October, 1653
[21 October, 1653.]
Be it Enacted by the Authority of this present Parliament,
That such person or persons, who shall at any time from and
after the Two and twentieth day of October, One thousand six
hundred fifty and three, discover to any Justice of Peace, or any
other Officer of Justice, any person that hath committed or shall
commit any Robbery on the High-way, or Burglary, or that
hath or shall Feloniously break open any dwelling house or
Feloniously enter into any such house, or there use any violence
upon any person, or steal any money or Goods, and shall Apprehend or cause to be Apprehended such Offender; upon Conviction
of such Offender so Apprehended by means of such discovery,
shall have a reward of Ten pounds for every such Offender so
Apprehended and Convicted: And all and every Sheriff and
Sheriffs of the respective counties of England and Wales, where
such Conviction shall be had, be required upon the Certificate of
the Judge, or under the Hands of two or more Justices of Peace
before whom such Conviction shall be had, to pay unto such
person or persons who shall discover and apprehend such
Offender, or upon whose discovery such Offender shall be Apprehended, the Reward aforesaid of Ten pounds for every Offender
so Apprehended and convicted, out of the publique money received by him in that County; and the same shall be alowed
unto him upon his Accompts in the Exchequer.
And be it further Enacted, That if any person Guilty of any
of the Crimes aforesaid, shall make any considerable discovery
of his or their Complices, or the like Offenders, to the Council of
State, or to any of the Judges or Justices of Peace of the Commonwealth, so as the parties discovered shall be apprehended and
legally convicted; That then it shall and may be lawful for the
Councel of State, Judges or Justices to whom such discovery
shall be made, to give Reprieves, Protection, and the reward of
Ten pounds for such discovery, to be paid as aforesaid by the
Sheriff of the County where the Offence is committed, or the
party convicted.
And be it further Enacted and Declared, That any person or
persons that shall discover any Felon or Felons (commonly called
or known by the name of Moss-Troopers) residing upon the
Borders of England and Scotland, who upon such discovery shall
be apprehended and convicted of any common Felony (Petty
Larceny onely excepted) shall upon the said Conviction have the
like Encouragement of Ten pounds; and all Sheriffs of the
respective Counties where the Fact shall be committed, and the
party convicted shall make payment accordingly: And this Act
to continue in Force, until the One and twentieth day of October,
One thousand six hundred fifty six, and no longer.