Subsidy Act 1640
1640 CHAPTER 29 16 Cha 1
A Subsidy granted to the King of Tonnage Poundage and other su[m]mes of money payable upon merchandize exported and imported.

c. 8. ante, recited.
Reason for granting the Subsidy by the said act.; c. 12. ante, recited.; c. 22. ante, recited.; c. 25. ante, recited.; Reasons for the present Grant.Whereas an act was made this present Parliament entituled A Subsidy granted to the King of Tonnage
and Poundage and other su[m]ms of money payable upon Merchandize exported & imported whereby it is
declared and enacted that it is and hath beene the ancient right of the subjects of this Realme that no subsidy
custome impost or other charges whatsoever ought or may be laid or imposed upon any merchandize exported
or imported by subjebholigct;sDenizens or Aliens without co[m]mon consent in Parliament And the said Co[m]mons then
taking into theire considerac[i]ons the great perill that might have ensued by not guarding of the Seas and other
inconveniencies which might have followed in case the said su[m]mes of money in the said act menc[i]oned should not
have beene granted to your Majestie as in and by the said act is expressed Did therefore by the advice of the
Lords in this present Parliament assembled and by the authoritye of the same give and graunt unto your Majestie
our leige Lord and Soveraigne One subsidy of Tonnage and other subsidy of poundage in such manner and
according to such rates as in the said act is expressed To have take perceive and enjoy the Subsidies & other
su[m]ms soe granted by the said act and every of them and every part and parcell of them to your Hignes from
the five and twentieth day of May One thousand six hundred forty one unto the fifteenth day of July then next
coming And Whereas the said act being determined one other act of the same title was likewise made this
present Parliament with like declarac[i]on of the right of the subjectsof this your Realme by which second act
your said Co[m]mons did by the like advice of the Lords in this present Parliament assembled and by the authority
of the same give and graunt to your Majestie One Subsidy of Tonnage and one other subsidy of poundage in
such manner and according to such rates as in the said last recited act is specified and conteyned To have take
perceive and enjoye the subsidy and other su[m]mes soe granted by the said last recited act and every of them and
every part and parcell of them to your Highnes from the said fifteenth day of July One thousand six hundred
forty one unto the tenth day of August then next ensuing And Whereas the said act being determined one
other act of the same title was likewise made this present Parliament by which third act your said Co[m]mons did
by the like advice of the Lords in this present Parliament assembled and by the authority of the same give and
graunt to your Majestie One subsidy of Tonnage and one other subsidy of Poundage in such manner & according
to such rates as in the said last recited act is specified and conteyned To have take enjoye & perceive the
said subsidies and other su[m]mes soe granted by the said last recited act and every of them and every part and
parcell of them to your Highnes from the ninth day of August One thousand six hundred forty one to the
first day of December then next ensuing And Whereas the said act being determined one other act of the same
title was likewise made this present Parliament by which fourth act your said Co[m]mons did by the like advice of
the Lords in this present Parliament assembled and by the authority of the same give and graunt to your Majestie
One subsidy of Tonnage and one other subsidy of Poundage in such manner and according to such rates as in the
said last recited act is specified and conteyned To have take enjoye and perceive the said subsidies and other
su[m]mes soe granted by the said last recited act and every of them and every part and parcell of them to your
Highnes from the last day of November One thousand six hundred forty one unto the first day of February
then next ensuing The said Co[m]mons now likewise againe taking into theire considerac[i]on the great perill that might
ensue to this Realme by the not guarding of the Seas and the other inconveniencies that might follow in case the
said su[m]ms of money should upon the suddaine be forborne to be paid By and with the advice and consent of the
Lords in this present Parliament assembled and by the authority of the same doe give and graunt to you ourGrant of Tonnage for every Ton of Wine imported, 3s.; The like Duty over and above on Sweet Wine imported by Merchant Aliens.; Every Awme of Rhenish Wine imported, 12d.; Grant of Poundage; every 20s. worth of Goods exported, 12d.; The like Duty on Tin and Pewter Vessels exported.; Proviso for Woollen Cloth wrought within the Realm, and exported by Merchant Denizens; and for Wools Woolfels, Hides, and Backs of Leather exported; and for all Wines not before mentioned; and for Fresh Fish and Bestiall imported.supreame Lord and Soveraigne One subsidy called Tonnage that is to say of every Tunn of Wine that is or shall
come into this Realme or any your Majesties Dominions by way of merchandize the su[m]me of three shillings and
so after that rate And of every Tunne of Sweet Wines as well Malmesye as other that is or shall come into
this Realme by any Merchant Alien three shillings and so after the rate over and above the three shillings
above menc[i]oned And of every Awme of Rhenish Wine that is or shall soe come in twelve pence And alsoe
one other Subsidy called Poundage that is to say of all manner of goods and merchandize of every Merchant
Denizen and Alien carried or to be carried out of this Realme or any your Majesties Dominions or to be brought
into the same by way of merchandize of the value of every twenty shillings of the same Goods and Merchandize
twelve pence and so after the rate And of every twenty shillings value of Tynne and Pewter Vessell carried out
of this Realme by every or any Merchant Alien twelve pence over and above the twelve pence aforesaid Except
and foreprized out of this Graunt of Subsidy of Poundage all manner of Woollen Cloath made or wrought or
which shall be made or wrought within this Realme of England and by every or any Merchant Denizen and not
borne alien carried or to be carried out of this Realme and all manner of Woolls Woolfels Hides and Backs of
Leather that is or shall be carried out of this Realme and all Wines not before limited to pay subsidy or tonnage
and all manner of fresh fish and bestiall coming or that shall come into this Realme
Merchant Denizen to pay, every Sack of Wool, 33s. 4d.; every 240 Woolfels. 33s. 4d.; every last of Hides and Backs, £3. 6s. 8d.; and so in Proportion for every greater or less Quantity.; Merchant Strangers to pay, every Sack of Wool, £3. 6s. 8d.; every 240 Woolfels £3. 6s. 8d; every Last of Hides and Backs £3. 13s. 4d.; and also certain Duties, by Letters Patent or Great or Privy Seal, since 1 Jac. I.
II. 
And further the said Commons by the assent advice and authority aforesaid doe give and graunt unto you our
said leige Lord Our Soveraigne for the causes aforesaid One other subsidy that is to say of every Merchant borne
Denizen of and for every sacke of Wooll thirty three shillings foure pence and of and for every two hundred
and forty Woolfells thirty three shillings foure pence and of and for every Last of Hides and Backs three pounds
six shillings eight pence and so after the same rate for every lesse or greater quantity for any the same merchandize
more or lesse And of every Merchant stranger not borne denizen of and for every sacke of Wooll three pounds
six shillings eight pence and of and for every two hundred forty Woolfells three pounds six shillings eight pence
and for every Last of Hides & Backs three pounds thirteene shillings foure pence and so of all the said Woolls
Woolfells Hides and Backs and every of them after the rate and such other su[m]mes of money as have beene
imposed upon any merchandize either outward or inward by p[re]text of any Letters Patents Commission under the
Great Seale of England or Privie Seale since the first yeare of the Reigne of his late Majestie King James of Blessed
Memory and which were continued and paid att the begining of this present Parliament To have take enjoye
and perceive the Subsidies aforesaid and other the foremenc[i]oned su[m]mes and every of them and every part and
parcell of them to you our said leige Lord and Soveraigne from the last day of January One thousand six hundred
forty one to the five and twentieth day of March next ensuing
The said Subsidy to be applied according to 1 Jac.1. c. 33.
III. 
And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid that the said Subsidy of Tonnage Poundage Wooll and
other su[m]mes of money shall be taken and employed during the time aforesaid to and for the intents and purposes
and upon and under such provisions clauses and limitac[i]ons as are conteyned in one act made in Parliament held
in the first yeare of the reigne of his said late Majestie King James of Blessed memory entituled An act for the
granting of a Subsidy to the King of Tonnage Poundage Wools &c
The above Rates on Merchandize to be altered in this Parliament as shall be thought fit.
IV. 
And it is hereby declared that the su[m]mes of money hereby granted upon merchandize are not the rates intended
to be continued but the same to be hereafter in this present Parliament altered in such manner as shall be
thought fitt.
No Penalty in this act, or in 1 Jac. I. c. 33. to attach, unless on Persons refusing to compound for Goods imported or exported.
V. 
Provided that no penalty or forfeiture conteyned in this present act or in the said act made in the first
yeare of King James doe or shall ensue to any person or persons unlesse they refuse to compound for any
merchandize or goods imported or exported after notice given of this act penalty and forfeiture by proclamac[i]on
where the said goods are or ought to be entred
Officer, after the Determination of this Grant, receiving the Subsidy; Premunire, and Disability to sue. Exception.
VI. 
And it is further enacted that any Customer or Comptroller or any other Officer or person that after the
determinac[i]on of this graunt shall take or receive or cause to be taken or received the said subsidie su[m]mes of money
or any imposition upon merchandize whatsoever exported or imported except the same by Graunt in Parliament
be due or by such graunt shall become due or have beene continually paid from the end of the reigne of
the late King Edward the Third untill the begining of the reigne of the late Queene Mary shall incur and
sustaine the paines penalties and forfeitures ordeyned and provided by the Statute of Provision & p[re]munire made
in the sixteenth yeare of King Richard the Second And shall also from henceforth be disabled during his life
to sue or implead any person in any action reall mixt or personall or in any Court whatsoever
Proviso for Tobacco of English Plantations.
VII. 
Provided alwaies that this act shall not extend to any imposition or charge upon any sorte of Tobacco
of English Plantac[i]ons but that the said Tobacco shall be charged only with the payment of two pence in the pound
and no more.
Persons not to be charged by this act with pretermitted Customs.
VIII. 
Provided alwaies And it is further enacted that this act shall not extend or be construed to charge any person
or persons with an imposition or charge of late yeares imposed upon Woollen Cloath and Woolen Comodities
knowne by the name of the p[re]termitted customes.
Grants of Subsidies by Letters Patent, &c. are to be void.
IX. 
Provided also And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid that all graunts and Letters Patents under
the Great Seale Privy Seale or otherwise conteyning the Grants of any subsidies or imposts heretofore made or
granted to any person or persons for or in respect of the transportac[i]on exportac[i]on or importac[i]on of any Goods
Proviso for Allowance of Duties on Goods exported.
or merchandize pretended to be due or payable to your Majestie or by any such Grants or Letters Patents covenanted
to be enjoyed or had out of such subsidies imposts or payments as hereafter should be setled by Parliament or other wise
and all Letters Patents or other Grants of the Collection of any impositions heretofore set without consent in
parliament made or granted to any person whatsoever And alsoe all Penc[i]ons Assignac[i]ons of moneys and all other
payments whatsoever charged or hereafter to be charged on this subsidy by this act other then for the uses before in
this act intended shall be from henceforth utterly void Provided that if any Merchant shall export any Goods and
Merchandize which have beene formerly imported and the customes and other duties for the same truly paid that
in such case the same allowance shall be made unto every such merchant as have beene formerly by vertue of your
Highnes Privy Seale.