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 over­balance the Importation of Forein Commo­dities; 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, Butter, 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 [Page 2] same, and all Restraints taken away, and the Customs made easie, it would much in­courage Manufactures and advance Trade; Which His Highness and the Parliament 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 beyond 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 Commodities 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 transport 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 [Page 3] 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, Ba­con, 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 containing 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 containing 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 Commodities 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 [Page 4] 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 this Common­wealth, Three shillings the Barrel; and by Strangers and Foreiners, Six shillings the Barrel: For the Custom of every hun­dred weight of Cheese, containing One hundred and twelve pounds, to be paid by the Natives of this Commonwealth, Twelve pence the hundred weight; and by Stran­gers and Foreiners, One shilling and six pence the hundred weight: For the Custom of every dozen pounds of Candles, to be paid by the Natives of this Common­wealth, Three pence the dozen pounds; and by Strangers and Foreiners, Four pence half peny the dozen pounds: For the Cu­stom of every Barrel of Candles, contain­ing Ten dozen pounds, to be paid by the Natives of this Commonwealth, Two shillings six pence the Barrel; and by Stran­gers and Foreiners, Three shillings nine pence the Barrel.

And it is further Enacted and Ordain­ed, That it shall and may be lawful for any person or persons, being Natives of this Commonwealth, to carry or transport of his own, and to buy to sell again in Markets and out of Markets, and to keep, or sell, or carry and transport, and for any other person or persons, to transport [Page 5] any or all these several sorts of Corn and Grain following; (viz.) Wheat, Rye, Pease, Beans, Barley, Mault and Oats, when the Prices of these several sorts of Corn or Grain at the Times, Havens and Places, when and where they shall be Bought, Shipped or Laden, exceed not the Rates hereafter following; (viz.) The Quarter of Wheat, at Forty shil­lings the Quarter: The Quarter of Rye, Pease and Beans, at Twenty four shi­lings the Quarter: The Quarter of Bar­ley and Mault, at Twenty shillings the Quarter: The Quarter of Oats, at Six­teen shillings the Quarter. And that the Custom or Poundage for the above men­tioned sorts of Corn and Grain be as fol­loweth; (viz.) For the Custom or Poun­dage of every Quarter of Wheat, to be paid by the Natives of this Commonwealth, One shilling the Quarter; and by strangers and Foreiners, Three shillings the Quar­ter: For the Custom or Poundage of every Quarter of Rye, Pease and Beans, to be paid by the Natives of this Commonwealth, Six pence the Quarter; and by Strangers and Foreiners, One shilling six pence the Quarter: For the Custom or Poundage of every Quarter of Barley or Mault, to be paid by the Natives of this Commonwealth, Six pence the Quarter; and by Strangers and Foreiners, One shilling and six pence the Quarter: For the Custom and Poundage of every Quarter of Oats, to be paid by the Natives of this Commonwealth, Four pence the Quarter; and by Strangers and Forei­ners, [Page 6] One shilling the Quarter, which said Quarter of Corn and Grain shall contain eight Bushels, and each Bushel to contain eight Gallons, according to the Measure of Winchester: Provided that the Natives of this Commonwealth do transport the afore­said Corn and Grain in shipping truly belong­ing therein.

And it is also Enacted and Ordained, That it shall and may be lawful to transport and carry out Beer, the Custom to be paid by the Natives of this Commonwealth, to be for every Tun of Beer, Two shillings the Tun; and by Strangers and Foreiners, Six shillings the Tun.

And it is also further Enacted and Or­dained by the Authority aforesaid, That it shall and may be lawful to transport all ma­ner of Calves-skins dressed and undressed, not exceeding the weight of Thirty six pounds the dozen, and that no one Skin exceed the weight of Four pound; and that the Custom of the said Calves-skins to be paid by the Natives of this Commonwealth, be for every Dozen of Calves-skins, Four shillings the dozen; and by Strangers and Foreiners, eight shillings the dozen: And that the Surveyor of the Customs, or Chief Waiter in each Port or Town, do oversee the searching, weighing, telling and pack­ing up of the said Calves-skins to be export­ed. And also that it shall and may be law­ful to transport Sheep-skins drest without their Wool; and that the Custom to be paid by the Natives of this Commonwealth, be for every hundred of the said sheep-skins con­taining [Page 7] containing Sixscore, Two shillings six pence the Hundred; and by Strangers and Forei­ners, for every Hundred of Sheep skins as aforesaid, Five shillings the Hundred.

And lastly, it is Enacted and Ordained, That it shall and may be lawful to transport beyond the Seas, into any part in Amity with this Commonwealth, all sorts of Arms; That is to say, Muskets, Carbines, Bird­ing or Fowling Pieces, Pistols, Sword and Rapier Blades, Hilts for Swords, Ra­pirs, or Daggers, Bandaliers, Pike-heads, Halbert-heads and Shapes, Iron, Armor, Saddles, Bridle-bits, Snaffles, Stirrups, Holsters, and Powder: Provided, that no person or persons do dig within the Houses or Lands of any person or persons of this Com­monwealth for the finding of Salt-peeter, nor do take the Carriages of any person or persons for the carrying of their Materials or Ves­sels, without their leave first obtained and had: Provided moreover that the Price of Powder at the Times, Havens and Pla­ces, when and where it shall be Bought, Shipped or Laden, do not exceed Five pounds the Hundred weight. And that the said Cu­stom for the Arms and other Commodities last mentioned, be as followeth; viz. For the Custom of every Score of Muskets, Car­bines, Birding or Fowling Pieces, and Pistols, Six shillings eight pence the Score; and by Strangers and Foreiners, Thirteen shillings fourpence the Score: For the Cu­stom of every Dozen of Sword or Rapier Blades, to be paid by the Natives of this [Page 8] Commonwealth, Six pence the Dozen; and by Strangers and Foreiners, One shilling the Dozen: For the Custom of every Hun­dred of Bandeliers, containing Fiveseore to the hundred, to be paid by the Natives of this Commonwealth, Six pence the Hundred; and by Strangers and Foreiners, Nine pence the Hundred: For the Custom of every Dozen of Pike-heads, to be paid by the Natives of this Commonwealth, Two pence the Dozen; and by Strangers and Foreiners, Thee pence the Dozen: For the Custom of every Dozen of Halbert-heads and Shapes, to be paid by the Natives of this Commonwealth, Six pence the Dozen; and by Strangers and Foreiners, Nine pence the Dozen: For the Custom of every Suit of Iron Armor, to be paid by the Natives of this Commonwealth One shilling; and by Strangers and Forei­ners, One shilling and six pence: For the Cu­stom of every great Saddle, to be paid by the Natives of this Commonwealth, One shilling the great Saddle; and by Strangers and Foreiners, One shilling six pence the great Saddle: For the Custom of every other Saddle, to be paid by the Natives of this Commonwealth, Six pence the Saddle; and by Strangers and Foreiners, Nine pence the Saddle: For the Custom of every Dozen of Bridle-bits, to be paid by the Natives of this Commonwealth, Six pence the Do­zen; and by Strangers and Foreiners, Nine pence the Dozen: For the Custom of every Dozen of Snaffles, to be paid by the Natives of this Commonwealth, One peny the Do­zen; [Page 9] and by Strangers and Foreiners, Two pence the Dozen: For the Custom of every Dozen Pair of Stirrups, to be paid by the Natives of this Commonwealth, Two pence the Dozen; and by Strangers and Foreiners, Three pence the Dozen; For the Custom of every Dozen Pair of Holsters, to be paid by the Natives of this Commonwealth, One shilling six pence the Dozen; and by Stran­gers and Foreiners, Two shillings six pence the Dozen: For the Custom of every Hun­dred weight of Powder, to be paid by the Na­tives of this Commonwealth, Four shillings the hundred weight; and by Strangers and Foreiners, Eight shillings the Hundred weight: Which said several Sums so to be had and taken, as Custom or Poundage, shall be in full satisfaction of all maner of Custom or Poundage for the said Geldings, Arms, Oxen, Corn, or other the before mentioned Commodities or Manufactures whatsoever; Any Law, Statute, Usage or Custom for the contrary in any wise notwithstanding.

Provided always, and be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That His Highness and Successors, by, and with the Advice and Con­sent of His and their Council, may at any time by his and their writ, and Proclamation to be published, command that no person or persons shall by vertue of this Act transport or carry out all or any of the said Geldings, Arms or other Ammunition last mentioned, for such time as shall be therein limitted and appointed; And that it shall not be lawful for any person or persons to carry out all or [Page 10] any of the aforesaid Geldings, Arms and Am­munition, contrary to the tenor of the said Proclamation, upon such Pains and Forfei­tures, as by the Laws and Statutes of this Nation in force, before the making of this Act, are and have been Provided and Ordained in that behalf; This Act, or any thing therein contained to the contrary notwithstanding.