of the
Neighbourhood shall be Weighed and Marked for the use of
such Demandant and be a Sufficient discharge to the person
or persons paying the Same for Soe much as the Same did
amount unto Provided the Same be tendered on or before the

p. 251