Editing Border reivers (section)

===Legislation===
In 1606 an act ([[4 Jas. 1]]. c. 1) to assist the recent [[Union of the Crowns]] was enacted; it was [[long title]]d ''An act for the utter abolition of all memory of hostility, and the dependence thereof, between England and Scotland, and for repressing of occasions of disorders, and disorders in time to come''. The act repealed nine English laws enacted over the previous centuries and considered hostile to Scotland; the repeal became effective when 13 Scottish laws considered hostile to England had been repealed.<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/statutesatlarge50britgoog#page/n226/mode/2up Statutes at Large – Volume 7 – 39 Elizabeth to 12 Charles II – 1597–8 to 1660], p.195</ref> Three years later an act ([[7 Jas. 1]]. c. 1) dealing with criminal law in the border region was enacted; it was long titled ''An act for the better execution of justice, and suppressing of criminal offenders, in the north parts of the kingdom of England.'' To deal with cross-border flight, the act allowed the trial of an Englishman in Scotland if the felony was committed there, and he was later arrested in England; it became effective after a similar act had been passed in Scotland.<ref>[https://archive.org/stream/statutesatlarge50britgoog#page/n248/mode/2up] Statutes at Large – Volume 7 – 39 Elizabeth to 12 Charles II – 1597–8 to 1660], p.216</ref>

Following the [[Restoration (England)|Restoration]] and long-running lawlessness by [[Moss-trooper|Moss troopers]] nearly six decades later, parliament passed the [[Moss Troopers Act 1662]] ([[14 Cha. 2]]. c. 22) for the border area; it was [[long title]]d ''An Act for preventing of Theft and Rapine upon the Northern Borders of England.'' Section seven of the act revives both previous acts passed under James I.<ref>[http://www.british-history.ac.uk/statutes-realm/vol5/pp417-418 Statutes of the Realm: Volume 5, 1628–80], p.417</ref> With the 1662 act about to expire, the sixth session of [[Cavalier Parliament]] passed the [[Moss Troopers Act 1666]] ([[18 & 19 Cha. 2]]. c. 3), long titled ''An Act to continue a former Act for preventing of Thefte and Rapine upon the Northerne Borders of England.'' Under section two of the act, the [[benefit of clergy]] was taken away from those convicted (generally meaning a death sentence), or otherwise, the notorious thieves and spoil-takers in Northumberland or Cumberland were to be [[penal transportation|transported]] to America, "there to remaine and not to returne".<ref>[http://www.british-history.ac.uk/statutes-realm/vol5/p598 Statutes of the Realm: Volume 5, 1628–80], p.598</ref><ref>[https://archive.org/stream/statutesatlarge20unkngoog#page/n587/mode/2up Statutes at Large, Volume 24, Index for acts passed before 1 Geo. 3] p.&nbsp;581</ref>

Generally associated with several historic events of the period, as well as continuing lawlessness, or the consideration of insufficient government control to prevent "theft and rapine upon the northern borders of England", these acts were repeatedly continued over the next 80 years. The initial acts include the Moss Trooper Act 1677 ([[29 & 30 Cha. 2]]. c. 2),<ref name="auto28">{{Cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/statutesatlarge29britgoog?view=theater|title=Statutes at large ..|date=10 December 1762|publisher=Cambridge [London]|via=Internet Archive}}</ref> the Moss Trooper Act 1685 ([[1 Ja. 2]]. c. 14),<ref name="auto28"/> the Moss Trooper Act 1695 ([[7 & 8 Will. 3]]. c. 17),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/statutesatlarge38britgoog?view=theater|title=Statutes at large ..|date=10 December 1762|publisher=Cambridge [London]|via=Internet Archive}}</ref> the Moss Trooper Act 1700 ([[12 & 13 Will. 3]]. c. 6),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/statutesatlarge31britgoog?view=theater|title=Statutes at large ..|date=10 December 1762|publisher=Cambridge [London]|via=Internet Archive}}</ref> and the Moss Trooper Act 1712 ([[12 Ann.]] c. 10).<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/statutesatlarge69britgoog?view=theater|title=Statutes at large ..|date=10 December 1762|publisher=Cambridge [London]|via=Internet Archive}}</ref> Starting in 1732, although the 'Moss trooper' [[short title]] was dropped, the enforcement acts were continued by other variously named acts, most of which continued the established descriptive phrase "for preventing theft and rapine upon the northern borders of England", as the first item included. These later acts include the Perpetuation of Various Laws Act 1732 ([[6 Geo. 2]]. c. 37),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/statutesatlarge03britgoog?view=theater|title=The statutes at large, from Magna Charta to ... 1869 ..|date=10 December 1762|publisher=Cambridge, Printed by Joseph Bentham|via=Internet Archive}}</ref> the Universities (Wine Licences) Act 1743 ([[17 Geo. 2]]. c. 40),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/statutesatlarge01britgoog?view=theater|title=The statutes at large, from Magna Charta to ... 1869 ..|date=10 December 1762|publisher=Cambridge, Printed by Joseph Bentham|via=Internet Archive}}</ref> and the Continuance of Laws Act 1750 ([[24 Geo. 2]]. c. 57),<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://archive.org/details/statutesatlarge67britgoog?view=theater|title=The Statutes at Large from the Magna Charta, to the End of the Eleventh Parliament of Great ...|date=10 December 1765|publisher=Printed by J. Bentham|via=Internet Archive}}</ref> which continued previous acts until 1 September 1757 "and from thence to the end of the then next session of parliament".