Lustrings Act 1697

Recital that the Manufacture of Black Lustrings and Alamodes had been beneficial, and that Foreign Silks had been imported without paying Duty, to the Discouragement of the Royal Lustring Company.

Foreign Alamodes and Lustrings to be imported into London only, and Notice of Quantity, &c. given to the Commissioners of the Customs; And a Licence for lading and importing to be taken from the said Commissioners.

Whereas the Manufacture of Black Lustrings and Alamodes set up by the Royal Lustring Company hath been very advantagious and beneficial to this Kingdom by imploying great Numbers of the Poor and preventing the Exportation of our Coin for purchasing of those Commodities in Foreign Parts And whereas notwithstanding the several Laws X1 for the Incouragement of the said Manufacture and for the preventing the Importation of such Foreign Silks without paying the Duties charged thereon great Quantities of the said Foreign Silks have been brought into this Kingdom without paying any Duty or Custom for the same by means whereof the said Royal Lustring Company have been very much discouraged in [X2 the] carrying on the said Manufacture For Remedy whereof and that the said Company may have all due Incouragement to enable them to proceed in so good an Undertaking be it enacted and it is hereby enacted by the Kings most Excellent Majesty by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal and Commons in this present Parliament assembled and by the Authority of the same That from and after the First Day of July in the Year of our Lord One thousand six hundred ninety [X2 &] eight no Foreign Silks called or known by the Name of Alamodes or Lustrings shall be imported or brought into any Port or Place [X2 whatsoever] within the Kingdom of England Dominion of Wales or Town of Berwick upon Tweed other than the Port of London only and that Notice shall be given to the Commissioners or Chief Managers of the Customs in the said Port of London for the Time being of the Quality and Quantity with the Marks Numbers and Package of all such Silks intended to be imported with the Name of the Importer and the Name of the Ship and her Burthen and the Name of the Master or Commander on which they are to be laden and the Place or Port where the same are to be shipped or taken on board and a Licence shall be taken under the Hands of the Commissioners or Chief Managers of the Customs in the said Port of London for the Time being or any Three of them for the lading and importing of the same as aforesaid which Licence they are hereby authorized and required to grant without any Fee or Reward or any other Charge to the Persons demanding the same.

Editorial Information

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

X2 interlined on the Roll.