[1703/5/183]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Prayers said. The rolls called.
The minutes of the last sederunt being read, Sir John Lauder of Fountainhall desired his adherence to [John Hay], marquis of Tweeddale's protestation made the last sederunt might be marked.
The act allowing the importation of wines and foreign liquors was proceeded in, and a clause being offered to declare that any nobleman or baron may, in return for effects of their native product exported by them on their own risk, import wines for their own use free of all custom, excise or other duty, and that if they sell the same they shall lose that privilege thereafter and be fined 5,000 merks, whereof the half to the informer. There was another clause offered, reserving to the peers and barons the same immunities and freedoms from customs for wines which they had by the 251st act, fifteenth parliament, King James VI, and after debate the vote being asked whether the first clause or the second clause should be added, and it carried that the second clause should be added. Then a clause was offered obliging the importer to instruct his having exported of the product of this kingdom to the value of the wines and liquors imported, and confiscating the wine and liquors imported above the value of the export. Whereupon the vote was asked, add the clause to the act or not, and carried in the negative. After which the act was put to the vote and approved.
The lord chancellor, by order of her majesty's high commissioner, adjourned the parliament until tomorrow at 10 o'clock.