Navigation Act 1660

X. In what Case and by what Means Foreign-built Ships shall be deemed English Ships.

Oath of Purchase of such Ship for a valuable Consideration, and other Particulars.; On Oath taken, Certificate under Hand and Seal of Officer.; Officer to keep Register of Certificates, and return Duplicates to Customs in London.

And for prevention of all Frauds which may be used in colouring or buying of Forraine Ships Be it Enacted by the Authority aforesaid And it is hereby Enacted That from and after the first day of April which shal be in the yeare of our Lord One thousand six hundred sixty one noe Foraine built ship or Vessell whatsoever shall be deemed or passe as a ship to England Ireland Wales or Towne of Berwicke or any of them belonging or enjoy the benefit or priviledge of such a Ship or Vessel, until such time that he or they claiming the said Ship or Yessel to be theirs shal make appeare to the cheife Officer or Officers of the Customes in the Port next to the place of his or their aboade that he or they are not Aliens, and shall have taken an Oath before such cheife Officer or Officers who are hereby Authorised to administer the same, That such Ship or Vessel was bona fide and without fraude by him or them bought for a valueable consideration expressing the summe as alsoe the time place and persons from whom it was bought and who are his Partowners (if he have any) all which Partowners shall be lyeable to take the said Oath before the cheife Officer or Officers of the Custome house of the Port next to the place of their aboade, and that noe Forainer directly or indirectly hath any part interest or share therin, and that upon such Oath he or they shall receive a Certificate under the Hand or Seale of the said cheife Officer or Officers of the Port where such Person or Persons soe making Oath doe reside, wherby such Ship or Vessel may for the future passe and be deemed as a Ship belonging to the said Port and enjoy the priviledge of such a Ship or Vessell, And the said Officer or Officers shall keepe a Register of all such Certificates as he or they shall soe give and returne a Duplicate therof to the cheife Officers of the Customes at London for such as shall be granted in England Wales and Berwicke and to the cheife Officers of the Customes at Dublin for such as shall be given in Ireland, together with the Names of the person or persons from whom such Ship was bought and the summe of money which was paid for her as alsoe the Names of all such persons who are part owners of her if any such be.