Customs Act 1662

XVIII. Persons seizing, &c. and not prosecuting with Effect

then Officer may seize and inform; or bring Action by way of Devenerunt, and be adjudged the true first Informer.; Informer or Officer compounding, Penalty.

Be it hereby alsoe enacted for avoiding of fraudulent Compos[i]cons That if any Seizer Informer or Officer as aforesaid shall not prosecute to effect for the bringing to Tryal and Condemnation the Ships Goods and Merchandize by them seized or informed against That then and in every such case it shall be lawfull to or for any of the person or persons which are or shall be appointed by His Majesty for managing his Customes or the Officers of the Customes or other person or persons deputed by them or thereunto authorized by the Lord Treasurer or Under Treasurer to make seizure of or inform against such Goods and Merchandize or bring his Action for the same by way of Devenerunt and that they shall be esteemed and adjudged in Law as the true First Informers and Seizers and have the benefitt of such Informers or Seizers Any Law Statute act or Usage to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding And that no Informer or Officer be suffered to compound under one Third of the appraised value upon losse of his Office