Page [unnumbered]
[illustration] Commonwealth Coat of Arms, depicting a cross of St George on the left and a harp on the rightAN ACT FOR THE Exportation of several Commodities OF THE Breed, Growth, and Manufacture OF THIS COMMONWEALTH.
FOrasmuch as it is found by long experience, that the prosperous Estate of all Islands is very much (under God) maintained and supported by a quick and flourishing Trade, and in a just endeavor and care, that the Exportation of the Native Commodities over-balance the Importation of Forein Commo∣dities; And forasmuch as it hath pleased Almighty God to bless the industry and endeavors of the People of these Nations, in the great Improvement of Fens, Forests, Chases, and other Lands, with a great redundancy of Corn, Cattle, But∣ter, Cheese, and divers other considerable Commodities, much desired by, and of great use to other Nations, and the Plantations abroad; And if Liberty were granted freely to Export the same, and all Restraints taken away, and the Customs made easie, it would much incourage Manufactures and advance Trade; Which His Highness and the Parlia∣ment duly considering, are pleased that it be Enacted, And it is hereby Enacted by His Highness the Lord Protector, and this present Parliament, and the Authority of the same, That from and after the First day of January next coming, it shall and may be Lawful to all and every person or persons, being the Natives of this Commonwealth, or to any other person or persons whatsoever, onely out of such Towns and Ports of this Commonwealth where are, or shall be resident a Customer or Collector of Tonnage and Poundage, or one of their Deputies, and not elsewhere, to Load, Carry, and Transport into the parts be∣yond the Seas, in Amity with this Commonwealth, and there to sell the same, Any Law, Vsage, or Statute to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding, these several Commodi∣ties of the Breed, Growth, or Manufacture of this Commonwealth hereafter mentioned, not paying Custom, or any other Duty for them or any of them, exceeding the Rates herein expressed, limited and appointed; That is to say, That it shall and may be lawful to trans∣port Geldings, and that the Custom to be paid by the Natives of this Commonwealth be for every Gelding, Twenty shillings the Gelding; and by Strangers and Foreiners, for every Gelding, Thirty shillings the Gelding: Provided, and it is hereby Enacted, That such Geldings as shall be transported by the Natives of this Commonwealth into the Plantations thereof, by shipping belonging thereunto, pay onely Ten shillings the Gelding. Also, that it shall and may be lawful to transport Oxen, Barrel Beef, Barrel Pork, Ba∣con, Butter, Cheese and Candles, any or either of them, when the Prices of these several sorts of Commodities at the Times, Havens and Places, when and where they shall be Bought, Shipped or Laden, exceed not the Rates hereafter following; (viz.) The barrel of Beef, containing thirty six Gallons, at Five pounds the barrel: The barrel of Pork con∣taining as aforesaid, at Six pounds ten shillings the barrel: The Flitch of Bacon, at Six pence the pound: The barrel of Butter containing four Firkins, and each Firkin contain∣ing fifty six pounds of neat Butter, at Four pounds ten shillings the barrel: The hundred weight of Cheese, at One pound ten shillings the hundred weight: The dozen pound of Candles, at Five shillings the dozen pound. And that the Custom of the said Commodi∣ties be as followeth; (viz.) For the Custom of every Ox, to be paid by the Natives of this Commonwealth, Six shillings eight pence the Ox; and by Foreiners and Strangers, Ten shillings the Ox: For the Custom of every barrel of Beef, to be paid by the Natives of this Commonwealth, Three shillings the barrel; and by Strangers and Foreiners, Five shillings the barrel: For the Custom of every barrel of Pork, to be paid by the Natives of this Commonwealth, Four shillings the barrel; and by Strangers and Foreiners, Six shillings the barrel: For the Custom of every Flitch of Bacon, to be paid by the Natives of this Commonwealth, Eight pence the Flitch; and by Strangers and Foreiners, Twelve pence the Flitch: For the Custom of every barrel of Butter, to be paid by the Natives of