240 C. II. Anno decimo tertio & quarto Car oli II. A. D. 1662. Virtue of the aforefaid Commiffion or Commiffions, may likewife fet down and appoint the Extents, JBounds and Limits of every Port, Haven or Creek within his Majefty's Kingdom oi England, Dominion of IFaks and Town and Port of Berwick, whereby the Extents, Limits and Privileges of every Port, Haven or Creek, may be afcertained and known : (6) And it (hall not be lawful for any Perfon or Per- fons whatfoever, to lade or put, or caufe to be laden or put off or from any Key, Wharf or other Place on the Land into any Ship, Vellel, Lighter, Boat or Bottom, any Goods, Wares or Merchandize what- foever, (Filh taken .by his Majelly's Subjects, Sea-coal, Stone and Beftials only excepted) to be tranf- ported into any Place of the Parts beyond the Seas, or carried by Land into the Realm of Scotland; (7) or to talce up, difcharge or lay on Land, or caufe or procure to be taken up, difcharged and laid on Land, out of any Boat, Lighter, Ship, Veffel or Bottom (being not in Leak or Wreck) any Goods, Wares, Merchandize whatfoever (Fifh taken by his Majefty's Subjects, Beftials and Salt only excepted,) to be brought from any of the Parts beyond the Seas, or by Land from the Realm of Scotland, by way of Mer- chandize, but only upon fuch open Place, Key or Wharf, Places, Keys or Wharfs, as his Majefty ftial] from Time to Time :affign and appoint by Virtue of fuch Commiffion and Commiftions as aforefaid, in his Majefty Port oi London, and the Members and Liberties thereof, in any other Port, Place, Member or Creek, within his Majefty's Kingdom of England, Dominion of Wales and Town and Port of Ber- wick, without fpecial Sufierance and Leave firft had from the Commlffioners and Officers of his Majefty's Cuftoms ; upon the Penalty of the Forfeiture of all fuch Goods, Wares and Merchandize. For avoiding ' XV. And forafmuch as it doth appear by daily Experience, That there are great Practices and Com- Praflices be- ' bindtions between the Importers and Owners of Goods and Merchandizes, and the Seizers and In- oTcTods^ndin- ' formers, with Defign and Intent to defraud the Force of the Law, and his Majefty of his Duties and formers, to avoid ' Cuftoms ;' (2) Be it enacted by the Authority aforefaid, That no Ship or Ships, Goods, Wares or P^J""«"'°f ^"- Merchandize, {hall be feized as forfeited, for or by Reafon of unlawful Importation or Exportation, into fc?zeVry Goods or out of this Kingdom of England, Dominion of Wales or Port and Town of Berwick, or any the Ports, but Officers of Members or Creeks thereunto belonging, or for not Payment of any Cuftoms or Subfides now due or here- theCuapras. ^f^gj. (-q ^e due and payable to his Majefty, but by the Perfon or Perfons who are or fhall be aDpointed by his Majefty to manage his Cuftoms, or Officers of his Majefty's Cuftoms for the Time being, or fuch other Perfon or Perfons as ftiall be deputed and authorized thereunto by Warrant from the Lord Treafurer or Under-Treafurer, or by fpecial Commiffion from his Majefty under the Great or Privy Seal : (3) And if any Seizure fhall liereafter be made by any other Perfon or Perfons whatfoever for any the Caufes a- forefaid, fuch Seizure fhall be void and of none Effe6t; any Statute, Law, Adl or Provifion to the con- trary in any wife notwithftanding. In any Suit a- ,XVI. And be it further enafted by the Authority aforefaid, That in every Adtion, Suit, Indidment, gainft Perfons "Information or Profecution, wherein or whereby the Perfon or Perfons which are or (hall be appointed by th'ecuftoms°"'^ his Majefty for managuig his Cuftoms or the Officers of his Majefty's Cuftoms, or any Officer or Officers, the Defendant Pcrfon or Perfons authorized by his Majefty to put in Execution the A6t of Parliament, For increafmg may plead the ^nd encouraging of Navigation, their Deputies or Servants, or any others ailing in Aid of them, have ^^CarVc^is ^^^i^' ^^^ "^ ^^^'^ ^^ fued, indicfed, profecuted or molefted, it fliall be lawful for all and every the faid ij . ..». . • pg]-fg^5^ their Heirs, Executors and Adminiftrators, to plead the General Iflue, and to give this or the And give this aforefaid A6ts of Parliament relating to the Cuftoms and Navigation, in Evidence, in any of his Majefty's or other A<fti Qourts of Jufticc, or Other Courts where the faid Matter fliall be depending; and the Judges of the faid ftoms) or Navi- Courts are hereby ftridly enjoined and required -to admit the fame, and to acquit and indemnify thetn gatioiiinEvi- and every of them of and from all fuch Suits, IndivStments, Informations or Profecutions, for or con" dence. cerning any Matter or Thing adted or done in the due and neceffary Performance and Execution of their refpeffive Trufts and Imployments therein. For avoiding XVII. Be it hereby alfo enaded, for avoiding of fraudulent Compofitions, That if any Seizer, In- frauduiem-com- former or Officer as aforefaid, ihall not profecute to Effect for the Bringing to Trial and Condemnation fo'rmer"! ^ "' -^'^^ Ships, Goods and A-Ierchandize by them feized or informed againft ; That then, and in every fuch Cafe, it ftrall be lawful to or for any of the Perfon or Perfons which are or ftiall be appointed by his Ma- jefty for managing his Cuftoms, or the Officers of the Cuftoms, or other Perfon or Perfons deputed by
- ihem, or thereunto authorized by the Lord Treafurer or Under-Treafurer, to make Seizure of or inlbrm
againft fuch Goods and Merchandize, or bring his A6tion for the fame by way oi Devenerunt, and that ihey fhall be efteemed and adjudged in Law as the true firft Informers and Seizers, and have the Benefit of fuch Informers or Seizers ; any Law, Statute, Aft or Ufage to the contrary in any wife notwithftanding : XVIII. And that no Informer or Officer be fuffered to compound under one Third of the appraifed Value, upon Lofs of his Office : Wo Perfon im- XIX. Be it further enafted by the Authority aforefaid, That if any of the King's Majefty's Officers or ployed about other Perfons appointed to manage his Majefty's Cuftoms, Searchers, Waiters or other Perfon or Perfons Cuftoms^nmy whatfoeve'" deputed and appointed by and under them or any of them, or any other Authority whatfo- take any Bribe ever, and imployed in or about the Affairs of the PCing's Cuftoms and Subfidies, fliall diredlly or indirectly or Reward to (^[j^e or rcccive any Bribe, Recompence or Reward in any Kind whatfoever, or connive at any falfe En- Ent?yr^'^"^ try of any Goods or Merchandizes, whereby the King's Majefty, his Heirs or Succeffors, (hall be de- frauded or hindered in or of his Cuftoms and Subfidies, or other Sums of Money or Goods prohibited by the Law to be imported or exported into or out of the Kingdom of England, Dominion of Wales, Town and Port of Benuick, be fuffered to pafs either by way of Importation or Exportation, the Perfon TiiePenalty. or Perfons therein offending fliall forfeit the Sum of one hundred Pounds, and be for ever afterwards in- capable of any Office or Imployment under the King's Majefty, his Heirs or Succeflbrs, or any Autho- rity derived from them ; (z) as alfo the Alerchant, Mariner or other Perfon or Perfons whatfoever, who flial! give or pay any fuch Bribe, Recompence or Reward as aforefaid, fliall forfeit the Sum of fifty Pounds. XX. Provided neverthelefs, That if anj Perfon or Perfons offending as aforefaid, Ihall reveal and ■ make
