An Act of Directions for the Sheriffs Office in this province
and for the more easy payment of the publiq & County Levys.
Be it enacted by the Queens most excellent Majesty by and
with the Advice and Consent of her Majestys Governour
Councill and Assembly of this Province and the Authority of
the same That no Sheriff under Sheriff or Deputy Sheriff shall
seize any Tobacco unshipt or Seize or mark any Merchants or
others Tobacco received markt and nailed for any Cause
whatsoever but only for Levys. And the severall Sheriffs
are hereby impowered to break the lock of any Tobacco house
or other houses where Tobacco is or shall be secured with
designe to prevent the said Sheriff from Seizing such Tobacco
for publiq Levys and any sheriff so Seizing or marking any
hogshead or Hogsheads of Tobacco containing more than
what is Justly due to the publiq for Levys without making
Satisfaction to the person to whom such Tobacco doth belong
as by giving Creditt or Suffering him to take the Overplus
out of such Hogshead of Tobacco at the Choyce of the party
paying or owing the same shall pay for every such Default
the Sume of two thousand pounds of Tobacco one half to her
Majesty her heires and Successors for support of Government
the other half to the party grieved to be recovered in any Court
of Record of this province by action of Debt bill plaint or
Information wherein no Essoyn proteccon or Wager of Law
to be allowed.
And if it Shall so happen that at any time any Sheriff shall
seize any Hogshead of Tobacco which shall weigh more than
such levy or Levys shall amount unto if the remaining part
due to the party or partys from whom they shall receive such
levy or levys be the greater Quantity then and in every such
Case the Sheriff or Sheriffs shall take out of the said Hogshead
such quantity or quantitys of Tobacco due to him for such levy
or levys and the said Hogshead And the remaining part of the
Tobacco shall be and remaine with the party or partys paying
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