528 Assembly Proceedings, June 2-July 22, 1699.

Lib. L. L.

the said ffees to the Sherriffe and other Officers as aforesaid
and they the said Comissioners according to their best discre-
tion shall Order the said Servants to make Such reasonable
Satisfaction to the County as they shall think fitt and in such
Maner as they shall find Convenient and for the better Security
which shall pay such ffees for such Criminall Serv^ts as afore-
said
Be it Enacted that the Master Mistress or Dame of all Such
Servants be and are hereby Enjoyned and required att the
Expiration of such Servants time of Servitude to such Master
Mistress or Dame to render up and deliver to such Justice or
Justices of the County for the use of the County aforesaid
such Servants Criminalls as aforesaid under the Penaltys to
such Masters Mistress or Dame refuseing or Neglecting to
deliver up Such Servants as aforesaid of makeing Satisfaction
and paying to the County all Such ffees as by the County
aforesaid have been Paid for such Criminalls as aforesaid and
such Justice or Justices to whom such Criminall Servant shall
be delivered as aforesaid are likewise required to serve such
Serv^ts Criminalls as aforesaid in such Maner and way as to the
said Justice or Justices shall seem Meet or Convenient so that
he be and Appear att the then next County Court to be held

p. 288

for the said County to be disposed on as the Court shall
Consider.

An Act for Preventing Vexatious & Unnecessary Suites att
Law and for proving of Debts and pleading discount in
Barr.

Whereas Diverse and Sundry persons within this Province
Contracting Debts by Accompts w^th Merch^ts and others for
which they Stand and remain onely Debtor upon their Book
of Accompt the which tho they be honest and well disposed to
pay the Same upon Demand first had and required of the
Said Debtor by the Creditor or other Persons Lawfully
Authorised to receive the Same without which it is Impossible
for the said Debtor to know where or to whom to pay the
said Debt, Yet Severall of the said Creditors through Vexa-
tious and avaritious humours do dayly Comence their Suites
att Law against Such their Debtors without any Demand of
such their Debts of their Said Debtors whereby the said Debt
is much increased and the Said Debtor thereby greatly bur-
thened and Impoverished by means of such their Vexatious
and unjust Suits att Law Be it therefore Enacted by the Kings
most Excellent Ma^ty by and with the Advice and Consent of
this Present Generall Assembly and the Authority of the Same,