FORASMUCH as the Lords and Com­mons assembled in Parliament have ta­ken notice, That the Rate of four pence lately imposed, by Ordinance of the eleventh of September last, upon every pound of [Page 4] Tobacco of the English Plantati­ons by way of Excise, hath some­thing intermitted Trade in that Commoditie:

Be it therefore Ordained by the said Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, and by Authoritie of the same, for the encouragement and ease, as well of the Importer, as Ingrosser and Seller of such Tobacco's; That all Tobacco's of the English Plan­tations imported, and remaining on the hands of the Merchant or Importer, or the Ingrosser or Seller thereof, before the eleventh of September last past, shall pay onely one penny upon every pound: And all such Tobacco's imported since the eleventh of [Page 5] September last, and remaining on the hands, either of the Merchant, Importer, Ingrosser, or Seller thereof, at the day of the date of this Ordinance, shall be liable to, and pay two pence upon every pound: And for all such Tobacco of the English Plantations, as shall hereafter, from the day of the date hereof, be imported into the King­dom of England, Dominion of Wales, and Port and Town of Berwick, shall pay after the rate of four pence upon every pound, according to the former Ordinance dated the eleventh of September last; The respective summes of one penny, two pence, and four pence upon every pound, to be paid by the Ingrosser, or Seller, [Page 6] upon sale thereof, as is therein prescribed: Provided alwayes, That no person shall have any be­nefit of the aforesaid Moderation to one penny and two pence up­on every pound of Tobacco respe­ctively before mentioned, but such onely as shall within fourteen days after the publication of this Ordi­nance, make his personall appear­ance at such Office of Excise un­der which his dwelling place shall be, and there deliver in, upon oath, a true and just Particular of all Tobacco by him sold, since the eleventh of September last, unto the time he shall make his appear­ance; As also, at the same time de­clare upon oath, and deliver in a like true Particular of all Tobacco's [Page 7] either remaining upon his hands at that time, of such Tobacco's as were upon his hands before the eleventh of September, as of such Tobacco's as have been by him imported or brought, and are re­maining upon his hands at the time of his appearance; and shall pre­sently, according to the respective Rates of one penny and two pence, pay and cleer the duty of Excise, as well for all Tobacco by him sold since the eleventh of Septem­ber last, as for all Tobacco by him imported, and remaining at that time upon his hands as aforesaid, but be proceeded against without favour or pardon, according to the former Ordinance of the eleventh of September last.

[Page 8] Provided also, That no Abate­ment or Allowance shall be made, under pretence of this Ordinance, for any Tobacco's which have al­ready paid Excise, according to the said Ordinance of the eleventh of September last, before the date hereof.