been summoned in a regular manner, it was confirmed at the first session of the first regularly summoned Parliament.

For further information on this topic, see MacPherson, Annals of Commerce; McCulloch, A Dictionary, Geographical, Statistical, etc.; Bernard, Letters on Trade; Beer, Commercial Policy of England; Channing, The Navigation Acts in American Antiquarian Society, Proceedings, 1889.

1645, MAY 6. THE ORDINANCE OF 1645.

ANNO 1645, CAP. 53.-The importation of Whale-Oyl, Fins, or Gils, but by Ships set forth from hence, and by English Subjects prohibited.

The Lords and Commons assembled in the high Court of Parliament of England, taking into consideration, that nothing more enricheth this Kingdome then commerce, whereby the navigation thereof is much increased, especially in Fishing Voyages, and therefore ought to be incouraged. Upon the humble Petition, presented from the fellowship of Merchants of England, for discovery of new Trades Adventurers to Greenland: shewing, That they were the first discoverers of that Countrey, and for many years successively have maintained the Fishing there, which hath been a great increase of many Sea-men, and many Ships yearly employed, to the great benefit of this Kingdome. But of late years have been much prejudiced, for that great quantities of Whale-Oyl of Strangers Fishing, are permitted to be imported into this Kingdom more then it can spend. By means whereof the said Petitioners, and others his Majesties Subjects trading thither, have not vent for theirs: Which without some speedy prevention will disable them from continuing their Fishings into those parts, to the hazard of the loss of that Countrey unto Strangers (so long desired by them) being Subject to the Crown of England. And likewise taking into consideration, That in other Kingdomes and States the importation of Whale-Oyl and Fins are not permitted to any, but the Subjects of those Kingdomes and States of their own Fishing, do therefore Order and Ordain,

That no Whale-Oyl, nor Fins, nor Gils, commonly called Whale-bone, either wrought or unwrought, shall hereafter be imported into any Port, Haven, or Creek of this Kingdome from any Foreign parts whatsoever, other then what are immediately fished in Greenland by the Subjects of this Kingdome, and in Ships set out from hence, under penalty of confiscation. And all Customers, Comptrollers, Searchers, Waiters, and all other Officers in their several and respective Places, are hereby required to attend the due execution thereof, and not to permit or suffer any WhaleOyl, nor Fins, nor Gils, as aforesaid, to be imported into this Kingdome, or colourably customed for any other Goods or Merchandize, but that they do forthwith seize and take the same into their custody, one Moyety for the use and benefit of the State, and the other Moyety for the said Fellowship towards their charges. And all Justices of the Peace, Mayors, Bayliffs, Sheriffs, Constables, Headboroughs, and all other his Majesties Officers in their several and respective Places, are hereby commanded and required to be aiding and assisting therein, as they will answer the contrary at their perils.-Scobell, Ordinances, Part I., p. 92.

1646, JAN. 23. THE ORDINANCE OF 1646. ANNO 1646, CAP. 70.-Priviledges granted to several For eign Plantations.

Whereas the several Plantations in Virginia, Bermudas, Barbados, and other places of America have been much beneficial to this Kingdome by the increase of Navigation, and the Customs arising from the commodities of the growth of those Plantations imported into this Kingdome have been, and are beneficial, that all such as have traded there (for their better encouragement) have used to transport from hence thither Merchandizes, Goods, and necessaries for the better carrying on of the said Plantations, without paying any custom for any Goods so exported from hence thither: The Lords and Commons assembled in. Parliament, for the better advancment of the said Plantations, and encouragement of the Adventurers to the same, have Ordained, and be

it Ordained by the said Lords and Commons, that all Merchandizes, Goods and necessaries, which shall be for the supportation, use, and expence of the said several Plantations, shall, or may be exported thither from this Kingdome by any of the Subjects thereof, without paying or yielding any Custom, Subsidy, Taxation, Imposition, or other duty for the same; The duty of Excise excepted during the space of three years next ensuing, except unto the Plantations, in new-found Lands; provided, That from time to time, as any such Merchandize and Goods be endeavoured to be exported for the use aforesaid, security be first given to the Commissioners and Officers of the Customs where such Goods shall be laden, that the said Merchandizes and Goods so to be exported by vertue of this Ordinance shall be really transported to the said foreign Plantations, and no other places, and there to be imployed for the only use of the Plantations; and that Certificate shall be returned from thence within one year after the lading thereof, of the Ships arrival, and discharge in said foreign Plantations. And for that there is great want of servants in the said Plantations, as well for the raising of commodities apt to be produced there, as for defence of themselves from being made a prey to the Natives, or foreign enemies; Be it further Ordained by the said Lords and Commons, That it shall be lawful for any person or persons, Subjects of this Kingdome, to entertain, and transport from hence into the said several Plantations such persons being fit to serve, or advance the Trade there, as shall be willing to serve, or to be employed in the said several foreign Plantations, provided, that the names of all such persons so to be transported to serve in the said Plantations, be first Registered in the Custom-house, and that neither force be used to take up any such servants, nor any Apprentises entised to desert their Masters, nor any Children under age admitted without express consent of their Parents. And provided also, that certificate within one year be returned from the Governour, or other chief Officer of such Plantation, where such person shall be put on shore of the arrival of the said persons there, that no fraud be used to carry any such persons to any other place: Provided alwaies, that none of the said Plantations do suffer or permit

any Ship, Bark, or Vessel to take in any goods of the growth of the said Plantations from any of their Ports, and carry them to any foreign parts and places, except in English Bottomes: And in case any of the said Plantations shall offend herein, then the Plantation so offending, shall be excluded from the benefit of this Ordinance, and shall pay custome as other Merchants do to France, Spain, Holland, and other foreign parts.—Scobell, Ordinances, Part I., P. 113.

1649. ORDINANCE OF 1649.

ANNO 1649, CAP. 54.-The Importing of any Wines, Wooll, or Silk from the Kingdom of France, prohibited. The Parliament of England taking notice of a late Declaration of the French King verified in the Parliament at Paris, whereby are prohibited all Negotiations to bring, or cause to be brought into that Kingdom, the Drapery of Wooll or of Silk made in England, on pain of Confiscation and other great Penalties; and that by force of that Declaration, divers Goods of great value of English Merchants there found, hath been seized, and are detained from the true Proprietors thereof, notwithstanding several Clauses in the Treaty, between the two Nations, for encouraging the English trade there: And being induced by the grounds of common Equity and Reason, and by their own Duty, to provide for the Interest and good of this Commonwealth, have thought fit to Enact, and be it Enacted by Authority of Parliament, That all Wines of the growth of the Kingdom of France, or any Dominions belonging to the same, and all Manufactures of Wooll and Silk, made or to be made in the Kingdom of France, or any of the Dominions belonging to the French King, shall be and are hereby prohibited to be brought into any Port or Ports, place or places within England or Ireland, or any of the Dominions thereof, by any person or persons whatsoever, from and after the Seventh day of September, One thousand six hundred forty nine, on pain of Confiscation of the Ship and Goods therein imported contrary to this Act, and the Penalty of Two hundred pounds

more to be levied on every person offending contrary to this Act; the one moyety of the Forfeiture to be to the party that shall inform of any breach of this Act, and the other moyety of the Forfeiture to the use of the Commonwealth, to be recovered in any of the Courts of Record at Westminster. -Scobell, Ordinances, Part II., p. 86.

1651, OCTOBER 9.

ORDINANCE OF 1651.

ANNO 1651, CAP. 22.— -Goods from Forein parts by whom to be imported.

For the Increase of the Shipping and the Encouragement of the Navigation of this Nation, which under the good Providence and Protection of God, is so great a means of the Welfare and Safety of this Commonwealth; Be it Enacted by this present Parliament, and the Authority thereof, That from and after the First day of December, One thousand six hundred fifty and one, and from thence forwards, no Goods or Commodities whatsoever, of the Growth, Production or Manufacture of Asia, Africa or America, or of any part thereof; or of any Islands belonging to them, or any of them, or which are described or laid down in the usual Maps or Cards of those places, as well of the English Plantations as others, shall be Imported or brought into this Commonwealth of England, or into Ireland, or any other Lands, Islands, Plantations or Territories to this Commonwealth belonging, or in their Possession, in any other Ship or Ships, Vessel or Vessels whatsoever, but onely in such as do truly and without fraud belong onely to the People of this Commonwealth, or the Plantations thereof, as the Proprietors or right Owners thereof; and whereof the Master and Mariners. are also for the most part of them, of the People of this Commonwealth, under the penalty of the forfeiture and loss of all the Goods that shall be Imported contrary to this Act; as also of the Ship (with all her Tackle, Guns and Apparel) in which the said Goods or Commodities shall be so brought in and Imported; the one moyety to the use of the Commonwealth, and the other moyety to the use and behoof of any person or persons who shall seize the said Goods or Com