Arts. 527

Indians now in Amity with them, or punishing Trespasses committed
on their Lands: For Remedy whereof,
Be it Enacted, by the Right Honourable the Lord Proprietary,

Liber H. S.
No. 1

by and with the Advice and Consent of his Lordship's Governor,
and the Upper and Lower Houses of Assembly, and the Authority of
the same, That the Justices of the several County Courts, in this
Province, be, and are hereby authorized and impowered to hear and
determine, in a summary Manner, upon Petition exhibited to them,
all Manner of Controversies and Differences, Claims and Demands,
of what Nature or Kind so ever, which have happened, and not yet
determined, or may nereatter happen or arise between the said

Inhabitants and Indians, in private and personal Controversies, and
award Judgment thereon, so always as the same exceed the Value of
twenty Shillings Sterling, and the Person or Persons against whom
such Complaint be made, be summoned to answer the same, or shall
voluntarily appear thereto, and the said Justices shall and may issue

[Justices of
the County
Courts to
hear and
determine
all Contro-
versies, &c.
between the
Inhabitants
and Indians.!

Execution or Executions on such their Judgment, with Costs of Suit,
as in other Cases.
And whereas divers Persons, notwithstanding the Laws of this
Province to the contrary, have rented of the said Indians divers
Parcels of their said Lands, and settled thereon, and yet, notwith-
standing, refuse to pay them the Rents agreed to be paid: And
whereas it is highly just and reasonable that those Persons, who have
held and occupied the said Lands, under Agreement to pay Rent for
the same, should pay the Rents so agreed for, according to their
Contracts :

p. 261

Be it Enacted, by and with the Authority, Advice, and Consent,
aforesaid, That the Justices of the several County Courts aforesaid,
shall and may, and are hereby authorized and impowered, to hear and
determine all such Complaints, and give Judgment thereon to the said
Indians for the Rents agreed to be paid, with Costs, in a summary
Manner, as before by this Act is directed, and shall and may award
Execution thereon; any Law or Custom, to the contrary thereof,
notwithstanding.
And whereas divers Persons have committed divers Trespasses
and Wastes on such of the said Indian Lands, which have not been
granted to any of the Inhabitants of this Province, by falling, maul-
ing, and carrying away the Timber off from such Land, and refuse
to pay and satisfy the said Indians for the same: For Remedy
whereof,

[Justices to
near and
' determine
'. all Com-
plaints made
by the said
Indians
against Per-
sons who
have rented
their Lands,
and refused
Payment.]

Be it Enacted, That the Justices of the County Courts where the
said Lands do lie, are hereby impowered and directed, upon Com-
plaint to them made by the said Indians of any Trespases as afore-
said that have been committed, or that shall or may at any Time
hereafter be committed, on such of the aforesaid Indian Lands, and
making the same appear by the Oath of one sufficient Evidence, to

[Justices, on
Complaint of
Trespasses,
to summon a
Jury of 1 8,
and assess
Damages.]