Section II Prizes to be put into the Commissioners Hands till judged Prize.

Bail may be given for perishable Goods.

And whereas it would much tend to the annoying and damageing their Majesties Enemies and to the better secureing the Trade and Commerce of this Kingdom if greater numbers of Ships were equipp'd and set out in warlike manner by their Majesties Subjects To which end it is requisite that all fitting encouragement should be given to all Merchants Owners and Setters out of and all the Officers Marriners and Seamen co[m]manding and serving in any private Man of Warr for the seizeing surprizeing and takeing of Ships and Vessels belonging to their Majesties Enemies yet neverthelesse effectual provision ought alsoe to bee made that under pretence of Prize Goods noe evil minded Persons may by collusion carry on any Trade with France contrary to the true intent of the before mentioned Acts Be it enacted by the Authority aforesaid that all Ships and Vessels with their ladings and all Goods and Merchandizes that shall be taken or seized as Prize either by their Majesties Ships of Warr or by any Ships sett forth as Privateers or otherwise shall be imported and brought into some of their Majesties Ports of this Kingdom and immediately without breakeing of Bulk put into the possession of their Majesties Commissioners for Prizes or their Officers or Agents in the said Port who together with two or more such Persons as the Officers or Mariners of the respective Ships shall intrust and alsoe such Person or Persons as shall be appointed by the Co[m]missioners of the Customs in that behalfe are to take care of and preserve the same from imbezelments until such time as the same shall be adjudged lawfull Prize X1except where it shall appear to the Judge of the Admiralty that the Goods taken are perishable in which case the said Judge shall take Bail for such Goods in order to the sale thereof as hee might have done before the makeing of this Act yet so as to be subject to such manner of sale and distribution as is particularly provided by this Act.