Assembly Proceedings, June 29-July 22, 1699. 465

and recovered together with Ordinary Cost of Suite any Law
Statute usage or Custom to the Contrary Notwithstanding.

Lib. I.. L.

An Act for restreining the Extortions of Sherriffs Subsherriffs
& Deputy Comissarys
Whereas there hath been diverse and great Complaints
from severall partys of this Province to this Present Gen^ll
Assembly of Severall Sherriffs, Subsherriffs and Deputy Com-
issarys of there Exacting and Extorting Great Sums of
Tobbacco above their due and Lawfull ffees Ascerteined by the
Act of Assembly of this Province from Severall of the Inhabi-
tants of this Province and tho the Laws of this Province have
inflicted a severe penalty upon any Officer that shall Charge
and receive more then his due ffees yett the said Officers have
most Cunningly and Craftily evaded the said Laws by Takeing
Bills and Writeings Obligatory without ever delivering any
Acc^t Signed under their hand as the Law directs so that the
party Grieved Cannot Sufficiently prove the said Extortions
and so is left without Remedy for prevention whereof Be it
Enacted by the Kings most Excellent Maty by and with the
Advice & Consent of this present Generall Assembly and the
Authority of the same That no Sherriffe Sub-Sherriffe or
Deputy Comissary within this Province after the publication
of this Act in their Severall and respective Countys
wherein they Dwell shall take any Bond Bill or any other
writeing Obligatory of any person or persons upon any pre-
tence whatsoever without Endorsing the Acc^t on the Back
of the said Bond Bill or writing obligatory for which the
same was passed and if any Sherriffe Subsheriffe or Deputy
Comissary within the Province shall dureing the time that he
remain in his place or Office upon any pretence whatsoever
take any Bond Bill or writing Obligatory without Endorsing
the Accompt on the back of the said Bill Bond or writing
Obligatory as afores^d by which it may Appear upon w' Con-
sideration the Same was taken the Bill Bond or Writing
obligatory shall be Void and of no Effect and the Officer or
Officers that took the same shall loose his Debt and forever be
debarred of suing another Action for the recovery of the Same
any Law Statute or usage to the Contrary in any wise notwith-

p. 181

standing And That whereas the said Officers are prohibited
from takeing Bills upon any pretence whatsoever dureing the
time they remaine in Office to the intent the said Officers may
receive no Damage by the Act of Assembly for Limittation of
Actions
Be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid that the
time the said Officers remain in Office shall not be reckoned

p. 182