[1641/8/250]¹

Legislation

Act dischairgeing the custome of tuo and ane halfe of the hundreth and the impost of four pundis one the tune

Our soverane lord and estates of parliamente, considering that the pryces of all merchandice doe daylie ryse to exceeding great dearthes, which is alledged to be occasioned throw extraordinarie customes and impositiones, for remeid wherof, his majestie, with advyce and consent of the saidis estates, doeth dischairge all and sindrie whatsoevir customes and impositiones exacted by the customeres which are not allowed and approved by the actes of parliament, and especiallie the late custome of tuo and ane halfe per centum and late newe impositione of four pund wpoun the tunne of wyne, and all raising of his majesties customes directlie or indirectlie without consent of parliament. And becaus that the too much troubling of merchant estate and draweing of maisteres and marineres from there ordinarie chairges doeth much impede the trade, therfore his majestie, with advyce and consent foirsaid, dischairges the taking of merchantes, maisters and marineres oathes in the mater of customes. And to the end that the subject of trade may not be restrained with wnnecessary customes, therfor his majestie, with consent foirsaid, declaires that all goodis and merchandyce imported from forrane places to this kingdome and out paying inward custome shall be free of all outward custome, according as is wsed in England and Ireland. Lykeas his majestie declaires that he consented to the act abowewrittin wpoun this conditione: that commissione and warrant be granted to the exchekker to establishe the booke of raites, according as the pryces of merchandyce now reules; and his majestie permitted the optioun to the burrowes, wherwpoun the burrowes, haveing advysed, they made choyce to be reuled by the booke of rates anent the customes and consented that commission should be granted to the exchekker to establishe the booke of rates, according as the pryces of merchandyce now reules. In respect wherof, our soverane lord and estates of parliament ordeane a commissione to be drawne wpe to the excheker to the effect foirsaid, and extracted thairupoun for establishing the book of rates according as the pryces of merchandyce now reulles. And therfor our said soverane lord and estates of parliament ordeanes the act abovementioned to stand as a law in maner and to the effect beforerehearsed.