of which Penalties shall, on Conviction before any of such Magistrates duly authorized to act within the Limits aforesaid, be paid to the Informer, and the other Half to the Poor of the Parish in which such Offence shall be committed ; Penalties, how to be levied and in case any of the Penalties by this Act imposed shall not be paid, with the Charges incident to the Conviction, immediately upon such Conviction, the same shall and may be levied by the Warrant of such Magistrate as aforesaid; by Distress upon the Goods and Chattels of every such Offender or Offenders; and in case there shall be no sufficient Distress, then every such Offender or Offenders shall and may be committed by such Magistrate as aforesaid, to the Common Gaol within the Limits aforesaid, in the Case of any First Offence, for the Space of Three Months, and in the Case of any Second or further Offence, for the Space of Six Months, unless the said Penalty and Charges shall: be sooner paid.
Inhabitants to be competent Witnesses.XIV. And be it further enacted, That the inhabitants of any Parish, Township or Place, within the Jurisdiction aforesaid, shall be deemed and taken to be competent Witnesses, for the Purpose of proving the Commission of any Offence against this Act, within the Limits of such Parish, Township, or Place, notwithstanding the Penalty incurred by such Offence, or any Part thereof, is or may be given or applicable to the Poor of such Parish, Township, Place, or otherwise for Benefit or Use or in Aid or Exoneration of such Parish, Township, or Place.
The Lord Warden and his Deputies, Judge, &c.to have like Power as Justices of the Peace or Commissioners under this Act. XV. And be it further enacted, That the Lord Warden of the Cinque Ports for the Time being, and the Lieutenant of Dover Castle for his Deputies, the Time being, and the Deputy Wardens of the Cinque Ports for the the Time being, and the Judge Official and Commissary of the Court Admiralty of the Cinque Ports, Two ancient Towns, and the Members thereof for the Time being, and any other Officer who shall be appointed by the Lord Warden, and all and every of them, shall and may execute, perform, and do, within the Jurisdiction aforesaid, all the Acts, Matters, and Things contained in this Act, in like Manner, to all Intents and Purposes, as any Magistrate or Magistrates, or any Commissioner or Commissioners to be appointed by virtue of this Act, is and are authorized to execute, perform, and do the same.
Manner of issuing Commissions for Punishment of Offences, agreeably to 28 H. 8.c.15.XVI. And whereas by a certain Act passed in the Twenty-eighth Year of the Reign of King Henry the Eighth, intituled For Pirates, it is among other things enacted to the Effect following, that whenever any Commission for the Punishment of certain Offences therein named, shall be directed or sent to any Place within the Jurisdiction of the Five Ports, that then every such Commission shall be directed unto the Lord Warden of the said Port for the Time being, or to his Deputy, or unto Three or Four such Persons as the Lord Chancellor for the Time being shall name and appoint : And whereas by the said Act it is further enacted to the Effect following, that every Inquisition and Trial to be had by virtue of such Commission, shall be made and had by the Inhabitants of the said Five Ports, or the Members of the same : And whereas of a long Time past, no such Commission has been sent to any Place within the Jurisdiction of theCinque
