THe Lords and Commons in Parliament being desirous by all good meanes to provide for the payment and satisfaction of the publique debts of the Kingdom , which they hope by Gods blessing in convenient time to bring to passe , and earnestly labouring the present satisfaction and payment of such pressing debts as are due unto severall Handicraftsmen , strangers , and other persons for Armes & Ammunition , bought and taken up of them for the service of the State ; And to severall poore persons for carriages by Cart and Wagon for the same use , and for the reliefe of wounded and maimed Souldiers that have received their wounds in the service of the Commonwealth , and for the widdowes and children of such as have lost their lives in the said service , and for other necessary occasions for the defence of the King , Parliament , and Kingdome , Doe hereby declare , order , and ordaine , that the severall rates and charges here-under mentioned shall be set and laid , and are hereby set , laid , and imposed upon the severall Commodities hereafter expressed , within this Realm , the Dominion of Wales , and Town of Berwicke , by way of Ercise and new Impost over and above all Customes , and other duties due and payable for the same : viz. Vpon all Goods and Merchandizes whatsoever imported ( except Bullion , Corne , Victuall , Armes and Ammunition ) which have not been hitherto charged with the duty of Excise and new Impost , twelve pence upon every twenty shillings value thereof , and so proportionably for every greater or lesser value , to be paid by the first buyer thereof from the Merchant , Importer or Ingrosser . Provided , that for all Commodities here rated , which are first imported and after exported beyond the Sea , the Excise thereof being payd , and due proofe thereof made by oath of the party or witnesses , which oath the said Commissioners or the major part of them , or such as they shall appoint under their hands and seales , shall have power to administer , shal be repaid , and the said Commissioners and their deputies shall have power to repay the same accordingly . Provided also , that Hemp , Flax , Tow , Pitch , Tar , Rozen , and Tallow imported , be accounted under Saltery-wares ; And that all Cotten-wools imported shall pay onely six pence upon every pound value , and so after that rate for a greater or lesser value , to be paid by the first buyer , as aforesaid .

And be it further Ordained , that the Goods and Commodities hereafter mentioned , made or growing within this Kingdome shall pay by way of Excize upon the first sale , and by the first grower and maker thereof respectively for every value of twenty shillings , and so proportionably for a greater or lesser value , in such manner as is hereafter limited , and appointed , viz. Allum English , to be paid by the first buyer six pence . Copperas English , to be paid by the maker twelve pence . Monmouth-caps of all sorts , to be paid by the first retailing buyer twelve pence . Hats of all sorts , to be paid by the first maker twelve pence . Hopps English , to be paid by the planter six pence . Saffron , to be paid by the planter twelve pence . Starch , to be payd by the first maker twelve pence . All manner of Silkes , or Stuffes made in the Kingdome , made of , or mixt with Silke , Haire , Wool , or Thread , not formerly paying Excise ; As also all Upholstry-ware made in this Kingdome , not formerly paying Excize , to be paid by the first buyer six pence . Tynn , to be payd by the first buyer twelve pence . Woad English , to be paid by the first buyer six pence . Iron made in England , to be paid by the first buyer six pence . Tobacco-pipes of all sorts , to be paid by the first buyer for every grosse foure pence .

And the Commissioners and Officers for the Excise appointed by former Ordinances of Parliament are hereby authorised , enabled and required to use all such good waies and ineans for the discovering , rating , collecting and securing of the severall summes of money herein imposed upon the severall commodities abovementioned , as they are authorized and enabled to doe in the case of the Excise set upon other Commodities by former Ordinances of both Houses of Parliament .

And be it further ordered and ordained , that of the moneys so to be raised by this addition of Excise or new Impost as aforesaid ▪ one third part shall be imployed toward the satisfaction of the pressing debts due to the said severall Tradesmen , strangers , and other persons , and to severall poore persons for carriages by Cart and Wagon , as aforesaid ; and also for the reliefe of wounded and maimed Souldiers , and for satisfaction of such summes of money as are due unto or have been disbursed by Physitians , Apothecaries , and Chyrurgeons , for the cure of them ; and for the reliefe of such widdowes and children as have lost their husbands and fathers in the service of the Common-wealth , as aforesaid . For the second third part , one moity thereof shall be imployed towards the maintenance of the Land-forces in service of the Parliament , and the other moity for provision of Armes and Ammunition for the same . And for the other third part , one moity thereof shall be imployed for the maintenance of the Navy at Sea , under the command of the E. of Warwicke Lord high Admirall of England , and the other moity for provision of Armes , store , and Ammunition for the same .

And be it also ordered and ordained , that this Ordinance shall begin and take effect from the 24 day of June , 1644. and from thence to continue for one yeere then next following .