Offences at Sea Act 1535
| Jurisdiction | UK Non-devolved |
| Citation | 1535 c. 4 |
| Year | 1535 |
(27 Hen. 8) C A P. IV.
'WH E R E Pirates, Thieves, Robbers and Murtherers upon the Sea, many Times escape unpunished, because the Trial of their Offences hath heretofore been ordered before the Admiral, or his Lieutenant or Commissary, after the Course of the Civil Laws, the Nature whereof is, that before any Judgment of Death can be given against the Offenders, either they must plainly confess their Offence, (which they will never do without Torture or Pains) or else their Offences be so plainly and directly proved by Witnesses indifferent, such as saw their Offences committed, which cannot be gotten but by Chance at few Times, because such Offenders commit their Offences upon the Sea, and at many Times murther and kill such Persons being in the Ship or Boat where they commit their Offences, which should bear Witness against them in that Behalf, and also such as should bear Witness be commonly Mariners and Shipmen, which for the most Part cannot be gotten ne had always ready to testify such Offences, because of their often Voyages and Passages in the Seas, without long tarrying or Protraction of Time, and great Costs and Charges, as well of the King's Highness, as of such as would pursue such Offenders:' (2)For Reformation whereof, be it enacted by Authority of this present Parliament, That all such Offences done in or upon the Sea, or in any other Haven, River or Creek where the Admiral or Admirals pretend to have Jurisdiction, shall be inquired, tried, heard and determined in such Shires and Places in this Realm as shall be limited by the King's Commission to be directed for the same, in like Form and Condition as if such Offences had been done on the Land; (3) and that such Commissions shall be had under the King's Great Seal, directed to the Lord Admiral or Admirals, or to his or their Lieutenant, Deputy or Deputies, and to three or four such other substantial Persons as shall be named by the Lord Chancellor for the Time being, as often as Need shall require, to hear and determine such Offences after the common Course of the Laws of the Land used for Felonies done and committed within this Realm.
II By what Jurors the same Offences shall be inquired of.
II. And be it enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That such Persons to whom such Commissions shall be directed, or three of...
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