Charles II, 1663: An Act for encourageing the Manufactures of makeing Linen Cloath and Tapistry.

Recital that Manufactures of Foreign Hemp, &c. is imported, to the Detriment of the Kingdom.

Reasons for passing this Act.; All Persons, Natives or Foreigners, may without Fee set up and use the Trades of Hemp-dressing and other Trades herein mentioned.

Whereas vast quantities of Linen Cloath and other Manufactures of Hempe and Flax and of Tapistry Hangings are dayly imported into this Kingdome from Forreigne parts to the great Detriment and Impoverishment thereof the Moneyes and quicke-stocke of this Kingdome being thereby dayly greatly exhausted and diminished and the poore thereof unimployed while the Materialls for the makeing of such Hangings are here more plentifull and better and cheaper then in those places from whence they are imported, and Flax and Hempe might be had here in great abundance and very good if by setting up the Manufactures of such Commodities as are made thereof it would be taken off the hands of such as sow and plant the same For the Encouragement therefore of those Manufactures bee it enacted and it is hereby enacted by the Kings most Excellent Majestie by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spirituall and Temporall and Commons in this present Parliament assembled and by the Authoritie thereof That from and after the first day of October next ensueing it shall and may be lawfull for any person or persons whatsoever Native or Forraigner freely and without paying any Acknowledgement Fee or other Gratuity for the same in any place of England or Wales priviledged or unpriviledged Corporate or not Corporate to sett up and exercise the Trade Occupation or Mistery of breaking hickling or dressing of Hempe or Flax as alsoe for makeing and whitening of Threed as alsoe of spining weaveing makeing whitening or bleching of any sorte of Cloath whatsoever made of Hempe or Flax onely, as alsoe the Trade Occupation or Mistery of makeing of Twine or Nets for Fishery or of stoveing of Cordage, as alsoe the Trade Occupation or Mistery of makeing any sort of Tapistry Hangings Any Law Statute or Usage to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding,

II. Foreigners using any of the said Trades for Three Years, and taking the Oaths of Allegiance and Supremacy, to be considered as natural-born Subjects.

And all Forreigners that shall really and bona fide sett up and use any of the Trades and Manufactures aforesaid by the space of three yeares in this Kingdome of England Dominion of Wales and Towne of Berwicke upon Tweede shall from thenceforth takeing the Oathes of Alleigiance and Supremacy before two Justices of the Peace neare unto their dwellings who are hereby authorized to administer the same enjoy all Priviledges whatsoever as the Naturall borne Subjects of this Kingdome.

III. Not to be liable to greater Taxes, &c. Exception.

And it is hereby enacted and declared That such Forraigners as shall exercise any of the Trades aforesaid by vertue of this Act shall not ( (fn. 1) ) any time be lyeable to any other or greater Taxes Payments or Impositions then such as are or shall be paid by His Majesties Naturall borne Subjects unlesse in case they shall use and exercise Merchandice into and from Forreigne parts, in which case they shall be lyeable to pay such Customes as have usually beene paid by Aliens dureing the space of Five yeares next ensueing and noe longer.