1797: 37 George 3 c.40: An Act for the better Prevention and Punishment of Attempts to seduce Persons serving in His Majesty’s Forces by Sea or Land from their Duty and Allegiance to His Majesty, or to incite them to Mutiny or Disobedience.

[Preamble.]

WHEREAS divers wicked and evil disposed persons, by the publication of written or printed papers, and by malicious and advised speaking, have of late industriously endeavoured to seduce persons serving in his Majesty’s forces by sea and land, from their duty and allegiance to his Majesty, and to incite them to mutiny and disobedience; 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,

[Persons convicted of endeavouring to seduce any of the King’s seamen or soldiers from their duty, shall suffer death.]

That from and after the passing of this act, any person who shall maliciously and advisedly endeavour to seduce any person or persons serving in his Majesty’s forces by sea or land, from his or their duty and allegiance to his Majesty, or to incite, or stir up any such person or persons to commit any act of mutiny, or to make, or endeavour to make any mutinous assembly, or to commit any traitorous or mutinous practice whatsoever, shall, on being legally convicted of such offence, be adjudged guilty of felony, and shall suffer death, as in cases of felony, without benefit of clergy.

[Offences against this act, committed at sea, or in this kingdom, may be tried at any court of Oyer and Terminer in Ireland.]

II. Provided always, and be it enacted by the authority aforesaid, That any offence committed against this act, whether committed on the high seas, or within this kingdom, shall and may be prosecuted and tried before any court of Oyer and Terminer, or gaol delivery for any county in this kingdom, in such manner and form, as if the said offence had been therein committed.

[Persons tried under this act, shall not be tried again for same offences; nor shall this act prevent the trial of persons for high treason, or misprision, who have not been tried under it.]

III. Provided always, and it is hereby declared and enacted, That any person who shall he tried and acquitted, or convicted of any offence against this act, shall not be liable to be indicted, prosecuted, or tried again for the same offence or fact as high treason, or misprision of high treason, and that nothing in this act contained shall be construed to extend to prevent any persons guilty of any offence against this act, and who shall not be tried for the same, as an offence against this act, from being tried for the same as high treason, or misprision of high treason, in such manner, as if this act had not been made.

[In force until 2 months after commencement of next session.]

IV. And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That this act shall continue and be in force, until the expiration of two months after the commencement of the next session of parliament, and no longer.

Source: The Statutes at Large, Passed in the Parliaments Held in Ireland, volume 18.

See also: Great Britain: 1797 37 George 3 c.70: Incitement to Mutiny

Further reading: Wikipedia.