Importation Act 1667

Recital of 18 Car. II. c.2 § 1.; and that notwithstanding the said Act great Numbers of Cattle, &c. have been imported, and that divers Churchwardens, &c. had combined with the Owners for colourable Seizures, and that others who had discharged their Duty had been molested by Suits in distant Counties;

Officers who have seized any imported Cattle indemnified.

Whereas by an Act of this present Parliament intituled An Act against importing Cattel from Ireland and other parts beyond the Seas and Fish taken by Forreigners. amongst other things Provision was made against Importation of Cattel from parts beyond the Seas And it was thereby enacted That such Importation from and after the second day of February which was in the yeare One thousand six hundred sixty six was a publick Nusance and should be so adjudged deemed and taken to all intents and purposes And that if any great Cattel Sheepe or Swine or any Beef Pork or Bacon (except for the necessary Provision of the respective Ships or Vessels in which the same should be brought not exposing the same to sale) should from and after the said second day of February by any wise whatsoever be imported or brought from beyond the Seas into this Kingdom of England Dominion of Wales or Town of Berwick upon Tweed That then it should and might be lawfull for any Constable Tithingmari Headborough Church warden or Overseers of the Poore or any of them within their respective Liberties Parishes or Places to take and seize the same and keepe the same during the space of eight and fourty houres in some publick or convenient place where such seizure should be made within which time if the Owner or Owners or any for them or him should make it appeare unto some Justice of the Peace of the same County where the same should be so seized by the Oath of two credible Witnesses that the same were not imported from Ireland or from any other place beyond the Seas not therein after excepted after the said second day of February Then the same upon the Warrant of such Justice of Peace should be delivered without delay but in default of such Proof and Warrant then the same to be forfeited one halfe thereof to be disposed to the use of the poor of the Parish where the same shall be so found or seized the other to be to his or theire owne use that should soe seize the same Notwithstanding which Act and the good Provision thereby great number of Cattell Sheep and Swine and great quantities of Beefe Pork and Bacon have since the time limited by the said Act been imported from Ireland and other places beyond the Seas as well in Forreign as English Ships and Vessels contrary to the good intent of the said Act and in continuance of the said Nusance and in high contempt of the Authority of Parliament And divers Church wardens Constables Tithing men and Overseers of the Poore living neere the Sea for theire owne private Lucre having combined with the Owners of such Cattel Sheep Swine Beef Pork and Bacon imported as aforesaid or with theire Agents have colourably seized and afterwards privately and fraudulently sold the same at very low and inconsiderable Rates to the said Owners or theire Agents And other of the said officers who have discharged theire Duties in the due execution of the said Act have been molested therefore and several Actions Suits Plaints and Informations have [X1 been ] brought and prosecuted against some of them in Counties and places far distant from theire Habitations to theire great charge and discouragement For the Vindication therefore of the Authority of Parliament from such bold Affronts and the Indempnifying as well of such Officers who have faithfully endeavored the Execution of the said Act (although they have not strictly pursued the same in every Circumstance) as of such other person and persons who have acted in their aid and assistance and for the better and further suppression of the said Nusance Be it enacted by the Kings most excellent Majestie by and with the Advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal & Commons in this present Parliament assembled and by authority of the same That all and every Constable Tithingman Headborough Church warden and Overseer of the Poor and every other person or persons who have acted in or concerning the seizure keeping detaining or disposing of any Cattel Sheep Swine Beef Pork or Bacon imported contrary to the said Act after the said second day of February shall be and are hereby saved harmeles and indemnified in that behalfe against the Owner or Owners thereof at the time of such Importation their Executors and Administrators and every other person and persons claiming from by or under their Gift Grant or other Disposition and against all and every person and persons to whom any fraudulent Sale hath been made [X1 after] such Importation as aforesaid and their and every of theire Executors and Administrators

Editorial Information

X1 interlined on the Roll.