254 Assembly Proceedings, Sept. 5-Oct. 3, 1704.

Lib. L. L,

No. 64.

Maryland October 3^d 1704

On the behalf of Her Ma^ty &c I will this be a Law
Jo : Seymour

An Act relating to Servants and Slaves.

P. 41

Whereas there have been severall Acts provided against
servants Runnaways which have hereto proved ineffectual in
regard they do not sufficiently provide incouragement for
such Person or Persons Inhabitants of this Province as should
seize such runaways or Servants by this Act deemed Runa-
ways therefore for the better discovery seizing and appre-
hending such runaways
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 from and after the publication hereof no Ser-
vant or Servants whatsoever within this Province whether by
Indenture or according to the Custom of the Country or hired
for wages shall travell by Land or water tenn Miles from the
house of his her or their Master Mistress or Dame without a
Note under their hands or under the hand of his or their
Overseer if any be under the penalty of being taken for a
runaway and to Suffer such penaltys as are hereafter Provided
against Runaways
And it is hereby further Enacted by the Authority advice
and consent aforesaid that any Servant or Servants unlaw-
fully absenting him her or themselves from his her or their
said Master Mistress Dame or Overseer shall serve tenn days
for every one days absence and shall Satisfy or pay to his her
or their Master Mistress or Dame all such Costs and Charges
as shall be laid out and expended by his her or their Master
Mistress or Dame for their taking up by Servitude to be
adjudged when Such Master Mistress or Dame shall bring
their said Servant before the Justices of the Provincial or
County Court where the Owner Master Mistress or Dame or
Overseer of such Servant shall live during the Sitting of the
Court, be it before or after the expiration of such Servants
first time of Servitude by Indenture or otherwise.
And be it further Enacted by the Authority advice and
consent aforesaid that any person or persons whatsoever that
shall wittingly or willingly entertain any such Servant or Ser-
vants unlawfully absenting him her or themselves as afore-
said shall be fin'd five hundred pounds of Tobacco for every
night or twenty four hours that such person or persons shall
give entertainment to such Servant or Servants unlawfully
absenting him her or themselves as aforesaid the one half to