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Bacon
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ship's Governor, and the Upper and Lower Houses of As-
sembly, and the Authority of the same, That from and after
the End of Twelve Months after the End of this General
Assembly, all Masters of Ships and Vessels, or Others, im-
porting Irish Servants, being Papists, into this Province, by
Land or by Water, at the Time of their Entry, shall pay unto
the Naval Officer for the Time being, belonging to such Port
or Place where they make their Entry, the additional Sum of
Twenty Shillings Current Money, over and above the Twenty
Shillings Sterling per Poll imposed by a former Act of As-
sembly of this Province, for every Irish Servant so imported,
on Penalty and Forfeiture of Five Pounds Current Money for
every Servant that shall be by him or them concealed at the
Time of his or their Entry as aforesaid, the one Half thereof
to be appropriated for defraying the Public Charge of this
Province, the other Half to the Informer, or to him or them
that shall sue for the same ; to be recovered in his Lordship's
Name, in any Court of Record within this Province, that
shall have Jurisdiction of the same, by Action of Debt, Bill,
Plaint or Information, wherein no Essoin, Protection, or
Wager of Law to be allowed.
II. And for the better Discovery of such Irish Papists;
Be it further Enacted, by the Authority, Advice and Consent
aforesaid, That the Naval Officers for the Time being, be-
longing to the several and respective Districts within this
Province, be, and are hereby authorized, impowered and re-
quired to administer to every such Irish Servant, except
Children under the Age of Fourteen Years, (to be adjudged
at the Discretion of the Naval Officer) so imported as afore-
said, the several Oaths appointed by Act of Assembly, and
cause them to subscribe the Oath of Abjuration and the Test ;
and all and every such Servants that shall refuse to take the
Oaths, and sign the Oath and Test as aforesaid, (except be-
fore excepted) shall be and are hereby deemed and declared
Papists, for whom the Owner or Importer shall be obliged to
pay the additional Duty, as aforesaid.
III. And be it further Enacted, by the Authority, Advice
and Consent aforesaid, That from and after the Time afore-
said, for every Negro imported into this Province, either by
Land or Water, the Importer or Importers of such Negroes
shall pay unto the Naval Officer aforesaid, the Sum of Twenty
Shillings Current Money per Poll, over and above the Twenty
Shillings Sterling per Poll, imposed by a former Act of As-
sembly of this Province, on Penalty and Forfeiture of Five
Pounds Current Money per Poll, for every Negro kept back or
unaccounted for ; to be recovered as aforesaid, and applied to
the Uses aforesaid.
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