Encouragement of Trade Act 1663

VI. Persons importing into the Plantations to deliver to the Governor an Account of their Names and of the Goods imported.

No Ship to unlade till the Master has produced a Certificate of Name and Built of Ship, and the Name of the Commander, &c.; and delivered an Inventory of the Lading and the Place of Growth; Penalty.; Governors of Plantations, (Tangier excepted) before their Entrance upon Office, to take an Oath to observe this Act; Penalty. Offending after Oath taken turned out; Incapacity; Penalty £1,000.

And for the better prevention of Fraudes Be it enacted and it is hereby enacted That from and after the Five and twentyeth day of March One thousand six hundred sixty and fower every person or persons importing by land any Goods or Commodities whatsoever into any the said Lands Islands Plantations Colonies Territories or Places shall deliver to the Governour of such Land Island Plantation Colony Territory or Place, or to such Person or Officer as shall be by him thereunto authorized and appointed within fower and twenty hours after such Importation his and their Names and Surnames and a true Inventory and Particular of all such Goods or Commodities, And noe Shipp or Vessell comeing to any such Land Island Plantation Colony Territory or Place shall lade or unlade any Goods or Commodities whatsoever untill the Master or Commander of such Shipp or Vessell shall first have made knowne to the Governour of such Land Isleland Plantation Colony Territory or Place or such other Person or Officer as shall be by him thereunto authorized and appointed the arrivall of the said Shipp or Vessell with her name, and the name and surname of her Master or Commander, and have shewen to him that she is an English built Shipp, or made good by produceing such Certificate as abovesaid that she is a Shipp or Vessell bona fide belonging to England Wales or the Towne of Berwicke and navigated with an English Master and three fourth parts of the Marriners at least Englishmen and have delivered to such Governour or other Person or Officer a true and perfect Inventory or Invoice of her Ladeing together with the place or places in which the said Goods were laden or taken into the said Shipp or Vessell under the paine of the losse of the Shipp or Vessell with all her Guns Am[m]munition Tackle Furniture and Apparell and of all such Goods of the Growth Production or Manufacture of Europe as were not bona fide laden and taken in, in England Wales or the Towne of Berwicke to be recovered and divided in manner aforesaid, And all such as are Governours or Comanders of any the said Lands Islands Plantations Colonyes Territoryes or Places (Tangier onely excepted) shall before the Five and twentyeth day of March One thousand six hundred sixtie and fower and all such as shall hereafter be made Governours or Commanders of any of them shall before their entrance upon the execution of such trust or charge take a Solemne Oath before such person or persons as shall be authorized by His Majestie His Heires and Successors to administer the same to doe their utmost within their respective Governments or Commands to cause to be well and truely observed what is in this Act enacted in relation to the Trade of such Lands Islands Plantations Colonyes Territoryes and Places under the penaltie of being removed out of their respective Governments and Commands. And if any of them shall be found after the takeing of such Oath to have wittingly and willingly offended contrary to what is by this Act required of them, that they shall for such Offence be turned out of their Governments, and be incapeable of the Government of any other Land Island Plantation or Colony, and moreover forfeite the summe of One thousand pounds lawfull money. of England, the one moyety to His Majestie His Heires and Successors and the other moyetie to him or them that shall informe or sue for the same in any of His Majesties Courts in any of the said Plantations or in any Court of Record in England wherein noe Essoigne Protection or Wager in Law shall be allowed.