Die Sabbath 23 Ianuarii 1646
England and Wales Parliament
Created as a project for Literature and Digital Diversity, Northeastern University, Spring 2021
Die Sabbath 23 Ianuarii 1646
John Wright at the Kings Head in the Old Baley
London
1647
Die Sabbathi
Saturday
23 IanuariiJanuary 1646.
WHereas the severallseveral Plantations in
Virginia,
Bermudas,
Barbados
, and other places
of America have been much beneficiallbeneficial
to this KingdomeKingdom by the increase of
Navigation, and the Customs arising from the commodities of the growth of
those Plantations imported into this KingdomeKingdom have been, and are
beneficiallbeneficial, that
all such as have traded there (for their better encouragement) have
used to transport from hence thither MerchandizesMerchandise, Goods, and necessaries
for the better carrying on of the said Plantations, without paying any Custom
for any Goods so exported from hence thither:
The Lords and Commons
assembled in Parliament, for the better advancement of the said Plantations,
and encouragement of the Adventurers to the same, have Ordained, and be
it Ordained by the said Lords and Commons, That all MerchandizeMerchandise,
Goods, and necessaries, which shall
be for the supportation, use, and expenceexpense of the said
severallseveral Plantations, shall, or may be exported thi-
ther from this KingdomeKingdom by any of the Subjects thereof,
without paying or yeeldingyielding any Custom, Sub-
sidie, Taxation, Imposition, or other duty for the same; the duty of ExcizeExcise
excepted during the space of
three yearesyears next ensuing, except
untoto the Plantation in new-found Lands; provided, That from time
to time, as any such MerchandizeMerchandise
and Goods be endeavoured to be exported for the use aforesaid, secu-
rity be first given to the Commissioners and Officers of the Customs
where such Goods shall be laden, that
the said MerchandizesMerchandise and Goods so to be exported
by vertuevirtue of this Ordinance shall be really transported
to the said forraigneforeign Plantations, and to no other places,
and there to be imployedemployed for the only use of
the Plantations; and that Certificate shall be returned from thence within one yeare after the lading
thereof of the Ships arrivallarrival, and discharge in the said
forraigneforeign Plantations. And for that there is great
want of servants in the said Plantations, as well for the raising of commodities apt to be produced there, as
for defence of themselves from being made a prey to the Natives, or
forraigneforeign enemies. Be it further Or-
dained by the said Lords and Commons, That it shall be lawfulllawful for
any person or persons, Subjects of
this KingdomeKingdom, to entertaineentertain,
and transport from hence into the said severallseveral Plantations, such persons
being fit to serve, or advance the Trade there, as shall be willing to serve, or to be employed in the said
severallseveral forraigneforeign
Plantations; provided, that the names of all such persons so to be transported to serve
in the said Plantations, be first RegistredRegistered
in the Custom-house, and that neither force be used to take up
any such servants, nor any ApprentisesApprentices
entisedenticed to desert their Masters, nor any Children under age admitted
without expresseexpress consent of their Parents. And provided also,
that certificate within one yearesyears be returned
from the GovernourGovernor,
or other chiefechief Officer of such Plantation,
where such persons shall be put on shore, of
the arrivallarrival of the said persons there, that no fraud be used to
carry any such persons to any other place;
Provided alwaiesalways, that none of the said Plantations
doedo suffer or permit any Ship, Bark, or VessellVessel to take
in any Goods of the growth of the said Plantations from any of their Ports, and carry them to any for-
raigneeign parts and places, except in
English Bottomes; and in case any of the said Plantations shall offend
herein, then the Plantation so offending shall be excluded from the benefit of this Ordinance, and shall
pay customecustom as other Merchants doedo
to France,
SpaineSpain, Holland, and other
forraigneforeign parts.
Signed: Joh. Brown Cler. Parliamentorum.
Transcribed from a facsimile in
Early English Books Online
The location of the first permanent British colony established in North America.
These were some of the early major British colonies in the West Indies.
The reason for this order is plantations have been extremely good for England and they want to conditionally add more perks.
These are the two parts of British parliament aside from the reigning Monarch.
Colonialism was treated as an adventure with no mind for the natives.
There won't be any kinds of fees on these goods beyond what would be paid in England except for an excise tax.
Smuggling was a serious problem for colonial Britain and when possible they took steps to limit it.
For further reading click here
Collateral had to be provided to customs for a certificate which could be returned in exchange for the collateral.
For further reading click here
This is the government building for officials responsible for managing imports and exports.
The Governor was expected to act on behalf of Englad as he was likely still a public servant.
Further information on this location could not be found.
This is the clerk who signed the document and where he signed it on the original document.
Colonies
Countries
Groups
References to colonialism
References to power