be given upon Demurrer for the Avowant or him that maketh Cognisance for any Rent the Court shall at the prayer of the Defendant award a Writ to inquire of the value of such Distress and upon the return thereof Iudgement shall be given for the Avowant or him that makes Cognisance as aforesaid for the Arrears alledged to be behind in such Avowry or Cognisance if the Goods or Cattel so distrained shall amount to that value And in case they shall not amount to that value then for so much as the said Goods or Catel so distrained amount unto together with his full Costs of Suit and shall have like Execution as aforesaid Provided always And be it Enacted That in all Cases aforesaid where the value of the Cattel distrained as aforesaid shall not be found to be to the full value of the Arrears distrained for that the party to whom such Arrears were due his Executors or Administrators may from time to time Distrain again for the Residue of the said Arrears 19 Car. 2. cap. 5. This Act made to extend to Wales and Counties Palatine CAP. VIII An Act for avoiding unnecessary Suits and Delayes FOr the avoiding of unnecessary Suits and Delayes Be it Enacted by the Kings most Excellent Majesty by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons in this present Parliament Assembled and by Authority of the same Death of either party between the Verdict and Iudgment That in all Actions personal and real or mixt the death of either party betwéen the Verdict and the Iudgment shall not hereafter be alledged for Error so as such Iudgment be entred within two Terms after such Verdict And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid Iudgment obtained by an Executor where any Iudgment after a Verdict shall be had by or in the name of any Executor or Administrator In such case an Administrator de bonis non may sue forth a Scire facias and take Execution upon such Iudgment This Act to continue for the space of Five years The continuance of this Act. and from thence to the end of the next Session of Parliament CAP. IX An Act for granting one Moneths Assessment to His Majesty WE Your Majesties most dutiful and Loyal Subjects the Commons Assembled in Parliament taking notice of that Heroick Courage The Heroick Courage of his Highness the Duke of York with which Your Majesties Royal Brother exposed his own Person for the Defence of Your Majesty and Your People against the Dutch Fléet and of the Glorious Victory through the blessing of Almighty God by him obtained are humble Suiters unto Your Majesty that we may have leave to make some expressions of our Humble Thanks to his Royal Highness for the same And that for this end Your Majesty would graciously please to accept from us your Loyal Subjects the sum of money herein after mentioned and to bestow the same upon Your Majesties Royal Brother Wherefore we your Majesties said Dutiful and Loyal Subjects have given and granted and by these presents do give and grant unto your most Excellent Majesty whom God long preserve the Sum of One hundred and twenty thousand nine hundred and two pounds fiftéen shillings and eight pence to be raised and levied in manner following That is to say Whereas in and by a certain Act lately passed for granting a Royal Ayd unto his Majesty of Twenty four hundred thréescore and seventéen thousand and five hundred pounds to be raised 16 17 Ca◠2. cap. 1. levied and paid within the space of thrée years It was amongst other things Enacted That the sum of Thréescore and eight thousand eight hundred and ninetéen pounds and nine shillings by the Moneth for thirty six Moneths beginning from the Five and twentieth day of December One thousand six hundred sixty four should be assessed taxed levied and paid by twelve quarterly payments in the several Counties Cities Burroughs Towns and places within England and Wales and Town of Berwick upon Tweed according to the Rates and Proportions therein expressed And whereas in and by another Act passed in this present Session of Parliament 17 Car. 2. cap. 1. It is further Enacted That the sum of Fifty two thousand fourscore and thrée pounds six shillings and eight pence by the moneth for twenty four moneths beginning from the five and twentieth day of December One thousand six hundred sixty five shall be likewise assessed taxed collected levied and paid by eight quarterly payments in the several Cities Burroughs Towns and Places within England and Wales and the Town of Berwick upon Tweed over and above the said sum of Thréescore and eight thousand eight hundred and ninetéen pounds and nine shillings as an addition to and increase of the same monethly Assessment both which Sums together amount unto the sum of One hundred and twenty thousand nine hundred and two pounds fiftéen shillings and eight pence by the Moneth It is now further Enacted by the Kings most Excellent Majesty by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and of the Commons in this present Parliament Assembled That the Sum of One hundred and twenty thousand nine hundred and two pounds fiftéen shillings and eight pence for one Moneths Assessment more beginning upon the Six and twentieth day of December One thousand six hundred sixty seven and ending upon the Six and twentieth day of January in the same year shall be assessed taxed collected levied and paid in the several Counties Cities Burroughs Towns and Places within England and Wales and the Town of Berwick upon Tweed according to the Rates and Proportions following That is to say For the County of Bedford the sum of One thousand five hundred seventy and five pounds twelve shillings six pence farthing The County of Berks the sum of One thousand nine hundred eighty nine pounds four shillings nine pence thrée farthings The County of Bucks the sum of Two thousand thrée hundred and ten pounds fourtéen shillings and thrée pence The County of Cambridge the sum of One thousand seven hundred ninety and one pounds eightéen shillings thrée half pence The Isle of Ely the sum of Six hundred and fourtéen pounds thirtéen shillings and nine pence The County of Chester with the City and County of the City of Chester the sum of One thousand four hundred and seven pounds thirtéen shillings and one peny The County of Cornwall the sum of Two thousand seven hundred and seven pounds seven pence farthing The County of Cumberland the sum of Two hundred ninety and five pounds thirtéen shillings and four pence farthing The County of Derby the sum of One thousand five hundred and fiftéen pounds one shilling and thrée pence thrée farthings The County of Devon the sum of Five thousand six hundred seventy and four pounds five shillings eleven pence farthing The City and County of the City of Exon the sum of Two hundred and four
all Statutes and Acts of Parliament Acts that are to have continuance shall remain in foâ—ce which are to have continuance unto the end of this present Session shall be of full force after the said Adjournment until this present Session be fully ended and determined And if this Session shall determine by dissolution of this present Parliament then all the Acts aforesaid shall be continued until the end of the first Session of the next Parliament And all Statutes and Acts of Parliament When the Acts which are now to pass shall take effect which before the said Adjournment shall pass by his Majesties royal Assent shall be put in execution immediately after forty dayes after the said Adjournment notwithstanding that by the words or letter of the said Acts or any of them they be limited to take effect or be put in execution from or at any time after the end of this present Session Anno Reg. Caroli Regis Angliae Scotiae Franciae Hiberniae Tertio AT the Parliament began at Westminster the Seventeenth day of March Anno Dom. 1627. in the Third year of the Reign of our most gracious Soveraign Lord CHARLES by the grace of God of England Scotland France and Ireland King Defender of the Faith c. And there continued until the Twenty sixth day of June following and then prorogued unto the twentieth day of October next ensuing To the high pleasure of Almighty God and to the weal publick of this Realm were enacted as followeth A Declaration of divers Rights and Liberties of the People to the Kings most Excellent Majesty HVmbly shew unto our Soveraign Lord the King the Lords Spiritual and Temporal The Petition of Right and Commons in Parliament assembled That whereas it is declared and Enacted by a Statute made in the time of the Reign of King Edward the First 34 Ed. 1. commonly called Statutum de Tallagio non concedendo That no Tallage or Aid shall be laid or levied by the King or his Heirs in this Realm without the good will and assent of the Archbishops Bishops Earls Barons Knights Burgesses and other the Fréemen of the Commonalty of this Realm And by Authority of Parliament holden in the five and twentieth year of the reign of King Edward the third 25 Ed. 3. Rot. Parl. it is declared and Enacted That from thenceforth no person should be compelled to make any Loans to the King against his will because such Loans were against reason and the Franchise of the Land 1 Ed. 3. 6. 11 R. 2. 9. 1 R. 3. 2. And by other Laws of this Realm it is provided That none should be charged by any Charge or Imposition called a Benevolence nor by such like charge By which the Statutes before mentioned and other the good Laws and Statutes of this Realm your Subjects have inherited this Fréedom That they should not be compelled to contribute to any Tax Tallage Aid or other like charge not set by common consent in Parliament Yet nevertheless of late divers Commissions directed to sundry Commissioners in several Counties with instructions have issued by means whereof your People have béen in divers places assembled and required to lend certain sums of Money unto your Majesty and many of them upon their refusal so to do have had an Oath administred unto them not warrantable by the Laws or Statutes of this Realm and have béen constrained to become bound to make Appearance and give Attendance before your Privy Councel and in other places and others of them have béen therefore imprisoned confined and sundry other ways molested and disquieted And divers other Charges have béen laid and levied upon your People in several Counties by Lord-Lievetenants Deputy-Lievetenants Commissioners for Musters Iustices of Peace and others by command or direction from your Majesty or your Privy Councel against the Laws and frée Customs of this Realm 9. H. 3. 29. And where also by the Statute called The great Charter of the Liberties of England It is declared and Enacted That no Fréeman may be taken or imprisoned or be disseised of his Fréehold or Liberties or his frée Customs or be outlawed or exiled or in any manner destroyed but by the lawful judgement of his Péers or by the Law of the Land 28. Ed. 3. 3. And in the eight and twentieth year of the reign of King Edward the third it was declared and Enacted by Authority of Parliament That no man of what estate or condition that he be should be put out of his Land or Tenements nor taken nor imprisoned nor disherited nor put to death without being brought to answer by due process of Law St. 37. Ed. 3. 18. St. 38 Ed. 3 9. St. 42 Ed. 3. 3. St. 17. R. 2. 6. Nevertheless against the tenor of the said Statutes and other the good Laws and Statutes of your Realm to that end provided divers of your Subjects have of late béen imprisoned without any cause shewed And when for their deliverance they were brought before your Iustices by your Majesties Writs of Habeas corpus there to undergo and receive as the Court should order and their Kéepers commanded to certifie the causes of their detainer no cause was certified but that they were detained by your Majesties special command signified by the Lords of your Privy Councel and yet were returned back to several Prisons without being charged with any thing to which they might make answer according to the Law 25. Ed. 3. 9. And whereas of late great Companies of Souldiers and Mariners have béen dispersed into divers Counties of the Realm and the Inhabitants against their wills have béen compelled to receive them into their houses and there to suffer them to sojourn against the Laws and Customs of this Realm and to the great grievance and vexation of the People 25. Ed. 3. 9. And whereas also by Authority of Parliament in the five and twentieth year of the raign of King Edward the third it is declared and Enacted That no man should be fore-judged of life or limb against the form of the Great Charter and Law of the Land 9. H. 3. 28. 25. Ed 3. 4. 28. Ed. 3. 3 And by the said Great Charter and other the Laws and Statutes of this your Realm no man ought to be adjudged to death but by the Laws established in this your Realm either by the Customs of the same Realm or by Acts of Parliament And whereas no offendor of what kinde soever is exempted from the procéedings to be used and punishments to be inflicted by the Laws and Statutes of this your Realm Nevertheless of late divers Commissions under your Majesties great Seal have issued forth by which certain persons have béen assigned and appointed Commissioners with power and authority to procéed within the Land according to the Iustice of Martial Law against such Souldiers and Mariners or other dissolute persons joyning with them as should commit any Murther Robbery Felony Mutiny
Parliament or of or from any Convention or Assembly called or reputed or taking the Name of the Kéepers of the Liberty of England by Authority of Parliament Or by vertue or colour of any Writ Commission Letters Patents Instruction or Instructions of or from any person or persons Tituled reputed or taken to be Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England Scotland and Ireland and the Dominions thereunto belonging or Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England Scotland and Ireland and the Dominions and Territories thereto belonging or assuming the authority or reputed to be chief Magistrate of the Commonwealth or Commander in chief of the Forces or Armies of this Nation by Sea or Land or by any pretence Warrant or Command whatsoever from them or any of them or their or either of their respective Councils or Council or any Member of such Council or Councils or from any person or persons whatsoever deriving or pretending to derive Authority from them or any of them be pardoned Released Indempnified discharged and put in utter Oblivion And that all and every the person and persons Acting Advising Assisting Abetting and Counselling the same they their Heirs Executors and Administrators except as before is excepted be and are hereby pardoned Released Acquitted Indempnified and discharged from the same And of and from all pains of Death and other Pains Iudgments Indictments Convictions Attainders Outlawries Penalties Escheats and Forfeitures therefore had or given or that might accrew for the same And that all such Iudgments Indictments Convictions Attainders Outlawries Penalties Escheats and Forfeitures and every of them and all Grants thereupon made and all Estates derived under the same be and are hereby Declared and Enacted to be from henceforth Null and void And that all mean profits not yet received by such Grantées shall be and are hereby discharged And that all and every person and persons Bodies Politick and Corporate their and every of their Heirs Executors Administrators and Successors shall be and are hereby restored to all and every their Lands Tenements and Hereditaments Goods Chattels and other things forfeited which to His Majesty do or shall appertain by reason of any offence herein before mentioned and not hereafter in this present Act Excepted and Foreprised All Appeals personal Actions and Suits pardoned And be it further Enacted That all Appeals and all personal Actions Suits Molestations and Prosecutions whatsoever for or by reason of any Act of Hostility Trespass Assault Imprisonment or breach of the Peace Advised Counselled commanded Appointed Happened Acted or done by reason of the late troubles or the late Wars in his Majesties Dominions or relating thereunto and Iudgments and Executions thereupon had before the first day of May in the Year of our Lord One thousand six hundred fifty eight stand and be from henceforth discharged But not to restore to any Person or Persons any sums of money mean Profits or Goods already received or taken upon such Execution or to give any accompt for the same And be it likewise Enacted That all Appeals and all personal Actions and causes of such Actions Suits Molestations and Prosecutions whatsoever for or by reason of any Act or thing advised counselled commanded Acted or done by vertue or colour of any Authority or Commission granted by His late Majesty or his Majesty that now is or by vertue or colour of any Order or Ordinance of one or both Houses of Parliament sitting at Westminster Or by any Act or order made by any Persons assuming the name of a Parliament and sitting as a Parliament at Westminster after the death of the late King CHARLES the First Or by the Authority of the said kéepers of the Liberties of England Or by any Ordinance by either of the late Protectors and Council Or by or upon any Commission Writ Process or Warrant by them or any of them or by Authority derived from them or any of them And all demands of Arrearages of Rents and mean Profits of Lands Tenements or Hereditaments heretofore incurred or grown due which have béen paid received or disposed by vertue or colour of any the Authorities or pretended Authorities aforesaid other then such Arrearages or mean profits as are or shall be otherwise disposed by any Act. or Acts of this present Session of Parliament be from henceforth discharged And it is further by the Authority aforesaid Enacted in the second place That all and every the Subjects of these His Majesties Realms of England and Ireland the Dominion of Wales the Isles of Jersey and Garnsey and the Town of Berwick upon Tweed and other His Majesties Dominions the Heirs Executors and Administrators of them and every of them and all and singular Bodies in any manner of wise corporated Cities Burroughs Shires Ridings Hundreds Lathes Rapes Wapentakes Towns Villages Hamlets and Tythings and every of them and the Successor and Successors of every of them shall be and are by the authority of this present Parliament Acquitted Pardoned Released Indempnified and Discharged against the Kings Majesty his Heirs and Successors and every of them of and from all manner of Treasons Misprisions of Treason Felonies Offences Contempts Trespasses Entries Wrongs Deceits Misdemeanors Forfeitures penalties and sums of Money Intrusions Mean profits Wardships Marriages Reliefs Liveries Ouster le mains Mean Rates Respits of Homage Fines and Seisures for Alienation without License Arrearages of Rents other then the Arrearages of Rents due from the late Farmers or pretended Farmers of of the Excise or Customs respectively other then such Arrearages of Rents or Mean profits as are or shall be otherwise disposed by any Act or Acts of this present Parliament and of and from all Arrearages of Tenths and First-Fruits Fines post-fines Issues and Amerciaments and all Recognizances Bonds or other Securities given for payment of them or any of them concealments of Customs and Excise Arrearages of purveyance and of compositions for the same and of and from all pains of Death pains corporal and pecuniary and generally of and from all other Things Causes Quarrels Suits Iudgments and Executions in this present Act hereafter not Excepted nor Foreprized which may be or can be by his Majesty in any wise or by any means pardoned before and unto the twenty fourth day of June in the year of our Lord One thousand six hundred and sixty to every or any of his said Subjects Wardships and Mean Profits unreceived Bodies Corporate Cities Burroughs Shires Ridings Hundreds Lathes Rapes Wapentakes Towns Villages and Tithings or any of them And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That all Grants and Patents since the twenty fifth of March One thousand six hundred forty one touching the Wardship and Custody of the Body and Lands or touching the marriage of any Heir within age and all mean profits yet unreceived All things not excepted shall be by the general words of this Act as well as it particularly named and demandable by reason thereof shall be
que use Cestuy que trust and every of them their Heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns respectively as if this Act had not béen made and as if the said person or persons had not béen excepted attainted or convicted Any Law Statute Vsage or Custome to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding Provided alwayes That this Act nor any thing therein contained Fabric◠Lands Church Goods and Vtensils shall not extend to Indempnifie any person or persons whatsoever who have entred into any Messuage Lands Tenements and Hereditaments called Fabrick Lands or possest themselves of any Rent or Revenues given for the repair of any Cathedral or other Church or who have Sacrilegiously enriched themselves by converting the Plate or Vtensils and Materials of or belonging to such Churches to their own private use and advantage for or in respect of the said Crimes onely Stat. 13 Car. 2. cap. 7. CAP. XII Which Judicial Proceedings shall be good and effectual in Law and which not BE it Enacted and it is Enacted by His Majesty and the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled and by the Authority of the same That no Fines nor final Concords Which Acts and Proceedings shall not be avoided Chirographs nor Proclamations of Fines nor any Recoveries Verdicts Iudgments Statutes Recognizances nor Inrolments of any Déeds or Wills or of any such Fines Proclamations Recoveries Verdicts Iudgments Statutes or Recognizances nor any Exemplifications of them nor any of them nor any Inquisitions Indictments Presentments Informations Decrées Sentences Probats of Wills nor Letters of Administration nor any Writs or Actings on or Returns of Writs Orders or other Procéedings in Law or Equity had made given taken or done or depending in the Courts of Chancery Kings-Bench Vpper Bench Common-Pleas and Court of Exchequer and Courts of Exchequer-Chamber or any of them sitting at Westminster or in the Courts of the Great Sessions in Wales the Courts of any Counties Palatine or Dutchy of Lancaster or Town of Berwick upon Tweed or in any other inferiour Courts of Law or Equity or by any the Iudges Clerks Officers Sheriffs Coroners or Ministers or others Acting in Obedience to them or any of them or by any the Courts of Admiralty Delegates Iustices of Assize Nisi Prius Oyer and Terminer Gaol-Delivery Iustices of the Peace Commissioners of Sewers Bankrupts or Charitable Vses nor any Actings Process Procéedings nor Executions thereupon had made given done or suffered in the Kingdom of England since the First of May One thousand six hundred forty two shall be avoided for want or defect of any Legal Power in the said Courts Iudges Commissioners Iustices or any of them or for or by reason that the Premisses or any of them were commenced prosecuted had made held or used in the Name Stile or Title of the late King or in the Name Stile Title or Test of Custodes Libertatis Angliae Authoritate Parliamenti Or in the Name Stile Title or Test of The Keepers of the Liberty of England by Authority of Parliament Or in the Name Stile Title or Test of Oliver Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England Scotland and Ireland and the Dominions thereunto belonging Or of Oliver Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England Scotland and Ireland and the Dominions and Territories thereunto belonging Or the Name Stile Title or Test of Richard Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England Scotland and Ireland and the Dominions and Territories thereunto belonging or for or by reason of any alteration of the said Names Stiles or Titles Or for that the said Fines Recoveries Process Pleadings Procéedings and other things before mentioned Or the Entry and Enrolment of them or any of them were in the Latine or English But that all and every such Fines Recoveries and other things above mentioned and the Actings Doings and Procéedings thereupon shall be of such and of no other Force Effect and Vertue then as if such Courts Iudges Iustices Commissioners Officers and Ministers had acted by vertue of a True Iust and Legal Authority and as if the same and the Entry and Enrolment thereof were in Latine and as if the several Acts and Ordinances or pretended Acts or Ordinances made by both or either Houses of Parliament or any Convention assembled under the name of a Parliament or by Oliver Cromwell late stiled Protector of the Commonwealth of England Scotland and Ireland and the Dominions thereto belonging and his Council Warranting or Directing such Procéedings had béen Good True and Effectual Acts of Parliament Fines Levied without Entry of Licentia concordandi And whereas since the death of the late King several Fines have béen Levied without any Entry or due Entring of any sum paid pro licentia concordandi commonly called the Kings Silver and without Entry or due Entry of any sum given to the party for the Concord And also whereas in the Term of St. Michael last past several Fines were Levied and Recorded in the Court of Common Pleas before one Iudge onely of the said Court Be it Enacted That the said Fines and Proclamations thereupon and every of them shall be good and effectual notwithstanding the defects aforesaid Fines and Recoveries of Lands in Com Palatin Durham And be it also further Enacted That all Fines Proclamations of Fines Recoveries and other Iudicial procéedings in the Court of Common Pleas at Westminster since the death of His late Majesty King Charles the First Had Levied or Suffered of any Lands lying in the County Palatine of Durham shall be good and effectual notwithstanding the said Lands were lying in the said County Palatine The Illegal Acts and Proceedings of that High Court of Iustice not allowed Provided That this Act or any thing there in contained shall not be Construed Deemed or Adjudged to make good allow confirm or countenance any the Procéedings in the late Illegal and Vn-warranted High Courts of Iustice or so called or any of them And whereas since the first day of May in the year of our Lord One thousand six hundred forty one and before the Five and twentieth day of April in the year of our Lord One thousand six hundred and sixty there were divers persons that Adhered to both Houses of Parliament who for or in respect of such their adherence were Indicted Charged or Impeached of Treason And whereas since the said first Day of May in the Year of our Lord One thousand six Hundred Forty one and before the said Five and twentieth day of April in the Year of our Lord One thousand six hundred and sixty divers persons who adhered to His Majesty or to the late King were for such their adherence Charged Impeached or Indicted of High Treason Indictments c. and all Grants thereupon made void Be it further Provided and Enacted That the said Charges Impeachments Indictments and all Exigents Outlawries Convictions and Attainders thereupon and all Letters Patents and Grants thereupon made of any Manors Lands Tenements or
care be taken in the Conducting and Stéering of the Ships that through wilfulness negligence or other defaults none of his Majesties Ships be stranded or run upon any Rocks or Sands or split or hazarded upon pain that such as shall be found guilty therein be punished by Fine Imprisonment or otherwise as the offence by a Court-Martial shall be adjudged to deserve XXVI Burning a Ship All persons that shall willingly burn or set fire on any Ship or Magazine or Store of Powder or Ship Boat Ketch Hoy or Vessel or Tackle or Furniture thereto belonging not appertaining to an Enemy or Rebel shall be punished with death XXVII Sleeping upon Watch. No Man in or belonging to the Fléet shall sléep upon his Watch or negligently perform the Duty imposed on him or forsake his station upon pain of death or other punishment as the circumstances of the Case shall require XXVIII Murthers All Murthers and wilful Killing of any persons in the Ship shall be punished with death XXIX Robbery and Theft All Robbery and Theft committed by any person in or belonging to the Fléet shall be punished with death or otherwise as the Court-Martiall upon consideration of circumstances shall find méet XXX Provost-Marâ—ial prisoners No Provost-Marshal belonging to the Fléet shall refuse to receive or kéep any Prisoner committed to his charge nor suffer him to escape being once in his custody nor dismiss him without order upon pain of being lyable to the same punishment which should have béen inflicted upon the party dismissed or permitted to escape or such other punishment as the Court-Martial shall think fit XXXI Apprehending offenders All Captains Officers and Sea-men shall do their endeavours to detect apprehend and bring to punishment all offenders and shall assist the Officers appointed for that purpose therein upon pain to be procéeded against and punished by the Court-Martial at discretion XXXII Sodomy If any person or persons in or belonging to the Fléet shall commit the unnatural and detestable sin of Buggery or Sodomy with Man or Beast he shall be punished with death without mercy XXXIII Misdemeanors and Disorders at Sea All other Faults Misdemeanors and Disorders committed at Sea not mentioned in this Act shall be punished according to the Laws and Customs in such Cases used at Sea XXXIV And it is hereby further Enacted The Lord High Admirals power to grant Commissions to call Court Martialls That the Lord High Admiral for the time being shall by vertue of this Act have full power and Authority to grant Commissions to inferiour Vice-Admirals or Commander in chief of any Squadron of Ships to call and assemble Court-Martials consisting of Commanders and Captains and no Court-Martial where the pains of death shall be inflicted shall consist of less then five Captains at least the Admirals Lieutenant to be as to this purpose estéemed as a Captain and in no case wherein sentence of Death shall pass by vertue of the Articles aforesaid or any of them except in case of Mutiny there shall be execution of such Sentence of Death without the leave of the Lord High Admiral if the offence be committed within the Narrow-Seas But in case any of the offences aforesaid be committed in any Voyage beyond the Narrow-Seas whereupon Sentence of death shall be given in pursuance of the aforesaid Articles or of any of them then Execution shall not be done but by Order of the Commander in chief of that Fléet or Squadron wherein Sentence of death was passed XXXV And be it further Enacted and Declared That the Iudge-Advocate of any Fléet Iudg Advocate of any fleet to administer an oath for tryal of offences Court Martiall for the time being shall have full power and Authority to administer an Oath to any person or witness in order to the Examination or Tryal of any of the offences aforesaid and in the absence of a Iudg-Advocate the Court-Martial shall have full power and Authority to appoint any person to administer an Oath to the purpose aforesaid Provided also and be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid Proviso touching the powers of the Lord Admiral That this Act or any thing or things therein contained shall not in any manner of wise extend to give unto the Lord Admiral of England for the time being or to any his Vice-Admirals Iudg or Iudges of the Admiralty his or their Deputy or Deputies or to any other the Officers or Ministers of the Admiralty or to any others having or claiming any Admiral Power Iurisdiction or Authority within this Realm and Wales or any other the Kings Dominions any other power right Iurisdiction Preheminence or Authority then he or they or any of them lawfully have hath or had or ought to have and enjoy before the making of this Act other then for such of the offences specified in the several Articles contained in this Act as hereafter shall be done upon the main Sea or in Ships or Vessels being and hovering in the main Stream of great Rivers only beneath the Bridges of the same Rivers nigh to the Sea within the Iurisdiction of the Admiralty and in none other places whatsoever and committed only by such persons as shall be in actual Service and pay in His Majesties Fléet or Ships of War CAP. X. For preventing the unlawfull Coursing Hunting or Killing of Deer For the better preventing of the unlawful Coursing Hunting Taking or Killing of Déer Vnlawfull hunting or killing of Deer by many Idle Loose and disorderly persons Be it Enacted by the Kings most Excellent Majesty and by the advice and Consent of the Lords and Commons in Parliament Assembled and by the Authority of the same That if any person or persons shall from and after the first day of August next unlawfully course kill hunt or take away any Red or Fallow Déer in any Forrest Chase Purleiw Paddock Wood Park or other Ground where Déer are or have béen usually kept within the Realm of England or Dominion of Wales without the consent of the Owner or person chiefly intrusted with the custody thereof or shall be aiding or assisting therein and shall be convicted thereof by the confession of the party or by the Oath of one or more credible witnesses before one or more Iustices of the Peace who are hereby impowred to administer an Oath to that purpose such person being prosecuted for such offence within six moneths after such offence done that then every person so offending shall forfeit for every such offence the sum of Twenty pounds to be levied by way of Distress upon the Goods and Chattels of every such Offender by Warrant under the Iustices hand before whom such conviction shall be made The Penalty the one moyety of the said Twenty pounds to be given to the Informer and the other moyety to the Owner of the Déer And for want of sufficient Distress the Offender shall be committed to the House of Correction
build Cottages and the most Woods for them to burn and destroy and when they have consumed it then to another Parish and at last become Rogues and Vagabonds to the great discouragement of Parishes to provide Stocks where it is liable to be devoured by strangers Be it therefore Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That it shall and may be lawful How to be setled coming to any Tenement under ten pounds yearly value upon complaint made by the Church-wardens or Overseers of the poor of any Parish to any Iustice of Peace within Forty dayes after any such person or persons coming so to settle as aforesaid in any Tenement under the yearly value of Ten pounds for any two Iustices of the Peace whereof one to be of the Quorum of the Division where any person or persons that are likely to be chargeable to the Parish shall come to inhabit by their Warrant to remove and convey such person or persons to such Parish where he or they were last legally setled either as a native Housholder Sojourner Apprentice or Servant for the space of forty dayes at the least unless he or they give sufficient security for the discharge of the said Parish to be allowed by the said Iustices Persons grieved may appeal to the Quarter Sessions Provided alwayes That all such persons who think themselves agrieved by any such Iudgement of the said two Iustices may appeal to the Iustices of the Peace of the said County at their next Quarter-Sessions who are hereby required to do them justice according to the merits of their Cause Persons going to work in harvest Provided also That this Act notwithstanding it shall and may be lawfull for any person or persons to go into any County Parish or place to work in time of Harvest or at any time to work at any other work so that he or they carry with him or them a Certificate from the Minister of the parish and one of the Churchwardens and one of the Overséers for the poor for the said year that he or they have a dwelling house or place in which he or they inhabit and hath left wife and children or some of them there or otherwise as the condition of the person shall require and is declared an Inhabitant or Inhabitants there And in such case if the person or persons shall not return to the place aforesaid when his or their work is finished or shall fall sick or impotent whilst he or they are in the said work it shall not be accounted a Settlement in the cases abovesaid but that it shall and may be lawful for two Iustices of the Peace to convey the said person or persons to the place of his or their habitation as aforesaid under the pains and penalties in this Act prescribed And if such person or persons shall refuse to go or shall not remain in such parish where they ought to be setled as aforesaid but shall return of his own accord to the parish from whence he was removed it shall and may be lawful for any Iustice of the Peace of the City County or Town-Corporate where the said Offence shall be committed to send such person or persons offending to the House of Correction there to be punished as a Vagabond or to a publick Work-house in this present Act hereafter mentioned there to be imployed in work or labour And if the Church-wardens and Overséers of the Poor of the Parish to which he or they shall be removed refuse to receive such person or persons and to provide work for them as other Inhabitants of the Parish any Iustice of Peace of that Division may and shall thereupon bind any such Officer or Officers in whom there shall be default to the Assizes or Sessions there to be Indicted for his or their Contempt in that behalf And for the further redress of the mischiefs intended to be hereby remedied Corporations or work houses in the Cities of London and Westminster Middlesex Surrey Be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That from thenceforth there be and shall be one or more Corporation or Corporations Work-house or Work-houses within the Cities of London and Westminster and within the Burroughs Towns and places of the County of Middlesex and Surrey scituate lying and being within the Parishes mentioned in the Wéekly Bills of Mortality consisting of a President a Deputy to the President and a Treasurer And that the Lord Mayor of the City of London for the time being be President of the Corporation or Corporations Work-house or Work-houses within the said City and the Assistants to be the Aldermen of the said City of London for the time being and fifty two other Citizens to be chosen by the Common-Council of the said City And that the said President and Assistants or the major part of them shall and may elect a Deputy-President and Treasurer and all other necessary Officers hereby constituted and authorized to execute the powers and Offices by this Act appointed And that upon the vacancy by death or otherwise of any Assistant the power to elect in their rooms be in the said Common-Council and the Election of the Deputy-President or Treasurer and all other Officers in the said President and major part of the Assistants as aforesaid And that a President a Deputy-President a Treasurer and Assistants be nominated and appointed by the Lord Chancellor or Lord Kéeper of the Great Seal of England for the time being out of the most fit persons inhabiting in the City of Westminster or the Liberties thereof for the Corporation or Corporations Work-house or Work-houses within the same And for the said places within the Wéekly Bills of Mortality in the said Counties of Middlesex and Surrey respectively President Deputy-president Treasurer and Assistants for Middlesex Surrey how to be elected there shall be elected and chosen by the major part of the Iustices of the Peace for the said Counties in their respective Quarter-Sessions assembled out of the most able and honest Inhabitants and Fréeholders of every of the said Counties of Middlesex and Surrey respectively a President a Deputy-President a Treasurer and Assistants for the Corporation or Corporations Work-house or Work-houses of the places aforesaid in Middlesex and Surrey And that upon the vacancy by death or otherwise of any of the Presidents Deputy-Presidents Treasurers or Assistants in the City of Westminster and places aforesaid in Middlesex and Surrey City of Westminster the power to elect others in their rooms be in the major part of the respective Iustices of Peace who in their General Quarter-Sessions from time to time shall accordingly supply such vacant places And that at every Quarter-Sessions they shall require and take an account in writing of all the Receipts Charges and Disbursements of the Officers and Treasurer of such Corporation or Corporations Work-house or Work-houses how many Poor people have béen imployed and set to work in the year last past and what stock there was
that purpose And that the respective Sheriffs shall be allowed or paid from the King upon their respective Accompts in the Exchequer all such charges by them expended for Conveying Embarquing and Transporting of such persons which shall be allowed by the said respective Courts from whence they received their respective Warrants and which shall not have béen by any of the ways aforementioned paid secured or reimbursed unto them as aforesaid How the offender may be discharged upon payment of 100 l. Provided always and be it further Enacted That in case the offender so Indicted and Convicted for the said Third offence shall pay into the hands of the Register or Clerk of the Court or Sessions where he shall be Convicted before the said Court or Sessions shall be ended the sum of One hundred pounds That then the said offender shall be discharged from Imprisonment and Transportation and the Iudgement for the same Punishment of offenders after the third offence And be it further Enacted That the like Imprisonment Indictment Arraignment and Procéedings shall be against every such offender as often as he shall again offend after such Third offence Nevertheless is dischargeable and discharged by the payment of the like sum as was paid by such offender for his or her said offence next before committed together with the additional and increased sum of One hundred pounds more upon every new offence committed the said respective sums to be paid as aforesaid and to be disposed of as followeth viz The one Moyety for the Repair of the Parish Church or Churches How the said penalty of 100 l. shall be disposed Chappel or Chappels of such Parish within which such Conventicle Assembly or Méeting shall be held and the other Moyety to the Repair of the High-ways of the said Parish or Parishes if néed require or otherwise for the amendment of such High-ways as the Iustices of the Peace at their respective Quarter-Sessions shall direct and appoint And if any Constable Headborough or Tythingman shall neglect to execute any the said Warrants made unto them for Sequestring Distraining and Selling any of the Goods and Chattels of any offender against this Act for the Levying such sums of money as shall be imposed for the first or second offence he shall forfeit for every such neglect the sum of Five pounds of lawful money of England the one moyetie thereof to the King and the other moyetie to him that will sue for the same in any of the Kings Courts of Record as is aforesaid And if any person be at any time Sued for putting in Execution any of the powers contained in this Act Persons sued for executing this Act may plead the General issue and recover treble Costs such person shall and may plead the general Issue and give the special matter in evidence And if the Plaintiff be Non-suit or a Verdict pass for the Defendant thereupon or if the Plaintiff discontinue his Action or if upon Demurrer Iudgement be given for the Defendant every such Defendant shall have his or their treble Costs Felony to escape after conviction or to returne after Transportation And be it further Enacted That if any person against whom Iudgement of Transportation shall be given in manner aforesaid shall make escape before Transportation or being Transported as aforesaid shall return unto this Realm of England Dominion of Wales and Town of Berwick upon Tweed without the special License of His Majesty His Heirs and Successors in that behalf first had and obtained That the party so escaping or returning shall be adjudged a Felon and shall suffer death as in case of Felony without benefit of Clergy and shall forfeit and lose to His Majesty all his or her Goods and Chattels for ever and shall further lose to His Majesty all his or her Lands Tenements and Hereditaments for and during the life only of such offender and no longer And that the wife of any such offender by force of this Act shall not lose her Dower nor shall any Corruption of blood grow or be by reason of any such offence mentioned in this Act But that the heir of every such offender by force of this Act shall and may after the death of such offender have and enjoy the Lands Tenements and Hereditaments of such offenders as if this Act had not béen made Seditious and Tumultuous Meetings and Conventicles And for better preventing of the mischiefs which may grow by such Seditious and Tumultuous Méetings under pretence of Religious Worship Be it further Enacted by the authority aforesaid That the Lieutenants or Deputy-Lieutenants or any Commissioned Officers of the Militia or any other of His Majesties Forces with such Troops or Companies of Horse or Foot And also the Sheriffs and Iustices of Peace and other Magistrates and Ministers of Iustice or any of them joyntly or severally within any of the Counties or Places within this Kingdom of England Dominion of Wales or Town of Berwick upon Tweed with such other assistance as they shall think méet or can get in readiness with the soonest on Certificate made to them respectively under the hand and seal of any one Iustice of the Peace or Chief Magistrate as aforesaid of his particular Information or knowledge of such unlawful Méetings or Conventicles held or to be held in their respective Counties or places And that he with such assistance as he can get together is not able to suppress or dissolve the same shall and may and are hereby required and enjoyned to repair unto the place where they are so held or to be held and by the best means they can to dissolve and dissipate or prevent all such unlawful Méetings and take into their custody such of those persons so unlawfully assembled as they shall judge to be the Leaders and Seducers of the rest and such others as they shall think fit to be procéeded against according to Law for such their Offences The penalty of suffering Conventicles in private houses And be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That every person who shall wittingly and willingly suffer any such Conventicle unlawful Assembly or Méeting aforesaid to be held in his or her House Out-house Barn or Room Yard or Back-side Woods or Grounds shall incur the same penalties and forfeitures as any other Offender against this Act ought to incur and be procéeded against in all points in such manner as any other offender against this Act ought to be procéeded against Gaolers may not let priso-committed upon this Act to go at large Provided also And be it Enacted by the authority aforesaid That if any Kéeper of any Gaol or House of Correction shall suffer any person committed to his custody for any offence against this Act to go at large contrary to the Warrant of his Commitment according to this Act or shall permit any person who is at large to joyn with any person committed to his Custody by vertue of
Major part of the Adventurers or Owners then present shall judge reasonable not excéeding the value of Two per cent of the Ship and Goods so defended according to the first cost of the Goods to be made appear by the Envoyce which the Owner or his Factor or Correspondent is hereby required to produce or by the Oath of the said Owner Factor or Correspondent if thereunto required which money so raised shall be paid unto the Register of the said Court who shall receive for the same Thrée pence in each pound and no more thence to be distributed amongst the Captain Master Officers and Seamen of the said Ship or Widows and Children of the slain according to the direction of the Iudge of the said Court with the approbation of Thrée or more of the Owners or Adventurers aforesaid who shall proportion the same according to their best Iudgements unto the Ships Company as aforesaid having especial regard unto the Widows and Children of such as shall have béen slain in that Service and to such as shall have béen wounded or maimed And in case the Company belonging to any English Merchant-ship shall happen to take any ship Ships which 〈◊〉 oâ— taken 〈◊〉 English which ship shall first have assaulted them the respective Officers and Mariners belonging to the same shall after Condemnation of such ship and Goods have and receive to their own proper use and benefit such part and share thereof as is usually practised in Private men of War â—mary And whereas it often happeneth that Masters and Mariners of ships having ensured or taken upon Botomary greater sums of money then the value of their Adventure do wilfully cast away burn or otherwise destroy the ships under their charge to Merchants and Owners great loss For the prevention thereof for the future Be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That if any Captain Master Mariner or other Officer belonging to any ship shall wilfully cast away burn or otherwise destroy the ship unto which he belongeth or procure the same to be done he shall suffer death as a Felon The continuance of this Act. Provided that this Act shall continue for Thrée years and from thence to the end of the next Session of Parliament and no longer CAP. VII Deceitful disorderly and excessive Gaming prevented The inconvenience of immoderate and unlawful use of gaming WHereas all Lawful Games and Exercises should not be otherwise used then as Innocent and Moderate Recreations and not as constant Trades or Callings to gain a Living or make unlawful Advantage thereby And whereas by the immoderate use of them many mischiefs and inconveniences do arise and are daily found to the maintaining and encouraging of sundry idle loose and disorderly persons in their dishonest lewd and dissolute course of life And to the circumventing deceiving cousening and debauching of many of the younger sort both of the Nobility and Gentry and others to the loss of their pretious time and the utter ruine of their Estates and Fortunes and withdrawing them from Noble and Laudable Imployments and Exercises Be it therefore Enacted by the Kings most Excellent Majesty by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and the Commons in this present Parliament Assembled and by the Authority of the same That if any person or persons of any Degrée or Quality whatsoever at any time or times after the Nine and twentieth day of September which shall be in the year of our Lord God One thousand six hundred sixty and four do or shall by any fraud shift cousenage circumvention deceit or unlawful device or ill practice whatsoever Deceits and Cosenages in Gaming in playing at or with Cards Dice Tables Tennis Bowls Kittles Shovelboard or in or by Cock-fightings Horse-races Dog-matches or Foot-races or other Pastimes Game or Games whatsoever or in or by bearing a share or part in the Stakes Wagers or Adventures or in or by betting on the Sides or Hands of such as do or shall Play Act Ride or Run as aforesaid win obtain or acquire to him or themselves or to any other or others any sum or sums of money or other valuable thing or things whatsoever The penalty That then every person and persons so offending as aforesaid shall ipso facto forfeit and lose treble the sum or value of money or other thing or things so won gained obtained or acquired The one moyety thereof to our Soveraign Lord the King his Heirs and Successors and the other moyety thereof unto the person or persons grieved or who shall lose the money or other thing or things so gained so as every such loser and person grieved in that behalf do or shall prosecute and sue for the same within six Kalender Moneths next after such Play And in default of such prosecution the same other moyety to such person or persons as shall or will prosecute or sue for the same within one year next after the said six moneths expired And that the said Forfeitures shall or may be sued for or recovered by Action of Debt How to be sued for and recovered Bill Plaint or Information in any of his Majesties Courts at Westminster wherein no Essoign Protection or Wager of Law shall be allowed And that all and every such Plaintiff or Plaintiffs Informer or Informers shall in every such Suit and Prosecution have and recover his and their treble Costs against the person offending and forfeiting as aforesaid Any Law Statute Custom or Vsage to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding And for the better avoiding and preventing of all excessive and immoderate Playing and Gaming for the time to come Be it further Ordained and Enacted by the Authority aforesaid Prevention of excessive and immoderate gaming That if any person or persons shall at any time or times after the Nine and twentieth day of September aforesaid play at any of the said Games or any other Pastime Game or Games whatsoever other then with and for ready money or shall Bett on the Sides or hands of such as do or shall play thereat and shall lose any sum or sums of money or other thing or things so plaid for excéeding the sum of One hundred pounds at any one time or méeting upon Ticket or Credit or otherwise and shall not pay down the same at the time when he or they shall so lose the same The party and parties who loseth or shall lose the said moneys or other thing or things so played or to be played for above the said sum of One hundred pounds shall not in that case be bound or compellable to pay or make good the same but the Contract and Contracts for the same and for every part thereof and all and singular Iudgments Statutes Recognizances Mortgages Conveyances Assurances Bonds Bills Specialties Promises Covenants Agréements and other Acts Déeds and Securities whatsoever which shall be obtained made given acknowledged or entred into for security or satisfaction of
for fishing in New-found-land The penalty shall burn destroy or steal any Boat Cask Salt Nets or other Vtensils for Fishing or making of Oyl or other goods or Merchandize left in any Harbour in New-found-land or Greenland by English or burn pull down or destroy any house built by English in New-found-land or Greenland to live in during the Fishing season or Stage built by them in either of the said places for the saving or ordering of Fish or making of Oyl upon pain of the loss of double the value of what shall be by them stoln burnt or destroyed to be recovered in any of his Majesties Courts in New-found-land or Greenland respectively or in any Court of Record in England by Bill Plaint or other Action wherein no Essoign Protection or Wager in Law shall be allowed A repeal of the Statute concerning Madder 14 Car. 2. c. 30 And whereas upon the humble Petition and complaint of the Merchants and Salters of the City of London it doth appear That some sorts of Madder very useful for Dying cannot be Imported so pure and clean as by one Act passed the last Session of this present Parliament Intituled An Act for the Importation of Madder pure and unmixed is directed and appointed Be it Enacted and it is hereby Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That the said Act and every Clause and Thing therein contained be from henceforth utterly void and repealed to all intents purposes and Constructions whatsoever CAP. XVII An Act for setling the Dreining of the Great Level of the Fenns called Bedford Level VVHereas certain Moors Marshes Fenny and Low surrounded Grounds within the Counties of Northampton Norfolk Suffolk Lincoln Cambridg and Huntington and the Isle of Ely were called the Great Level of the Fenns And after several fruitless undertakings for Dreining the same were upon the Desires of many persons of Worth and Interessed in the same declared to be a Great and Noble Work and of much Concernment to the whole Countrey and at their earnest desire undertaken to be Dreined by Francis late Earl of Bedford according to a Law of Sewers made at Kings Lynne in the sixth year of the Reign of the late King Charles of glorious memory which said Level is bounded as followeth viz. Eastward from the Bridg and Cawsey of Stoake unto Brandon-Bridg upon the Vplands of Northold Methold Feltwell Hockwold and Wilton in the County of Norfolk and from Brandon-Bridg unto the end of Worlington-Load upon Mildenhall River The great level of the fens how bounded upon the Vplands of Brandon the Low grounds of Wainsford excluding the same the Vplands of Sakingheath the Low grounds of Earsewell excluding the same And the Vplands of Mildenhall in the County of Suffolk Southward from Worlington-Load unto Burwell Block upon the Vplands of Freckingham Istham Fordham Soham and Wickin in the County of Cambridg and excluding the Low grounds of Burwell Landward and other places lying Eastward from Burwell Block aforesaid and from thence unto the Mill near Anglisey Abby upon the Vplands of Burwell Reach Swaffham Pryor Swaffham Bulbeck and Botsham in the County of Cambridg and from thence unto the Ferry-place at Clayhith upon the Vplands called Quyhall the Low Ground called Low-Fenne and the Vplands of Hormingsey and Clayhith in the said County excluding the Low grounds called Low Fenne and Offenne and from the said Ferry-place unto Over-Load upon the Vplands of Water-Beach Cottenham Rampton Winelingham and Over in the said County of Cambridg and upon the Low grounds of Swacy in the said County excluding the same Westward from Erith unto the Dam lately made upon the River Neane near Standground upon the Vplands of Somersham and the Soake thereof Warbois Wistow Berry Ramsey Upwood Raveley Wood-walton Sawtrey Connington Glatton and Holme Caldecott Denton Stilton Yaxley Fasset and Standground in the County of Huntington excluding the Low grounds lying on the North side of the River of Owse above Erith and from the said Dam unto Peterborough Bridg upon the said River of Neane and from thence unto the Ferry-place near Waldron Hall upon the Vplands of Peterborough and the Soake thereof in the County of Northampton and Northward from the said Ferry-place near Waldron Hall unto Crowland Bridg upon the River of Welland and from thence to Dowsedale upon the Bank of Great Porland and from thence unto Guyhurne upon the Southea Bank and from thence unto Tilnehurne upon the Bank of the Fenne Ground called Waldersea and from thence unto Elme Leame at Grangers House upon the Bank of the Fenne Ground called Coldham and from thence unto the River of Neane near Thurlings in Upwell upon the Bank of Needham called Bishops Dike and from thence unto Weil Creek at the North-west corner of Wassingham Fenne upon the Bank of the Grounds in Upwell and Outwell called Playfield and Churchfield excluding the aforesaid Fennes and Grounds called Waldersea Coldham Needham Playfield and Churchfield and from thence unto Salters-Load upon the New Podyke Bank and from thence unto the mouth of the River Wissey upon the River Owse and from thence unto Helgey Bridg upon the River Wissey and from thence unto the Vplands at the end of the Bank of the Grounds late of Edmond Skipwith Esquire deceased upon the said Bank and from thence unto Stoake Bridg upon the Vplands of Roxham Deereham Weereham Wretton and Stoake in the said County of Norfolk Except the imbanked Grounds late of Edmond Skipwith Esquire lying on the North side of the River of Owse And whereas the said Francis late Earl of Bedford was to have for his recompence of effecting that difficult work onely Ninety five thousand Acres of the said Grounds with convenient High-wayes and Passages to the same And the New River Cutts and Dreynes to be made by the said Earl and his Assigns and the Banks of the same and the Forelands in the inside of the said Banks not to exceed Sixty foot in breadth Which was a work of so Great and Publick Concernment that his said late Majesty gave great Encouragement to the said Francis late Earl of Bedford and others whom he had taken in to be Adventurers and Participants with him therein upon the Covenants Conditions and Agréements contained and specified in and by a certain Indenture of Fourtéen parts bearing date the seven and twentieth day of February in the seventh year of the Reign of his said late Majesty and his Royal Assurance to further it by his Concurrence to an Act of Parliament for establishing thereof and did by Letters Patents under the Great Seal of England Incorporate the said late Earl his Adventurers and Participants to have Succession for ever and in order to the effecting thereof the said late Earl and his Adventurers and Participants bestowed great sums of money for perfecting the same and after his death and some interruptions William now Earl of Bedford son and heir to the said Earl Francis with divers of his Adventurers and Participants
by colour of a pretended Act of Parliament of the nine and twentieth day of May in the year of our Lord One thousand six hundred fourty and nine procéeded in the compleating and finishing the said Works And the Commissioners appointed by that pretended Act did adjudg the same Dreyned but the same cannot be preserved without a perpetual constant care great charge and Orderly Government which being represented to the Kings most Excellent Majesty that now is He hath béen gratiously pleased to declare more then an ordinary willingness to promote and countenance a Work of so Publick Concernment and many ways advantagious to this his Kingdom To the end therefore that a work of this Nature may receive a Publick Support and Encouragement Be it Enacted by the Kings most Excellent Majesty with the Advice and Assent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons in this Parliament Assembled and by the Authority of the same That the said William Earl of Bedford son and heir of the said Francis Earl of Bedford The Earl of Bedford and Adventurers made a Corporation for the Fens and the Adventurers and Participants of the said Earl Francis and Earl William or either of them their Heirs and Assigns in such manner as is herein contained shall be a Body Politick and Corporate in Déed and Name and have Succession for ever by the Name of the Governor Bailiffs and Commonalty of the Company of Conservators of the Great Level of the Fens which Corporation shall consist of one Governor six Bayliffs twenty Conservators and Commonalty and shall have and use a Common Seal to be appointed by themselves and assemble and meet together when where and as oft as they please and appoint a Register Receiver one or more Sergeants at Mace and other Officers and allow them Salaries and remove them and make new at their pleasure And the said William Earl of Bedford is to be the first Governor The Earl of Bedford Governour The Bayliffs Richard Lord Gorges Sir Richard Onslow Knight Sir William Terringham Knight of the Bath Samuel Sandys Thomas Chichely and Samuel Fortrey Esquires the six first Bailiffs Sir Gilbert Gerhard junior Knight William Denton William Crane Edmond Berry-Godfrey Arthur Evelin Samuel Smith Roger Jenings Robert Castle Robert Hampson Joseph Ayloffe Esquires Thomas Lord Culpepper Sir John Hewett Baronet Arthur Onslow Robert Phillips Anthony St. John Esquires Sir Oliver St. John Sir Charles Harbord Knights Francis Hoblyn Samuel Sandys junior Conservators and Robert Terringham Esquires the first Conservators And the said Governor Bayliffs and Conservators to continue until Wednesday in Whitsun-week in the year of our Lord One thousand six hundred sixty and four and from thenceforth until new Elections by the said Corporation or the major part which shall be then present And shall be capable to sue and be sued and without License of Mortmain to purchase Mannors Lands Tenements and Hereditaments Their power and authority not excéeding two hundred pounds per annum and Goods and Chattels and to dispose thereof in the name and to the use of the said Corporation and the said Governor Bayliffs and Conservators or any five or more of them whereof the said Governor or Bailiffs or any of them to be two shall and may lay Taxes from time to time upon all the said Ninety five thousand Acres only for support maintenance and preservation of the said Great Level and levy the same with penalties for non-payment not exceeding a third part of the Tax and all other things do in order to the support maintenance and preservation of the said Great Level and Works made and to be made And whereas by the said Law of Sewers twelve thousand Acres parcel of the said ninety five thousand Acres was designed and intended to his said late Majesty and were set forth and allotted by bounds in severalty and his said late Majesty was in possession thereof and granted assigned allotted and set out by bounds two thousand Acres parcel of the said twelve thousand Acres by Letters Patents unto Jerome Earl of Portland his Heirs and Assigns Earl of Portlands 2000 Acres of which said two thousand Acres the said Earl of Portland hath sold away about One thousand five hundred Acres in several parcels to several persons their Heirs and Assigns for valuable considerations and the residue thereof being about five hundred Acres hath granted and conveyed unto his Brother Benjamin Weston Esquire and his Heirs upon several Trusts agreed upon betwéen the said Earl of Portland and Benjamin Weston by writing for that purpose Be it therefore Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That the said two thousand Acres or such other Lands of equal value as shall be set forth in Exchange of the same in case the aforementioned two thousand Acres or any part thereof shall hereafter be adjudged to have béen unduly set out shall be and hereby are vested setled and established in the said several and respective persons to whom the said Earl of Portland hath so conveyed or mentioned to convey the same their Heirs and Assigns respectively to each person his Heirs and Assigns his and their several and respective Share and Shares that was so respectively to each of them conveyed or mentioned to be conveyed by the said Earl of Portland to be held and enjoyed by them and each of them his Heirs and Assigns his and their own Share and Part only in severalty according to the intent of the said Conveyances thereof to them respectively made by the said Earl of Portland upon the same Trusts nevertheless for and concerning the said five hundred Acres granted or mentioned to be granted to the said Benjamin Weston which the said Earl of Portland and Benjamin Weston had declared and agréed upon betwéen them as aforesaid Which said two thousand Acres shall be holden of the Kings Majesty his Heirs and Successors of the Mannor of East Greenwich by Fealty only in Frée and Common Soccage and not otherwise and subject nevertheless with the the residue of the Ninety five thousand Acres in equal proportion to all Taxes and Charges necessary and conducing to the preservation of the said Great Level from Drowning The 83000. Acres setled and vested in the Governor c. And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid That the Eighty three thousand Acres remainder of the said Ninety five thousand Acres with the said Ways Passages new Rivers Cutts Dreyns Banks and Forelands over and above the said ten thousand Acres residue of the said twelve thousand Acres which were allotted in severalty and of which his said late Majesty was in possession as aforesaid are hereby vested and setled in the said Governour Bailiffs and Commonalty of the Company of Conservators of the said Great Level of the Fens and their Successors In trust nevertheless for the said William Earl of Bedford and the Adventures and Participants of the said Earl Francis and Earl William or either of them