An Ordinance of the Lords and Commons Aſſembled in Parliament.

THe Lords and Commons Aſ­ſembled in Parliament, find­ing as well by the complaints of the Merchants commonly knowne by the name of the Governour and Company of Merchants of London, trading into France, as otherwiſe, that ſeverall Arreſts and Seizures have been of late unduly made in the Dominions of the French King, on the Ships and Goods of Engliſh Merchants trading thither up­on private mens Actions and pretences, whereas in truth the ſame are of generall and publicke concernment to this State; in which caſes for want of a publick Stock, and Miniſters to be thereon imployed, the Trade of this Kingdome2 hath been much obſtructed, and particular mens intereſts much prejudiced, to the very great da­mage of the ſaid particular Merchants, and their diſcouragement in Trade and Commerce; Doe therefore her by Order and Ordaine, That all and every perſon and perſons, as well Natives as Strangers, which ſhal during the ſpace of two years now next enſuing export out of this Kingdome of England, and Dominion of Wales, any Goods, Wares, or Merchandize of any nature or kinde whatſoever into any the parts of the Dominions of the French King without the Streights of Gi­braltar, or which ſhall import any Goods, Wares, or Merchandize from thence into this King­dome or Dominion of Wales, ſhall pay five ſhil­lings upon every 100. l. value of the ſaid Goods which ſhall be ſo exported, or imported, accor­ding to the Booke of Rates eſtabliſhed by autho­rity of this preſent Parliament (Wines only ex­cepted) and Six-pence upon every Tun of Wine of the growth of France, which ſhall during that time be imported into this Kingdome, and Do­minion of Wales; And that the Governour and Company of Merchants of London trading into France ſhall, and may for and during the ſaid ſpace of two yeares now next enſuing, take, re­ceive, and Collect of every perſon and perſons, as well Natives as Strangers, that ſhall during the ſaid ſpace of two yeares now next enſuing, export out of this Kingdome of England and Dominion of Wales any Goods, Wares, or Mer­chandizes3 whatſoever into any the parts of the Dominions of the French King; o•which ſhall import any Goods, Wares, or Mer­chandize from thence into this Kingdome or Do­minion of Wales, the ſaid duty of five ſhillings upon every 100. l. value of the ſaid Goods, ac­cording to the ſaid Booke of Rates, and Six-pence upon every Tunne of Wine of the growth of France, which ſhall during that time be im­ported into this Kingdome of England, and Do­minion of Wales; And that the ſaid Governour of the ſaid Company of Merchants of London trading into France for the time being, or his Deputy or Deputies, ſhall and may from time to time nominate and appoint Collectors, who are hereby enabled to receive at the ſeverall Cu­ſtom-houſes in the Port of London, and out-Ports, all ſuch ſummes of Money as ſhall hereaf­ter during the continuance of this Ordinance be payable, or paid for and in reſpect of the ſaid duty.

And it is further Ordained, that all ſuch ſums of money as ſhall be Collected and received for the dutie aforeſaid, in the port of London, ſhall be iſſued and diſpoſed of by the ſaid Governour, his Deputy or Deputies, with the advice and conſent of the Major part of the Aſſiſtance of the ſaid company for the time being, and the Mo­nies Collected in the ſeverall Out-ports within this Kingdom of England and Dominion of Wales, ſhall be iſſued and diſpoſed of by the ſaid Gover­nour, or his Deputy or Deputies, with the ad­vice4 and conſent of the Burgeſſes ſerving in Par­liament for the ſaid Out-ports, or any foure of them reſpectively and not otherwiſe, for and to­wards the defraying of the charges of Suits, and other charges of like nature, by reaſon of Arreſts, and Seizures heretofore made, or hereafter to be made in France of the Ships and Goods of the Merchants of this Kingdome trading thither, and for payment of the Salaries of ſuch Officers and Miniſters as the ſaid Governour and company of Merchants of London trading into France have imployed ſithence the yeare of our Lord, 1640. or ſhall imploy about thoſe affaires in ſuch man­ner, as in their wiſedomes ſhall be thought meet for maintenance and ſupport of their trade and commerce; And that the ſaid duty may be duly Collected and paid according to the true intent and meaning of this Ordinance, It is Ordained that no Officer, or Officers belonging to any Cu­ſtom-houſe in this Kingdome and Dominion of Wales, doe upon forfeiture and loſſe of his or their places paſſe any Warrant, Cocquet, or Bill, or permit any goods which ſhall be exported out of this Kingdome of England and Dominion of Wales, into any the parts of the Dominions of the French King, or which ſhall be imported from thence hither to paſſe by any Warrant, Cocquet, or Bill, unleſſe the ſame be ſigned or ſubſcribed by the Governour of the ſaid company of Mer­chants of London trading into France, his Depu­ty or Deputies, or by ſuch perſon or perſons as ſhall be by him or them authorized by writ•ng5 under the common Seale of the ſaid Company, to Collect and receive the ſaid dutie, who are hereby required to attend at the ſeverall Cuſtom-houſes in the ports of London, and out-ports at the uſuall hours, between nine and twelve in the morning to receive the ſame, and to take ſuch further courſe for the diſpatch of the ſervice as he or they in their wiſedomes ſhall thinke fit; And it is further Ordered and Ordained, That if any perſon or perſons that are or ſhall be, accor­ding to the true intent and meaning of this Or­dinance, liable to the payment of the ſaid duty, ſhall refuſe or omit to pay the ſame, that all and every ſuch perſon and perſons ſo refuſing or o­mitting to pay the ſaid duty, ſhall upon proofe made thereof, pay double the value of the ſaid duty, for all ſuch Goods, Merchandize and Wines, for which he ſhal ſo refuſe, or omit to pay the ſaid dutie in this Ordinance expreſſed, accor­ding to the tenour thereof. Provided that neither this Ordinanee nor any thing therein contained ſhall compel any perſon of the Out-ports trading into France to pay this duty, except they ſhall declare their aſſent thereunto before the five and twentieth of May, which ſhall be in the yeare of our Lord, 1649. at the Aſſurance Office in London, to the Merchants commonly knowne by the name of the Governour and Company of Merchants of London trading into Frane.