¶ The Humble petition of English Marchants , trading into Spaine and France : Humbly sheweth ,

1 THat the Subsidie due to his Maiesty for one Tunne of French wine is 3. shillings being filled at the landing of the same .

2 The English Marchants of London , are now constrained to pay for euery Tunne that shal be landed , be the Caske but halfe full , 3. shillings Subsidie , 42. shillings impost , and 15. shillings for composition of purueyance : which charge of purueyance is payd onely in London port , and began but lately : They also are compelled to pay 3. pounds vpon euery two pipes of Conneacke wines , which vsually doe want 7. Cesternes , and as much for euery 4. Hogsheads of High Countrey wines , when indeed 5. of them filled vp , doe not containe one Tunne of Assise . The Maligo and Canary Caske are also well knowne to be both vndergage .

3 The farme of sweet wines ( which sometimes allowed 15. ) doth now allow 12. in the 100 for leakadge , and all empty or refused Caske , euen to marchant strangers , as by an order of the 15. of Nouemb. 1612. appeares : which sayd sweet wines do pay no greater duties , and yet are knowne to be much more durable , and of better worth . The vse of former time hath beene to make some restitutution or allowance to the Marchant , for impost of such eager and decayed wines , as should remaine on his hands vnsold at the yeeres end , which is now nothing at all regarded or considered of .

4 The wisedome of Parliament anno 1. Rich. 3. did ordaine euery Tunne to containe 252. gallons , the butte or pipe 126. and the hogshead 63. according to which measure , his Maiesties Officers should receiue subsidie and duties , and for more certainty , euery port Towne hath a sworne Officer , to gadge all wines and oyles , before the Marchants can expose them to sale , vpon paine of forfeiture , that the Subiects might be no more deceiued in gadge of Caske as formerly they were .

5 The Farmers of the Customes , against all Law and equity , doe force the sayd Merchants , to pay subsidie and other duties for full vessels , though often , vndergadge , vnseene , or vnladen , when many of them want halfe their wine , and thereby receiue 4 pounds at least , where 3 pound is not truly due , or els will not suffer the marchant to land his goods , but seise them as forfeit for none custome .

6 The Marchants being in great bonds to them for these duties , made in his Maiesties name , fearing to offend the Farmers , and to hazard their credits and estates by sudden extents , and willing to preuent the spoile and perishing of their goods , are forced to yeeld , without any penalty or remedy , against the Farmers so vnkindly and vnreasonable oppression .

May it therefore please this most high Court , in tender regard of the premisses , to take such course and order , for ease and reliefe of your Suppliants sayd greeuance , as to your most graue wisedomes , shall seeme meet and indifferent . And they as in duty shall daily pray for the long health and happinesse of so prudent , prouident , and compassionate an Assemblie .

Signed by William Bond , William Spight , William Palmer , Thomas Boothby , Thomas Frier , Richard Archdal , Henry Kinnerslie , Iohn Dade , Nicholas Smith , F●ancis Taylor , Edward Browne , Thomas Wetherall , Conway Manlye , George Benson , Humfrey Slany , Thomas Bewley , Marmaduke Rawdon , George Langham , Iohn Sherington , Iohn Worsop , Clement Harby , Richard Wiseman , Francis Samborne , Tho. Walton , Henry Lee , Thomas Hanson , William Attwill , Henry Lee , Nathaniel Peacocke , Iohn Papril , Iohn Hall , William Bonham , Christopher Barnes , Thomas Eyre , Thomas Hampson , Richard Barnabee , Francis Haddon , Richard Symmes , George Porter , William Gonnell , William Peacocke , Thomas Slingesbye , Iohn Crabbe , Richard Trauis , Thomas Gilberd , Charles Atye , Roger Iackson .

¶ The copy of an Order set downe at the Councell Table for Marchant strangers .

WHereas vpon a petition heeretofore exhibited to this Bord by the English Marchants of London , trading Spaine , and other places for sweet wines , concerning an allowance to bee made vnto them for leakage , it was thought fit after diuers hearings of the cause , to order , That there should be an allowance made vnto them of 12 in the 100. by his Maiesties Farmers , of the impost of such sweet wines as they brought into the port of London , as by the sayd order more at large appeareth .

And whereas the Marchant strangers of the City of London , are in like manner , sutors to the Bord , for an allowance to bee made vnto them for leakeage , according as heeretofore hath alwayes beene vsed , being otherwise hardly able to driue a trade in that commodity , in regard of the double Subsidie , buttleridge , and other duties which they pay for those wines , whereof the English , are altogether freed and exempted ; Their Lordships hauing considered aswell of their petition , as the answer thereunto made by his Maiesties Farmer , and being informed , That they haue alwaies had the same allowance heeretofore for leakage , as hath beene made vnto the English : and that in regard of the double subsedies and buttleridge , which they pay , the proportion of difference will still hold to the aduantage of the natiue Marchants ; It is therefore this day ordered , That his Maiesties Farmer of the impost of sweet wines , shall make the like allowance of 12 in the 100 of the old impost and subsidie onely , for leakage of such wines contayned in his Lease , as shall bee brought into this kingdome by the sayd Marchant strangers , in such manner and forme as is made vnto the English marchants : And it is likewise ordered , That such Caske as is out end for end , or left for fraught , shal be likewise allowed vnto them . Prouided neuerthelesse , That for such sweet wines as are brought into this Realme by the sayd merchants , either out of France , or the Low Countreyes , allowance is to be made of 5 in the 100 as in former times hath beene vsed . And it is also ordered for the auoyding of any further difference in this behalfe , That the sayd Marchants do fill no wines on boord after they come into this Realme . Sunday the 15. of Nouember , 1612.

Lord Archbishop of Canterbury . Lord Chancellour . Duke of Lennox . Lord Admirall . Lord Chamberlaine . Earle of Worcester . Earle of Pembroke . Lord Priuie Seale . Lord Wootton . Lord Stanhop . Lord Knolles . Sir Iohn Harbert . Sir Iulius Cesar .

¶ The copy of a Letter to Sir Iohn Swinnerton Knight , then L. Maior of London .

WEe did not expect to haue found such difficulty in your Lordship , in submitting your selfe to the Order lately made on the behalfe of Marchant strangers , concerning the leakage of sweet wines , being done vpon so iust grounds , and agreeable to the vsage of former times , and that with as much indifferency and respect to your Lo. as the cause would beare : but forasmuch as the sayd Marchants are much damnified in such wines as are now ready to be discharged in that port of London , and cannot bee landed but by order from your Lordship , We doe heereby require you for the auoyding of any further preiudice therein , to signe such warrants as shal be meet for the landing of the sayd wines , vpon security giuen by them for payment of such dueties as are due vpon the same , wherin we haue thought meet likewise to mooue your Lordship , not to stand too strictly vpon security they shall offer , in respect they may be strangers , otherwise knowne to bee sufficient for the same . And so expecting due performance heereof , without further trouble to this Bord , we bid you &c. Sunday the 23. of Nouember . 1612.

Lord priuie Seale . Lord Chamberlaine . Earle of Worcester . Lord Zouch . Lord Wootton . Sir Iulius Cesar .