Embezzlement of Public Stores Act 1697

III. Recital of Mischiefs arising from personating Seamen, or forging Letters of Attorney, Bills of Sale, &c.;

Penalty on such Offences.

And forasmuch as divers wicked Persons during the late War and since for Lucre and Gain have personated Seamen who have really served or are supposed to have served on board His Majesties Shipps and thereby have received divers Sums of His Majesties Money at the Pay Office or elsewhere of His Majesties Officers appointed for Payment of His Majesties Fleet and Ships in deceipt aswel of His Majestie as of the Persons who have really served on board any of His Majesties Ships and have also for such wicked Purposes forged and counterfeited divers Letters of Attorney or Bills of Sale Assignments or last Wills in the Name or Names of Persons who have really served or were supposed to have served on [X1 on] board His Majesties said Shipps and have and do also procure dayly divers Men and Women to personate and divers wicked Persons do of their own accord personate the Wives Relations or Creditors of such Seamen who have or are supposed to have served on board [X2 of] His Majesties Ships and thereby have falsly taken out Letters of Administration to such Seamen or Seamen having served or supposed to have served on board of His Majesties Ships or have forrged and counterfeited Letters of Attorney Bills of Sale or other Authorities in the Names of the Executors or Administrators of such Seamen for the Receipt of such Wages as were due or supposed to be due to such Seamen having served or supposed to have served as aforesaid For the prevention of which said wicked Practices for the future be it enacted That all and every such Person or Persons his her or their Aiders or Abetters that shall be convicted of the said Crimes and Offences committed from and after the said Four and twentieth Day of June shall for every such Offence over and and above the Penalties to be inflicted by any Laws now in force forfeit the Sum of Two hundred pounds together with the Costs of Prosecution one Moiety to His Majesty the other Moiety to the Informer to be recovered as aforesaid and shall also suffer Imprisonment until Payment of the said Forfeiture.

Editorial Information

X1 O. omits.

X2 interlined on the Roll.