William and Mary, 1688: An Act for the Encouraging the Exportation of Corne. [Chapter XII. Rot. Parl. pt. 5. nu. 9.]

Prices at which Corn may be exported.

Merchants to bring Certificate of Quantity and Quality of Corn to be exported.; Oath. Bond by Merchant. Bounty. No Fee for Bounty.; Upon Certificate returned under the Common Seal of Place Abroad, or under the Seals of Two English Merchants, that Corn was taken or lost,; Bond delivered up to Importer.; Monies paid by Commissioners allowed in Account.

Forasmuch as it hath beene found by experience That the Exportation of Corne and Graine into Forreigne Parts when the Price thereof is at a low Rate in this Kingdome hath beene a great Advantage not onely to the Owners of Land but to the Trade of this Kingdome in Generall Bee it therefore Enacted by the King and Queens most Excellent Majestyes By and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spirituall and Temporall and of the Commons now Assembled in Parlyament and by the Authoritie of the same That when Malt or Barley Winchester Measure is or shall be at Foure and twenty shillings per Quarter or under Rye at Two and thirty shillings per Quarter or under and Wheate at Eight and forty shillings a Quarter or under in any Port or Ports of this Kingdome or Dominion of Wales Every Merchant or other Person who shall putt on Shipp-board in English Shipping the Master and Two thirds of his Marriners at least being Their Majestyes Subjects any Sorts of the Corne aforesaid from any such Ports where the Rates shall not then be higher then as aforesaid with Intent to Export the said Corne to Parts beyond the Seas Every such Merchant or other Person shall bring a Certificate in Writeing under his or their Hands containing the Quantity and Quality of Corne soe shipped to the Farmers Commissioners Collectors or other Persons appointed or to be appointed for the time being to Collect the Duties and Rates ariseing by Customs within any such Port and upon proofe made of any such Certificate by one or more credible Person or Persons upon their Oaths which Oathes the said Commissioners or other Persons are hereby Authorized and Required to Administer and upon Bond given by every such Merchant or other Person in the Summe of Two hundred pounds at the least for every hundred Tuns of Corne soe Shipped and soe proportionably that the said Corne (Danger of the Seas excepted) shall be exported into Parts beyond the Seas and not be againe Landed in the Kingdome of England Dominion of Wales the Islands of Guernsey and Jersey or Towne of Berwicke upon Tweede Every such Merchant soe Shipping off any of the aforesaid Corne and giveing Certificate and Bond as aforesaid shall have and receive from such Farmers Commissioners Collectors or other Persons in any Port respectively where the same Corne shall be soe Shipped for every Quarter of Barley or Malt ground or unground Two shillings and six pence For every Quarter of Rye ground or unground Three shillings and six pence For every Quarter of Wheate ground or unground Five shillings Which Summe or Summes every such Commissioner Farmer or other Person are hereby Authorized and Required upon Demand by such Exporter to make present Payment of accordingly without takeing or requireing any, thing for Custome or any Fee or Reward for Corne soe Laden to be Exported or for soe much Grain as shall be Exported in any Shipp wherein any other Goods shall be Shipped Any Law Statute or Usage in any wise to the contrary notwithstanding And upon Certificate returned under the Common Seale of the Chiefe Magistrate in any Place or Places beyond the Seas or under the Hands and Seales of Two knowne English Merchants upon the Place that such Corne was there Landed or upon Proofe by credible Persons that such Corne was taken by Enemies or perished in the Seas the Examination and Proofe thereof being left to the Judgement of such Commissioners Farmers Collectors or other Persons which Proofe being made or Certificate delivered to such Person or Persons respectively as tooke Bond as aforesaid the said Bond shall be delivered up to such Importer or his Order to be Cancelled without any Fee for the same And the Moneys by any such Commissioners Farmers Collectors or other Person soe paid in obedience to this Act shall be accepted of in his or their Accompts as soe much paid to Their Majestyes and he and they is and shall be discharged therefore accordingly.