1.  The several County Courts shall, yearly, between
the 29th September and 25th December, appoint
Two honest and substantial Men of their County, to
be Press-Masters for the Year ensuing.  1715, ch. 43,
§. 11.
    2.  The Justices of any County Court, neglecting
to appoint Press-Masters, as aforesaid, (by Precept
from their Court, signed by their Clerk) shall each of
them forfeit 500 lb Tobacco, for the Support of Government.
Ibid.  §. 13.
    3.  Press-Masters, so appointed, refusing or neglecting
to serve and truly execute the said Office, shall forfeit 
500 lb Tobacco for each Offence, to the same Use.
Ibid.
    4.  On the Death, Removal, Sickness, &c., of any
Press-Master, the next Justice of the Peace shall appoint
another in his Place.  Ibid.  §. 11.
    5.  Such Press-Masters shall, if Occasion require,
impress Victuals, &c. by Warrant from the Governor.
Ibid.
 6.  Any others, than such Press-Masters, presuming
to press any goods, &c. shall pay treble Value to the
Persons grieved.  Ibid.
    7.  Nor shall Press-Masters press any Arms or Ammunition
whatsoever, on any Duty or Service, unless
by Order of the Governor, under the like Penalty.
Ibid.  treble Value to the
Persons grieved.  Ibid.. 12.
    See Musters, 11.
PRETENDER Abjured.  See Protestant Interest.
PRINCIPAL.  See Accessory.

    1.  William Parks.  Acts for his Encouragement.
1727, ch. 8; and 1737, ch. 13.
    2.  Jonas Green.  Acts for his Encouragement.  1740,
ch. 4; 1744, ch. 4; 1746, ch. 9; 1749, ch. 8;
1753, ch. 39; 1754, ch. 8; 1756, ch. 14 and 22;
1760, ch. 8; 1762, ch. 24; and 1763, ch. 33.
    3.  He shall be allowed by the several County Courts,
annually, at laying their County Levy, 320 lb Tobacco,
for each Inspection respectively, for Printing and
delivering a sufficient Number of Books, Notes, and
Manifests, for the several Inspections.  1763, ch. 18,
§. 118.  And in what Species of Gold and Silver this
Allowance may be discharged, see Ibid.  §. 120.

    The Justices of the County Court shall not levy
above 6000 lb Tobacco, at any one Time, for the necessary
Repairs of any one Prison.  But if more be adjudged
necessary, they shall not levy the same without
Leave of the General Assembly.  1748, ch. 20, §. 3.
    See Public Goal.
PRISONERS, not bound by the Act of Limitation.
    1715, ch. 23, §. 3 and 6.
PRIVATE LAWS.  See Naturalization Bills.
PRIZE.  See Militia, 9.
PRIZES for TOBACCO.  See Inspectors, 31.
    Warehouses.
PROBAT of ACCOUNTS.  See Accounts, 2-7.
    Administrators, 16-19.  Attachment, 11.  Discount
    in Bar, 1.  Foreign Debts, 2, 3.
PROBAT of BONDS.  See Advancement of Justice, 9.
    Attachment, 10.  Foreign Debts, 2, 3.  Records, 2, 3.
PROBAT of WILLS.  See Commissary-General, 2.
    Deputy-Commissary, 1-3.
PROCESS.  See Lord Proprietary, 7-9.

    Any Persons within this Province, may order out
Process in their own proper Names, without any titling
from an Attorney; and the Clerks of the Provincial
and County Courts shall, on Application to them,
issue such Writs; the Parties demanding the same
(if Non-Residents) giving Security for Fees.  1716,
ch. 20.  §. 2.
    See Lord Proprietary, 7-9.

    1.  No Process for any Criminal Matter or other
Misdemeanour, shall issue out of any the Courts of this
Province, against any Person whatsoever, without a
Presentment first found by the Grand Jury, or a special
Order by the Governor in Council, or of the Provincial
or County Courts.  1715, ch. 48, §. 1.
    2.  No Attorney General, or Clerk of the Peace or
of Indictments, shall exhibit any Bill of Indictment to
any grand Jury, without an Order from the Governor
and Council, or from the Court, or one of the Justices
of such Court; or unless the Offender be bound
over to such Court, or presented by the Grand Jury
of their own Knowledge; on Penalty of paying the
Party grieved all Damages, &c. occasioned by such
Prosecution.  1722, ch. 5.
    See Appeal, 11.  Attorneys, 3.
PROPRIETARY.  See Lord Proprietary.
PROTESTANT DISSENTERS.  See Dissenters.
 

    1.  All Persons admitted to any Office or Place of
Trust, within this Province, shall take the Oaths of
Allegiance, of Abhorrency, and Abjuration:  And without
taking such Oaths, and subscribing the Oath of Abjuration,
and making and subscribing the Test (for the
Forms of all which see the Act at large) before some
Member of the Council, or some Provincial or County
Magistrate, or before some Court of Record, no Person
shall be capable of holding or executing any Office,
Deputation, or Trust, within this Province.  1716,
ch. 5, §. 3.
    2.  Any Person presuming to execute or enjoy any
such Office, &c. contrary to the true Meaning of this
Act; the Commission, Deputation, &c. of such Person
is not only declared void ab Initio, but such Offender
shall also forfeit to his Lordship 250 l. Sterling;
one Half to the Use of Free Schools within this Province,
the other Half to the Informer.  Ibid.
    3.  The Clerk of any Court of Record, where such
Oaths are taken in open Court, shall (ex Officio) keep
a fair Transcript of the Oath of Abjuration and of the 
Test, to be subscribed by every Person taking the Oaths,
and shall record the Time, &c. when taken and subscribed,
and the Office or Trust such Persons hold
within this Province.  Ibid.  §. 5.
    4.  Any Member of the Council, or Magistrate, administering
the Oaths out of Court, shall keep the
like fair transcript, for every Person to sign who takes
the Oaths before them; and shall also certify, under
their Hands, to the next County Court, the Names
of such persons, the Time when Sworn, and the Office
they enjoy:  Which Certificate shall be entered by
the Clerk (ex Officio) in the County Records.  Ibid.
    5.  Persons applying to any Magistrate, to have the
Oaths administered out of Court, shall repair to the
Dwelling-house of such Magistrate, who shall not be
obliged to administer the same elsewhere.  Ibid.  §. 6.
    6.  Persons having taken the Oaths, &c. before one
Magistrate, shall be obliged to take and subscribe the
same  de novo, (if required) in any Court of Record
during the Sitting thereof, on Pain of incurring the
Penalties aforesaid:  Which Oaths shall be administered
and recorded by the Officers of such Court, without
Fee or Reward.  Ibid.  §. 7.
    7.  This Act shall not extend to alter the Manner of
administering the Oaths to Vestrymen, Church-wardens
and Parish-Registers, required by the Act of 1702,
ch. 1.  (See Vestry, 3, 4.)  Ibid.  §. 8.
    8.  If any Person who has taken the oaths, shall afterwards
be present at any Popish Assembly, &c. and
join with them in their Service at Mass, or receive the
Sacrament in that Communion; he shall not only forfeit
his Office, and incur the Penalties of this Act,
but also be incapable of holding or executing any
Commission, &c. within this Province, until he be
fully reconciled to the Church of England, and receive
the Communion therein.  Ibid.  §. 9.