Charles II, 1662: An Act to restrain the Exportation of Leather and Raw Hides out of the Realme of England.

Recital that by reason of Exportation of Leather the Price is unduly raised.

Persons not to export Skins, &c. otherwise than as herein mentioned.

Whereas notwithstanding the many good Lawes before this time made and still in force prohibiting the Exportation of Leather out of this Realm and the penaltie by those Acts imposed by the cunning and subtilty of some persons and the neglect of others who ought to take care thereof there are such quantities of Leather daily exported to forreign parts that the price of Leather is grown to those excessive rates that many Artificers working Leather cannot furnish themselves with sufficient store thereof for the carrying on of theire Trades and the poore sort of people are not able to buy those things made of Leather which of necessity they must make use of: For redresse of which greifs be it enacted by the Kings most Excellent Majestie by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporall and the Commons in this present Parliament assembled That from and after the first day of May now next ensuing no person or persons whatsoever shall carry or transport or cause to bee carried or transported out of England into Scotland Ireland or into any of the Isles belonging to this Kingdome or to any parts beyond the Seas the Skins or Hides tanned or untanned of any Ox Steer Bull Cow or Calfe otherwise or in any other manner then is by this present act directed

II. Skins taken from Beasts in any Island except Ireland to be exported to England only. Penalty.

And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid That none of the Skins or Hides aforesaid which shall happen to be taken from any of the Beasts aforesaid within any Island whatsoever belonging to the Kingdome of England (except Ireland) shall be transported out of that Island to any other place but into the Kingdome of England upon pain of forfeiting for every such offence double the value of Skins or Hides so to be transported out of the said Island or any of them to any other place then into the Kingdome of England the same forfeiture to bee sued for and disposed as hereafter in this act is directed.

III. Red Tanned Leather to be brought into Common Fairs and Markets only. Penalty.

contractvoid.; Such Leather to be searched and sealed, and Sale registered.; Penalty.

And for the better preventing of such mischeifs as are intended to be remedied by this act bee it enacted by the Authority aforesaid That all Red tanned Leather made of the Hides or Skins of any of the Beasts aforesaid of what kind or nature soever shall be bought onely in the open and common Fair or Market used for the putting of Leather to sale and not in any House Tanners Yard Shop or other place whatsoever on pain that such person or persons that shall not accordingly doe the same shall for every such offence forfeit the same Leather or the value thereof and the contract for the sale thereof shall be void And all such Leather shall be searched and sealed by the Searchers and Sealers thereunto appointed before the same be put to sale and upon such sale shall be registred and a true Entry thereof made both by the Buyer and Seller who are both to be present at such Registring thereof and both theire names and places of abode entred into the booke of the said Register on pain that every such Buyer or Seller that shall not accordingly do the same shall for every such offence forfeit the same Leather or the value thereof and the forfeiture shall be recovered and imployed in such manner as hereafter in this act is directed

IV. Unduly exporting Leather, &c.; (Exception.)

Disabled to trade, and Penalty £500.

And bee it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid That if any person or persons shall be found guilty of the Transportation of any Leather or Raw Hides of any of the Beasts aforesaid excepting such Calve-Skins and Sheep-Skins dressed without the Wool as by Law may be transported) contrary to the provision of this act he shall from thenceforth be disabled to trade or deal in Leather for the future and shall for every such offence forfeit the su[m]m of five hundred pounds to be sued for and disposed as hereafter in this act is directed

V. Proviso for Exportation of Leather made into Boots, &c.

Provided neverthelesse That this act or any thing therein contained shall not extend to the prohibiting the Transportation of any Leather made into Bootes Shoos or Slippers but that the same may be transported Any thing in this act contained to the contrary notwithstanding

VI. The Companies of Cordwainers, Saddlers, &c. and also Mayors, &c. may search and seize Leather intended to be exported.

And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid That it shall and may be lawfull to and for the respective Masters and Wardens of the Cordweyners Sadlers Girdlers and Curriers of the City of London and theire Deputies and all Customers Comptrollers Farmers of Customes Supervisors Searchers and other Officers belonging to the Customes and to and for all Justices of the Peace Maiors and cheife Officers of Corporations within this Realm Dominion of Wales or Town of Berwick upon Tweed from time to time as well by Land as Water to search for and seise any Leather or Raw Hides wrought or unwrought cut or uncut packed up or unpacked intended or purposed to be transported by any person or persons into any the parts beyond the Seas or into Scotland other then Calve Skins and Sheep Skins as aforesaid

VII.

Tanners unduly shaving Hides, Penalty.

And whereas diverse Tanners do shave cut and rake theire upper leather Hides all over and the necks of their backs and butts to the great impairing thereof and the extream prejudice of the Kingdome Be it therefore enacted by the Authority aforesaid That every Tanner who after the Nine and twentieth day of September in the yeare of our Lord One thousand six hundred sixty and two shall commit any such offence as aforesaid shall forfeit all the said Leather Backs Buts or Calve skins so shaved cut or raked or the value thereof and it shall be lawfull for the Searchers and Sealers of Leather to seise the same

VIII. When Leadenhall Market to be kept.

And be it further enacted That the Market for Leather in Leaden hall [in London (fn. 1) ] shall be kept on the Tuesday as now it is Any Law usage or custome to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding

IX. Penalties how to be recovered.

And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid That all the penalties and forfeitures and every sum and su[m]ms of money for any offence or offences herein before mentioned shall be recovered by action of Debt Bill Plaint Information to be brought for the same in any Court or Courts at Westminster or in any Court or Courts of Record in the City Town County or place where the said offence shall be committed wherein no Wager of Law Protection or Essoign shall be admitted neither shall the same be removed out of the said County City or Town Corporate the one halfe of the said forfeitures to be to the [use of the (fn. 1) ] Kings Majesty his Heires and Successors and the other halfe thereof to the use of the Informer or Informers that shall sue for the same

X. Undue Exportation a common Nuisance.

Provided alsoe and be it enacted That all such Exportation or Transportation of any Hides or Leather contrary to this act is hereby adjudged and declared to be a common and publick Nusance

XI. Proviso for Hides, &c. carried for the Use of Ships on Voyages.

Provided neverthelesse that this act shall not extend or be construed to prohibite the carrying or conveying [of (fn. 1) ] any such Hides or Leather which shall be used or imployed for the necessary use or provision of any Shipp or Vessell in any Voyage beyond the Seas and which shall not be sold in any forreigne parts so as the number doe not exceed Six Raw Hides and Three Tanned Hides

XII. Persons buying Red Tanned Leather to give Notice to any of Curriers Company carrying on Business in London, and within Three Miles thereof.

Proviso for certain Leather used for Soles.; 1 Jac. I. c. 22. Penalty.

Provided alwaies neverthelesse and be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid That all and every Artificer dealing in cutting of Leather or other person or persons whatsoever which shall hereafter buy any Red tanned Leather within the City of London or three miles thereof shall before the next Market day within the said place for sale of Leather give notice thereof to one or more of the Company of Curryers then exercising and using the Art and Mistery of a Curryer within the said City [of (fn. 2) ] London and three miles thereof and within three weekes after such notice shall deliver or cause to be delivered the said Leather so bought except such part thereof as shall be used for Soales without being curried tallowed or dressed unto the said Currier or Curriers to whom such notice was given to the intent that the same may [b (fn. 3) ] curried tallowed or otherwise dressed as is directed and appointed by one act made in the First yeare of King James Chapter twenty second touching the duty of Tanners Curriers Shoemakers and others upon penalty of the forfeiture of Six shillings eight pence for every Back But Hide or Calves skin so bought and not delivered as aforesaid for the uses and to be recovered as aforesaid

XIII. Recital of 1 Jac. 1. c. 22.

Master and Wardens of Curriers Company may in the Day- time enter Shops, &c. in London, or within Three Miles thereof, belonging to Artificers in cutting Leather, and search and seize.; Such Persons opposing Search, &c.; Penalty £20.; or refusing to be present at Search, Penalty £10.

And whereas it is enacted amongst other things by the said act made in the First yeare of King James that no person or persons shall by any meanes occupy or put in any made wares within the City of London or three miles of the same City any Curryed Leather before the same shall be searched and allowed by the Wardens of the Curryers of London for the time being or such persons as they shall thereto assign and be sealed with a Seale therefore to be prepared upon pain that every Shoemaker and other Artificer Cutter of Leather offending against that Article should forfeit for every Hide or Skin otherwise curryed or imployed as is aforesaid Six shillings eight pence and the value of every such Hide or Skin Be it therefore further enacted by the Authority aforesaid That the Master and Wardens of the Company of Curriers for the time being or such persons as they shall thereto assign shall from time to time and att all seasonable times in the day time enter into any Ware House Shopp Celler or other place within the said City of London or three miles of the same City belonging unto any ( (fn. 4) ) the said Cordwainers Sadlers Girdlers or other person or persons being Artificers dealing in cutting Leather and in the presence of any two or more of them to search for and seize all such Leather intended to bee prohibited to be used by the said Clause Branch or Article as aforesaid as alsoe for all Wares made of such Leather and if any such person or persons Artificers or Dealers as aforesaid shall oppose or refuse to permit the said Master and Wardens of the Company of Curriers or such persons as they shall thereto assign to make any such search or seisure as aforesaid hee or they shall forfeit for every such offence the su[m]m of Twenty pounds for the uses and to be recovered as aforesaid And if any of the said Artificers and Dealers in cutting of Leather do refuse to be present with the said Searchers whensoever the same shall be desired by the said Master and Wardens of the Company of the Curriers or such persons thereto assigned by them as aforesaid then for every such default the persons so refusing shall forfeit the su[m]m of Ten pounds for the uses and to bee recovered as aforesaid.