August 1644
[3 August, 1644.]
Ord. 9 Jan. 1643 recited.
Whereas by the late Ordinance of Parliament, bearing date the
ninth of January, 1643. there is a rate of Excise set upon all
Beeves, Veales, Muttons, Porkes, Lambs, and other Butchers
meat to be killed for Provision of Victuals; and the same to be
leavied according to the value of the Beast when he is living, and
all Butchers and others, from whom any such Excise should at
any time become due, to pay and be accomptable for the same
weekly.
From July 20 All Butchers Meat brought alive to London to pay Excise on value of Beasts living.
Now the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, finding the many inconveniences that doe, and will of necessitie
arise, in leavying the same within the Cities of London and
Westminster, Suburbs of both, and Lines of Communication,
by the Rule prescribed by the aforesaid Ordinance, if the
collecting the said Excise should be continued for the future in
that way. For prevention whereof, and for the more Regular
and facile leavying the same for the future, within the Cities of
London and Westminster, their Suburbs, and Lines of Communication aforesaid: Be it Ordained by the said Lords and Commons
assembled in Parliament, That all Beeves, Muttons, Veals, Lambs,
Porks, and other Butchers meat (in the aforesaid Ordinances,
mentioned to be Exciseable from and after the twentieth day of
this present July,) which shall be brought to be killed for
slaughter, and Provision of Victuall, within the Cities of London
and Westminster, their Suburbs, and Lines of Communication,
shall be lyable to pay (while all such Cattell are yet alive) the said
duty of Excise being one shilling in every twenty shillings value
of the Beast living.
Butchers and Grasiers to inform Excise Officers of all such Beasts brought to London, etc and lines of communication.; Excise Officers to keep Register.
And be it further Ordained, That all Grasiers, Butchers, and
others, who from, and after the day and yeare aforesaid, shall
bring any live Beeves, Muttons, Veales, Lambs, Porks, or other
sort of Butchers ware before specified, either by Land or by
Water, into the Cities of London and Westminster, their
Suburbs, or Lines of Communication, to be killed for sale or
private spending, doe and shall at the Ports and first entrance
within the Lines of Communication, make knowne unto such
Officer or Officers as shall be appointed by the Commissioners of
Excise, to attend such Port or place the number and nature of
the said Cattell and the names of the right owners of them, which
the said Officers shall Register in a Booke, and deliver unto the
person who hath the charge of the said Cattell, a Certificate or
Ticket of the same.
No living beasts to be put to sale in limits aforesaid save in Smithfield.
And be it further Ordained, That no Grasier, Butcher, or other
person whatsoever who from and after the day and yeare aforesaid, shall bring any live Beeves, Muttons, Veales, Lambes,
Porkes, or other Butchers ware before specified, either by Land
or by Water, into the Cities of London and Westminster, their
Suburbs, and Lines of Communication, doe or shall presume to
put any such Beast to sale, in any place within the Line of Communication, but in the open and usuall place and market in
Smithfield, upon pain of forfeiture of such Beast, or the value
thereof.
Cattle sold to be registered and not delivered till Excise paid.; No Butcher to kill till Excise paid.
And that every such Grasier or other, who shall put to sale any
kinde of Cattell Exciseable by this Ordinance, within the said
Cities of London or Westminster, or Line of Communication,
and within the time aforesaid, doe and shall give notice thereof,
together with the true price of such Cattell, unto the Officer or
Deputy appointed by the Commissioners of Excise, to attend at
some knowne place in Smithfield to Register all such Cattell, and
to receive the Excise due for them, and shall not make delivery
of any Cattell so sold, untill the Excise be duly payd and a
Ticket obtained to testifie the same upon forfeiture of treble the
value of the Excise of such Cattell; And that every Butcher who
shall buy such Cattell, shall duly pay the Excise as aforesaid,
before he kill the same, upon pain of forfeiture of the said
Cattell or the value of it.
Cattle brought to London, etc. for sale there to pay Excise on entering.
And be it further Ordained, That it any Butcher or other,
who from and after the day and yeare above written, shall bring
any live Cattell above specified, either by Land or by Water, into
the Cities of London and Westminster, their Suburbs, or Lines
of Communications, to kill for sale, or his own private spending,
which he or they bought without the Line of Communication,
that every such Butcher or other, shall at the entrance of such
Port, pay the said duty of Excise for all such Cattell according
to the intent of this Ordinance, unto the Officers for that purpose
there deputed to receive the same.
Where cattle kept within London, etc., and not brought direct from without Line.
And that all Butchers and others, who for the uses aforesaid,
shall from henceforth buy, feed, or otherwise have in readinesse
to kill for Provision of Victuall the sorts and kinds of Cattell
before mentioned, within the Cities of London and Westminster,
or Line of Communication, which came not immediately from
without the Line, shall before any such Cattell be by them put
to sale or killed, pay the said duty of Excise into the Office of
Excise, or else there give sufficient testimony that it was payd
before.
Persons seeking to evade this Ord. to be also punished as Malignants.
And be it likewise Ordained, That all and every such Grasier,
Butcher, or other person or persons whatsoever, as shall seeke to
evade this Ordinance, by refusing to pay the aforesaid duty of
Excise according to the Tenor hereof, or practise any other fraudulent meanes or wayes to elude the same in any particular, that
every such person or persons so offending, besides the severall
penalties before mentioned, shall be esteemed a person ill-affected
to the State and suffer such further punishment as both Houses
of Parliament shall adjudge.
Saving of former Ord. of Jan. 9 1643/4.
And lastly, the said Lords and Commons do further Ordaine
and Declare, That every other matter and thing contained in the
former Ordinance of Excise on Flesh of the ninth of January
last, and thereby injoyned to be executed and done, save in the
matter of Regulating and Leavying of the same as by this Ordinance, shall to all intents and purposes remaine, and be in full
force and vertue.