Taxation (No. 4) Act 1695

III. Reciting that a useful Invention had been found out for the better knitting Worsted and Silk Stockings, Gloves, &c;

Loading or shipping for Exportation Frames for making and knitting Stockings, &c; Frames forfeited, and Penalty of £40 for each Frame, &c.

And whereas a very usefull and profitable Invention or Mystery hath beene lately found out for the better and more speedy makeing and knitting of Worsted and Silke Stockings Wastcoates Gloves and other wearing Necessaries whereby great Quantities are wrought off in a little tyme His Majesties Dominions abundantly supplyed and great Quantities exported into Foreigne Nations to the Increase of His Majesties Customes and the Improvement of Trade and Commerce And whereas severall of the Frames or Engines for the makeing and knitting of such Stockings and other weareing Necessaries have beene of late exported out of this Kingdome whereby the said Commodities have beene made in Foreigne Parts which were heretofore made in this Kingdome onely to the great Discouragement of the Woollen Trade in generall and the great detriment of the said Mystery and the Impoverishment of many Familyes who have beene thereby maintained For the Prevention of which Inconveniencies for the future bee it enacted by the Authority aforesaid That from and after the First Day of May One thousand six hundred ninety six noe Person or Persons whatsoever shall load or putt on board any Shipp or Vessell any such Frame or Frames or any Part or Parcell thereof in order to bee exported beyond the Seas upon payne that the Person or Persons offending herein shall not onely forfeite or loose such Frame and Frames Parts or Parcells of Frames which shall bee soe loaden and putt on board in order to be exported beyond the Seas as aforesaid but also the Summe of Forty Pounds of lawfull Money of England for such Frame or Part or Parcell thereof the one Moiety thereof to His Majesty His Heires and Successors the other Moiety thereof to the Person or Persons who shall informe and sue for the same to bee recovered by Action of Debt Bill Plaint or Information in any of His Majésties Courts of Record wherein noe Essoigne Protection or Wager of Law shall be allowed or more than one Imparlance.