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

Lib. L. L.
No. 64.

feiture of four hundred pounds of Tobacco by each Ordinary
Keeper so refusing to Creditt such person as aforesaid One
Moyety thereof to her Majesty her heires and Successors for
and towards the Defraying the County Charge where such
fforfeiture shall become due the other Moyety to the Informer
or him or them that shall sue for the same to be recovered as
aforesaid.
And whereas it hath been found prejudiciall to the Inhabi-
tants of this Province That Ordinary Keepers and Inholders
have frequently Entertain'd divers freemen and loose persons
a great time tipling at their houses as well to the great damage
of many persons as their Own ruine.
Be it therefore enacted by the Authority aforesaid by and
with the Advice and Consent aforesaid that it shall not be law-
full for any Such ordinary Keeper or Inholder to Keep such
Ordinary or house of Entertainment untill they have entered
into Recognizance before the Justices of each respective
County granting Such Licenses with two Sufficient Suretys to
the value of twenty pounds Sterl that they shall not entertain
any ffreeman or other loose person in their houses above twenty
four hours (Court times excepted) unless such person be
Capable to give his vote for a Delegate in the said County or

p. 107

that he be retain'd as a servant to the said Ordinary Keeper or
Inholder any Law Usage or Custom to the Contrary notwith-
standing
And whereas dayly Experience shews the great prejudice
to the Owners and Masters of Merchant Ships and Vessells
trading into this Province by Ordinary Keepers entertaining
of Saylors and others to such Shipps and Vessells belonging
and trusting and encouraging them to continue tipling in their
houses to the prejudice of Trade within this Province pre-
venting and impeding the dispatch of such Ships and Vessells
and very often when such Saylors have spent their Wages in
such Ordinary occasions and induces them to run away and
desert the Shipps and Vessells whereto they belong ffor the
prevention whereof
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 by the Authority
of the same that no Ordinary Keeper whatsoever within this
Province shall presume to Harbour or Entertaine such Saylors
to the neglect of their Service to their respective Comanders
and prejudice to the dispatch of any Shipp or Vessell thereby
und^r the pain and penalty of being Suspended from keeping
such Ordinary. And that no Ordinary Keeper whatsoever
shall creditt any such Saylor for more than five shillings during
any one voyage under the penalty of loosing his Debt and