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V. Be it Enacted, by the Right Honourable the Lord Proprie-
tary, by and with the Advice and Consent of his Lordship's Gover-
nor, and the Upper and Lower Houses of Assembly, and the Au-
thority of the same, That every Master of a Ship, or Vessel, that
shall import any Felons or Offenders, from and after the Tenth Day
of November, which shall be in the Year One Thousand Seven
Hundred and Twenty-nine, shall be obliged to bring an authentic
Testimonial of the Offence, or Offences, whereof such Felon or
Offender hath been, or shall be convict, and the Number of Years
he, she, or they, are obliged to serve, on Pain of forfeiting the Sum
of Five Pounds Current Money of Maryland, for every such Felon
or Offender; one Half to the Lord Proprietary, to be applied to
defray the Charge of the County such Ship or Vessel shall ride at
Anchor, the other Half to him or them who shall sue for the same,
to be recovered by Action of Debt, Bill, Plaint, or Information,
wherein no Essoin, Protection, or Wager of Law, to be allowed.
VI. And be it further Enacted, by the Authority, Advice and
Consent aforesaid, That such Testimonial or Testimonials, shall be
lodg'd by the Master, or chief Officer of such Ship or Vessel, im-
porting such convicted Persons, with the Clerks of the respective
County Courts within this Province, into which such Felons or
Offenders shall be Imported and Sold, under the Penalty of Five
Pounds for every Offence; to be recovered and applied as aforesaid :
And any Copy or Copies of such Testimonial or Testimonials, under
the Hand of such County Clerk, shall be received and admitted as
full and conclusive Evidence, to prove the Matter therein contain'd.
VII. And for the better Discovery of Felons and other Offen-
ders, Be it Enacted, by the Authority aforesaid, That all Persons
importing or bringing any Servant or Servants into this Province,
by Land or by Water, shall be obliged by Virtue of this Act, to de-
clare upon Oath (or Affirmation if a Quaker) to the Naval Officer
of the Part or District into which such Servant or Servants shall
be imported or brought, Whether any such Servant or Servants,
have been convicted of any Crime, to the Knowledge of the Person
or Persons so importing such Servant or Servants, and if any, of
what Crime: And that if it shall appear by the Oath, (or Affirma-
tion if a Quaker) of such Person or Persons, or by any other legal
Evidence, that any such Servant or Servants, hath or have been
convict of any Felony, or other Offence; such Felon, or Offender,
shall serve the same Term of Years as is prescribed and directed in
and by the said Statutes; any private Contract or Agreement to the
contrary notwithstanding.
VIII. And be it further Enacted, That any Person importing or
bringing any Servants in this Province as aforesaid, and that shall
refuse to declare upon Oath (or Affirmation if a Quaker,) whether
to his Knowledge, any such Servant hath been convict of any
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