East India Company Act 1697

LXXI. Persons who may trade pursuant to this Act, to have the sole Trade to the East Indies, after 29th Sept. 1698.

Persons trading to the East Indies, other than such as are allowed by this Act; To incur Forfeiture of Ship and Goods; and Penalty.

And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid That such Persons or Corporations as in Pursuance of this Act shall have a Right and Power to trade to the East Indies and other the Parts aforesaid according to such Provisions Proportions and Restrictions as are in this Act contained and subject to the Condition or Power of Redemption before mentioned from and after the said Nine and twentieth Day of September One thousand six hundred ninety eight shall have use and enjoy the whole and sole Trade and Traffick and the only Liberty Use and Priviledge of trading trafficking and exercising the Trade or Business of Merchandize to and from the said East Indies and to and from all the Islands Ports Havens Cities Towns and Places within the Limits before mentioned And that the said East Indies or the Islands Havens Forts Cities Towns or Places within the Limits aforesaid or any of them shall not after the said Nine and twentieth Day of September One thousand six hundred ninety eight be visited frequented or haunted by any other of the Subjects of His Majesty His Heirs or Successors during such time as the Benefit of Trade hereby given or intended to be given to the Subscribers or others as aforesaid ought to continue by vertue of this Act And if any of the Subjects of His Majesty His Heirs or Successors of what Degree or Quality soever they be other than such as may lawfully go and trade to the East Indies and other the Parts aforesaid by virtue of this Act and their Factors Agents and Servants respectively who shall be imployed according to the true Meaning hereof shall directly or indirectly visit haunt frequent trade traffick or adventure into or from the said East Indies or other the Parts before mentioned contrary to the true Meaning hereof all and every such Offender and Offenders shall incurr the Forfeiture and Loss of all the Shipps and Vessells which shall be imployed in such Trade with the Guns Tackle Apparel and Furniture thereunto belonging and also all the Goods and Merchandize laden thereupon and all the Proceed and Effects of the same and also double the Value thereof (to wit) One Fourth Part thereof to such Person or Persons as will seize inform or sue for the same to be recovered in any Court of Record as aforesaid and the other Three Fourth Parts to the Use of the said General Society untill a Company shall be erected as aforesaid and after the erecting thereof (if any such be) then to the Use of the said Company without Account the Charges of Prosecution being born by the said Society or Company.