THE LAWS OF JAMAICA Passed by the Assembly And Confirmed by His MAJESTY IN Council Feb. 23. 1683. To which is added A short Account of the Island and Government thereof With an Exact Map of the Island LONDON Printed by H. Hills for Charles Harper at the Flower de Luce over against St Dunstan's-Church in Fleet-street 1683. TO THE READER Reader I Have now neither time to write the particulars of the History of that Flourishing Island of Jamaica nor conveniency to insert it into this Book of the Laws of that Country because I should thereby make it to swell beyond the intended conveniency of a pocket-Pocket-Book But for the better satisfaction of any that may be inclin'd to remove themselves to that Island I have been desired to write this short but true account of that Country which please to take as followeth The Island of Jamaica fell first into the Possession of the English the 10th day of May in the year 1655. The Middle of it is situated nearest in 17 degrees 40 minutes of North Latitude so that their longest day from Sun Rising to Sun Setting is 13 hours 4 minutes and their shortest 10 hours 56 minutes The difference of Longitude from the Meridian of London to the Meridian which passes over Port-Royal the chiefest Town there is 78 degrees 45 minutes Westward which causes 5 hours 15 minutes difference in time so that when it is Noon-day there it is a quarter of an hour past 5 in the Afternoon in London The length of the Island lies nearest East and West and is accounted to be 180 Miles and the bredth in the broadest part of it 45 Miles so that its Figure is nearest an Oval It lies under that which is called the Torrid Zone nevertheless the Air is moderately temperate occasion'd by the long absence of the Sun every night by the strong Easterly Breezes which generally blow from 8 or 9 in the Morning to 4 or 5 in the Afternoon and by the Land Wind which is a small cool Breeze that comes off the Shoar from all parts of the Island in the Evening and blows gently all Night The Nights are for the most part fair and not a Cloud to be seen in the Sky so that by their clearness and coolness they are exceedingly pleasant The Day time is much more hot and troublesome by reason of the Sun and the Sea Wind which most days blows very hard If the weather be such as is accounted seasonable it commonly rains a shower in the inland parts under the Mountains more or less every Day about 1 or 2 a Clock from the beginning of April to the beginning of December with Thunder and Lightning and this makes the Island fertile especially if accompanied with those they call the general seasons which are commonly great rains in May and November that continue Night and day with small intermission for 8 or 10 Days together but these failing as sometimes they do is prejudicial to all things in the Country the rest of the Year is for the most part very fair and delicate weather without much rain Thunder or Lightning and not at all too hot There are Earthquakes sometimes two or three perhaps in a Year but so moderate that they are over before one can well be sensible what they are and never have yet been so violent to do any harm The Middle parts of the Island are very full of Mountains which towards the Eastward end of it are so high that they are not habitable scarce accessible These Mountains for the most part are covered with large Timber-trees of divers sorts of Wood fitting for building and several uses as well as for bearing many sorts of Fruits which maintain great plenty of Pigeons Doves Parots and other sorts of Birds and also of wild Hoggs all very good for food betwixt these Mountains there run many Rivers several whereof by the acquisition of divers of the smaller Rivulets become large but few Navigable by reason they are for the most part barr'd at their falling into the Sea and many of them sinking into the ground when they come into the Low-lands before they can reach thither these Rivers are well stored with good Fish Mullets Creafish and Eeles such as are in England the rest strangers to the English Climate though all very sitting to be eaten The Sea about this Island is also plentifully stored with many sorts of very good Fish and likewise with Tortoise and Manates both pleasant and delicious Food The Low-lands and Plain grounds are where the People generally Inhabit and in these are Level tracts of several Miles in length and bredth like our Meadows full of Grass called Savannas which Name they retain from the Spaniards in these are bred great plenty of Cattle Sheep Horses Asses and Mules sufficient both for food and service there is also in the Country great stocks of Hogs Hens Ducks Pigeons Rabbets Turkeys and divers kinds of wild Fowl and also sufficient stores of all sorts of Garden Herbs and Roots Pulse and Sallads and with excellent Fruits some known here as Grapes of divers sorts and from several Countries Lemons Oranges Citrons Pomgranats and Musk Mellons besides other very good Fruits proper to that Country as the Celebrated Pine many more not much inferiour to that incomparable Fruit and that which makes these Fruits of the more use and beauty and the Country thereby the more pleasant is that they as well as the leaves on all the Trees continue all the Year there being no Winter or decay but a continual Spring on every seasonable shower of rain so that there is nothing wanting for a necessary plentiful or delicate living In this Island are many convenient Harbours for Shipping besides several Bays and Roads fitting for the landing or takeing off of Goods The chiefest of these is Port-Royal which in its safety for Shipping depth of Water cleanness of Ground and conveniency of the Shore and Wharfs for lading and unlading of Shipping may compare with any in the known World and to add the more to the security of this and the other Harbours of this Island those dreadful Hurricans which often afflict the Islands of Barbados Nevis c. never yet came near this Country Adjoyning to this Harbour on an Isthmus of Land is a handsome Town of the same Name built from the Foundation by the English the ground it stands on is but 53 Acres and cannot be inlarged in its buildings otherwise then what the Inhabitants gain by the height of their Houses for it 's incompassed all round with the Harbour and Sea unless on the East part and there the Isthmus being narrow is cut off from the Sea to the Harbour with a strong and well fortified Wall built with Brick and Stone and sufficiently Gunn'd to secure the Town from any attempt from the Land part without which Wall none are suffered to build that so there may be no shelter for an Enemy This Town for its bigness is
any Court of Record within this Island by Bill Plaint or Information wherein no Essoin Protection Wager of Law or Non vult ulterius prosequi shall be admitted or allowed any thing in this Act or any other seeming to the contrary notwithstanding And that the said Collector Receiver or his Deputy shall not at any time hereafter upon any pretence whatsoever pay the said One Thousand Pounds per Annum or any part or parcel thereof or any other Sum or Sums of Money whatsoever arising from the Quit-Rents or by Vertue of this Act unless he or they shall first have or receive for his or their Authority a Warrant under the Hand and Seal of the Governour or Commander in Chief for the time being with the Advice and Consent of the Council expressing the Sum to be paid and the end and purpose whereunto the same is or shall be applied And in case the Collector Receiver-General or his Deputy shall contrary to the true intent and meaning hereof pay any Sum or Sums of Money whatsoever or if any other person or persons whatsoever shall misapply any of the Moneys so as aforesaid appropriated contrary to the true intent and meaning of this Act the Offender or Offenders shall forfeit and pay treble the Sum by him or them so paid or misapplied Be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That all Forfeitures and Penalties mentioned in this Act and not declared how they shall be disposed of and in what manner to be recovered shall be one half to our Sovereign Lord the King His Heirs and Successors for and towards the Support of the Government of this Island and the contingent Charges thereof and the other half to the Informer to be recovered by Bill Plaint or Information in any Court of Record within this Island wherein no Essoin Protection Wager of Law Non vult ulterius prosequi or Injunction shall be allowed any thing in this Act or any other to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding And it is hereby Enacted and Declared by the Authority aforesaid That from and after the First day of this present October an Act intituled An Act for Raising a Publick Impost made at an Assembly held at the Town of St. Jago de la Vega the Fourth day of October in the Three and thirtieth Year of His Majesty's Reign that now is and all and every Clause and Clauses therein contained be and are hereby repealed to all intents and purposes whatsoever And it is hereby Enacted and Declared by the Authority aforesaid That this present Act remain and continue in force for the Term of Seven Years and no longer WHich Laws having upon the perusal of the Right Honourable the Lords of the Committee of Trade and Foreign Plantations been presented to His Majesty at this Board His Majesty was graciously pleased with the Advice of His Privy Council to approve and confirm the same for the space of Seven Years to commence from the First of October last preceding the Date hereof And pursuant to His Royal Pleasure thereupon signisied and expressed the said Laws are hereby approved and consirmed for the space of Seven Years accordingly John Nicholas FINIS law-LAW-BOOKS Printed for or Sold by Charles Harper at the Flower-de-Luce over against St. Dunstan's-Church in Fleet-street Folio Law THe Statutes at large from Magna Charta to this present Year 1682. in Paragraphs and Sections with References to the Books of the Law and an exact Table By Joseph Keble of Gray's-Inn Esq in folio An Assistance to Justices of the Peace for the easier performance of their Duty The first Part thereof being a Collection of all the particular Clauses of Statutes from Magna Charta to this time that does any ways concern Juslices of the Peace In the other Part the whole Office of a Justice is methodically digested with the newest and most approved Presidents under proper Heads the whole accommodated to present use By Joseph Keble of Gray's-Inn Esq A Collection of Entries c By William Rastal fol. The Lord Coke's Book of Entries His Commentary on Littleton being the first Part of the Institutes His Commentary on Magna Charta c. or the 2 d Part of the Institutes His Pleas of the Crown or 3d. Part of the Institutes His Jurisdiction of Courts or 4th Part of the Institutes His 11 Reports in French with a Table and the 12th and 13th in English His 11 Reports compleat in English with a Table An Abridgment of Cases and Resolutions of Law contained as well in the law-Law-Books Statutes and Records as of modern Judgments in the Courts of Westminster By H. Roll Serjeant at Law Published by the L. C. J. Hales The Year Books in to Volumes the last Edition with new Notes and Tables to them all Origines Juridiciales oran Account of the English Laws Courts of Justice Forms of Tryal Punishment in Cases Criminal Law-Writers Law-Books Grants and Settlements of Estates c. Also a Chronology of the Lord Chancellors Keepers Treasurers Justices Itinerant Judges Barons Masters of the Rolls Kings Attorneys and Sollicitors and Serjeants at Law By Sir William Dugdale Kt. The Law of Common Assurances touching Deeds in general viz. Feoffinents Gifts Grants Leases with two Alphabetical Tables By William Sheppard Esq The Country Justice containing the Practice of the Justices of the Peace as well in as out of Sessions By M. Dalton with large Additions printed 1682. Modern Reports By William Style of the Inner-Temple Esq Actions for Slanders By William Sheppard Esq Reports of H. Roll Serj. at Law in two Volumes in the Kings-Bench in the time of King James Prynn's Animadversions on the Lord Coke's 4th Institutes Sir Henry Yelverton's Reports in the King-Bench in the time of Queen Elizabeth and King James Published by Judge Wilde The Reports of Sir John Davies with a Table The Reports of the learned Judge Sir Henry Hobart The fourth Edition corrected and amended The Reports of Sir George Crook Kt. in the time of Q. Elizabeth K. James and K. Charles the First Collected in French by himself revised and published in English by Sir Harbottle Grimstone Master of the Rolls the third Edition in three Volumes This Book is now reprinted with References to all the late Reports Reports in the Kings-Bench in the time of King Charles the First By Jo. Latch of the Middle-Temple Reports of the late Reverend Judge Th. Owen Esq one of the Justices of the Common Pleas with Tables Reports and Arguments in the time of K. Charles the Second of that learned Judge Sir Jo. Vaughan lato Chief Justice of the Common Pleas. The Reports of Sir James Dyer in the time of H. S. Ed. 6. Phil. and Mary and Q. Elix with a Table The Reports of the Lord Keeper Littleton in the time of King Charles the First with Tables The Office and Authority of Sheriffs gathered out of the Statutes and Books of the Common Law Corrected and very much enlarged by Mich. Dalton with
Eleven of the Clock in the Morning and from two to Four in the Afternoon upon Penalty of Twenty Pounds Currant mony of this Island for every default Be it likewise Enacted and Ordained by the Authority aforesaid That all and every Person and Persons whatsoever in this Island which from and after the making of this Act shall have or receive from the Governour or Commander in Chief of this Island a Licence to Sell and retail any Strong Liquors in any part of this Island shall pay for the said Licence and every Year for renewing of the same the Sum of five Pounds Currant Mony to Our Soveraign Lord the King His Heirs and Successors And whosoever shall presume to Sell by Retail any of the strong Liquors as aforesaid without such License had and obtained as aforesaid shall forfeit for every such Offence the Sum of Ten Pounds currant Money of this Island And it is hereby Enacted and Declared by the Authority aforesaid That if any new Setler or Comer shall import into this Island any Rum Sugar Tobacco Indico Cocoa Ginger or Cotton by himself or any other person or persons for his or their better conveniency in Settling and Planting and shall not only declare such his or their intentions upon Oath before the Collector who is hereby impowered to Administer the same at the time of importation but shall likewise make the same appear within three Months after his or their arrival by some visible effect which he or they shall shew in order to it that then the same being sufficiently made known and appear to the said Collector or Receiver the said Goods shall not be chargeable with any Duty or Customs any thing in this Act to the contrary notwithstanding And the said new Comers to enjoy the aforesaid Priviledge for three Months after their arrival Provided also that it shall and may be lawful for any Master or Merchant of any Ship or Vessel to land or put on shore any of the said Goods without being further liable to pay any Duty or Custom for any part or parcel thereof more than what he shall sell or dispose of within this Island any thing in this Act to the contrary notwithstanding And it is further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That as well his Majesty's Quit-Rents arising from Lands granted or to be granted within this Island and every part and parcel thereof as also all and every part of the Revenue hereby granted or which hereafter shall grow due by Vertue of this Act or any thing herein contained shall be applied and appropriated and are hereby appropriated to the Support of the Government of this his Majesty's Island and the contingent Charges thereof and to no other use intent or purpose whatsoever And that His Majesty's Forts and Fortifications within this Island may for the future be kept in better repair And if His Majesty in his great Wisdom shall think convenient other new ones may be built Be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That the Sum of One Thousand Pounds per Annum arising as aforesaid be during the Term of Seven Years Annually paid and appropriated unto the Repairing Building and Rebuilding of His Majesty's Forts and Fortifications within this Island and to no other use intent and purpose whatsoever and the same is hereby appropriated accordingly And it is hereby further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That the Collector or Receiver-General of this Island for the time being or he that shall Officiate in his room or stead shall annually during the Term aforesaid out of the Money received by Vertue of this Act charge down the said One Thousand Pounds so as aforesaid appropriated to the particular Accompt of the Fortifications and shall keep a distinct Book of Accompts for the same which Book of Accompts shall be free and open at all Office-hours for any person to view the same without paying any manner of Fee therefore and that the said Receiver-General or his Deputy shall when and as often as thereunto required by the Governour Council or Assembly when sitting or to any Committee by them or either of them to be appointed give in upon Oath which Oath they are hereby empowered to Administer a just and true Accompt of the particular Disbursements out of the Thousand Pounds per Annum so appropriated as aforesaid and that the said Receiver-General shall with good and sufficient Security such as shall be approved of by the Governour and a Quorum of the Council enter into Bond in the Penalty of Five Thousand Pounds which Bond shall lie in the Secretary's Office to be sued in manner and form as is directed in an Act requiring all Masters of Ships and Vessels to give Security in the Secretaries Office under the Condition hereafter expressed That is to say THE Condition of this Obligation is such That if the above bound A.B. Collector or Receiver-General shall well and truly accompt for as often as he shall be thereunto required by the Governour for the time being and a Quorum of the Council or a Committee of the Assembly all and every such Sum and Sums of Money which either have or shall come to his hands either by Vertue of an Act intituled An Act for Raising a Publick Impost made at an Assembly held by Prorogation the Fourth day of October in the Thirty third Tear of His Majesties Reign or an Act intituled An Act for Raising a Publick Impost made at an Assembly held by Prorogation the Twenty first day of September in the Thirty fourth Year of His Majesty's Reign that now is or any other Act or Acts whatsoever as also well and truly to pay the Sum of One Thousand Pounds yearly and every Year for and during the time the aforesaid Act made in the Thirty fourth Year of the King's Reign intituled An Act for Raising a Publick Impost shall be in force by Warrant of the Governour with the Advice and Consent of a Quorum of the Council for and towards the Repairing and Building Fortifications and also pay all other Sums of Money according to the intent and meaning and to the uses mentioned and directed in the said Acts that then this present Obligation to be void otherwise to remain in full force and vertue And in case the said Collector or Receiver-General or his Deputies shall presume to Act in the said Office longer than twenty days after the passing of this Act before he hath given the Security with the Condition aforesaid he or they shall for every such Offence forfeit the Sum of One Thousand Pounds currant Money of this Island One third part thereof to be to our Soveraign Lord the King His Heirs and Successors for and towards the support of the Government of this Island and the contingent Charges thereof One other third to the Informer or him that shall sue for the same and the other third to the Poor of the Parish where the said Informer shall be resident to be recovered in
a Supplement of all Matters relating to Sheriffs since Mr. Dalton's time Formulaebene Placitandi A Book of Entries containing variety of choice Presidents of Counts Declarations Informations Pleas in Bar and Abatement Continuances Replications Rejoynders Issues Verdicts Judgments after Verdict Utlawries Recoveries and Avowrics and other Pleadings in real personal and mixt Actions of general use to all Students in the Law the 2 d Edition corrected and amended By William Brown a Clerk in the Court of Common Pleas in two Parts in fol. Mr. Thompson's Book of Entries in sol Law Quarto The Grand Abridgment of the Common and Statute-Law of England Alphabetically digested under proper Heads and Titles very useful and beneficial for all persons whatsoever that desire to have any knowledge in the said Laws in four Parts By William Sheppard Esq Doctrina Platitandi or the Art of good Pleading shewing where and in what cases and by what persons Pleas as well real as personal or mixt may be properly pleaded By S. E. Serjeant at Law The Compleat Clerk containing the best forms of all sorts of Conveyances and Assurances and other Instruments now in use and practice and forms for Bills and Answers in Chancery c. with the names of Men and Women in Latin also Trades and Occupations Counties Bishopricks c. Placita Latinè Rediviva A Book of Entries containing approved Presidents of Counts Declarations Bars Replications c. as well real as personal The Reports of the learned and judicious Clerk J. Gouldsborough Esq in the time of Queen Elizabeth A Treatise of Wills and Testaments fit to be understood by all men that they may know whether whereof and how to make them By H. Swineborne Judge of the Prerogative Court at York The fourth Edition very much enlarged Law Octavo An Abridgment of the Statutes in force and use from Magna Charta till this present year 1682. By Edmond Wingats of Gray's-Inn Esq Fetzherbert's Natura Brevium corrected and amended printed 1676. The Terms of the Law with large Additions The Compleat Justice being a compendious and exact Collection out of all such Statutes and Authors as may any ways concern the Office of a Justice of Peace very much enlarged and carefully brought down to the year 1681. with a proper Charge to be given at the Quarter Sessions By R. Chamberlain of Gray's-Inn Esq Fragmenta Autiquitatis Ancient Tenures of England and Jocular Customs of some Mannors made publick for the Diversion of some and Instruction of others By T. Blunt of the Inuer-Temple Esq The Compleat Attorney and Guide for Solicitors in the Courts of Chancery Kings-Bench Common-Plea and Exchequer with the manner of their Proceedings in any Action real personal or mixt from the Original to the Execution with the Fees of the Officers in those Courts to which is added the Practice of the Court in London and Ecclesiastical Courts The Office of Coroners and Sheriffs together with an casie and plain Method for the keeping of Court-Leets Court-Barons and Hundred-Courts By J. Wilkinson of Bernards-Inn Law or a Discourse thereof in four Books By Sir Henry Finch Kt. in English De Laudibus Legum Angliae By Sir John Forteseue Lord Chancellor to King Henry the Sixth Whereunto is added the two Sums of Sir Ralph de Hengham commonly called Hengham magna and Hengbam parva with Notes on both By the famous Antiquary John Selden Esq Tractatus de Legibus Consuctudinibus Regni Anghae tempore Regis Henrii secundi Compositus Authore Randulpho d' Glanvilla History c. in Fol. 1. The History of Q. Elizabeth By W. Camden King at Arms the third Edition with a new Table 2. The History of the Grecian War By Thucidides Translated out of the Original Greek by Thomas Hobbs of Malmsbury 3. Dugdale's Monasticon Auglicanum In three Volumes with Tables 4. Origines Judiciales 5. The History of the Life Reign and Death of Edward the Second King of England and Lord of Ireland 6. Machiavel's Works compleat with his Letter in vindication of his Writings 7. Dugdale's History of the Baronage of England In two Parts 8. The Historical Tracts of the Reverend Peter Heylyn D. D. with an Account of the Life of the Author never before published and an Exact Table to the whole 9. The Works of Mr. Abraham Cowley the Ict. and 2 d Parts 10. The Whole Body of Ancient and Modern Architecture By John Evelyn Esq Adorned with 51 Copper Plates Where also are Sold all sorts of Law-Books and most sorts of English-Books FINIS