THat by the severall Acts of Honourable PARLIAMENT, concerning what Brewers and Victuallers are li­mited to observe and perform, is contained in the first year of the late King James of blessed memory the 7th. Chapter; And the fourth of King James the fifth Chapter; And especially, in the 21, of King James the 9th. Chapter.

Wherein it is plainly expressed, That no Victualler shall sell lesse then an Ale-quart of the best Bier or Ale for j. d. If he de, he shall forfeit xx. s. for every such offence. As by the same Acts may appear.

And by the Ordinance of the Honourable Parliament, dated the 17. day of October, 1643. in these ensu­ing words; It is (verbatim expressed) That no Brewers or Retailers of any Bier or Ale, &c. Shall take any more in the price thereof upon sale of the said commodities, then according to the usuall rate and prizes appointed by Law for the same (excepting only the rate of Excise) as they will answer their contempt to both Houses of Parliament.

Never thelesse so it is;
THat the said Brewers contrary to the said Acts and honourable Ordinance of Parliament, doth take of the Victualler xij. s. the Bar­rell, for every Barrell of Bier and ordinary Ale, which is iiij. s. above the Statute, in lieu of the ij. s. he payeth for Excise. And ta­keth of the Victualler for strong Ale xvj. s. the Barrell, which is viij. s. in every Barrell above the Statute, for the two shillings he payeth for Excise. And for the Ale he retaileth at the Tun side, he taketh vj. d. per Gallon, which is after the rate of xviij. s. the Barrell, be­ing x. s. the Barrell above the Statute, for the ij. s. he payeth for Excise.

And the Victualler, who payeth xij. s. the Barrell, maketh by Retayl of every Barrell xxiiij. s. or at least xxj. s. the Barrell: That is to say, By selling at ij. d. the Ale-quart it comes to xxiiij. s. And by retayling at vij. Farthings the quart comes to xxj. s. the Barrell. So in the first place he takes viij. s. besides the ij. s. he payeth for Excise; besides his ordinary gaine allowed by Statute: And in the secoad place he ta­keth v. s. in every Barrell, besides the ij. s. he payeth for Excise; besides his ordinary gaine allowed by the Statute.

And for the strong Ale which the Victualler payeth to the Brewer xvj. s. the Barrell, he selleth the same at ij. d. the Wine-quart, which amounteth to xxx. s. the Barrell: So that he taketh xiiij. s. the Barrell; that is to say, x. s. in the Barrell cleerly: besides his ordinary gaine allowed by the Statute.

That a Barrell of Beer containing 36. Ale Gallons, And every Gallon doth, or should yeeld vj. Wine-quarts: So that j. d. farthing for every Wine-quart that is retailed out of dores by the Victualler is vij. d. half-peny the Ale Gallon, which amounteth to xxij. s. vj. d. the Barrell; whereby the Victualler tak [...]s vj. s. vj. d. prosit upon every Barrell, besides his ordinary gaine, and the Excise paid, which is con­ceived to be a contempt against the Statute; And by the Rates of Beer appeareth, and the Victuallers doings in the premises is con­trary to the Ordinance of the Honourable PARLIAMENT.

Now what the Subject or Commonalty hath and doth pay for Beer and Ale to them uttered in liew of the Excise, is willingly and freely done for the good of the State, but not with an intent to inrich, or be put into the Brewers, or Victuallers purses; who (as before is mentioned) doe in an extraordinary way take that which is contrary to the Lawes and Ordinance of Parliament, And that the Brewer may take no more above the Statute, but that he returnes for Excise, And that the Victuallers may according to the Statute, and Honou­rable Ordinance, be limited at what Rates, and what sized Measures the Subject should be served, which will give great contentment to the Commonalty.

And for the good of the State, and in their Name, the money that hath been heretofore taken, and gathered from the Subject and Commonalty, by the Brewer and Victualler, above the Statute and Honourable Ordinance; as in the Premises is plainly expressed, That the Brewer and Victualler may be compelled to pay the Arrearages in their hands since the Excise rated: which Money will amount to a mighty summe, to discharge and give satisfaction for the necessary Designes and Service in hand, for the good of the State.

For one peny half-peny, the Full-Pot or Flagon retailed within the Victuallers house, is xviij. s. the Barrell, and a peny a Wine-quart is no lesse.

By which Premises, the Honourable State may receive 4. s. the Barrell for Excise; whereas they now receive but 2. s. The Victualler may sell his Beer for a peny a Wine-quart out of dores, and one peny half-peny their best Beere the Full-Pot or Flagon in the house, and be great gainers, and neither the Brewer or Victualler pay no part of the Excise out of their owne gaines.

But the Commonalty that payeth for Beer and Ale at the Rates aforesaid, the Excise cometh thereout.

And lastly, it is most humbly prayed. That the good Lawes and Ordinances heretofore enacted and confirmed by the Honourable Parliaments in the Premises, may take effect, And a Reformation may now in the Premises, the Subject and Commonalty en­joy their Rights and Liberties therein, expressed in the memorable Covenant ordained by the Honourable Parliament, and Or­dinance of Excise may be much improved.