January 1644: Ordinance to allow the Importation of Currants from the Turks Dominions.

January 1644

[30 January, 1643/4.]

Whereas, by an Ordinance of both Houses of Parliament, made the 26th Day of August 1642 (for the Reasons in the said Ordinance mentioned), the Importation of Currants from any Part beyond the Seas was utterly inhibited and forbidden: Now forasmuch as the Lords and Commons in Parliament, upon the humble Petition of The Levant Company, are informed, that the Reasons upon which the said Ordinance was grounded doth not extend to the Currants of the Growth of The Morea, within the Dominions of the Grand Signior, where is a great Vent of many Thousand Broad Cloths Yearly of the Manufactures of this Kingdom, exported by the said Company, as well into the Morea as other places within the Dominions of the Grand Signior, and the Rates and Taxes put on those Currants far more reasonable than those under the Government of the State of Venice: It is therefore Ordered, That it shall and may be lawful to and for The Levant Company, at all Time and Times, from and after the 1st Day of February 1643, to bring into this Kingdom all such Currants as are of the Growth of The Morea; and, after due Entries of the said Currants made in the Customhouse, and the Duties and Customs for the same duly paid, the said Company shall have Power to land and put to Sale all such Currants, any Act or Ordinances of Parliament to the contrary in any Wise notwithstanding: Provided, That Oath be made in the Custom-house where such Entries shall be made, that the Tsaid Currants so entered were laden from the Morea, or some other Place within the Grand Signior's Dominions.