October, 1648.
[19 October, 1648.]
Rate of 5s. per cent. for 2 years on all goods (except wines) exported nto French dominions without Straits of Gibraltar, or imported thence.; Rates on wines imported.; Governor and Company of Merchants trading into France to collect the duties.; To name collectors of the duties.
The Lords and Commons Assembled in Parliament, finding,
as well by the complaints of the Merchants commonly knowne by
the name of the Governour and Company of Merchants of London,
trading into France, as otherwise, that severall Arrests and Seizures
have been of late unduly made in the Dominions of the French
King, on the Ships and Goods of English Merchants trading thither
upon private means Actions and pretences, whereas in truth the
same are of generall and publike concernment to this State; in
which Cases, for want of a publick Stock, and Ministers to be thereon
imployed, the Trade of this Kingdome hath beene much obstructed,
and particular mens interests much prejudiced, to the very great
damage of the said particular Merchants, and their discouragement in Trade and Commerce; Doe therefore hereby Order and
Ordaine, That all and every person and persons, as well Natives
as Strangers, which shall during the space of two yeares now next
ensuing export out of this Kingdome of England, and Dominion
of Wales, any Goods, Wares, or Merchandize of any nature or kind
whatsoever into any the parts of the Dominions of the French
King, without the Streights of Gibraltar, or which shall import
any Goods, Wares or Merchandize from thence into this Kingdome
or Dominion of Wales, shall pay five shillings upon every 100 1.
value of the said Goods which shall be so exported, or imported,
according to the Book of Rates established by Authority of this
present Parliament (Wines only excepted) and sixpence upon every
Tun of Wine of the growth of France, which shall during that time
be imported into this Kingdome, and Dominion of Wales; And
that the Governour and Company of Merchants of London trading
into France shall, and may, for and during the said space of two
yeares now next ensuing, take, receive and Collect of every person
and persons, as well Natives as Strangers, that shall during the
said space of two yeares now next ensuing, export out of this King
dome of England and Dominion of Wales, any Goods, Wares, or
Merchandizes whatsoever into any the parts of the Dominions
of the French King; or which shall import any Goods, Wares, or
Merchandize from thence into this Kingdome or Dominion of
Wales, the said duty of five shillings upon every 100.1. value of the
said Goods, according to the said Booke of Rates, and Sixpence
upon every Tunne of Wine of the growth of France, which shall
during that time be imported into this Kingdome of England,
and Dominion of Wales; And that the said Governour of the said
Company of Merchants of London trading into France for the time
being, or his Deputy or Deputies, shall and may from time to time
nominate and appoint Collectors, who are hereby enabled to receive
at the severall Custom-houses in the Port of London, and outports, all such summes of Money as shall hereafter during the
continuance of this Ordinance be payable, or paid for and in respect
of the said duty.
Disposal of moneys arising from the duties.; No Customs officer to pass warrants on such goods, unless signed by Governor of the Company or deputy.; Penalty for omission to pay duty.;Proviso for persons in out-ports trading into France.
And it is further Ordained, that all such summes of Money as
shall be Collected and received for the dutie aforesaid, in the port
of London, shall be issued and disposed of by the said Governour,
his Deputy or Deputies, with the advice and consent of the Major
part of the Assistance of the said company for the time being, and
the Monies Collected in the severall Out-ports within this Kingdom of England and Dominion of Wales, shall be issued and disposed of by the said Governour, or his Deputy or Deputies, with
the advice and consent of the Burgesses serving in Parliament for
the said Out-ports, or any foure of them respectively and not otherwise, for and towards the defraying of the charges of Suits, and
other charges of like nature, by reason of Arrests, and Seizures
heretofore made, or hereafter to be made in France of the Ships
and Goods of the Merchants of this Kingdome trading thither,
and for payment of the Salaries of such Officers and Ministers as
the said Governour and Company of Merchants of London trading
into France have imployed sithence the yeare of our Lord, 1640.
or shall imploy about those affairs in such manner, as in their
wisdomes shall be thought meet for maintenance and support
of their trade and commerce; And that the said duty may be duly
Collected and paid according to the true intent and meaning of
this Ordinance, It is Ordained that no Officer, or Officers belonging
to any Custom-house in this Kingdome and Dominion of Wales,
doe upon forfeiture and loss of his or their places, passe any
Warrant, Cocquet, or Bill, or permit any goods which shall be
exported out of this Kingdome of England and Dominion of Wales,
into any the parts of the Dominions of the French King, or which
shall be imported from thence hither to passe by any Warrant,
Cocquet, or Bill, unlesse the same be signed or subscribed by the
Governour of the said Company of Merchants of London trading
into France, his Deputy or Deputies, or by such person or persons
as shall be by him or them authorized by writing under the common
Seale of the said Company, to Collect and receive the said dutie,
who are hereby required to attend at the severall Custom-houses
in the ports of London, and outports at the usuall hours betweene
nine and twelve in the morning to receive the same, and to take
such further course for the dispatch of the service as he or they
in their wisedomes shall thinke fit; And it is further Ordered and
Ordained, That if any person or persons that are or shall be, according
to the true intent and meaning of this Ordinance, liable to the
payment of the said duty, shall refuse or omit to pay the same,
that all and every such person and persons so refusing or omitting
to pay the said duty, shall upon proofe made thereof, pay double
the value of the said duty, for all such Goods, Merchandize, and
Wines, for which he shal so refuse, or omit to pay the said dutie
in this Ordinance expressed, according to the tenour thereof. Pro
vided that neither this Ordinance nor anything therein contained
shall compell any person of the Out-ports trading into France
to pay this duty, except they shall declare their assent thereunto before the five and twentieth May, which shall be in the
yeare of our Lord, 1649. at the Assurance Office in London, to
the Merchants commonly knowne by the name of the Governour
and Company of Merchants of London trading into France.