AN ORDINANCE OF THE Lords and Commons Assembled in PARLIAMENT, For Continuance of the Subsidy of Tonnage and Poundage, together with the Book of Rates, in full force and power from the 25 of March 1645, until the 26 of March 1647.  
Also for repealing and making void the Ordinances of Parliament, prohibiting the importation of Currans.  

Die Veneris 21 Febr. 1644.  
Ordered by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, That this Ordinance be forthwith printed and published.  
Io. Brown Cleric. Parliament.   
LONDON, Printed for Laurence Blaiklock, near Temple-bar, 1644.   

An Ordinance of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, for continuance of the Subsidy of Tonnage and Poundage, together with the Book of Rates, in full force and power from the 25 of March 1645, until the 26 of March 1647.  
Also for repealing and making void the Ordinances of Parliament, prohibiting the importation of Currans.  
Die Veneris 21 February 1644.  
WHereas there was passed an Ordinance by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, entitled, An Ordinance of Parliament concerning the Subsidy of Tonnage and Poundage, to continue from the first day of july 1642, unto the first ●●y of March than next ensuing, which 〈◊〉 Ordinance, by a later of the 21 of january 1642. for the setting forth of several Ships and Fleets to Sea, for the guarding of this Realm, and other his Majesty's Dominions, in these times of imminent danger, and for carrying on the Affairs of the Navy, was ordered to stand & continue in full force and power from the time of the said Ordinance expiring, unto the 26 day of March 1644; and from thence by another Ordinance of the 18 of September 1643, to continue unto the 25 of March 1645. And whereas the said Lords and Commons have taken into their consideration the necessity of the continuance of several Fleets of ships abroad at sea, for the said service, and the same will require great sums of money, which cannot be supplied and provided for, but out of the collections of duties arising on Goods and Merchandise exported out of and imported into this Kingdom. Be it therefore ordained by the said Lords and Commons, That the said first Ordinance, entitled An Ordinance of Parliament concerning the Subsidy of Tonnage and Poundage, together with the Book of Rates lately agreed on by the Commons House of Parliament, and by their Order published in print, and all and every the Articles and Instructions in the said Ordinance and Book of Rates specified and contained, shall stand and continue in full force and power from the said 25 of March 1645 inclusive, for and until the 26 of March 1647 exclusive: and that the Commissioners and Collectors for the time being, or such other Persons as shall be at any time hereafter nominated and appointed to receive the said duties by both Houses of Parliament, are and shall be enabled to receive all such sums of money which shall at any time hereafter be payable or paid for Tonnage and Poundage, or advanced by way of Loane, or otherwise, for and in respect of Goods and Merchandise exported out of, or imported into the Port of London, and all other Ports within the Realm of England, Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick, in such manner as the Duties of Tonnage and Poundage have been formerly received by the late and now Commissioners and Collectors of the Customs; which said Commissioners and Collectors, and such other Persons hereafter to be appointed by both Houses of Parliament, as aforesaid, their Deputy or Deputies, or any one of them, shall have full power and authority to give allowance by way of defalcation, after the rate of 15 per Cent. out of all such moneys as shall be advanced according to the said Ordinance, and Book of Rates; all which moneys the said Commissioners and Collectors, and such other Persons hereafter to be appointed as aforesaid, their Deputy or Deputies, shall receive upon account, and shall from time to time issue out the same, as they shall be authorized by Order of the Lords and Commons in Parliament, or by Order signed by five at the least of the Committee of the Navy of the Commons House of Parliament, sitting the Committee, for the use of the Navy and the Fleet now at Sea, or hereafter to be employed by Authority of both Houses of Parliament, for the guarding of the Seas, and defence of the Kingdom, and for other necessary charges for the managing the Service aforesaid, whose Order from time to time shall be their sufficient discharge. And for the better encouragement of the said Commissioners and Collectors, the said Lords and Commons do ordain, That whatsoever Act or Acts the said Commissioners and Collectors, or such other Persons to be appointed as aforesaid, their Deputy or Deputies, or any one of them, shall do in the execution of this Ordinance, and whatsoever moneys they shall receive and issue out by virtue of the same, They, their Heirs, Executors, and Administrators shall be acquitted, discharged, and kept harmless from any other or further trouble, question, or account whatsoever, then to the said Lords and Commons. And they do further declare and promise, that when any Act of Parliament shall be passed for Tonnage and Poundage, provision shall be made by that Act, as well for the indemnity of the Merchant advancing the said duties, and sums of money according to the said Ordinance and Book of Rates, as for the security and indemnity of the said Commissioners and Collectors, and such other Persons to be appointed as aforesaid, in performance of the said Service, and of such other Person and Persons who shall be employed therein. And it is likewise ordained by the said Lords and Commons, and they do hereby enjoin all Merchants, aswell Denizens as Aliens, to make due entries of all such goods and merchandizes as they shall export or import, from the day of the date hereof, for, by, & during the continuance of this present Ordinance. And it is further Ordered and Ordained by the Authority aforesaid, That if any such goods or other merchandise, whereof any the duties aforesaid, are or shall be due, shall at any time hereafter be shipped or put into any Boat or Vessel, to the intent to be carried into the parts beyond the Seas, or else be brought from the parts beyond the Seas, into any Port, Place, or Creek of this Realm, or other his Majesty's Dominions, by way of merchandise, and unshiped to be laid on land, the Customs and other duties due by this Ordinance, or to be due for the same, not paid, or the Collector thereof or his Deputy, with the consent and agreement of the controller and Surveyor there, or one of them at the least not agreed with for the same, in the Custom House, according to the true meaning of this Ordinance; That then from the first day of February 1644 all the same Goods and Merchandise whatsoever shall be forfeited, the one half to be employed to the use of the State, and the other moiety to him or them who will seize or sue for the same: And for that purpose, the said Lords and Commons do require the Customers, Comptrollers, Surveyors, Searchers of the said City of London, and all other the Ports respectively, that they do carefully attend their several charges, and make due seizure as forfeited, of all such goods and merchandise as shall not be entered according to the intent of this Ordinance. And such Goods so seized by the said Officers, or any other Person whatsoever, they are required from time to time to Register, with the Officer appointed for that purpose in the Customhouse London: and to proceed by way of Bill, plaint, or information in his Majesty's Court of Exchequer, against such goods and persons so offending, contrary to the true intent and meaning of this Ordinance: And it is lastly ordained, That the Baron or Barons of the said Court of Exchequer, & all other Officers of the said Court respectively, for the time being, do, and shall, and are hereby authorized and required to proceed to judgement upon such Bill, Plaint, or Information according to the course of that Court. And the said Baron or Barons, and Officers of the said Court respectively, shall be hereby indemnified and saved harmless for their so doing. Provided, that the Ordinance lately made for the Regulating of the Rates of Tobacco, do stand in force without allowance of 15 per Cent. according to the true intent and meaning of the former Ordinance, any thing in this Ordinance to the contrary notwithstanding. Provided always, That for the better encouragement of all Merchant Strangers and others, using the Composition Trade of Dover, It is ordained, That the said Merchants Strangers and others, using the said Composition Trade, shall not pay any Customs, Subsidies or any other Imposition whatsoever, more than the 2. ½. per Cent. which usually heretofore was by them paid for that Composition Trade, any Ordinance to the contrary notwithstanding.  
It is further ordained, That the several Ordinances of Parliament of the 26 of August 1642. and 19 january 1642. inhibiting the Importation of Currans, be hereby Repealed and made void; And that it shall and may be lawful from the date hereof, for all Merchants of the Levant Company, to Import in English Bottoms, Currans as in former times, paying only such Customs and Duties as are due, and payable by the now Book of Rates established by the Authority of this present Parliament: Provided that one third part of the profit that shall arise out of the Customs payable upon Currans, shall be appropriated to the Garrison of Gloucester.  
Io. Browne Cler. Parl.  
FINIS.