An Act Imposeing a Penalty on
all such who shall dispose of Tobacco
seized & reed by the Sherriffe or oth^rs

Whereas divers & great greiveances have happened within
this Province through the many cheates & deceipts th^t many have
vsed in disposeing of & altering the markes & Quallityes of
Tobacco after the sayde Tobacco hath been seized and received
by the Sherriffe either for Fynes, Leavyes or his LoT Rente or
hath beene payd away to Merchants or others & by them
marked & received whereby both the Publique hath been much
abused and wronged and many private psons have rec^d great
damages in their sayd Goods Bee it therefore Enacted by the
Lord Proprietary by & w^th the consent & Advice of the vpp^r &
low^r howse of this p^rsent genall Assembly th^t what pson soever
shall dispose of any Tobacco or other Goods Seized on or
rec? by the Sherriffe for Fynes Leavyes or his Lo^pps Rent or
other Publique offic^r ffees or th^t shall alte^r or Scratch out the
markes of any Tobacco soe rec^d or th^t shall alter or change the
Quality of any Tobacco soe rec^d or by any Mercht or other rec?
either by vncaseing or otherwise shalbee lyable being con-
victed by confession or sufficient Witnes in some Co^rt of this
pvince to restore foure fold to the pty greived & to stand in the
Pillory two full ho^rs dureing the Co^r tyme w^th his offence fairely
written in a peece of pap & placed vppon his backe.

The vpp^r howse have Assented

John Gittings Clke
The low^r howse have Assented
W^m Bretton clke.