Ivi PRINCE GEORGES COUNTY

had taken his horse without leave and ridden to Annapolis, Bladen was ordered
to pay complainant 200 pounds of tobacco for such unauthorized use. A nolle
prosequi was entered in the March 1699 court in the case of a presentment for
riding a horse without the owner's knowledge, contrary to act of Assembly. 55

During the period covered by the Liber ten female servants were found guilty
by the court of bastardizing, viz., bearing bastard children. In most instances
presentment was made by a constable, the grand jury found a true bill and the
offender confessed the facts charged. In seven cases corporal punishment was im-
posed ranging from 10 lashes up to 30 (the 30 lashes were given Abigail Clifford,
a third offender; 26 lashes were imposed on a servant bearing a mulatto bastard
(only 16 in another case) and on Clifford following her second presentment). 56 In
two cases offenders were cleared of corporal punishment by an engagement, by the
master or presumably the putative father, to pay a fine (20 shillings in one instance).
In the other instance, the offender was discharged upon submission when the clerk
of the indictments made the point that the child had been begotten in another
county.57

In several cases, as provided by law, the offending servant was ordered to serve
an additional year or half year for the disgrace and trouble to her master's house.
The child might be bound out until the age of twenty-one, the party to the bond
being obligated to teach the child to read and write and to furnish him, at the ex-
piration of his time with two suits and perhaps, two of a sort of all necessary ap-
parel. A bond might be required of the master (£20) or of the father and one other
security (£20 each) to indemnify the county against the maintenance of the child. 58
Usually the offender was committed to the custody of the sheriff until all fees were
paid. Normally these would have to be paid by the master; in one case the court
ordered the master to pay such fees. In another the master entered into a recog-
nizance of £10 to bring the offending servant and her mulatto child to the vestry
as soon as her service terminated.59

In two cases the father of the bastard was presented. In one, it is not clear what
punishment was imposed; in the other, the offender, found guilty by a petty jury,
was fined 20 shillings and ordered to pay the damaged master 800 pounds of tobacco
for the trouble of his house, to be in custody until the fine, damages and all fees
were paid, and to give security for his good behavior and appearance at the next
court. 60 In two other cases a venire facias issued for the alleged father but no entry
of trial or punishment appears. 61

Only one instance of fornication appears in the Liber. John Stevens, on an in-
formation filed by the clerk of the indictments, was found guilty by a petty jury
of violating the statutory prohibition and accordingly fined 400 pounds of tobacco
or 20 shillings. 62 A single woman living with Francis Mayberry had a child and was

55. Infra 22, 458, 484.

56. Infra 15, 130, 523, 549 (Abigail Clifford); 71, 188 (Elizabeth Pole); 130 (Margery Burgis);
168, 188 (Susanna Grimes); 183, 285 (Jane Harris); 393, 435 (Deborah Woodfield); 458, 497
(Ruth Hutcheson).

57. Infra 71, 131 (Joan Wood); 166, 183 (Jane Browne); 326, 349 (Mary Vinson).

58. Infra 130, 131, 183, 188, 349, 434-35, 541.

59. Infra 130, 188. For the role of vestry see 13 MA 548.

60. Infra 458, 539, 541 (John Rooke); 554-55 (John Bennett).

61. Infra 130, 188, 212, 247.

62. Infra 168-69.