Mutiny Act 1701

XXXII. Persons harbouring Deserters, or buying, &c. Clothes, &c. from Deserters;

Penalty £5.; But if not found guilty, to have Treble Costs.

Provided always That if any Person shall harbour conceal or assist any Deserter, from His Majesties Service knowing him to be such or shall knowingly buy or exchange or otherwise receive any Arms Clothes Caps or other Furniture belonging to the King from any Deserter upon any Account or Pretence whatsoever or cause the Colour of such Clothes to be changed the Person so offending shall forfeit for every such Offence Five Pounds and being convicted thereof at the General or Quarter Sessions the same shall be levied by Distress by Warrant under the Hands of Two or more Justices of the Peace upon the Goods and Chattels of such Offender the one Moiety thereof to be paid to the Informer by whose Means such Deserter shall be apprehended and the other Moiety to the Officer to whom such Deserter did belong And if any Person so prosecuted for harbouring concealing or assisting a Deserter or for buying exchanging colouring or receiving Arms Clothes Caps or other Furniture shall be found Not Guilty he shall recover Treble Costs to be recovered in such Manner as Costs in any other Case where by the Law Costs are given to Defendants