East India Company Act 1697

LVI. All Persons trading in pursuance of this Act shall enter the Goods they export (Exception) in a Book, before the Lading thereof.

Persons concerned may view the Books, to see whether Traders trade for more than is allowed.; The said Entries to be attested upon Oath or solemn Affirmation; Entries and Affirmations made before Two or more Trustees, till a Company be erected; and afterwards before Two or more Directors.

And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid That all and every Person and Persons whatsoever that shall or may in pursuance of this Act trade or send or cause to be sent any Goods Foreign Coins or other Merchandizes for the East Indies or other [X1 the ] Parts within the Limits aforesaid before such Goods Foreign Coins or other Merchandizes or any of them (the Goods Foreign Coins or other Merchandizes of such Company as shall or may be erected if any such be to trade with a joynt Stock as aforesaid only and always excepted) shall be shipped laded or put on board any Ship or into any Lighter Boat or other Vessel for that Purpose shall make or cause to be made an Entry or Entries of the same in a Book or Books for that Purpose specifying in such Entry or Entries the true and full Quantities Kinds and Values of all the Goods Foreign Coins or other Merchandizes so intended to be sent for the East Indies or other the Parts within the Limits aforesaid from England or from any other Countrey whatsoever with the Name of the Ship and of the Comander or Master thereof to the end it may be seen by Inspection of such Book or Books (to which all Persons concerned shall have free Access at all seasonable times without Fee or Charge) [X1 from time to time ] whether such Traders do or do not send more Goods Coin or Merchandizes in the said Trade than they respectively are allowed to send by this Act And all and every such Person and Persons upon such Entry or Entries made from time to time shall make and sign an Affirmation in Writing in which he or they shall declare or affirm (upon the Oath or solemn Declaration which he or they shall previously have taken or made as aforesaid in that behalf) that such Entry or Entries do contain the true and full Value and Values of all the Goods Coin or Merchandizes to be shipt by or for him or them on such Ship for that Voiage all which Entries and Affirmations shall be made before Two or more of the Trustees for the General Society aforesaid and in Books to be kept by them for that Purpose until a Company with Power to Trade upon a joynt Stock shall be erected as aforesaid And after such Company shall be erected then the same shall be made before Two or more of the Directors or Managers of such Company and in Books to be kept by them for that Purpose.

Editorial Information

X1 interlined on the Roll.