Acts. 117

each respective County shall thinke fitt (those which are kept at
Court houses & at the port of Annapolis & William Stad^t only
Excepted) Provided allways that such Ordinary keepers be well
provided with four spare beds, and sufficient Stabling & provender
for six horses paying to his Ma^tys Secretary for this tyme being
400^lbs Tobacco yearly for their Licence instead of the 1200^lbs of
tobacco in the said former Act of Assembly. And that the said
Ordinary Keepers or Inn holders be & Ly under all the penalties,
restitutions & forfeitures as in the said former Act is exprest, except
before Excepted, and Whereas It hath been found prejudiciall to the
Inhabitants of this Province, that such Ordinary keepers or Inn-
holders have frequently Entertained divers Freemen & Loose Persons
a great tyme Tipling at their houses as well to many persons great
damage as their owne Ruine, Be it Enacted by the Authority afore-
said that It shall not be Lawfull for any such Ordinary Keeper or
Inholder to keep such Ordinary or house of Entertainment untill they
have passed before the Justices of each respective County granting
their Licences a Bond with good Security to the value of 20 l. ster-
ling that they shall not Entertaine any Freeman or other Loose
person above 24 hours in their house unless such person be capable
to give his Vote for a Delegate in the said County or that they be
retained as a Servant to the said Ordinary keeper or Innholder any
Law, Custom or Usage to the Contrary Notwithstanding this Law
to continue for three yeares or to the end of the next Sessions of
Assembly which shall first happen.

Public
Record
Office,
London.
C. O. 5,
Vol. 731,
Maryland.
From
1694-1702.
Acts

An Act of Assembly for deciding differences between Masters &
Servants.

Whereas It hath been the Common practice of this Province both
in Provinciall & County Courts to heare & determine the complaints
of Masters & Servants by way of petition. And that Whereas there
hath been severall appeales & Writts of Error brought upon the said
Judgments & for want of due & formall proceedings according to the
Strict Rule of Law the Judgments have been reversed for prevention
whereof Be It Enacted by the Kings most Excellent Ma^ty by & with
the advice & consent of this present Generall Assembly and the
Authority of the same that after the end of this present Session of
Assembly that It shall & may be Lawfull for the Provinciall & County
Courts of this Province to heare & determine any complaints between
Masters & Servants by way of petition To give Judgments & award
Executions upon the same, and that upon any appeale or Writt of
Error brought upon the same from any County Court of this prov-
ince to the Provinciall Court or From the Provinciall Court to his
Excellency the Governeur & Councill, No such Judgment shall be
reversed for want of Judiciall process, or that the same was not
tryed by Jury or any matter of form Either in the Entry or giving

Acts of
March,
1697/8,
ch. 12