October 1644
[24 October, 1644.]
Whereas, by an Act made this present Parliament, intituled,
"An Act for the Relief of the Captives taken by Turkish,
Moorish, and other Pirates, and to prevent the taking of others
in Time to come," a Subsidy of One per cent. was imposed on
all Goods and Merchandizes exported out of, or imported
into, this Kingdom of England and Dominion of Wales,
which was to be One Fifth Part more than the Custom
and Sudsidy of Tonnage and Poundage, according to the Book
of Rates: and whereas, since the passing of that Act, the House
of Commons, by their Order of the Tenth of March, 1641, in
regard of the then growing Distractions of this Kingdom, did
then Order, That Bonds only should be taken by the Collectors
of the said Duty, for the Payment of the said One per cent.,
according to such Rates as this House should after appoint,
and accordingly the Bonds have been taken: The Lords and
Commons, &c., intending to carry on that so pious a Work of
the releasing of the said distressed Captives, and withall having
Respect to the Encouragement of Merchants in their Trade, do
hereby Declare and Order, That only One Fourth Part of the
Monies due on the said several Bonds, that is to say, One Fourth
Part of the One per cent. due by the said Act, which is One Shilling
in every Twenty Shillings, paid for Custom and Subsidy,
according to the new Book of Rates established by Authority of
this present Parliament, shall be paid by the several Merchants
so indebted, within Thirty Days after Publication of this Order
in Print, unto the Chamberlain of the City of London for the
time being, who is hereby authorized to receive the same, or
unto his Deputy or Deputies appointed by him; who, by himself
and Deputies, is required to attend at the several Customhouses
in the Port of London, and Out Ports, at the usual Hours
between Nine and Twelve in the Morning, to receive the same,
or to take such other Course for Dispatch of that Service as they
shall think fit; and, upon Receipt of the Monies due, to deliver
up the Bonds; which said Monies shall be employed and disposed
of, for and towards the Redemption of the said distressed
Captives, in such Manner as by the Lord Admiral and the Committee of the Navy shall be ordered and directed; and in case
any Merchant so indebted shall not pay in the said Fourth Part
within the Time before limited, the same being demanded, that
then the said Collectors do certify the Names of such Person or
Persons unto the said Committee of the Navy, who thereupon
are to cause the said Bonds to be put in Suit, for the whole
Duty of One per Cent. according to the Intent of the said Act:
And it is further Ordered, That from the Day of the Date
hereof, unto the Expiration of the Date of the said Act, no Bonds
be taken for the said Duty; but that the said Chamberlain, his
Deputy or Deputies, do receive the Money collected for the said
Duty of the Fourth Part of One per Cent. as before, upon all
Goods, Wares, and Merchandizes, both exported and imported,
according to the said Act; and all Merchants are hereby required
to pay the same.