[1592/4/58]¹

Regarding the customs of English goods

²Item, our sovereign lord and estates of this present parliament ratify, approve and confirm the act of secret council made upon 27 February 1589 [1590], regarding the bringing of all packs of English cloth whole and unbroken up to the custom house and selling thereof in manner contained therein in all points, articles and clauses respectively specified in the same, with this addition: that no manner of persons take upon hand to house, hide or conceal any manner of English goods, either coming by sea or land in any burgh or suburb of this realm, under the pain of confiscation of all the goods so hidden and concealed in defraudation of the due custom wherever the same can be apprehended. And in case the same be not apprehended, the owners to make the value thereof forthcoming to his majesty as escheat after trial taken therein as appropriate, as also for the better execution to ordain each customs officer to search within the bounds of his office all manner of houses and booths as well to burgh as to land and to escheat, confiscate and intromit with all manner of English goods on which no custom has been paid, and all English cloth unsealed and, if need be, to make open doors and other lockfast receptacles, and to use his majesty's keys to that effect. And in case any persons resist by force to make open and patent doors to the said customs officer for the effect foresaid, the resisters to be under the like danger as the committers of the deforcements and to be punished in their persons and goods according to the act made relating thereto; ordaining also the provost, bailies and magistrates of each burgh, if need be, to concur and assist with the said customs officers in execution hereof so often as they shall be required thereto.