November 1656: An Act for the Exportation of several Commodities of the Breed, Growth and Manufacture of this Commonwealth.

November, 1656

[27 November, 1656.]

Any person may transport from Towns or Ports where there is a Customer or Collector of Customes or their Deputies, the Commodities hereafter mentioned.; Paying the Custome at the rates herein set.; Geldings.

Forasmuch as it is found by long experience, that the prosperous Estate of all Islands is very much (under God) maintained and supported by a quick and flourishing Trade, and in a just endeavour and care, that the Exportation of the Native Commodities, overbalance the Importation of Foreign Commodities; And forasmuch as it hath pleased Almighty God to bless the industry and endeavours of the People of these Nations, in the great Improvement of Fens, Forests, Chases and other Lands, with a great redundancy of Corn, Cattel, Butter, Cheese, and divers other considerable Commodities, much desired by, and of great use to other Nations, and the Plantations abroad: And if Liberty were granted freely to export the same, and all restraints taken away, and the Customs made easie, it would much incourage Manufactures and advance Trade, which his Highness and the Parliament duly considering, are pleased that it be Enacted, And it is hereby Enacted by his Highness the Lord Protector and this present Parliament, And the authority of the same, That from and after the first day of January next coming, it shall and may be lawfull to all and every person or persons, being the Natives of this Commonwealth, or to any other person or persons whatsoever, onely out of such Towns and Ports of this Commonwealth where are, or shall be resident a Customer or Collector of Tunnage and Poundage, or one of their Deputies, and not elsewhere, to load, carry, and transport into the parts beyond the Seas, in amity with this Commonwealth, and there to sell the same, any Law, Usage, or Statute to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding, these several Commodities of the Breed, Growth or Manufacture of this Commonwealth hereafter mentioned, not paying Custome or any other Duty for them or any of them, exceeding the Rates herein expressed, limited and appointed; That is to say, That it shall and may be lawfull to transport Geldings, and that the Custome to be paid by the Natives of this Commonwealth be for every Gelding, Twenty shillings the Gelding, and by Strangers and Foreigners, for every Gelding, Thirty shillings the Gelding:

Oxen, Beef, Pork, Bacon Butter, Cheese, Candles, when the prices are not above the rates here following.;Custome of these Commodities.

Provided, and it is hereby Enacted, That such Geldings as shall be transported by the Natives of this Commonwealth into the Plantations thereof, by Shipping belonging thereunto, pay onely Ten shillings the Gelding: Also, that it shall and may be lawfull to transport Oxen, Barrel-Beef, Barrel-Pork, Bacon, Butter, Cheese, and Candles, any or either of them, when the prices of these several sorts of Commodities at the times, Havens and Places, when and where they shall be bought, Shipped or Laden, exceed not the Rates hereafter following; (viz.) The Barrel of Beef, containing thirty six Gallons, at Five pounds the Barrel: The Barrel of Pork containing as aforesaid, at Six pounds ten shillings the Barrel: The Flitch of Bacon, at Six pence the pound: The Barrel of Butter containing four Firkins, and each Firkin containing fifty six pounds of neat Butter, at Four pounds ten shillings the Barrel: The hundred weight of Cheese, at One pound ten shillings the hundred weight: The dozen pound of Candles, at Five shillings the dozen pound. And that the Custome of the said Commodities be as followeth; (viz.) For the Custome of every Ox, to be paid by the Natives of this Commonwealth, Six shillings eight pence the Ox, and by Foreigners and Strangers, Ten shillings the Ox: For the Custome of every Barre of Beef, to be paid by the Natives of this Commonwealth, Three shillings the Barrel; and by Strangers and Foreigners, Five shillings the Barrel: For the Custome of every Barrel of Pork, to be paid by the Natives of this Commonwealth, Four shillings the Barrel: and by Strangers and Foreigners, Six shillings the Barrel: For the Custome of every Flitch of Bacon, to be paid by the Natives of this Commonwealth, Eight pence the Flitch; and by Strangers and Foreigners, Twelve pence the Flitch: For the Custome of every Barrel of Butter, to be paid by the Natives of this Commonwealth, Three shillings the Barrel; and by Strangers and Foreigners Six shillings the Barrel: For the Custome of every hundred weight of Cheese, containing One hundred and twelve pounds, to be paid by the Natives of this Commonwealth, twelve pence the hundred weight; and by Strangers and Foreigners, One shilling and sixpence the hundred weight: For the Custome of every dozen pound of Candles, to be paid by the Natives of this Commonwealth, Three pence the dozen pounds; and by Strangers and Foreigners, Four pence half penny the dozen pounds: For the Custome of every Barrel of Candles, containing Ten dozen pounds, to be paid by the Natives of this Commonwealth, Two shillings six pence the Barrel; and by Strangers and Foreigners, Three shillings nine pence the Barrel.

Natives may transport Corn and Grain when at these prices.; Custome for the same.; Corn and Grain to be transported. onely in ships belonging to the Natives.

And it is further Enacted and Ordained, That it shall and may be lawfull for any person or persons, being Natives of this Commonwealth, to carry or transport of his own, and to buy to sell again in Markets and out of Markets, and to keep or sell, or carry and transport, and for any other person or persons, to transport any or all these several sorts of Corn and Grain following; (viz.) Wheat, Rye, Pease, Beans, Barley, Mault and Oats, when the Prices of these several sorts of Corn or Grain at the Times, Havens and Places, when and where they shall be Bought, Shipped or Laden, exceed not the Rates hereafter following; (viz.) The Quarter of Wheat, at Forty shillings the Quarter: The Quarter of Rye, Pease and Beans, at Twenty four shillings the Quarter: the Quarter of Barley and Mault at Twenty shillings the Quarter: The Quarter of Oats, at sixteen shillings the Quarter: And that the Custome or Poundage for the above mentioned sorts of Corn and Grain be as followeth; (viz.) For the Custom or Poundage of every Quarter of Wheat, to be paid by the Natives of this Commonwealth, One shilling the Quarter, and by Strangers and Foreiners, Three shillings the Quarter: For the Custom or Poundage of every Quarter of Rye, Pease and Beans, to be paid by the Natives of this Commonwealth, Six pence the Quarter: and by strangers and Foreiners, One shilling six pence the Quarter: For the Custom or Poundage of every Quarter of Barley and Mault, to be paid by the Natives of this Commonwealth, Six pence the Quarter: and by Strangers and Foreiners, One Shilling six pence the Quarter: For the Custom and Poundage of every Quarter of Oats, to be paid by the Natives of this Commonwealth, Four pence the Quarter: and by Strangers and Foreiners, One shilling the Quarter, which saidQuarter of Corn and Grain shall contain eight Bushels, and each Bushel to contain eight Gallons, according to the Measure of Winchester: Provided that the Natives of this Commonwealth do transport the aforesaid Corn and Grain in shipping truly belonging thereunto.

Beer.

And it is also Enacted and Ordained, That it shall and may be lawfull to transport and carry out Beer, the Custom to be paid by the Natives of this Commonwealth, to be for every Tun of Beer, Two shillings the Tun; and by Strangers and Foreiners, Six shillings the Tun.

Calveskins.; Sheepskins.

And it is also further Enacted and Ordained by the Authority aforesaid, That it shall and may be lawfull to transport all manner of Calves-skins dressed and undressed, not exceeding the weight of Thirty six pounds the dozen and that no one Skin exceed the weight of Four pound, and that the Custom of the said Calves-skins to be paid by the Natives of this Commonwealth, be for every Dozen of Calves-skins, Four shillings the Dozen: and by Strangers and Foreiners eight shillings the Dozen: And that the Surveyor of the Customs, or Chief Waiter in each Port or Town, do oversee the searching, weighing, telling and packing up of the said Calves-skins to be exported. And also that it shall and may be lawfull to transport Sheep-skins drest without the Wool; and that the Custom to be paid by the Natives of this Commonwealth, be for every hundred of the said Sheep-skins containing Sixscore, Two shillings six pence the Hundred; and by Strangers and Foreiners, for every Hundred of Sheep-skins as aforesaid, five shillings the Hundred.

Muskets, Carbines and other Armes, & Powder.

And lastly, it is Enacted and Ordained, That it shall and may be lawfull to transport beyond the Seas, into any part in Amity with this Commonwealth, all sorts of Arms: That is to say, Muskets, Carbines, Birding or Fowling Pieces, Pistols, Sword and Rapier Blades, Hilts for Swords, Rapiers, or Daggers, Bandaliers, Pikeheads, Halbert-heads and Shapes, Iron Armour, Saddles, BridleBits, Snaffles, Stirrups, Holsters, and Powder.

None shall dig in houses or lands of any for Saltpetre, nor take their carriages without leave.

Provided, that no person or persons do dig within the Houses or Lands of any person or persons of this Commonwealth for the finding of Salt-petre, nor do take the Carriages of any person or persons for the carrying of their Materials or Vessels, without their Leave first obtained and had.

Price of Powder when it may be transported. Custome for these commodities.

Provided moreover, that the Price of Powder at the Times, Havens and Places, when and where it shall be Bought, Shipped or Laden, do not exceed five pounds the Hundred weight. And that the Custom for the said Arms and other Commodities last mentioned, be as followeth, viz. For the Custom of every Score of Muskets, Carbines, Birding or Fowling Pieces, and Pistols, Six shillings eight pence the Score: and by strangers and Foreiners, Thirteen shillings four pence the Score: For the Custom of every Dozen of Sword or Rapier Blades, to be paid by the Natives of this Commonwealth, Six pence the Dozen: and by Strangers and Foreiners, One shilling the Dozen: For the Custom of every Hundred of Bandaliers, containing Fivescore to the Hundred, to be paid by the Natives of this Commonwealth, Six pence the Hundred: and by Strangers and Foreiners, Nine pence the Hundred: for the Custom of every Dozen of Pike-heads, to be paid by the Natives of this Commonwealth, Two pence the Dozen: and by Strangers and Foreiners, Three pence the Dozen: For the Custom of every Dozen of Halbertheads, and Shapes, to be paid by the Natives of this Commonwealth, Six pence the Dozen; and by Strangers and Foreiners, Nine pence the Dozen: For the Custom of every Suit of Iron Armor, to be paid by the Natives of this Commonwealth, One shilling: and by Strangers and Foreiners, One shilling six pence: For the Custom of every great Saddle, to be paid by the Natives of this Commonwealth, One shilling the great Saddle, and by Strangers and Foreiners, One shilling six pence the great Saddle: For the Custom of every other Saddle, to be paid by the Natives of this Commonwealth, Six pence the Saddle, and by Strangers and Foreiners, Nine pence the Saddle: For the Custom of every Dozen of Bridle-bits, to be paid by the Natives of this Commonwealth, Six pence the dozen, and by Strangers and Foreigners, Nine pence the dozen: For the Custome of every dozen of Snaffles, to be paid by the Natives of this Commonwealth, One penny the dozen; and by Strangers and Foreigners, Two pence the dozen: For the Custome of every dozen pair of Stirrups, to be paid by the Natives of this Commonwealth, Two pence the dozen; and by Strangers and Foreigners, Three pence the dozen: For the Custome of every dozen pair of Holsters, to be paid by the Natives of this Commonwealth, One shilling six pence the dozen; and by Strangers and Foreigners, Two shillings six pence the dozen: For the Custome of every hundred weight of Powder, to be paid by the Natives of this Commonwealth, Four shillings the hundred weight; and by Strangers and Foreigners, Eight shillings the hundred weight: Which said several sums so to be had and taken, as Custome or Poundage, shall be in full satisfaction of all manner of Custome or Poundage for the said Geldings, Arms, Oxen, Corn, or other the before mentioned Commodities or Manufactures whatsoever; Any Law, Statute, Usage or Custome for the contrary in any wise notwithstanding.

The Lord Protector by advice of Hi Council may prohibit the transporting of Geldings, Arms or other Ammunition.

Provided alwaies, and be it enacted by the authority aforesaid, that his Highness and Successors, by, and with the advice and consent of his and their Council, may at any time by his and their Writ and Proclamation to be published, command that no person or persons shall by vertue of this Act transport or carry out all or any of the said Geldings, Arms or other Ammunition last mentioned, for such time as shall be therein limited and appointed: And that it shall not be lawfull for any person or persons to carry out all or any of the aforesaid Geldings, Arms and Ammunition, contrary to the tenor of the said Proclamation, upon such pains and Forfeitures, as by the Lawes and Statutes of this Nation in force, before the making of this Act, are and have been Provided and Ordained in that behalf, this Act, or any thing therein contained to the contrary notwithstanding.