WHEREAS in the Twenty eighth year of the Reign of King Henry the Sixth, there was one right wholesome Law made in this Realm for the suppressing, taking, and killing of notorious Thieves and Robbers, the Tenor whereof is in these words following. whereas Thieves, and evil Doers, increase in great store, and from day to other do increase in malice more than they have done heretofore, and do destroy the Commons with their Thefts, Steal­ings, and Manslaughters, and also do cause the Land to fall into decay and poverty; and waste every day more and more, and so it is like to be confounded, if there should not be remedy; It is ordained by Authority of the said Council, That it shall be lawful to every Liegeman of our Sovereign Lord the King, all manner notorious and known Thieves, and Thieves found robbing, and spoiling, or breaking Houses by night or by day, and Thieves found with the m [...]nner to kill them, and take them with out Impeachment, Arraignment, or Grievance to him to be done by our Sovereign Lord the King, his Justices, Officers, or any of his Ministers for any such Manslaugh­ter or Taking. And that every man that kills or takes any such Thieves, shall have one peny of every plough, & one Farthing of every Cottage within the Barony where the Manslaughter is done for every Thief. And that the Town where the said Manslaugh­ter is done, and other Four Towns next to the said Town, which were before charged with the Escapes for such Manslaughter, shall be quit and discharged of the said Escapes and every of them, without any Impeachment in any Court, or payment to any Officer. And that the Sheriff of the County shall have sufficient power to make leavy of the Money aforesaid in the said Form, within one Moneth after the said Manslaughter, and shall deliver it to him that made the said Homicide. And if the Sheriff be negligent in lea­ [...]ying the said Money in the Form aforesaid, that he shall pay the summe of Money to the party that hath cause to have it. Now we the Lord Lieutenant and Council [Page] considering that if the said Statute had been put in due execution, many spoils, Thefes, and Robberies lately committed in this Kingdom had been preven­ted, and most of the notorious Thieves and Robbers who have been active therein had been e're this apprehended, and brought unto due execution. Wherefore and for the preventing of all mischiefs of the like kind for the time to come, And to the intent that the Prosecutors of such evil Malefactors may receive their just reward. We the Lord Lieutenant and Council have thought fit, and do hereby accordingly will and require, and in his Maje­sties Name strictly charge and command all, and every his Majesties Liege people, and good Subjects in this Kingdom, That they and every of them in their several Counties, Baronies, Villages, Hamlets, and places of dwelling or aboad in this Kingdom, be aiding and assisting to each other in the taking, apprehending, and killing of all such notorious Thieves, Rob­bers, and Spoilers of their Countrey, as shall be found robbing and spoil­ing or breaking Houses by Night or by day, against the force and effect of the said Statute. And we do also command and require, That the Sheriffs of the several and respective Counties of this Kingdom, do according to the power given unto them by the said Act, Take care to make Leavies of the Monies intended by the said Act to be raised for the reward, and incourage­ment of such as shall take or kill any such notorious Malefactors; And that upon the taking or killing of any such notorious Thief, and Thieves, or Robbers, they do within one moneth after send unto Vs the Lord Lieute­nant and Council an Accompt thereof, and of their proceedings therein, as occasion shall require, whereof they may not fail at their utmost perils.