Section VII In Actions for executing Act,

General Issue may be pleaded.; Treble Costs.

Provided X1alwaies That if any Action Bill Plaint or Suite shall att any time after the said Five and twentieth day of March be co[m]menced or brought against any person or persons whatsoever for or by reason of any matter or thing which hee or they shall doe in pursuance of this Act it shall and may be lawfull to and for the person or persons so sued or prosecuted to plead the General Issue and give this Act or any other special matter in evidence And if the Verdict shall passe with the Defendant or Defendants in such Action or the Plaintiff or Plaintiffs become nonsuit or suffer any X2discontinuance thereof that in X3any such case such Defendant or Defendants shall have his or their treble costs which he or they shall have sustained in defence of such Action or Suit for which the said Defendant or Defendants shall have the like remedy as in other cases where costs by the Laws of this Realme are given to the Defendants.