August 1644: An Ordinance for the better Regulating and Leavying of the Excise of Flesh, within the Cities of London and Westminster, Suburbs, and Lines of Communication.

August 1644

[3 August, 1644.]

Ord. 9 Jan. 1643 recited.

Whereas by the late Ordinance of Parliament, bearing date the ninth of January, 1643. there is a rate of Excise set upon all Beeves, Veales, Muttons, Porkes, Lambs, and other Butchers meat to be killed for Provision of Victuals; and the same to be leavied according to the value of the Beast when he is living, and all Butchers and others, from whom any such Excise should at any time become due, to pay and be accomptable for the same weekly.

From July 20 All Butchers Meat brought alive to London to pay Excise on value of Beasts living.

Now the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, finding the many inconveniences that doe, and will of necessitie arise, in leavying the same within the Cities of London and Westminster, Suburbs of both, and Lines of Communication, by the Rule prescribed by the aforesaid Ordinance, if the collecting the said Excise should be continued for the future in that way. For prevention whereof, and for the more Regular and facile leavying the same for the future, within the Cities of London and Westminster, their Suburbs, and Lines of Communication aforesaid: Be it Ordained by the said Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, That all Beeves, Muttons, Veals, Lambs, Porks, and other Butchers meat (in the aforesaid Ordinances, mentioned to be Exciseable from and after the twentieth day of this present July,) which shall be brought to be killed for slaughter, and Provision of Victuall, within the Cities of London and Westminster, their Suburbs, and Lines of Communication, shall be lyable to pay (while all such Cattell are yet alive) the said duty of Excise being one shilling in every twenty shillings value of the Beast living.

Butchers and Grasiers to inform Excise Officers of all such Beasts brought to London, etc and lines of communication.; Excise Officers to keep Register.

And be it further Ordained, That all Grasiers, Butchers, and others, who from, and after the day and yeare aforesaid, shall bring any live Beeves, Muttons, Veales, Lambs, Porks, or other sort of Butchers ware before specified, either by Land or by Water, into the Cities of London and Westminster, their Suburbs, or Lines of Communication, to be killed for sale or private spending, doe and shall at the Ports and first entrance within the Lines of Communication, make knowne unto such Officer or Officers as shall be appointed by the Commissioners of Excise, to attend such Port or place the number and nature of the said Cattell and the names of the right owners of them, which the said Officers shall Register in a Booke, and deliver unto the person who hath the charge of the said Cattell, a Certificate or Ticket of the same.

No living beasts to be put to sale in limits aforesaid save in Smithfield.

And be it further Ordained, That no Grasier, Butcher, or other person whatsoever who from and after the day and yeare aforesaid, shall bring any live Beeves, Muttons, Veales, Lambes, Porkes, or other Butchers ware before specified, either by Land or by Water, into the Cities of London and Westminster, their Suburbs, and Lines of Communication, doe or shall presume to put any such Beast to sale, in any place within the Line of Communication, but in the open and usuall place and market in Smithfield, upon pain of forfeiture of such Beast, or the value thereof.

Cattle sold to be registered and not delivered till Excise paid.; No Butcher to kill till Excise paid.

And that every such Grasier or other, who shall put to sale any kinde of Cattell Exciseable by this Ordinance, within the said Cities of London or Westminster, or Line of Communication, and within the time aforesaid, doe and shall give notice thereof, together with the true price of such Cattell, unto the Officer or Deputy appointed by the Commissioners of Excise, to attend at some knowne place in Smithfield to Register all such Cattell, and to receive the Excise due for them, and shall not make delivery of any Cattell so sold, untill the Excise be duly payd and a Ticket obtained to testifie the same upon forfeiture of treble the value of the Excise of such Cattell; And that every Butcher who shall buy such Cattell, shall duly pay the Excise as aforesaid, before he kill the same, upon pain of forfeiture of the said Cattell or the value of it.

Cattle brought to London, etc. for sale there to pay Excise on entering.

And be it further Ordained, That it any Butcher or other, who from and after the day and yeare above written, shall bring any live Cattell above specified, either by Land or by Water, into the Cities of London and Westminster, their Suburbs, or Lines of Communications, to kill for sale, or his own private spending, which he or they bought without the Line of Communication, that every such Butcher or other, shall at the entrance of such Port, pay the said duty of Excise for all such Cattell according to the intent of this Ordinance, unto the Officers for that purpose there deputed to receive the same.

Where cattle kept within London, etc., and not brought direct from without Line.

And that all Butchers and others, who for the uses aforesaid, shall from henceforth buy, feed, or otherwise have in readinesse to kill for Provision of Victuall the sorts and kinds of Cattell before mentioned, within the Cities of London and Westminster, or Line of Communication, which came not immediately from without the Line, shall before any such Cattell be by them put to sale or killed, pay the said duty of Excise into the Office of Excise, or else there give sufficient testimony that it was payd before.

Persons seeking to evade this Ord. to be also punished as Malignants.

And be it likewise Ordained, That all and every such Grasier, Butcher, or other person or persons whatsoever, as shall seeke to evade this Ordinance, by refusing to pay the aforesaid duty of Excise according to the Tenor hereof, or practise any other fraudulent meanes or wayes to elude the same in any particular, that every such person or persons so offending, besides the severall penalties before mentioned, shall be esteemed a person ill-affected to the State and suffer such further punishment as both Houses of Parliament shall adjudge.

Saving of former Ord. of Jan. 9 1643/4.

And lastly, the said Lords and Commons do further Ordaine and Declare, That every other matter and thing contained in the former Ordinance of Excise on Flesh of the ninth of January last, and thereby injoyned to be executed and done, save in the matter of Regulating and Leavying of the same as by this Ordinance, shall to all intents and purposes remaine, and be in full force and vertue.