An Act against Enticeing servants from their Masters

It is Declared ordered and Enacted by the Governor Councill and the Representatives of this Island, And it is hereby Declared ordered and Enacted that whosoever after the publication hereof shall by himself or others persuade Intice or seeke to withdraw any hired or Covenant Servant slave or slaves belonging or apperteyning to any other person or persons whatsoever Inhabitting resideing or tradeing upon this Island, or Shall propound the buying or purchasing of the [illegible] or persons or any servants, servant slave or slaves to the said servant or slave without having first acquainted the proprietor or Master or Commander of the said servant or slave with his Intention and Concluded and bargained with the said Master Commander or proprietor of the said servant for and touching the time and person of the said servant or slave, or that after the refusall of the said Master proprietor or Commander shall in any sort directly or indirectly by himself or others force tempte, entice persuade, or otherwise deale with or cause to be dealte with any Such Contract servant, servants or slaves, whereby such servant or slave shall be enticed withdrawn, or any ways alienated from, or any ways made unfit in his or her Will or affection for the service and employment of his or her Master or any other to whose care and Charge they are lefte or Intrusted by the Master or owner of them or either of them, or shall by and Language worde or discourse discourage the servants or slaves of any other person or persons to whome the said servant or slave doth or shall apperteyne that then the said person or persons soe offending being free shall for every such offence not only forfeite by Action of [illegible] to be Recovered at the Common Law by the Master or Owner of the said servant or slave One thousand pounds of good Tobacco or Sugar but shall alsoe forfeit five hundred pounds of like Tobacco or sugar to be levyed by way of Distresse to the publique use of this Island, And if in case the party offending have neither Land or goods nor Chattles to make satisfaction to the party grieved for his damage, And to the publique for his [illegible], then to performe the party grieved six Monthes service at the appointment of the said party, or to lye in prison until hee hath otherwise satisfied the said Damage, And in lieu of the said five hundred pounds of Tobacco or Sugar aforesaid, If hee cannot otherwise discharge it, to performe three Months Labour or service in some publique worke at the appointment of the Governor for the time being and the Major parte of the Councill Dated this Nynth day of Aprill one thousand six hundred seaventy six. 

Phillip Warner 

Richard Boraston, Speaker