Escape of Debtors, etc. Act 1696

IV. Marshal, &c. taking Reward to connive at Prisoner's Escape;

Penalty £500. Loss of Office and Incapacity.

And whereas it is notorious that diverse great Su[m]ms of Money and other Rewards have been given to and actually received by the severall Persons executing the respective Offices of Marshall and Warden and other Keepers of the several Prisons within this Kingdome to assist or permitt Prisoners in their Custody to escape in open defiance and contempt of the Laws of this Realme For preventing the like evil Practise for the time to come be it further enacted That if any Marshall or Warden or their respective Deputie or Deputies or any Keeper of any other Prison within this Kingdome shall take any Su[m]m of Money Reward or Gratuity whatsoever or Security for the same to procure assist connive att or permitt any such Escape and shall be thereof lawfully convicted the said Marshall or Warden or their respective Deputy or Deputies or such other Keeper of any Prisons as aforesaid shall for every such Offence forfeit the Su[m]m of Five hundred pounds and his said Office and be for ever after incapable of executing any such Office.