October 1648: An Ordinance Concerning The Company of Merchants Trading into France.

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.