WHereas the Kings Majesties Customs and Subsidy due and payable upon Goods and Mer­chandize exported and imported out of, and into the Kingdom of England, Dominion of Wales, Port and Town of Berwick, being the greatest and most considerable Branch of His Revenue, are not so well answered and paid as they ought to be, by reason of sundry Fraudulent and Deceitful courses daily practised by divers evil-affected persons, secretly combining with Vnder-Officers, Wharfingers, Lightermen, Watermen, Carmen, Porters, and others; as also by a sort of leud people called Smuckellors, never heard of be­fore the late disordered times, who make it their Trade and Profession, by many strange and new devices to steal and defraud His Majesty of His Customs; and likewise by an­other sort of Head-strong and Malicious People, who in a violent way by open force with Clubs, Swords, and other Weapons, convey and carry away uncustomed Goods, and oftentimes rescue Goods seized, beating, wounding, and many ways evil-intreating the Officers attending His Majesties Service, and thereby giving evil example to others, who from these unlawful Courses and Proceed­ings, take encouragement to oppose the Officers in executing and performing their duty in entering into and searching of Houses, Ware-houses, and places where they may suspect or be informed of uncustomed Goods to be housed, hidden, or any way concealed. And besides, it is conceived and believed, That great quantities of Goods by the Laws prohibited to be exported or imported, are by like practises, subtil and unlawful courses, frequently exported and imported, to the great detriment as well of His Majesty as of His loving and faithful Subjects. And whereas the Commons House of Parliament, out of their great care of His Majesties Revenue, have by their [...]