Offences at Sea Act 1536
| Jurisdiction | UK Non-devolved |
| Citation | 1536 c. 15 |
(28 Hen. 8) C A P. XV.
'WHERE Traytors, Pirates, Thieves, Robbers, Murtherers and Consederates upon the Sea, many Times escaped unpunished, because the Trial of their Offences hath heretofore been ordered, judged and determined before the Admiral, or his Lieutenant or Commissary, after the Course of the Civil Laws, (2)the Nature whereof is, that before any Judgment of Death can be given against the Offenders, either they must plainly confess their Offences(which they will never do without Torture or Pains) or else their Offencesbe so plainly and directly proved by Witness indifferent, such as saw their Offences committed, which cannot be gotten but by Chance at few Times, because such Offenders commit their Offencesupon the Sea, and at many Times murther and kill such Persons being in the Ship or Boat where they commit their Offences, which should witness against them in that Behalf; and also such as should bear witness be commonly Mariners and Shipmen, which, because of their often Voyages and Passages in the Seas, depart without long tarrying and Protraction of Time, to the great Costs and Charges as well of the King's Highness, as such as would pursue such Offenders:' (3)For Reformation whereof, be it enacted by the Authority of this present Parliament, That all Treasons, Felonies, Robberies, Murthers and Confederacies hereafter to be committed in or upon the Sea, or in any other Haven, River, Creek or Place where she Admiral or Admirals have or pretend to have Power, Authority or Jurisdiction, shall be inquired, tried, heard, determined and judged, in such Shires and Places in the Realm, as shall be limited by the King's Commission or Commissions to be directed for the same, in like Form and Condition, as if any such Offence or Offences had been committed or done in or upon the Land; (4)and such Commissions shall be had under the King'sGreat Seal, directed to the Admiral or Admirals, or to his or their Lieutenant, Deputy and Deputies, and to three or four such other substantial Persons, as shall be named or appointed by the LordChancellor ofEngland for the Time being, from Time to Time, and as oft as Need shall require, to hear and determine such Offences after the common Course of the Laws of this Realm, used for Treasons, Felonies, Murthers, Robberies and Confederacies of the same, done and committed upon the Land within this Realm.
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