[1663/6/110]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
The estates of parliament, considering that dureing the late troubles diverse invasions wer made upon the royall prerogatives of the croun, and that in a just abhorrence therof and in a due sense of the happinesse they enjoy under his majesties' government, they are obleidged, on all occasions, to vindicate and assert the same in the severall branches therof, and since the ordering and disposall of trade with forraigne cuntries, and the laying of restraints and impositions upon forraigne imported merchandices is, by the law of nations, acknowledged to be propper to and inherent in the persones of all frie princes as ane undoubted prerogative of the croun; they therfor, in a dewtifull and humble recognizance of his majesties' prerogative royall, doe declare that the ordering and disposall of trade with forraigne nations, and the laying of restraints and impositions upon forraigne imported commodities, doeth belong to his majestie and his successors as ane undoubted priveledge and prerogative of the croun, and that by vertew therof, they may lay such impositions and restraints upon imported forraigne commodities, and so order and dispose upon the trade of them, as they shall judge fit for the good of the kingdome. Lykeas the king's majestie, with advice and consent of his estates in parliament, doth heirby rescind and annull all acts, statuts, constitutions and customes to the contrarie, and declares the same voyd and null in all time comeing.