the succeeding general court; so that all
business begun in the county court, tho' it runs to the utmost of the
law, (without some extraordinary event,) ought to be finished in nine
months.

Sec. 30. Every one that pleases, may plead his own cause, or else his
friends for him, there being no restraint in that case, nor any licensed
practitioners in the law. If any one be dissatisfied with the judgment
of the county court, let it be for any sum, little or great, he may have
an appeal to the next general court, giving security to answer, and
abide the judgment of that court; but an action cannot originally be
brought in the general court, under the value of ten pounds sterling, or
of two thousand pounds of tobacco, except in some particular cases of
penal laws.

Sec. 31. The county courts are constituted by law, and the justices thereof
appointed by commission from the governor with advice of council. They
consist of eight or more gentlemen of the county, called justices of the
peace, the sheriff being only a ministerial officer to execute its
process. This court is held monthly, and has jurisdiction of all causes
within the county, cognizable by common law or chancery, and not
touching life or member, and never was limited to any value in its
jurisdiction, as Mr. Oldmixion would have it, pag. 298. But in the case
of hog stealing, they may sentence the criminal to lose his ears; which
is allowed by a particular act for that purpose, as the punishment of
the second offence, the third is felony. In all things they proceed in
the same manner as the general court.

Sec. 32. This monthly court hath the care of all orphans, and of their
estates, and for the binding out and well ordering of such fatherless
children, who are either without an estate, or have very little.

In September annually they are to enquire into the keeping and
management of the orphan, as to his sustenance and education, to examine
into his estate, and the securities thereof, viz: whether the sureties
continue to be responsible, and his lands and plantations be kept
improving, and in repair, &c. If the orphan be poor, and bound an
apprentice to any trade, then their business is to enquire, how he is
kept to his schooling and trade; and if the court find he is either
misused or untaught, they take him from that master, and put him to
another of the same trade, or of any other trade, which they judge best
for the child. They cannot bind an orphan boy but