HIGHWAYMEN ACT (1692). An Act for Encouraging the Apprehending of Highway Men.

CRIME & PIRACY. Great Britain. Parliament.

Published by London: Charles Bill and the Executrix of Thomas Newcomb, 1692

About this Item

Folio (11.25 inches). 4 & 5 William & Mary, Chapter 8. General title leaf + pages 307-312. Woodcut Royal coat of arms, headband, and decorative initial. Text in Black Letter. Neatly extracted from a bound volume. Highwaymen were outlaws who worked alone or in gangs and stole from travellers. They usually travelled and robbed on horseback, although some travelled on foot. Many of them were disbanded soldiers and officers of the English Civil War and French wars, and often attacked stage coaches and mail carriers due to their lack of protection. This Act established a monetary reward for the capture of highwaymen, and gave immunity to those highwaymen who turned in their accomplices. It offered Forty Pounds to any private person who either apprehended a highwayman or caused a highwayman to be apprehended, prosecuted, and convicted. If the private person who attempted to seize the highwayman was killed in action, that person s estate would receive Forty Pounds upon submission of proof of such action. As well, the Act stated that whoever was instrumental in taking a highwayman down could keep his horse, furniture and arms, money, and other effects (provided that it was not stolen property). Convicted highwaymen were sentenced to death by hanging. Seller Inventory # 198

Bibliographic Details

Title: HIGHWAYMEN ACT (1692). An Act for ...

Publisher: London: Charles Bill and the Executrix of Thomas Newcomb

Publication Date: 1692

Binding: Soft cover

Condition: Very Good

Edition: 1st Edition