Greenwich Hospital, etc. Act 1696

VIII. Recital that Registers have been unduly lent to Persons not registered, pursuant to 7 & 8 W. III. c. 21.

Persons registered lending their Certificates to Seamen, &c. to protect them from being impressed; Punishment; Borrowing, &c. such Certificates; Penalty.

And whereas since the making the said recited Act diverse evil disposed Persons so registred in pursuance of the said Act have fraudulently lent their Register Certificates to diverse Mariners Seamen Watermen Fishermen Lightermen Bargemen Keelmen or Seafaring Men who were not registred in pursuance of the said Act with intent to keep such Persons not registred from being impressed in his Majesties Sea Service For the preventing of such evil Practices for the future Be it enacted by the Authority aforesaid That whatever Person or Persons so registred as aforesaid shall after the Tenth Day of April next ensuing directly or indirectly lend to leave with or dispose of his or their Certificate of his or their being registred according to the said recited Statute to any Mariner Seaman Waterman Fisherman Lighterman Keelman Bargeman or Seafaring Man whereby to protect or keep such Persons from being impressed into his Majesties Service Itt shall and may be lawfull for the Lord High Admirall for the time being or the Co[m]missioners for executing the Office of Lord High Admirall for the time being or any Three or more of them to cause such Offender or Offenders to be struck out of the said Register and lose the Benefitt of the said recited Act and to be compelled to serve in his Majesties Service for the space of Six Months without any Pay as in case of registred Men not appearing on Su[m]mons to serve in his Majesties Service according to the said Act and that every Person who shall borrow take or receive for themselves or other Persons such Certificates or make use of the same for the Intents and Purposes aforesaid shall in all respects suffer the like Pains and Penalties and to the same Uses as are provided in and by the said recited Statute against such Persons as vouch falsly Persons to be Landmen who are afterwards proved to be Seamen or shall be compelled to serve his Majesty in Sea Service for the space of Six Months without any Pay or Wages whatsoever.