Seizures.

WHEN any forfeit is seized within full-sea-mark, by any of the officers, to the lord's use, the same to be certified to the captain, with speed, and then he to call the officers and deemsters, and to commune and consult how it was seized; and if the captain and officers find the same lawful, then the comptroller to enter the same in his book of records, as well as the water-bailiff, not only the parcels, but also the day and year of the seizure, and the same to be appraised by four substan tial men; so that if the same be claimed by any person, or persons, they may have the law of the island, or the value thereof, if the party come within a year and a day: and if the said officers take the goods to be clear forfeited, then they cause the same to be sold and converted to the lord's profit, in the water-bailiff's account *.

Shooting.

It is enacted, that none shall hereafter presume to carry about a gun to fowl, shoot, kill, or destroy the lord's game, without the governor's licence in writing, first had for the same, upon pain of forfeiting three pounds; one half to the lord, and the other half to the person informing against, or presenting the offence in manner hereafter directed by this act. And for the better discovery of such as shall transgress herein, it is further enacted, that the method of proceeding upon this act, shall be by information upon oath, or presentment made unto the court, by a jury of inquiry of four men, to be impanelled and sworn in every parish, yearly, after midsummer, by the respective coroners, to inquire of, and jointly or severally make presentments in the premises, as occasion shall require, in which they

* Ord. 1561.

shall use their utmost diligence, as they will avoid a fine of five shillings a-piece for every default or neglect; and that the coroners and lockmen are also hereby obliged to inquire of and make informations or presentments against contemners of this act; and if any of them shall be found to fail therein, they shall be fined at the court's discretion, for every default or neglect, and that it shall be lawful for all others, as well as those already mentioned, to make informations on this act; and that upon every such information upon oath, and presentment made, the offender, or offenders, being first heard, shall be condemned by the judgment of the court in the penalty before mentioned; and that the jury, or any of them, presenting, or any coroner or lockman obliged to give informations, or make presentments as aforesaid, shall be entitled to the moiety of the forfeiture, as any private persons should or could be by virtue of this act: And that none shall carry about their guns, to shoot pigeons, partridges, or grouse, under the penalty of twenty shillings, on proof or presentment made thereof in manner before mentioned

Slander.

ÍT is ordained, that after slanderers or defamers are found guilty, either in the temporal or spiritual court, as the matter shall be properly cognizable, the person slandered shall not only recover his costs by action at law, but also such further damages as shall be suitable to the injury sustained, and the ability of the defamer †.

In all complaints of slanderous words, the party defamed, or any informer of a slander, shall be obliged to make a declaration of the slanderous words before a proper judge or magistrate, within fifteen days after the

speaking or uttering the same, in order to a prosecu tion; otherwise, such complaints of slander, not to proceed at any time afterwards *.

Specialty.

It shall not be lawful for the courts or magistrates of this isle, or any of them, to admit of any obligator or party defendant's oath, as evidence against any bill, bond, note, or other specialty in writing, to acquit himself from the payment thereof, otherwise than by a proper receipt or discharge for the same t.

Streets.

ALL pavements in the several streets in the markettowns, shall be even and regularly paved to the middle of the street, by the several inhabitants or proprietors adjoining the same, within one month from the passing of this act. And that the said streets, and the pavements thereof, shall, by order of the captain once a week, be swept clean by the said inhabitants or proprietors, and remain clear of and from all dung, filth, lumber, rubbish, or other nuisance whatsoever. And in case any of the inhabitants or proprietors aforesaid, shall make default or neglect herein, the captain of such town shall make presentment thereof. And such inhabitants shall, upon conviction before the governor, lieutenant-governor, or a deemster, be fined ten shil. lings, with costs: And in case any captain or captains of towns shall neglect to make such presentment, he or they shall, upon conviction as aforesaid, be fined in the sum of ten shillings for every such neglect; one half to the informer, and the other half to be applied as herein after directed. And if any person shall permit

or suffer his or her pigs to go at large through the said streets, and be convicted thereof, as aforesaid, by the testimony of one witness, the owner or owners shall be amerced in the sum of one shilling and twopence for each and every such pig so let to go at large through the said streets, as aforesaid, with costs, which amercements shall be levied as herein before directed, and applied towards the improvement of the market-place of such town wherein the same shall be levied, as aforesaid*

Sumner.

WHEREAS the sumner, parson, and clerk, take pains in gathering tithe wool and lambs, having with them a horse a piece and a sack, then each of them to have one choice lamb, and one fleece of wool, paid out of the tithe; and as touching the sumner's duty of corn, he must have a band of three lengths, of three principal corns, portion like, paid from every husbandman; and he must call within the church, with the advice of the vicar or curate, all such things as he is requested of the parish, that are gone or lost; and also, stand at the chancel door, in time of service, to beat the dogs out.

Also, when the sumner is required by the ordinary to bring any offender to prison, he hath for his pains fourpence, and likewise the porter fourpence of the same offender; and when any is disobedient to the sumner and ordinary, then the ordinary hath been used to send to the constable of Peel, who presently ought to send a soldier to take him to the bishop's prison f.

Sumner-General.

WHEN the ordinary sends a citation abroad for the

* A. T. 1776.

+ Spir. Cust. Laws.

keeping courts, chapters, or other weighty matters, the ordinary to send to the general sumner, and he to send them with speed abroad *.

IF

Sunday.

If any person pay or receive money on a Sunday, he shall be liable to ecclesiastical censures, and always be presented for the same t.

Tithes.

By an ordinance of Charles, Earl of Derby, lord of the isle, in the year 1667, "all persons within his isle of Man, who should thereafter clear and improve waste lands, shall be tithe free for the first three years: And by the 28th customary law, lands newly broken up, that never before were under corn, shall be exempted from the payment of tithes for the term of three years."

By the following spiritual customary laws it is ordained, that" tithe corn shall be received by the tenth stook, and for carrying it away, the parson or proctor is at liberty to carry it the next way, keeping the husbandman harmless, making the ditch as able as he found it.

No husbandman to lead any corn or hay before sufficient warning be given to the parson, vicar, or proctor, when the corn and hay are sufficiently dry, and fit to be stacked.

And if any man convey, purloin, or hide any corn in houses or elsewhere, to defraud the tithes, then the par+ A. T. 1703.

* Spir. Cust. Laws.