338 Assembly Proceedings, Nov. 29-Dec. 17, 1708.

Lib. L. L.
No. 64.

Atturneys in fact as also the Sherriffe or Coaler in whose Cus-
tody such Debtors are detained with the Cause of such their
detainer. Before which said Justices or any three of them as
af^d such prisoner shall take the following Oath Viz. I, A. B.
do upon my Corporall Oath Solemnly proffess and declare
before Almighty God that I have not any Estate Reall or Per-
sonall in Possession Reversion remainder or in Trust to the
Value of five pounds Sterling in the whole more than what I
have and will give up and Surrender or Sufficient to pay the
debt or damages for which I am imprisoned and that I have
not directly or Indirectly sold leased or otherwise Conveyed
disposed of or intrusted all or any part of my Estate thereby
to secure the same to receive or Expect any proffitt or advan-
tage thereof, or deceive or defraud any Creditor or Creditors
whatsoever to whom I stand indebted and that I was actually
a prisoner in the Custody of Sherriffe at the Suite of
on the day of and have so Continued unto this
day without my own procurement or any ffraud or deceit
whatsoever. So help me God.
And the said Justices or any three of them as aforesaid are
hereby impowered to administer such Oath and to Examine
the Debtor or any other person upon Oath about his poverty
and of the notice given to Such Sherriffe Goaler and Creditor⁵
of the Cause and Time of such prisoners Comeing before such
Justices as af^d And if upon such Examination the said Justices
or any three of them as af^d shall find such Debtors or prisoners
to be really poore and not able to maintaine themselves with-
out being Chargeable to Sherriff relations or Country as af^d
that then it shall and may be Lawfull to and for such Justices
or any three of them as aforesaid to give notice to the Creditor
or Creditors their Executors and administrators agents or
atturneys to appeare before them or any three of them as afore-
said at a Certaine time and place to be by them appointed for
that purpose to shew Cause why such Debtor or debtors
should not be discharged and if such Creditors their Executors

p. 339

or administrators agents or atturneys will not appeare or ap-
pearing do not shew Cause by the said Justices to be allowed
of why such prisoner should not be discharged and will not
Consent to the discharge of such prisoner but Insist to have
such Prisoner detained and kept Longer in prison — That then
such Creditor shall before such Justices or any three of them
as aforesaid give good security to pay and allow to such
prisoner the Sume of Twenty pounds of tobacco p Diem for
his maintainance in Prison. And if within the space of Sixty
days after such Security Given such Creditor do not make it
appeare the debtor had any Estate which he did not bring to
light and render an account of to the said Justices or shall