Acts. 343

Maryland October 3^d 1704

On the behalf of her Majesty &c I will this be a Law
Jo : Seymour

An Act for the Appointment of Constables and what relates
to their Office

Be it enacted by the Queens most excellent Majesty by and
with the Advice and Consent of her Majestys Governour
Councill and Assembly of this Province and the Authority
of the same that the Justices of peace in every respective
County of this Province at the first County Court held after
Michaelmas shall appoint Constables in each Hundred of the
severall and respective Countys And the said Constables
so appointed shall before they enter into that Office take the
severall and respective Oaths appointed to be taken by all
Officers by the Acts of Assembly of this province and the
oath of Constable in forme following (that is to say)
You A. B. shall well and truly serve our Sovereign Lady
the Queen in the Office of a Constable You shall see and
Cause that her Majestys peace be well and duly kept accord-
ing to your power you shall Arrest all such persons as in
your presence shall Comit any Riott ffray or other breach of
her Majestys peace You shall do your best endeavour upon
Complaint to you made to seize all ffelons Barretors Riotters
or persons riotously Assembled And if any such Offender
shall make any Resistance with fforce you shall levy Hue and
Cry and pursue them untill they be taken You shall do your
best Endeavour that Hue and Cry be duly raised and pursued
against Murtherers Thieves and other ffelons and fugitive
servants and the laws and Orders against Vagabonds and
such other Idle persons coming within your Limits be duly

Lib. L. L.
No. 64.

put in Execution At your County Courts Coming you shall

present all offenders done against the severall Acts made for
the Suppressing of Drunkenness and also true presentment
make of all Bloodshedds affrays outcrys Rescues and other
Offences Comitted against her Majestys peace within your
Limitts you shall well and truly execute all precepts and
Warrants to you directed from the Justices of Peace of this
County or Higher Officers and you shall well and truly
according to your power Knowledge and Ability do and
execute all things belonging to the Office of a Constable so
long as you shall Continue in this Office.
So Help you God.

And if the person or persons so appointed shall before any
Justice of the peace refuse to take the severall Oaths afore-

p. 150