Exportation Act 1698

Reasons for passing this Act.

Exporting or Lading on board of Ship for Exportation, from 10th Feb. 1698 to 10th Feb. 1699, Wheat, &c; Exception, Forfeiture of Goods, and Penalty; and Ship, &c. forfeited. Master and Mariners of Ships offending; Imprisonment.

Whereas the Price of Corn at this time within the Kingdom of England Dominion of Wales and Towne of Berwick upon Tweed is become very great and (in some parts thereof excessive which tends to the Impoverishment of many [X1 of ] His Majesties good Subjects especially of poor Manufacturers and others of the meaner Condition And by reason that Corn in severall other parts of Europe is scarcer and dearer than in England it is likely that severall Persons for their private Advantage or Lucre will export or carry great Quantities of Corn from this Kingdom or the Dominion or Towne aforesaid to Forreigne Parts whereby the Price of Corn here will be further inhanced to the Detriment of His Majesties good Subjects and the Destruction of many of them if a timely Remedy in this behalfe be not provided Be it therefore enacted by the Kings most Excellent Majesty by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spirituall and Temporall and Commons in this present Parliament assembled and by the Authority of the same That no Person or Persons whatsoever from and after the Tenth Day of February in the Yeare of our Lord One thousand six hundred ninety eight and before the Tenth Day of February which shall be in the Yeare of our Lord One thousand six hundred ninety nine shall directly or indirectly export transport carry or convey or cause or procure to be exported transported carried or conveyed out of or from the said Kingdom of England Dominion of Wales and Towne of Berwick upon Tweed or any of them or load or lay on board or cause or procure to be laden or laid on board in any Ship or other Vessell or Boat in order to be exported or carried out of the Kingdom Dominion or Towne aforesaid to or for any Forreigne Parts or to or for the Kingdom of Scotland or load or putt or cause to be loaded or putt on any Horse or Cart or otherwise to be carried to the said Kingdom of Scotland any Wheat Rye Miscellany Barley or other Corn whatsoever or any Meal Malt Starch or Flower thereof or any Bread or Biscuit whatsoever (other than such as are especially allowed to be shipped or carried out by this Act) under the Pains and Forfeitures hereinafter mentioned (that is to say) That all the Corn Meal Flour Biscuit Malt Starch and Bread that shall be soe exported shipped or laid on board or loaded to be exported or carried out contrary to this Act shall be forfeited And that every Offender and Offenders therein shall forfeite the Sum of Twenty Shillings for every Bushell of Corn Malt Meal or Flower and Twelve Pence for every Pound Weight Troy of Bread Biscuit or Starch which shall be soe exported shipped or putt on board to be exported contrary to this Act And moreover the Ship or Vessell upon which such Corn Meal Flour Biskett Malt Starch or Bread shall be soe exported or shipped to be [X1 soe] exported and all her Guns Tackle Apparell and Furniture shall be forfeited the One Moiety of all which Penalties and Forfeitures shall be to the Kings Majesty His Heires and Successors and the other Moiety to him or them who will sue for the same to be recovered by Action of Debt or of the Case Bill Suit Plaint or Information in any of His Majesties Courts of Record at Westminster or before the Justices of the Assize or of the Great Sessions in Wales or by Information at any Generall Quarter Sessions of the Peace for the County City Rideing or Place where the Offence shall be committed and in such Suite no Essoigne Protection or Wager of Law shall be allowed And that the Masters and Mariners of any such Ship or Vessell wherein any such Offence shall be committed knowing such Offence and wittingly and willingly aiding and assisting thereunto and being thereof duely convicted in any such Court of Record as aforesaid or at the Generall Quarter Sessions of the County City Rideing or Place where such Offence shall be committed or where they shall be apprehended or arrested for such Offence shall have Imprisonment by the space of Three Months without Bail or Mainprise

Editorial Information

X1 O. omits.