British Ships Act 1772
| Jurisdiction | UK Non-devolved |
| Citation | 1772 c. 26 |
| Year | 1772 |
(13 Geo. 3) C A P. XXVI.
'W H E R E A S by an Act of Parliament, made in the Twelfth Year of the Reign of His Majesty KingCharles the Second, intituled, ); it is, amongst other Things enacted That from and after the First Day ofDecember , One thousand six hundred and sixty, and from thenceforward, no Goods or Commodities whatsoever shall be imported into, or exported out of any Lands, Islands, Plantations, or Territories to His Majesty belonging, or in His Possession, or which may thereafter belong unto, or be in the Possession of His Majesty, His Heirs or Successors, in Asia, Africa , or America , in any other Ship or Ships, Vessel or Vessels whatsoever, but such Ships and Vessels as did truly and without Fraud belong only to the People of England or Ireland , Dominion of Wales , or Town of Berwick upon Tweed , or were of the Built of, or belonging to, any of the said Lands, Islands, Plantations, or Territories, as the Proprietors and right Owners thereof; and whereof the Master and Three-fourths of the Mariners at least were English , under the Penalty of the Forfeiture and Loss of all the Goods and Commodities which should be imported into, or exported out of, any of the aforesaid Places, in any other Ship or Vessel, as also of the Ship or Vessel, with all its Guns, Furniture, Tackle, Ammunition, and Apparel; One-third Part thereof to His Majesty, His Heirs and Successors; One-third Part to the Governor of such Land, Plantation, Island, or Territory, where such Default should be committed, in case the said Ship and Goods be there seized, or otherwise; that Third Part also to His Majesty, His Heirs and Successors, and the other Third Part to him or them who should seize, inform, or sue for the same, in any Court of Record, by Bill, Information, Plaint, or other Action, wherein no Essoin, Protection, or Wager of Law, should be allowed; and all Admirals and other Commanders at Sea, of any of the Ships of War, or other Ships having Commission from His Majesty, His Heirs or Successors, were thereby authorised and strictly required, to seize and bring in as Prize, all such Ships or Vessels as shall have offended contrary hereunto, and deliver them to the Court of Admiralty, there to be proceeded against; and in case of Condemnation, One Moiety of such Forfeiture shall be to the Use of such Admirals or Commanders, and their Companies, to be...
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