C. 41. ing an act for the better preventing the imbezilment of his Majesty's ftores of war, and preventing cheats, frauds and abuses in paying Jeamens wages, and for reviving and continuing an act for the more effectual fuppreffion of piracy, as to fo much thereof as is expired, fhall be, and is hereby revived from the five and twentieth day of March one thousand feven hundred and twenty three, and made perpetual: and wheras by an act made in the ninth and tenth 9 & 10 W. 3. years of the reign of his late majefly King William the Third, intituled, An act for the better preventing the imbezilment of his Majesty's flores of war, and preventing cheats, frauds and abuses in paying feamens wages, a penalty of two hundred pounds, with cofts of profecution and pain of imprisonment, is inflicted upon perfons having in their custody, poffeffion or keeping, or concealing contrary to the said act, any warlike, naval or ordnance ftores therein mentioned, or any other ftores marked with the broad arrow, by stamp, brand, or otherwife and whereas it is necessary to give power to mitigate the faid penalties, and to explain and amend the faid act, be it enacted by the authority aforefaid, That if any perfon or perfons shall, after the five and twentieth day of March onet housand feven hundred and twenty three, be lawfully convicted of having in his, her or their cuftody, any timber, thick ftuff or plank, marked with the broad arrow, by stamp, brand, or otherwife, or of concealing any timber, thick stuff or plank so marked, every such person so offending shall suffer, forfeit and pay, as for having, keeping or concealing any other warlike, naval or ordnance ftores contrary to the faid act., IV. Provided always, and it is hereby further enacted, That it shall and may be lawful to and for any judge, juftice or justices, before whom any offender or offenders fhall be convicted of any of the crimes or offences before recited, enacted or mentioned in this act, to mitigate the penalty for the fame, as he or they fhall fee cause, and to commit the offender or offenders fo convicted, to the common gaol of the county or place where the of fence fhall be committed, there to remain without bail or mainprize, until payment be made of the penalty and forfeiture impofed by this or the faid former act, or mitigated as aforefaid, or to punith fuch offender or offenders corporally, by causing him, her or them to be publickly whipped, or committed to fome publick workhoufe, there to be kept to hard labour, for the space of fix months, or a lefs time, as to fuch judge, juftice or juftices, in his or their difcretion fhall feem meet; any thing in the faid recited act, or in any other act to the contrary notwithstanding. V. And be it further enacted, That where any difpute fhall arife between the perfons, upon whofe informations or oaths, any perfon or perfons offending in the premiffes, or against the faid former act, fhall be profecuted and convicted, touching any right or title to any of the forfeitures or penalties before-mentioned, or any part thereof, the judge, justice or juftices, before whom fuch offender or offenders thall be convicted, fhall examine the matter, and finally determine the fame. VI, And VI. And be it further enacted by the authority aforefaid, That an act made in the first year of his present Majesty's reign, inti tuled, An act for making the militia of that part of Great Britain 1Geo.1. ftat.2. called England, more ufèful; and for cbliging an annual account to c.14. be made of trophy-money, which is expired, fhall be and is hereby revived, and fhall be in force from the five and twentieth day of March one thousand seven hundred and twenty three, for and during the space of seven years, and from thence to the end of the then next feffion of parliament. EXP. 5 VII. And whereas the muskets for foot foldiers in the militia, are 1Geo.1.ft. by the faid recited at prefcribed to be five foot long in the barrel, c.14. fett. 3 and the gauge of the bore for bullets of twelve to the pound, but more convenient muskets may in many places be provided: be it enacted, That it fhall and may be lawful for the feveral lieutenants, and their deputies, in that part of Great Britain called England, to appoint the length and fize of mufkets for foot foldiers in the militia; and in cafe of fuch appointment, the muskets fo to be appointed, thall be provided, inftead of thofe before-mentioned, with fuch other arms and accoutrements, as are directed by the faid act, under the penalties therein mentioned; any thing in the faid act, or any former act to the contrary notwithstanding. VIII. And whereas by an act made in the fifth year of his prefent ; Geo.1. c. zaj Majefty's reign, intituled, An act against clandeftine running of uncustomed goods, and for the more effectual preventing of frauds relating to the customs, feveral claufes therein mentioned, were to have continuance for the term of three years, from the feveral times of commencement thereof, and from thence to the end of the then next jellion of parliament respectively, which are near expiring, and it hath been found by experience, that feveral of the faid claufes are neceffary to be continued, to prevent frauds, which might otherwife be practifed to the prejudice of the revenue and fair trade: be it enacted by the authority aforefaid, That fo much of the faid Sect. 3. act as relates to fuch foreign goods, wares and merchandizes, as shall be taken in at fea out of any fhip or veffel, in order to be landed or put into any other thip, veffel or boat; and fo much of the said act as relates to goods not reported, and found after Sect. 4. clearing fhips, and fo much of the faid act as provides further remedies against relanding goods prohibited to be worn in this kingdom, and foreign goods fhipped out for parts beyond the sect. 6. feas, and so much of the said act as relates to the opening or altering the package of goods on board ships outward-bound, and Sect. 5. fo much of the faid act as relates to hovering fhips or veffels of the burthen of fifty tuns, or under, and fo much of the faid act Sect. 8. as concerns the bales or package in which coffee shall be exported, as was to continue in force for three years, from the twen- Sect. 10, ty fifth day of Marth one thoufand seven hundred and nineteen, and to the end of the then next feffion of parliament, and fo much of the faid act as relates to rum imported in casks or ves- Sect. 2. fels, not containing twenty gallons at the leaft, which was to continue in force for three years, from the twenty ninth day of September one thoufand feven hundred and nineteen, and to the Dz end Sect. 5. end of the then next feffion of parliament, and fo much of the faid act as relates to certificate-goods entred in order to be exported to Ireland, which was to continue in force for three years, from the first day of May one thousand seven hundred and nineFarther conti- teen, and to the end of the then next fefsion of parliament, shall nued by 20Geo. be continued and be in force, and put in practice for the purposes therein mentioned, from and after the expiration of the feveral and respective terms before-mentioned, for and during the space of five years, and from thence to the end of the then next feffion of parliament. See 2 Geo. 2. c. 28. 2. C. 47. 8 Geo.r. C.25. Lect. 3. fections are continued to 24 March 1758. by 26 fect. 4. IX. And whereas in and by an act of parliament made in the eighth year of his prefent Majesty (for encouragement of the filk manufactures of this kingdom, and for other purposes therein mentioned) certain allowances or fums of money are to be paid to the exporters of fuffs made in Great Britain, ar filks and grogram yarn, and also of These two laß filk fluffs made in Great Britain, mixed with incle, cotton or wor fted, as in the faid act expreffed, and whereas it is by the faid act provided, that no allowance shall be demanded or made for fuch of the faid manufactures mixed with filk, when they are only mixed at the edges or ends of the piece, which is found by experience, not fufGeo. 1. c. 32. ficient to prevent frauds and abufes in making thofe manufactures, by mixing filk, not with any defign to advantage the fale of the goods, but with an intention to obtain the bounty or allowance on the exportation, contrary to the true intent and meaning of the faid act: to remedy which abufes, be it enacted by the authority aforefaid, That the faid act, or any thing therein contained, shall not extend or be construed to extend to the making any allowance on the exportation of any the manufactures aforefaid, mixt with filk, except fuch, wherein at least two third parts of the ends or threads of the warp (by which is meant the length of the piece) be either all filk, or elfe mixed or twisted with filk in the warp; any thing in the faid act to the contrary notwithstanding. This claufe is enforced by II Geo. I. c. 29. fect. 3. See i Geo. 2. ftat. 2. c. 17. fect. 10. This claufe is X. And be it further enacted by the authority aforefaid, That enforced by 11 if any person or perfons fhall be found to enter or ship any of Geo. 1. c. 29. the goods afore-mentioned, which are not mixed with the quan ect. 5. tity of filk as is before-mentioned, fuch perfon or persons shall not only forfeit the goods fo entred or fhipped, but fhall likewife be profecuted for double the value thereof; fuch feizure and penalty to be profecuted, determined and divided in fuch manner, as other seizures or penalties are in and by the faid act directed and appointed. CAP. IX. An act for the better qualifying the manufacturers of stuffs and yarn in the city of Norwich, and liberties thereof, to bear offices of magistracy in the faid city, and for regulating elections of fuch officers. WHE HEREAS anciently the chief manufactures in the city of Norwich and county of the fame, were ruffels, fattens, fattens reverses and fuftians, and the makers thereof were, by an act made C. 14. made in the first and fecond years of the reign of King Philip and 1&2 Phil.&M, Queen Mary, obliged to become freemen of the faid city, upon pain of forfeiture of their manufactures, contrary to the faid act; by means whereof there was a conftant fupply of able magiftrates, and great good did accrue to the faid city in many respects; but the faid manufactures have been, for feveral years past, disused, and others introduced in their ftead, the good defigns of the faid act for the publick utility of the faid city, are wholly loft, and the offices of magi-. firacy there often fall to perfens who are not the chief manufacturers, or the moft fubftantial inhabitants; and frequent disorders happen in their clections, occafioning great riots and tumults: for remedy of which mifchiefs and inconveniencies, and preventing the like for the future; may it please your Majefty, that it may be enacted; and be it enacted by the King's most excellent majefty, by and with the advice and confent of the lords spiritual and temporal and commons, in this prefent parliament affembled, and by the authority of the fame, That all perfons who now are, or hereafter fhall be manufacturers or makers of any fort of Manufactustuffs made of wool, or wherein there is any mixture of wool, rers of stuff's and all makers of wool into yarn, who are not journeymen or to be made fervants for hire, mafter weavers and mafter wool-combers, and freemen. perfons dealing or trading as fuch, or employing fervants or journeymen in any fuch manufactures, or having any intereft, stock, fhare or partnership in any fuch manufactures, inhabiting or living in the faid city of Norwich or county of the fame, fhall be made free of the faid city and admitted freemen thereof, as is herein after mentioned, (that is to say) all perfons inhabiting or living in the faid city or county of the fame as aforefaid, now being fuch manufacturers or makers of ftuffs, or makers of wool into yarn, mafter weavers, or mafter woolcombers, or dealers, or traders as fuch, or imploying fervants or workmen in any fuch manufactures, or having any intereft, flock, fhare or partnership therein as aforefaid, fhall, upon their request to be made at any court of mayoralty, or affembly of the mayor, fheriffs, citizens and commonalty to be holden for the faid city, on or before the twenty fourth day of June one thoufand seven hundred and twenty three, be admitted and made free of the faid city, paying only one and twenty fhillings for fuch admiffion and freedom; and all perfons, who hereafter shall be such manufacturers in manner as aforefaid, and living or inhabiting as aforefaid, being foreigners, fhall, upon their requeft, to be made at any affembly of the faid corporation to be holden for the faid city, be admitted and made free of the faid city, paying a fum not exceeding five pounds for fuch admission and freedom, and all perfons to be admitted or made free as aforefaid, fhall, at the time of admiffion, take the ufual oaths, or, being Quakers, thall take the folemn affirmation to the effect thereof. II. And be it enacted by the authority aforefaid, That if any perfon (fervants and apprentices during their fervice excepted) who now is or hereafter fhall be any fuch manufacturer, dealer D3 or trader, or otherwife concerned or interested in any of the faid manufactures as aforefaid, thall, after the twenty fourth day of June one thousand seven hundred and twenty three, prefume to ufe or exercise any of the faid manufactures, or be concerned or interested therein in manner aforefaid, not being admitted and made free as aforefaid, every person so offending being lawfully convicted upon a profecution to be commenced within fix months Dealers herein after the fact committed, thall forfeit the fum of ten pounds for not being free, every kalendar month, fuch perfon fhall fo unlawfully ufe or exwhat to for- ercife any of the faid manufactures, or be concerned or interested therein as aforefaid, contrary to this act, next after the third quarterly affembly of the faid corporation, which fhall be held for the laid city; the faid fum of ten pounds to be recovered by action of debt, bill, plaint or information, to be brought by the chamberlain of the faid city for the use of the mayor, theriffs, citizens and commonalty of the faid city, in any of his Majefty's courts of record at Westminster, wherein no effoin, privilege, protection or wager of law fhall be allowed, nor more than one imparlance. feit. By 3 Geo. 2. Who to be excufed the office of theriff. In what man ner, and for III. And for better qualifying perfons to bear offices of magiftracy in the faid city, and for regulating fuch elections, and preventing false and fictitious polling therein, be it enacted by the authority aforefaid, That if any perfon, elected to be sheriff of the faid city and county thereof, at any court of mayoralty to be holden in any year, between the twenty fourth day of June and the tenth day of Auguft following, fhall within fourteen days after notice in writing given to him of such election, make oath, or being a Quaker, take his folemn affirmation, that he is not at that time worth two thousand pounds in the world, his debts being paid, which oath or affirmation the mayor of the faid city for the time being, or any of his Majefty's juftices of the peace, are hereby authorized to adminifter, fuch oath or affirmation being made at, or tranfmitted to some court of mayoralty of the faid city, to be holden within fourteen days after fuch notice, every such person shall for that time or turn be excused the said office of fheriff gratis; and that fifty pounds, and no more, shall be paid as a fine, by any perfon fo elected, for not ferving the office of theriff of the faid city and county thereof, if fuch perfon fhall make or tranfmit as aforefaid, within the time aforefaid, his oath, or being a Quaker, his folemn affirmation, that he is not at that time worth three thousand pounds in the world, his debts being paid; and that eighty pounds, and no more, shall be paid as a fine, by any perfon of greater eftate fo elected, for not ferving the office of theriff of the faid city and county. IV. Provided always, That no perfon, worth two thousand pounds and upwards, fhall be difcharged from bearing the faid what time, office of fheriff by the court of mayoralty, for any longer time perfons may be difcharged than one year, without the confent of the mayor, fheriffs, cifrom bearing tizens and commonalty, in common council affembled; and the said office. that no perfon after the firft day of May one thousand seven hundred and twenty three, fhall in any year be excufed or discharg ed |