[416] See Bacon's Laws, also Holmes's Annals, vol. i. p. 250.
[417] The following appeared in the Plantation Laws, printed in London in 1705: "Where any negro or slave, being in servitude or bondage, is or shall become Christian, and receive the sacrament of baptism, the same shall not nor ought not to be deemed, adjudged or construed to be a manumission or freeing of any such negro or slave, or his or her issue, from their servitude or bondage, but that notwithstanding they shall at all times hereafter be and remain in servitude and bondage as they were before baptism, any opinion, matter or thing to the contrary notwithstanding."
[418] McSherry's Hist. of Maryland, p. 86.
[419] Freedom and Bondage, vol. i. p. 249.
[420] McMahon's Hist. of Maryland, vol. i. p. 274.
[421] The following form was used for a long time in Maryland for binding out a servant.
This Indenture made the —— day of —— in the —— yeere of our Soveraigne Lord King Charles, &c betweene —— of the one party, and —— on the other party, Witnesseth, that the said —— doth hereby covenant promise, and grant, to and with the said —— his Executors and Assignes, to serve him from the day of the date hereof, untill his first and next arrivall in Maryland: and after for and during the tearme of —— yeeres, in such service and imployment, as the said —— or his assignee shall there imploy him, according to the custome of the Countrey in the like kind. In consideration whereof, the said —— doth promise and grant, to and with the said —— to pay for his passing, and to find him with Meat, Drinke, Apparell and Lodging, with other necessaries during the said terme; and at the end of the said terme, to give him one whole yeeres provision of Corne, and fifty acres of Land, according to the order of the countrey. In witnesse whereof, the said —— hath hereunto put his hand and seate, the day and yeere above written.
Sealed and delivered in the presence of ——
—Relation of the state of Maryland, pp. 62, 63.
[422] Modern Traveller, vol. i. pp. 122, 123.
[423] McMahon's Maryland, vol. i. p. 278.
[424] 1st Pitkin's United States, p. 133.