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Magistrates may by night or day search and seize arms or ammunition of papists, or so reputed, not licenced, or in trust for them,
enter houses, &c. on reasonable suspicion of concealment,
preserved for the King's use,
if taken by force as aforesaid, redelivered,
on suspicion of concealment shall summon and examine on oath.
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[XV. ((a)
)] And whereas notwithstanding the laws now in being for the better securing the government by disarming papists there is good reason to suspect, that several persons contrary to the true intent and meaning of said laws have arms and ammunition in their custody and power; by means whereof many of the mischiefs herein before mentioned have happened: be it enacted by the authority aforesaid, that from and after the first day of March one thousand seven hundred and seventy six it shall and may be lawful for any one or more justice or justices of the peace, and for all mayors, sheriffs, and chief magistrates of cities and towns corporate, within their respective jurisdictions, from time to time, as well by night as by day, to search for, seize, and carry away, or cause to be searched for, seized, and carried away, all arms and ammunition whatsoever, belonging to or in the custody or possession of any papist or reputed papist, not duly licenced to keep and carry the same, or in the hands or possession of any person or persons in trust for them or any of them, and for that purpose to enter into any dwelling-house, outhouse, office, field, or other place belonging to such papist, or reputed papist, and into the dwelling-house, outhouse, office, field, or other place belonging to any other person whatsoever, where he or they shall have reasonable cause to suspect, any such arms or ammunition shall be concealed; and such arms and ammunition, so taken and seized shall by the person or persons so seizing and taking the same be preserved for the use of his Majesty, his heirs and successors, to be disposed of as he or they shall think fit; unless it shall appear, that the same were forceably taken and carried away from some of his Majesty's subjects in manner herein before mentioned; in which case such arms and ammunition shall be delivered to the person or persons, from whom the same were so forceably taken; and in case any such justice or justices of the peace, or other chief magistrate aforesaid, after such search made shall have cause to suspect, that any arms or ammunition remain concealed and not seized as aforesaid, he and they is and are hereby required to cause such person or persons, whom he or they shall suspect to have concealed the same, to be brought before him and them, and to be examined upon his, her, or their corporal oath concerning the same.
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