An Act for the encouragement of all Negroes and Slaves, that shall discover any conspiracy.

Whereas sundry of the Negroes and Slaves of this Island, have been long preparing, contriving, conspiring and designing a most horrid, bloody, damnable and detestable Rebellion, Massacre, Assassination and Destruction, by them to be committed, done and perpetrated upon and against all the white Inhabitants hereof; but before this could be effected, it hath pleased Almighty God to give us a gracious deliverance by a miraculous discovery thereof: To the end such purposes and practices may be prevented for the future, and that such Negroes and Slaves as are not infected and drawn in by the wicked and devilish instigations of others, may not be excited thereto, or perverted in point of their obedience, but may be encouraged to continue orderly and quietly, and discover so soon as shall come to their knowledge, any design, purpose or intent of any Negro or other Slave, to commit or abet any Insurrection or Rebellion, 

    (Clause I.) Be it enacted by his Excellency Colonel James Kendal, Captain General and chief Governor of this and other the Caribbee-Islands, the Honourable the Council and General Assembly of this Island, and by the Authority of the same, That whatsoever Negro or Slave shall after publication hereof, hear any other Negro or Slave speak or utter any words tending to Mutiny, Insurrection, or Rebellion; or shall have or prepare any Gunpowder, Ball, Sword, Lance or other warlike Instrument, than what are allowed for watching, or other service of the Country, and shall forthwith discover the same to any Justice of the Peace of this Island, the said Justice shall join himself to the next Justice of the Peace, and they two are hereby impowered and required to cause the said Negro or other slave so accused, forthwith to be apprehended, and the Accuser and the Accused to be  brought face to face, and shall diligently enquire into the said matter: And if they shall find the accusation just, they shall secure the said Negro or Slave, and report the said matter to his Excellency, or to the Governor for the time being, who is hereby humbly requested to appoint Field Officers to try the said Negro or Slave, as by the Act, entitled, "An Act for the governing of Negroes," is provided, who are to proceed accordingly. And if they the said Field Officers shall find the said Negro or Slave guilty of what he or she stands accused, and shall condemn him or her to suffer death, such Field Officers shall appraise the condemned Negro, as by the said Act is appointed: But the Negroe which accuses the other, [130] other, the Field Officers shall appraise at this or her full value and worth although it exceed the sum by the said Act limitted; of which the said Field Officers shall forthwith certify his Excellency, or the Governor for the time being upon oath; who is hereby requested to draw an order on the Treasurer for that sum which such Accuser is valued at, to be paid to the Owner of such Negro or Slave at fight: And upon payment thereof, his Excellency or the Governor for the time being, is requested to declare the said Negro or Slave free; and such Negro shall be sent off this Island by the Treasurer, to such place as he or she shall desire; who is hereby required to pay for such Negro's passage. But if such Negro had rather stay here with his Master, Mistress or Family, and not be free, such Negro shall receive forty shillings to his or her own use from [the] said Treasurer. And if any negro or Slave shall not make good his or her accusation, against such Negro or Slave as he or she shall accuse, such Negro or Slave shall receive such punishment, not to extend to life or member, as by order of the said Justices or Field Officers that shall hear the matter, shall think fit.

Passed October 27, 1692.

[Copy in Acts of Assembly, passed in the Island of Barbadoes, From 1648, to 1718. John Baskett (1732), p.137-138]