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

Lib. L. L.
No. 64.
p. 140

putts himself upon the Country for tryall thereof Then the
Clerk of the Indictments shall have two hundred pounds of
Tobacco for his ffee

September 29^th 1704 September 29^th 1704

Read and Assented to by Read and Assented to by her
the house of Delegates Majestys hon^blec Councill
W Taylard Clk h D W Bladen Cl Concil.

Maryland October 3^d 1704

On behalf of her Maj'^y &c I will this be a Law
Jo : Seymour

An Act for securing the Parochial Librarys of this Province.

Bee it Enacted by the Queens most excellent Majesty by and
with the Advice and Consent of her Majestys Governour
Councill and Assembiy of this Province and the Authority of
the same that the Librarys appointed for the severall and
respective parishes within this Province shall be and remain in
the hands and possession of the Minister of the Parish (if
there be any Minister actually inducted into and incumbent in
the said parish) during his Residence in the said parish who is
by this Act obliged to keep and preserve the said Library
from Wast and imbezellment and to be accountable for the
same to the Governour Councill and Assembly as often as
required.
And to that purpose the said Minister shall pass two Receipts
for the said books Inserting what they are and the title page
of the same One receipt to be by the Vestry of the said Parish
transmitted to the Gov^rnour and Councill and the other to
remain with the Vestry of the said pish to be entred in their
Register book And the said Vestrys are hereby obliged to
Visitt the said Librarys twice in the year and inspect the same.
And in Case the said Vestrys shall not (or at least four
of them of Eldest standing) visitt the said Librarys twice
in the year as by this Act is required the whole Number of
Vestrymen shall forfeit and pay the Sume of fourteen hundred
pounds of Tobacco one Moyety to her Majesty her heires and

P. 141

Successors for the Support of Government the other Moyety
to the Informer or him or them that shall sue for the same in
any Court of Record in this Province by Accon of Debt bill
plaint or Information wherein no Essoyn protection or Wager
of Law to be allowed. And the Onus probandi shall lye on
the part of the Vestry to make it appear that they have Visitted
the Librarys as by this Act they are obliged.