1782: 22 George 3 c.25: An Act to prohibit the ransoming of Ships or Vessels captured from his Majesty’s Subjects, and of the Merchandize or Goods on Board such Ships or Vessels.
[Preamble.]
‘WHEREAS it is a common Practice, when Ships or Vessels are captured by the King’s Enemies, or by other Persons committing Acts of Hostilities, for Persons to agree with the Captors for Ransom of the same; and for securing the stipulated Ransom, not only to give Hostages, but also to bind themselves, or the Owners, for the Payment thereof: And whereas the Practice of ransoming is found, by Experience, to be liable to great Abuses, and there is Reason to apprehend that, upon the Whole, it operates more to the Disadvantage than for the Benefit of his Majesty’s Subjects:’ May it it therefore please your Majesty that it may be enacted; and be it enacted by the King’s most Excellent Majesty, by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the Authority of the same,
[After June 1, 1782, Vessels, &c. captured by the Enemy not to be ransomed.]
That, from and after the first Day of June, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-two, it shall not be lawful for any of his Majesty’s Subjects to ransom, or to enter into any Contract or Agreement for ransoming any Ship or Vessel belonging to any of his Majesty’s Subjects, or any Merchandize or Goods on Board the same, which shall be captured by the Subjects of any State at War with his Majesty, or by any Persons committing Hostilities against his Majesty’s Subjects.
[All Contracts made, and Securities given, contrary to this Act, to be void.]
II. And be it further enacted, That all Contracts and Agreements which shall be entered into, and all Bills, Notes, and other Securities, which shall be given by any Person or Persons for Ransom of any such Ship or Vessel, or of any Merchandize or Goods on Board the same, contrary to this Act, shall be absolutely void in Law, and of no Effect whatsoever.
[Penalty on Persons ransoming, or contracting to ransom, any Ship &c. contrary to this Act.]
III. And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That if any Person or Persons shall, after the said first Day of June, one thousand seven hundred and eighty-two, ransom, or enter into any Contract or Agreement for ransoming, any such Ship or Vessel, or any Merchandize or Goods on Board the same, every Person so offending shall, for every such Offence, forfeit and lose the Sum of five hundred Pounds; to be recovered, with full Costs of Suit, by any Person or Persons who shall sue for the same, by Action of Debt, in any of his Majesty’s Courts of Record at Westminster, in which Action no Essoin, Protection, Imparlance, or Wager of Law, shall be allowed.
[Limitation of this Act.]
IV. Provided always, and be it further enacted, That nothing herein contained shall extend, or be construed to extend, to make void any Contract or Agreement which shall be entered into, or any Bill, Note, or other Security, which shall be given, by any Master of a captured Ship or Vessel, or by any other Person or Persons on Board or belonging to the same, for Ransom thereof, or of any Merchandize or Goods on Board such Ship or Vessel; or to inflict any Penalty upon any Master of any captured Ship or Vessel, or any other Person or Persons on Board or belonging to the same, for ransoming, or entering into any Contract or Agreement for ransoming, such Ship or Vessel, or any Merchandizes or Goods on Board the same, until after the Expiration of two Months from the passing of this Act, for any Ship or Vessel sailing from any Foreign European Port; or until after the Expiration of four Months from the passing of this Act, for any Ship or Vessel sailing from any Foreign Port out of Europe.
Source: Ruffhead, Statutes at Large, Vol. 14.