CHAPTER VIII . (STAT-1570-E2-P1,4,542.3) AN ACTE AGAINST USURIE . (STAT-1570-E2-P1,4,542.4) Whereas in the Parliament holden the seven and thyrtey yere of the Raigne of our late Soveraigne Lord Kyng Henrye the Eight of famos Memory , there was then made and established one good Act for the Reformation of Usurie ; by which Act the Vice of Usurie was well repressed , and specially the corrupt Chevisaunce and bargaynyng by way of Sale of Wares and Shift of Interest ; And where since that tyme by one other Acte made in the fyft & sixe yeres of the Raigne of our late Sov~aine Lord Kynge Edward the Syxte the said former Acte was repelled , and newe Provisoes for repressing of Usurie devised and enacted ; w=ch= said latter Acte hathe not done so muche good as was hoped it shoulde , but rather the said Vyce of Usurye , and specially by waye of Sale of Wares and Shiftes of Interest hathe much more excedingly abounded , to the utter undoinge of many Gentlemen Marchauntes Occupiers and other , and to the importable Hurte of the Co~mon wealth , aswell for that in the said latter Acte there is no p~vysion agaynst such corrupt Shyftes and Sales of Wares , as also for that there is no difference of payne forfayture or punyshement uppon the greater or lesser exactions and oppressions by reason of Lones upon Usurie : Bee yt therefore enacted , That the said latter Statute made in the fyfte and syxe yeres of the Raigne of Kyng Edward the Syxte , and every Braunch and Article of the same , from and after the fyve and twenty daye of June next comming , $shall $be {TEXT:shalbe} utterly abrogated repelled and made voyde ; and that the sayd Acte made in the said seven and thyrtey yere of Kyng Henry the Eight , from and after the said fyve and twentey daye of June next commyng , $shall $be {TEXT:shalbe} revived and stand in full Force Strengh and Effecte . (STAT-1570-E2-P1,4,542.6) And bee yt further enacted , That all Bondes Cantractes and Assuraunces , collaterall or other , to be made for payment of any Principall or Mony to be lent , or Covenaunt to be p~formed upon or for anye Usurie in lendynge or doyng of any Thinge agaynste the said Acte nowe revyved , upon or by w=ch= Loane or Doinge there $shall $be {TEXT:shalbe} reserved or taken above the Rate of Tenne Pound~ for the Hundred for one yere , $shall $be {TEXT:shalbe} utterly voyde . (STAT-1570-E2-P1,4,542.7) And bee yt further enacted , That all Brokers Solicitors and Drivers of Bargaynes for Contractes or other Doinges agaynst the said Statute nowe revyved , whereupon $shall $be {TEXT:shalbe} reserved or taken more then after the Rate of Tenne Poundes for the Loane of a Hundred Poundes for a yere , $shall $be {TEXT:shalbe} to all Intentes and Purposes judged punyshed and used as Counsellours Atturneys or Advocates in any case of Premunire . (STAT-1570-E2-P1,4,542.8) And forasmuch as all Usurie being forbydden by the Lawe of God is synne and detestable ; Bee it enacted , That all Usurie Loane and forbearing of Monye , or gevyng Dayes for forbearing of Monye by way of Loane Chevysaunce Shyftes Sale of Wares Contracte or other Doynges whatsoever for Gayne mentioned in the said Statute w=ch= is now revyved , whereuppon is not reserved or taken or covenaunted to be reserved payde or geven to the Lender Contracter Shyfter Forbearer or Deliverer above the Summe of Tenne Poundes for the Loane or Forbearinge of a Hundred Poundes for one yere , or after that Rate for a more or lesser summe or tyme , $shall $be {TEXT:shalbe} from the fyve and twentey daye of June next coming , punished in fourme folowinge , (STAT-1570-E2-P1,4,542.9) that is to saye ; That every suche Offendor agaynst this Braunche of this present Statute shall forfayte so muche as $shall $be {TEXT:shalbe} reserved by way of Usurie above the Principall for any Money so to be lent or forborne ; All such Forfaytures to be recovered and imployed as is lymited for Forfaytures by the saide former Statute nowe revyved . (STAT-1570-E2-P1,4,542.10) And bee it further enacted , That Justices of Oyer and Terminer and Justices of Assise in theyr Circuites , Justices of Peace in theyr Sessions Maiors Sheryffes and Bayliffes of Cyties , shall also have full Powre & Aucthorytie to enquyre heare and determyne of all and singul=r= Offences commytted agaynst the sayd Statute now revyved . (STAT-1570-E2-P1,4,542.11) And be yt further enacted , That the sayde Statute nowe revyved $shall $be {TEXT:shalbe} most largely and strongly construed for the repressing of Usurie , and against all p~sons that shall offend agaynste the true meaning of the said Statute by any Way or Device dyrectly or indyrectly . (STAT-1570-E2-P1,4,542.12) Provyded alway , That this Statute doth not extend nor $shall $be {TEXT:shalbe} expounded to extend unto any Allowaunces or Paymentes for the finding of Orphanes accordinge to the auncient Rates or Customes of the Citie of London or any other Citie where lyke Order is for the Custodye of Orphanes and theyr Goodes , as is in the said Citye of London . (STAT-1570-E2-P1,4,542.13) Provided alwayes , and be it further enacted by thaucthoritie aforesaid , That yf anye p~son or p~sons shall from and after the said fyve and twentey daye of June offend contrary to the saide Statute revyved by this present Acte made in the seven and thyrtey yere of the Raigne of the said late Kyng Henry the Eight , that then all and every suche Offendour & Offendours shall and maye also be punished & corrected according to the Ecclesiasticall Lawes heretofore made agaynst Usurie ; And that all and every person and p~sons offendinge in Usurie Shyftes or Chevysaunce agaynst this present Acte , and not taking or receyvinge but onely after the Rate of Tenne Poundes in the Hundred or und=r= for a yeare , $shall $be {TEXT:shalbe} onely punyshed by the Paynes and Forfaytures provyded and appoynted by this Acte agaynst suche as shall not take or receave over and above the Rate of Tenne Poundes in the Hundred for a yere , and not otherwyse . (STAT-1570-E2-P1,4,543.14) Thys Acte to contynue and endure for and during the space of fyve yeres next after thend of this present Parliament and from thence unto thend of the fyrst Session of the Parliament then next ensuinge ; (STAT-1570-E2-P1,4,543.15) And bee yt further enacted by thaucthoritie aforesayd , That yf this present Act shall not be contynued in the fyrst Session of the Parliament next ensuing the said tearme of fyve yeres , and then in the same Session no other Statute or P~vysion made agaynste Usurie or corrupt Chevysaunce , that then all and every the Lawes and Statutes repelled by this Acte shall remayne and be of such lyke Force and Effect as yf this present Acte had never ben had ne made . (STAT-1570-E2-P1,4,543.16) CHAPTER I . (STAT-1570-E2-P1,4,588.19) AN ACTE FOR THE PUNYSHEMENT OF SUCHE AS SHALL REBELLYOUSLY TAKE OR DETEYNE , OR CONSPIRE TO TAKE OR DETEYNE FROM THE QUEENS MA=TIE= , ANY OF HER CASTELLES TOWERS FORTRESSES HOLDES , &C . (STAT-1570-E2-P1,4,588.20) For the better avoyding of all suche unlawfull Practises secret Conspiracies and Devises , as latelye have been stirred and moved by some evell disposed p~sons againste our moste gratiouse Soveraigne Ladye the Queene , in seeking by false Conspiracyes and undue Meanes to surpryse and take from her Majestie some of her Castelles Towres Fortresses Shippes Ordinances Artillerye & other Munitions of Warre : Bee yt enacted by the Queenes moste Excellent Majestye , with Thassent of the Lordes Spirituall and Temporall , and the Commons in this p~sent Parliament assembled , and by Aucthorytye of the same , That yf any p~son or p~sons whatsoever at any Tyme hereafter doe , within this Realme or elswhere , unlawfully and of his or their owne Aucthorytie , compasse imagine conspire practyse or devyse by any Wayes or Meanes with Force or by any Crafte Devyse or Sleight , maliciously and rebellyously to take , or to deteyne or keep from our said Soveraigne Ladye the Queene , anny of her Castelles Towres Fortresses or Holdes , or malytyously and rebellyously to rase burne or destroye any Castell Bulwercke or Forte , or any parte of them , having any Munic~on or Ordinance of the Queenes Ma=ties= therein , or appoincted to bee garded with any Souldiours for Defence thereof , within this Realme or within any of her Ma=ties= Dominions or Countreis or the Marches of the same , and the same Compasses Imaginac~ons Practises Conspiracyes or Devices or any of them , shall and doe advisedly by any express Woordes Speache Acte Deed or Wryting expresse utter or declare for any the malytiouse and rebelliouse Intentes aforesaid , that then everye suche p~son and p~sons so hereafter offendinge in any the p~misses , their Aydours Councellours Comforters Consentours and Abettours knowing thereof , being thereof lawfully convicted according to the Lawes of this Realme , $shall $be {TEXT:shalbe} judged a Felon and Felons , and that every suche Offence $shall $be {TEXT:shalbe} judged to bee Felony , and the Offendoure and Offendours therein , their said Aydours Comforters Counsellours and Abettours , being thereof lawfullye convicted , shall have and suffer paynes of Deaths as in cases of Felonye , without having any Benefyte of Cleargye or Sainctuarye , and also shall forfayte and lose all his Goodes and Cattelles Landes & Ten~tes as in other cases of Felonye hathe been used and accustomed . (STAT-1570-E2-P1,4,588.22) And bee yt further enacted by thaucthorytye aforesaid , That yf any person or persons doe at any tyme hereafter with Force malyciouslye and rebellyouslye deteyne keepe or w=th=hold from the Queenes Ma=tie= , any of her Castelles Towres Fortresses or Holdes , within this Realme or within any her Ma=ties= Domynions or Countreis or Marches of the same , or do malytiously rebellyouslye and with Force deteyne keepe or withhold from her Ma=tie= any of her Shippes Ordinaunce Artyllerye or other Munitions or Fortyfycaco~ns of Warres , and doe not rendre and give up the same to our said Soveraigne Ladye , or to suche person as her Ma=tie= shall appointe to receave the same to her Ma=ties= use , within syxe dayes next after hee or they so offending $shall $bee {TEXT:shalbe} co~maunded by our said Soveraigne Ladye the Queene , by open Proclamations under the Greate Seale of England to bee made in any Place or Markett Towne within the Countye where any suche Offence $shall $bee {TEXT:shalbe} committed , Or shall wyllfullye malytiously and rebellyously burne or destroye , or cause to be burned or destroyed , any of the Queens Shippes , Or malytiouslye and rebellyouslye barre or cause to bee barred any Haven within any of the Queenes Ma=ties= Domynions , That then everye suche person and persons so offending , their Aydours Councellours and Abettours , being thereof lawfully convicte according to the Lawes of this Realme , $shall $bee {TEXT:shalbe} adjudged Traytou=rs= , and their Offences in any of the Premysses , $shall $bee {TEXT:shalbe} accepted judged and taken for Highe Treason , and the Offendours therein , their Aydours Councellours and Abettours , being thereof lawfullye convycte according to the Lawes of this Realme , shall have and suffer suche paynes of Deathe , and also shall forfayte and lose , as in Cases of Highe Treason is lymyted and accustomed . (STAT-1570-E2-P1,4,588.23) This Acte to endure during the Queenes Ma=ties= Lyef that nowe is onlye . (STAT-1570-E2-P1,4,588.24) CHAPTER II . (STAT-1570-E2-P1,4,589.27) AN ACTE AGAINSTE SUCHE AS SHALL CONSPYRE OR PRACTYSE THE ENLARGEMENT OF ANY PRISONER COMMITTED FOR HIGHE TREASON . (STAT-1570-E2-P1,4,589.28) Forasmuch as greate Daunger maye ensue to the Queens Ma=ties= Person , and great trouble to the State of the Realme , by unlawfull Conspiracyes Devyces and Imaginac~ons , to enlarge and sett at lybertye suche p~sons as bee or $shall $bee {TEXT:shalbe} coomytted {COM:sic} to any Pryson Gard or Custodye for any Treason touching the Royall Person of our said Soveraigne Ladye : againste whiche Devyces Conspiracyes and Imaginations sufficyent Remedye by the Lawes of this Realme hathe not been heeretofore had ne provided , unles the same Conspiracyes Imaginations and Devyces were executed and brought to Effecte : Bee yt therefore enacted by our said Soveraigne Ladye the Queen , the Lordes Sp~uall and Temporall and the Commons in this Parlyament assembled and by the Aucthorytye of the same , That yf any person or persons , at any tyme after the Ende of this p~sent Session of Parlyament , shall imagine conspyre devyse invent or goe about unlawfully and maliciouslye to enlardge or sett at Lybertye anny person or persons co~mytted or to be co~mytted to any Pryson Garde or Custodye by her Highnes especyall Co~maundement , for any Treason or suspition of Treason concerning the person of our said Soveraigne Ladye the Queene , before any Indyctament of suche person so sought or intended to bee sett at Large or Lybertye as ys aforesaid ; And the same Conspiracies Imaginac~ons Devyses or Inventions , shall by expresse Woordes Wryting or other Matter or Acte expressely or manyfestly set forthe utter or declare , That then every person so offending shall incurre the Penaltye & Forfayture of myspryssion of Treason , and that all and every Offence and Offences to bee commytted and donne as is aforesaid $shall $bee {TEXT:shalbe} deemed and taken for mysprysion of Treason . (STAT-1570-E2-P1,4,589.30) And bee yt also enacted by the Aucthorytee aforesaid , That yf any person or persons , at any tyme after thend of this p~sent Session of Parlyament , shall imagyne conspyre devyse invent or goe aboute unlawfullye and malytiouslye to enlarge or set at Lyb~tie any person or persons co~mytted or to bee co~mytted to any Pryson Garde or Custodye , being or which hereafter $shall $be {TEXT:shalbe} indycted of any Treason in any wyse concerning the person of our said Soveraigne Ladye the Queene , and the same Conspyracies Imaginac~ons Devyses or Inventions $shall $by {TEXT:shalby} expresse Woordes Wryting or other Matter or Acte expressely or manyfestly sett forthe utter or declare , that then every suche person so offending , $shall $bee {TEXT:shalbe} deemed & adjudged a Felon , and suffer losse and forfayture as in cases of Felonye by the due course of the Lawe of this Realme . (STAT-1570-E2-P1,4,589.31) And bee yt further enacted by thaucthorytye aforesaid , That yf any person or persons , at any tyme after thend of this p~sent Session of Parlyament , shall imagine conspyre devyse invent or goe about unlawfully and malitiouslye to enlardge or sett at Lybertye any p~son or p~sons being co~mytted to any Pryson Garde or Custodye , after the same person or persons ys or $shall $bee {TEXT:shalbe} attaincted or convicted of anny Treason in anny wyse conc~ning the Royall Person of our said Soveraigne Ladye the Queene , and the same Conspiracyes Imaginations Devyses or Inventions $shall $by {TEXT:shalby} expresse Woordes Writing Matter or Acte , as is aforesaid , sett forthe utter or declare , that then everye suche person so offending $shall $bee {TEXT:shalbe} deemed and adjudged an Highe Traytour and shall suffer losse and forfayte as in cases of Highe Treason by the Lawe and Statutes of this Realme . (STAT-1570-E2-P1,4,589.32) This Acte to endure during the Queenes Majesties Lyef that nowe ys onelye . (STAT-1570-E2-P1,4,589.33)