[A1597/5/2]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
Forasmuch as it is understood to the king's majesty, his nobility, council and estates presently convened that the subjects of all foreign nations which bring and transport any kind of cloth or other wares or merchandise from any foreign country to their own native country have been in use and yet still continue in the payment of certain custom or other exaction thereof, chiefly at the time of their arrival and incoming within the same, and almost few or none of the subjects of any realm liberated therefrom, the subjects of this country only excepted, who by reason of an alleged previous immunity claims the privilege of exemption, albeit it cannot be denied but his majesty is a free prince of a sovereign power, having as great liberties and prerogatives by the laws of his realm and privilege of his crown as any other king, prince or power whatsoever, and therefore ought to have the same custom and exaction for maintenance of his princely port of all cloth and other wares and merchandise whatsoever to be brought within this realm by his highness's subjects at all time hereafter, and the rather seeing the present necessity so requires. For which purpose, his majesty, with advice of his said nobility, council and estates, has thought fit, concluded and ordained that all cloth and other wares and merchandise to be brought within this realm from all foreign nations shall pay the custom following at the time of their arrival and entry therein in all time coming, that is to say 12 deniers of every pound's worth of all sorts of the said wares; and to this effect, his highness and his said nobility, council and estates gives full power and commission to the lords auditors of his exchequer and others of his nobility and council to the number always of 11 persons at the least to set down the A. B. C. of the custom of all cloth and other wares and merchandise which shall be brought and enter within this realm yearly hereafter. With power likewise to them to set prices upon the said wares, according to the which the customs officers to be appointed by his majesty to that effect shall uplift custom thereof and to make all other ordinances necessary for the ease of the merchants and surety of his highness's custom in the execution of the premises; as also of such other goods to be transported out of this realm as are not expressed in the A. B. C. already made. And likewise to take the same order regarding the prices of the seals and writers thereto, and to the signet and of the prices of the chamber fees and what kind of signatures and infeftments ought to pay chamber fee, providing always that there be none upon the taking of the said order regarding the said seals and prices of writings that are of that calling or has any interest therein. And that the said commissioners convene to this effect within the burgh of Edinburgh upon 1 June next to come.