¶ To the most Honourable Assembly of the Commons House in Parliament. ¶ The Humble petition of English Merchants, trading into Spain and France: Humbly showeth, 1 THat the Subsidy due to his Majesty for one Tun of French wine is 3. shillings being filled at the landing of the same. 2 The English Merchants of London, are now constrained to pay for every Tun that shallbe landed, be the Cask but half full, 3. shillings Subsidy, 42. shillings impost, and 15. shillings for composition of purveyance: which charge of purveyance is paid only in London port, and began but lately: They also are compelled to pay 3. pounds upon every two pipes of Conneacke wines, which usually do want 7. Cisterns, and as much for every 4. Hogsheads of High Country wines, when indeed 5. of them filled up, do not contain one Tun of Assize. The Maligo and Canary Cask are also well known to be both undergage. 3 The farm of sweet wines (which sometimes allowed 15.) doth now allow 12. in the 100 for leakadge, and all empty or refused Cask, even to merchant strangers, as by an order of the 15. of Novemb. 1612. appears: which said sweet wines do pay no greater duties, and yet are known to be much more durable, and of better worth. The use of former time hath been to make some restitutution or allowance to the Merchant, for impost of such eager and decayed wines, as should remain on his hands unsold at the years end, which is now nothing at all regarded or considered of. 4 The wisdom of Parliament anno 1. Rich. 3. did ordain every Tun to contain 252. gallons, the butt or pipe 126. and the hogshead 63. according to which measure, his majesties Officers should receive subsidy and duties, and for more certainty, every port Town hath a sworn Officer, to gage all wines and oils, before the Merchants can expose them to sale, upon pain of forfeiture, that the Subjects might be no more deceived in gage of Cask as formerly they were. 5 The Farmers of the Customs, against all Law and equity, do force the said Merchants, to pay subsidy and other duties for full vessels, though often, undergadge, unseen, or unladen, when many of them want half their wine, and thereby receive 4 pounds at least, where 3 pound is not truly due, or else will not suffer the merchant to land his goods, but seize them as forfeit for none custom. 6 The Merchants being in great bonds to them for these duties, made in his majesties name, fearing to offend the Farmers, and to hazard their credits and estates by sudden extents, and willing to prevent the spoil and perishing of their goods, are forced to yield, without any penalty or remedy, against the Farmers so unkindly and unreasonable oppression. May it therefore please this most high Court, in tender regard of the premises, to take such course and order, for ease and relief of your Suppliants said grievance, as to your most grave wisdoms, shall seem meet and indifferent. And they as in duty shall daily pray for the long health and happiness of so prudent, provident, and compassionate an Assembly. Signed by William Bond, William Spite, William Palmer, Thomas Boothby, Thomas Friar, Richard Archdal, Henry Kinnerslie, john Dade, Nicholas Smith, F●ancis Taylor, Edward Browne, Thomas Wetherall, Conway manly, George Benson, Humphrey Slany, Thomas Bewley, Marmaduke Rawdon, George Langham, john Sherington, john Worsop, Clement Harby, Richard Wiseman, Francis Samborne, Tho. Walton, Henry Lee, Thomas Hanson, William Attwill, Henry Lee, Nathaniel Peacock, john Papril, john Hall, William Bonham, Christopher Barnes, Thomas Eyre, Thomas Hampson, Richard Barnabee, Francis Haddon, Richard Symmes, George Porter, William Gonnell, William Peacock, Thomas Slingesbye, john Crabbe, Richard Travis, Thomas Gilberd, Charles Atye, Roger jackson. ¶ The copy of an Order set down at the Council Table for Merchant strangers. WHereas upon a petition heretofore exhibited to this Board by the English Merchants of London, trading Spain, and other places for sweet wines, concerning an allowance to be made unto them for leakage, it was thought fit after divers hear of the cause, to order, That there should be an allowance made unto them of 12 in the 100 by his majesties Farmers, of the impost of such sweet wines as they brought into the port of London, as by the said order more at large appeareth. And whereas the Merchant strangers of the City of London, are in like manner, suitors to the Board, for an allowance to be made unto them for leakeage, according as heretofore hath always been used, being otherwise hardly able to drive a trade in that commodity, in regard of the double Subsidy, buttleridge, and other duties which they pay for those wines, whereof the English, are altogether freed and exempted; Their Lordships having considered aswell of their petition, as the answer thereunto made by his majesties Farmer, and being informed, That they have always had the same allowance heretofore for leakage, as hath been made unto the English: and that in regard of the double subsidies and buttleridge, which they pay, the proportion of difference will still hold to the advantage of the native Merchants; It is therefore this day ordered, That his majesties Farmer of the impost of sweet wines, shall make the like allowance of 12 in the 100 of the old impost and subsidy only, for leakage of such wines contained in his Lease, as shall be brought into this kingdom by the said Merchant strangers, in such manner and form as is made unto the English merchants: And it is likewise ordered, That such Cask as is out end for end, or left for fraught, shallbe likewise allowed unto them. Provided nevertheless, That for such sweet wines as are brought into this Realm by the said merchants, either out of France, or the Low Countries, allowance is to be made of 5 in the 100 as in former times hath been used. And it is also ordered for the avoiding of any further difference in this behalf, That the said Merchants do fill no wines on board after they come into this Realm. Sunday the 15. of November, 1612. Lord Archbishop of Canterbury. Lord Chancellor. Duke of Lennox. Lord Admiral. Lord Chamberlain. Earl of Worcester. Earl of Pembroke. Lord Privy Seal. Lord Wootton. Lord Stanhop. Lord Knolles. Sir john Harbert. Sir julius Cesar. ¶ The copy of a Letter to Sir john Swinnerton Knight, than L. Mayor of London. We did not expect to have found such difficulty in your Lordship, in submitting yourself to the Order lately made on the behalf of Merchant strangers, concerning the leakage of sweet wines, being done upon so just grounds, and agreeable to the usage of former times, and that with as much indifferency and respect to your Lo. as the cause would bear: but forasmuch as the said Merchants are much damnified in such wines as are now ready to be discharged in that port of London, and cannot be landed but by order from your Lordship, We do hereby require you for the avoiding of any further prejudice therein, to sign such warrants as shallbe meet for the landing of the said wines, upon security given by them for payment of such duties as are due upon the same, wherein we have thought meet likewise to move your Lordship, not to stand too strictly upon security they shall offer, in respect they may be strangers, otherwise known to be sufficient for the same. And so expecting due performance hereof, without further trouble to this Board, we bid you etc. Sunday the 23. of November. 1612. Lord privy Seal. Lord Chamberlain. Earl of Worcester. Lord Zouch. Lord Wootton. Sir julius Cesar.