"brought were fraudulently & injuriously
taken and
"bro't from
Guinea, by Capt Smyth's confession and
"the rest of the company; that he forthwith send the
"Negro, which he had of Capt Smyth, hither; that
"he may be sent home; which this court do re-
"solve to send back, without delay. And if you
"have any thing to alledge, why you should not
"return him, to be disposed of by the Court, it
"will be expected, you should forthwith make it
"appear, either by yourself or your agent."
About the same time viz 1645, a law was enacted
"prohibiting the buying or selling of slaves, except
those taken in lawful war, or reduced to servitude
for their crimes by a judicial sentence & these were to have the
same privi-
ledges as were allowed by the Law of Moses." --
[Citation in right margin: Appendix to 2d Vol of Neal's Histy
NE.]
Among the laws for punishing capital crimes
enacted 1649 is the following.
"10. If any man stealeth a man or mankinde
"he shall surely be put to death. Exodus xxi.16."
[Citation in right margin: Masst Colony Laws. p. 15.]
In a collection of Laws, respecting Servants enacted
between 1630 & 1641, I find the following -- viz
[Citation in right margin: ibid. p. 105.]
"7. No servant shall be put off for above a year
to any other, neither in the life time of their master,