January 1644
[30 January, 1643/4.]
Whereas, by an Ordinance of both Houses of Parliament,
made the 26th Day of August 1642 (for the Reasons in the said
Ordinance mentioned), the Importation of Currants from any
Part beyond the Seas was utterly inhibited and forbidden: Now
forasmuch as the Lords and Commons in Parliament, upon the
humble Petition of The Levant Company, are informed, that the
Reasons upon which the said Ordinance was grounded doth not
extend to the Currants of the Growth of The Morea, within the
Dominions of the Grand Signior, where is a great Vent of many
Thousand Broad Cloths Yearly of the Manufactures of this
Kingdom, exported by the said Company, as well into the
Morea as other places within the Dominions of the Grand
Signior, and the Rates and Taxes put on those Currants far more
reasonable than those under the Government of the State of
Venice: It is therefore Ordered, That it shall and may be lawful to and for The Levant Company, at all Time and Times,
from and after the 1st Day of February 1643, to bring into this
Kingdom all such Currants as are of the Growth of The Morea;
and, after due Entries of the said Currants made in the Customhouse, and the Duties and Customs for the same duly paid, the
said Company shall have Power to land and put to Sale all such
Currants, any Act or Ordinances of Parliament to the contrary
in any Wise notwithstanding: Provided, That Oath be made in
the Custom-house where such Entries shall be made, that the
Tsaid Currants so entered were laden from the Morea, or some
other Place within the Grand Signior's Dominions.