In the Act for Raising Two Millions, and for Settling the Trade to the East-Indies, are the following Clauses, Viz.  

Folly 763.  AND Be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That if the said whole Sum of Two Millions, or one Moiety, or any greater part thereof, shall be Subscribed on or before the said Nine and twentieth Day of September One thousand six hundred ninety eight, and all or any Corporations, or other Person or Persons, having particular Shares or Interests in the Principal Stock of the General Society, or in proportionable Annuities or Yearly Payments, issuing out of the said Yearly Fund, shall be willing and desirous to unite or join together such their several Shares and Interests, and to be Incorporated so as they may be able to Manage their Trade in proportion to their Interests as a Company, and by a Joint Stock, That then it shall or may be lawful to and for His Majesty, by Letters Patents under the Great Seal of England, to Incorporate all such Persons and Corporations, by such proper Name as His Majesty, His Heirs, or Successors, shall think fit to be One Company, with Power to Manage and Carry on their Trade to the East-Indies, and other the Limits aforesaid, by a Joint Stock, and to have a perpetual Succession and a Common Seal, and with Power to Grant and Take, Sue and be Sued, and to Choose their own Managers or Directors and Officers from time to time, and such other Powers and Clauses as shall be necessary or requisite for the Carrying on of such Trade, and shall be Reasonable for His Majesty to Grant: Nevertheless, such Company so to be Created with Power to Trade with a Joint Stock, as aforesaid, shall be restrained to such proportion of the Trade in the whole as all the particular Members thereof would have been Entitled to at the Rate , in case such new Company were not made; And the Directors or Managers, and other Members of the same, shall be subject to such further Rules, Qualifications, and Appointments as His Majesty in their Charter shall think necessary or reasonable to be Inserted.  

Fol. 777.  And the said Commons of England, in Parliament Assembled, for the Ends and Purposes in this Act expressed, have also Given and Granted unto His Majesty, His Heirs and Successors, the further Rates and Duties herein after mentioned; And it is hereby further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That for and upon all Goods, Wares, and Merchandizes whatsoever, of the Growth, Product or Manufacture of the East-Indies, or any other Countries or Places within the Limits aforesaid, to wit, beyond the Cape to the straits of Magellan, which from and after the said Nine and twentieth day of September, One thousand six hundred ninety eight, at any time or times, shall be Imported, or brought into the Kingdom of England, Dominion of Wales, or Town of Berwick upon Tweed, by any Corporation, Person or Persons Trading within the Limits aforesaid, by Virtue or in Pursuance of this Act, there shall be yielded and paid to His Majesty, His Heirs and Successors (over and above all other Duties payable for the same) a Duty after the Rate of Five Pounds for every One hundred Pounds of the true and real value of the said Goods, to be paid over from time to time to the said General Society of Subscribers and their Successors, or such Treasurer or Treasurers as such Society shall Appoint to Receive the same, unless a Company upon the Desire of the Subscribers, or any of them, shall be Erected in pursuance to this Act, to Trade with a Joint Stock as aforesaid; And from and after the Erecting or Settling of such Company, than the said Duty of Five Pounds per Cent. shall be paid over to such Company and their Successors, or to their Treasurer, to the End that the said General Society, and the said Company respectively, may out of the Produce of the said Duty of Five Pounds per Cent. maintain such Ambassadors or other Ministers as His Majesty, His Heirs or Successors, (at the Nomination of the trusties, Directors, or Managers of or for the General Society aforesaid, or of such Company so to be Impowered to Trade with a Joint Stock as aforesaid) shall be pleased to send to any Emperor, Prince, or State, within the Parts aforesaid, and defray any other Extraordinary or Necessary Expenses in Carrying on the said Trade. And if at any time or times there be an Overplus of the Produce of the said Duty, to dispose the same from time to time to and for the Benefit of all the Members of the said General Society, until a Company to Trade with a Joint Stock shall be erected as aforesaid. And after such Company shall be Erected, then to and for the Benefit of all the Members thereof according to their respective Shares or Interests in the Principal or Capital Stock of the same.