http://www.legislation.gov.uk/aep/Will3/11/21/section/XI/enactedThames Watermen Act 1698enBritish History Onlinebho/pubid-353/46980.xml2024-12-11 XIGeneral Issue may be pleaded; Public Act; Double Costs.Provided alwaies That if any Action Bill Plaint or Suite shall at any time after the First Day of June be commenced or brought against any Person or Persons whatsoever for or by reason of any Matter or Thing which he or they shall doe in pursuance of or by Colour of this Act it shall and may be lawfull to and for the Person or Persons soe sued or prosecuted to plead the Generall Issue or that what was done by him was done by vertue of this Act without saying more and give this Act or any other Speciall Matter in Evidence which Act is hereby declared to be a Publick Act And if the Verdict shall passe for the Defendant or Defendants in such Action or the Plaintiffe or Plaintiffs become nonsuite or suffer any Discontinuance thereof that in any such Case the Defendant or Defendants shall have his or their Double Costs which he or they shall have sustained in Defence of such Action or Suite for which the said Defendant or Defendants shall have the like Remedy as in other Cases where Costs by the Laws of this Realme are given to Defendants