August 1646: An Ordinance for Explanation of a former Ordinance of 24 Nov. 1645. for Additional Excize to pay Artificers.

August, 1646

[6 August, 1646.]

Ord. of 24 Nov., 1645.; Measure of Fother of Lead.; Excize on Silver and Gold.

For the better putting in execution and explanation of an Ordinance of Parliament dated the 24. of November, in the yeer 1645. for an Additional Excize or New-Impost for Payment of the Artificers, and others; Be it Declared and Ordained by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, That twenty hundred weight shall be accompted for one Fother of Lead, and that the Maker or Smelter thereof, shall be liable to the payment of five shillings the Fother, as well as the first Buyer, if he be exporter thereof. That four pence shall be paid by way of Excize for every ounce Troy, and so for a greater or lesser quantity proportionably of Silver or Gold, that any Refiner, Gold-smith, Gold-drawer, or other shall prepare, melt down or disgross, or cause to be prepared, melted down or disgrossed for Wyer, the same to be paid by every such Refiner, Goldsmith, Gold-drawer, or other at the Bar where the same shall be disgrossed.

Excize on Copper, &c.

That eight pence shall be paid upon every pound weight containing sixteen ounces Averdupois, so proportionably for a greater or lesser quantity of all Copper or other Metal that any Wire-drawer, Goldsmith, or other shall prepare, make fit or disgross, or cause to be prepared, fitted or disgrossed for wire, the same in like manner to be paid by every such Wire-drawer, Goldsmith, or other, at the Bar where the same shall be disgrossed.

All Metal to be brought to one place to be disgrossed for Wire.; Penalty for keeping disgrossing instruments elsewhere.; Abatement on waste made in disgrossing.

And be it likewise Declared and Ordained by Authority aforesaid, as well for the securing, discovering, and collecting of the several sums of Money imposed and declared by this present Ordinance upon all Silver, Gold, Copper, and other Metal disgrossed for Wyer, as to prevent the false making of these Commodities; and that the Excize may be leavyed equally upon all the Makers thereof, that all Gold, Silver, Copper, and other Metal to be disgrsssed for Wire as aforesaid, be brought to one certain Place or Places, appointed or to be appointed by the Commissioners of Excize within the City or County where such Metal is prepared or fitted, and there disgrossed, and not elsewhere: And that no Bars, Benches, Screws, Engines, or other Instruments for disgrossing, be used and allowed in any other place, upon forfeiture of all such Silver, Gold, Copper or other Metal as shall be found to be disgrossed elsewhere, or double the value thereof, to be Leavied, Raised, and Disposed of in such maner and form as is directed by the 13. and 15. Articles of the Ordinance of Excize of the 11. of Sept. 1643. And for the better encouragement of all Traders and Dealers in any of the said Commodities, that for all waste that shall arise and be made in the disgrossing or working of any of the said Gold, Silver, Copper, and other Metal, the same being brought in like maner, and at the same place afterward melted down, such abatements and allowances shall be made and given, as shall be thought fit by the Commissioners of Excize, or such as they shall appoint under their Hands and Seals.

Metal thread to be made into skeins and marked.; Excize on all Metal thread imported to be paid by First Buyer.; Same to be marked before sale in like manner as native silver and metal thread.; Excize on Oils reduced, and to be paid by First Buyer.

And for prevention of all fraud that may otherwise be practised to elude this Ordinance, Be it in like maner Ordained, that all right Silver, and Silver and Gold Threed be made up into Skeans, and all Copper and Brass Thread into Skeans or on Quils, and brought in like maner to a certain place or places, appointed or to be appointed by the Commissioners of Excize, there to be Marked or Sealed with such Mark or Seal as shall be made or appointed by the said Commissioners, upon penalty of like forfeiture before expressed; Provided, That no Officer or other shall take or demand any fee or reward whatsoever, of any Trader or Dealer in any of the said Commodities for that service. And for the better encouragement and increase of the Manufacturer in this Kingdom; Be it likewise Ordained, That all Gold, Silver & Copper Thred imported or to be imported, shall pay by way of Excize & New Impost in every twenty shillings value thereof, and so proportionably for a greater or lesser quantity (besides the rate already imposed) Twelve pence, the same to be paid by the first Buyer thereof from the Merchant, Importer or Ingrosser, and shall be received, collected and issued forth in such maner, and to such intent and purposes as are appointed and directed by the said Ordinance of the Twenty fourth of November last, first above mentioned. And likewise, that the same before sale thereof be sealed and marked in like maner as the native silver, and Silver and Gold Thred, upon penalty of like forfeiture as is before expressed, without any fee or reward also had, or given to any Officer imployed for that service. And it is further Ordained and Declared by authority aforesaid, That all Linseed Oyle, Whale Oyle, Rape Oyle, Pilchard, and all other Oyles made and spent in this Kingdom, formerly set at Twelve pence, shall now pay onely Six pence upon every Twenty shillings value, and so proportionably for a greater or lesser quantity, to be paid also by the first Buyer, and the Maker to accompt every moneth for all Oyles made and delivered, upon pain of Five pounds to be forfeited and leavied by Distress for every default therein.

Excize on Silks to be paid by First Buyer.

That the Excise of Six pence charged upon every Twenty shillings value of Silks dyed, besides the Twelve pence at first imposed, was, and is intended, and hereby declared to be received and leavied on Silk dyed, and that the same, as also the Excize of Three pence upon every Twenty shillings value of Silk in the Gums already thrown, shall be paid by the respective first Buyer thereof.

Excize on native Soaps to be paid by Maker.

That the several and respective Rates of Excise, laid and imposed on the several and respective sorts of Soap made in this Kingdom, over and besides what the same were at first charged with, and Ordained to be paid by the first Buyer, shall be all respectively paid by the Maker thereof; and likewise that the addition of Eighteen pence the firkin made to the Eighteen pence before imposed on Soap imported, be taken off the Firkin, and paid and leavied on every Twenty shillings value thereof, and so proportionably for a greater or lesser quantity by the first Buyer thereof from the Merchant or Importer.

Reduction of rate on Lamperns.

And lastly, That all Lamperns for bait of Codfish, rated at ten shillings the thousand, shall pay onely Twelve pence in the thousand Excize.