Taxation Act 1685

For an extra-ordinary Supply; additional Duties granted on French Linens, Callicoes, and East India Linens, India Silks, French and other wrought Silks, Foreign Brandy, and Home-made Spirits, viz.

French Linen, Double Duties; East India Linen and Silk, and French wrought Silk, £10. per cent. on former Duties; Other wrought Silk, £7. per cent. Brandy, Single, 8d. per Gallon; Double, 2s; Home-made Spirits, 4d; Twelve Months allowed for Payment of Import Duties, with Discount of 10 per cent, and Drawback on Exportation.

Most Gracious Sovereigne.

Wee Your Majestyes most Dutifull and Loyall Subjects the Commons assembled in Parlyament for a Supply of Your Majestyes Extraordinary Occasions for suppressing the Rebellion of the late Duke of Monmouth and his Adherents, and with an Humble and Thankfull Acknowledgment of Your Majestyes Favourable and Tender Regard of us Your Commons, have Chearfully and Unanimously Given and Granted unto Your Majestie An Aid and Assistance to be Raised and Levyed upon all French Linnen and upon all Callicoes and all other Indian Linnen Imported from the East Indies or from any other Parts from whence they may by Law be Imported And on all wrought Silks or Manufactures of India made of or mixed with Herba or Silk and Thread or Cotton Imported from the East Indies or from any other Parts from whence they may by Law be Imported And on all wrought Silks and other Stuffs Manufactured in France or Avignion And on all other wrought Silks Imported from any other Place and on all Single Brandy and on all Brandy above Proofe Imported into this Your Majestyes Kingdome, and on all Home-made Spirits and Strong Waters according to such Rates and dureing such Time and in such manner and forme as herein after followeth And wee doe humbly beseech Your Majestie That it may be Enacted And bee it Enacted by the Kings most Excellent Majestie by X1 and Consent of the Lords Spirituall and Temporall and of the Com[m]ons in this present Parlyament Assembled And by the Authoritie of the same That for all French Linnen and for Callicoes and all other Indian Linnen Imported from the East-Indies or from any other Parts from whence they may by Law be Imported and for all wrought Silks or Manufactures of India made of or mixt with Herba or Silke and Thread or Cotton Imported from the East Indies or from any other Parts from whence they may by Law be Imported and for all wrought Silks and other Stuffs whatsoever Manufactured in France or Avignion and for all other wrought Silks Imported from any other place whatsoever and for all single Brandy and for all Brandy above Proofe which at any time after the First Day of July in the Yeare of our Lord One thousand six hundred eighty and five and before the First Day of July in the Yeare of our Lord One thousand six hundred and ninety shall be Imported into England or Wales or the Towne and Port of Berwicke upon-Tweede As alsoe for all Home-made Spirits and Strong Waters which after the said First Day of July in the said Yeare of our Lord One thousand six hundred eighty and five and before the First Day of July in the Yeare of our Lord One thousand six hundred and ninety shall be made or distilled for Sale there shall be duely answered and paid to His Majestie the further Rates and Dutyes hereafter mentioned That is to say; For all French Linnen Imported within the time aforesaid Double the Duties they stand charged with in the Booke of Rates; And for all Callicoes and all other Indian Linnen Imported within the time aforesaid from the East Indies or from any other Parts from whence they may by Law be Imported Ten pounds for every Hundred pounds value thereof; And for all wrought Silks or other Manufactures of India mixed with Herba or Silke and Thread or Cotton Imported within the time aforesaid from the East Indies or from any other Parts from whence they may by Law be Imported Ten pounds for every Hundred pounds value thereof; And for all wrought Silks and other Stuffs Manufactured in France or Avignion Imported within the time aforesaid Ten pounds for every Hundred pounds value thereof; And for all other wrought Silks Imported within the time aforesaid from any other Place Seven pounds for every Hundred pounds value thereof; And for every Gallon of Strong Water or Brandy com[m]only called single Brandy or Strong Water Imported from beyond the Seas within the time aforesaid Eight pence over and above the Dutyes of Excize and Custome already payable for the same, And for every Gallon of Strong Water or Brandy above Proofe commonly called Double Brandy Imported within the time aforesaid Two shillings over and above the Duties of Excise and Customs it already pays; and for every Gallon of Strong Waters Aqua Vite or Spiritts of the second Extraction made here for Sale to be paid by the Maker Foure pence over and above the Duties of Excise already payable for the same: for all which additionall Duties hereby Imposed upon the aforementioned Commodities Imported as aforesaid the Importer giveing Security at the Custome House shall have time not exceeding Twelve Months for the Payment of the same from the Importation to be paid by Foure equall and Quarterly Payments, or in case such Importer shall pay ready Money he shall have after the Rate of Ten per Centum for a Yeare of the said Duty abated to him and if the Commodities aforementioned Imported as aforesaid for which this Duty is paid or secured at the Importation thereof bee againe Exported within Twelve Months after their Importation then the aforesaid Duties shall be wholly repaid or the Security vacated as to what shall be soe exported except all Brandy for which the aforesaid Duties shall not be repaid.

Editorial Information

X1 Variant reading of the text noted in The Statutes of the Realm as follows: and w^th the advice O. [O. refers to a collection in the library of Trinity College, Cambridge]