THE HVMBLE PETITION OF THE MERCHANT-STRANGERS, and others in the City of LONDON, concerned in the Importation of Plate and Bullion into this Kingdome. Presented to both Houses of Parliament.
WITH AN ORDINANCE OR DECLARATION OF THE LORDS and COMMONS Assembled in Parliament, Concerning the said PETITION.
ORdered by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, that this Petition, with the Ordinance concerning the same, shall be forthwith printed and published.
LONDON, Printed for Iohn Wright in the Old Bayley, Aug. 28. 1643.
TO THE RIGHT HONOURABLE THE LORDS and COMMONS now Assembled in Parliament.
The humble Petition of the Merchant-Strangers, and others concerned in the Importation of Plate and Bullion into this Kingdom,
THat the Petitioners Correspondents have forborne to lade their Plate and Bullion in English Ships, as formerly they have done, by reason of the Visits, Search, [Page 2]Arrests, and Molests which have been lately attempted and used for the finding out or seizing of the said Plate and Bullion, which hath been a great hinderance to the Petitioners, and a generall damage to this Kingdom. For by the Importation thereof, many Shippes were imployed, the Navigation increased, the Owners encouraged to build and maintaine good Shippes, great profit by the Coinage, and by the low Exchange, Merchants had plenty of Money to imploy in the Manifactures of this Kingdome; and generally the whole Kingdome hath been, and is, inriched by the said Treasure that comes in and remaines in the Kingdome. And the Petitioners are very confident, That if they could give their [Page 3]Correspondents assurance by an Ordinance of both Houses of Parliament, That their Plate and Bullion may for the future be imported in English Shippes without any molest or interruption, with Declaration that they should also have and enjoy the full benefit of the Articles of Peace made with Spaine, that then they would imploy English Shippes againe, and remit their Plate and Bullion, and other Goods to Dover, as formerly they have done: And for the reall effecting hereof, and better encouragement of the Parties concerned, and for the removing of all Doubts and Iealousies for the future:
The Petitioners humbly pray this most Honourable Assembly, to make an Ordinance [Page 4]according to the tenour of this Petition, or as in your Wisdomes shall bee thought fit, and that this Petition, together with the said Ordinance, may be printed and published by Order of both Houses of Parliament, and they permitted to send them abroad, for the timely prevailing and effecting of a worke of so much importance to this Kingdome.
And the Petitioners shall pray.
AN ORDINANCE OR DECLARATION OF THE Lords and Commons.
Assembled in Parliament.
The Lords and Commons now in Parliament assembled, having received information by a Petition of Merchant-strangers, and others, concerned in the importation of Plate and Bullion into this Kingdome, That their correspondents inhabiting in the parts beyond the Seas, have conceived many feares and jealousies [Page 6]which might discourage them in the usuall importing of Bullion into this Kingdome; For the better security and encouragement of all Traders and bringers in of Bullion or Coyne into this Kingdome, doe Declare, and Ordaine, That Bullion and Coyne, that shall be brought into this Kingdome, by any English shipping, shall have free and safe passage and protection, as in any former times; both by Sea, and Land, into the Ports of Dover and London: and accordingly into, and out of His Maiesties Mint in the Tower of London, without any interruption.