debted within this island, such persons, upon proof made thereof, shall be liable to pay all the debts which such debtor owed in the island, at the time of his departure, besides a fine to the lord, not exceeding three pounds but in case such persons so offending as aforesaid, have not effects to discharge the said debts, then they shall be whipped in the four market towns, besides three months imprisonment: And if any goods can be found, the same to be applied towards the payment of the said debts, as far as they will extend

Rent.

No goods or chattels of tenants, being in any house or houses, or upon any lands or tenements let for life, or for one or more years, or otherwise, shall be taken by virtue of any execution, or extended, unless the party at whose suit the execution is sued, do, before the removal of such goods, pay the landlord one year's rent, if not already paid him; and then the party may proceed to execute his judgment, and the coroner or other proper officer concerned to execute the same, is to levy and pay the plaintiff, as well the money so paid for rent, as the execution money and charges. And if any lessee, or tenant, shall fraudulently or clandestinely convey, assign, or carry off, or suffer to be carried off, his goods from the demised premises, with intent to prevent the landlord from distraining for his rent, the said landlord, or any person by him employed, may, within fourteen days after his rent becomes due, take and seize such goods wherever they shall be found, as a distress for his arrear of rent, and dispose of, and sell the same, as if such goods had been actually distrained upon the demised premises; nor shall any sale

* A. T. 1737.

or assignment of a lessee, or tenant's goods, though for a valuable consideration, be deemed good against the landlord's preference for one year's rent, unless there are goods left sufficient to pay the same: Provided that this act shall not prejudice the Lord of the island in levying his rents, debts, fines, forfeitures, or other rights or demands due to him, preferable to all others, as if this act had never been made; and if the tenant's goods should be removed any considerable time before the rent becomes due, whereby they might be secreted or made away, or clandestinely conveyed off the island to prevent the landlord from distraining, it shall in that case be lawful for the landlord to obtain the deemster's authority to lay them under an arrest, to be forthcoming for the rent, unless the person that removes them will give security to pay the rent when the same becomes payable *.

Salt.

It shall not be lawful for the master or mariners of any vessel, or boat, on any account or pretence what. ever, to carry off this island, or export from hence into any part of Great Britain, any quantity of salt exceeding two bushels, for the ship's store, under penalty that the master, or any of the mariners of such vessel, or boat, so carrying off the said salt, or any other person, or persons, aiding or assisting therein, and lawfully convicted thereof, shall suffer three months imprisonment, and forfeit the sum of thirty pounds, two third parts thereof to the use of the lord of the island, and the other third part to the informer t.

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 substantial 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.

Ir 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.

IT 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.

Ir 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 †.

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 shillings, 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