Section XVI Offenders how to be convicted.

One Witness.; Penalties how disposed; when Conviction on Prosecution; when on View of Justice.; Penalty how to be levied.; Default of Distress, Imprisonment.; Proviso for Peers.

And for the more speedy Reformation and Punishment of all and every the Offences aforesaid Bee it further enacted by the authoritie aforesaid That every Justice of the Peace within the Counties of Midlesex and Surrey and City and Liberties of Westminster and places aforesaid within their severall Limitts respectively shall have Power and Authority upon his owne Knowledge or View Confession of the Partie or Proofe of one credible Witnesse upon Oath before him (which Oath the said Justice is hereby impowered to administer) to convict any person or persons of any the Offences aforesaid whereby such person or persons soe convict shall incurr the Pains Penalties and Forfeitures aforesaid one moyety whereof shall bee disposed and employed for and towards the Reliefe of the Poore of the Parish or Place where the Offence shall be com[m]itted or done to be paid to the Overseers of the Poore of the same for that use and the other Moyety thereof for him or them that shall discover and prosecute the same in case the said Conviction be by Discovery and Prosecution And if the Conviction shall be by X1the View or Knowledge of any one or more Justice or Justices of the Peace then one halfe of the Penalty shall be disposed of to the Reliefe of the Poore as aforesaid and the other Moyety if for a default of Payment to goe to and be imployed for and towards the repaireing paveing and cleanseing X2of the said Streets or places to be paid to the Scavengers of the place and by them imployed for that use or otherwise to the Reliefe of the Poore as aforesaid And all the said Penalties shall be levyed by Distresse and Sale of the Goods and Chattells of the Offender by Warrant under the Hand and Seale of any Justice of the Peace of the place to be directed to the Constables and Headburroughs of the same Parish where the Offence was done rendering the Surplusage to the partie And in default of Distresse or not payment of the said Penalties within six dayes after demand thereof where it is not hereby otherwise provided or Notice in Writeing left at the House or Dwelling place of the Offender by the said Constable or Headburrough (the said Offender not being a Peere of this Realme) shall be committed to the Common Goale of the said Countyes or City respectively by the Warrant of any such Justice under his Hand and Seale there to remaine without Baile or Mainprize untill Payment