(EXCERPT.)
=Source.=--_Acts and Ordinances of the Interregnum._ Vol. ii., p. 559.
For the Increase of the Shipping and the Encouragement of the
Navigation of this Nation, which under the good Providence and
Protection of God, is so great a means of the Welfare and Safety of
this Commonwealth; Be it Enacted by this present Parliament, and the
Authority thereof, That from and after the First day of December,
One thousand six hundred fifty and one, and from thence forwards,
no Goods or Commodities whatsoever, of the Growth, Production or
Manufacture of Asia, Africa or America, or of any part thereof; or of
any Islands belonging to them, or any of them, or which are described
or laid down in the usual Maps or Cards of those places, as well of
the English Plantations as others, shall be Imported or brought into
this Commonwealth of England, or into Ireland, or any other Lands,
Islands, Plantations or Territories to this Commonwealth belonging,
or in their Possession, in any other Ship or Ships, Vessel or Vessels
whatsoever, but onely in such as do truly and without fraud belong
onely to the People of this Commonwealth, or the Plantations thereof,
as the Proprietors or right Owners thereof; and whereof the Master
and Mariners are also for the most part of them, of the People of
this Commonwealth, under the penalty of the forfeiture and loss of
all the Goods that shall be Imported contrary to this Act; as also
of the Ship (with all her Tackle, Guns and Apparel) in which the
said Goods or Commodities shall be so brought in and Imported; the
one moyety to the use of the Commonwealth, and the other moyety to
the use and behoof of any person or persons who shall seize the said
Goods or Commodities, and shall prosecute the same in any Court of
Record within this Commonwealth.
And it is further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That no Goods
or Commodities of the Growth, Production or Manufacture of Europe,
or of any part thereof, shall after the First day of December, One
thousand six hundred fifty and one, be imported or brought into
this Commonwealth of England, or into Ireland, or any other Lands,
Islands, Plantations or Territories to this Commonwealth belonging,
or in their possession, in any Ship or Ships, Vessel or Vessels
whatsoever, but in such as do truly and without fraud belong onely to
the people of this Commonwealth, as the true Owners and Proprietors
thereof, and in no other, except onely such Forein Ships and Vessels
as do truly and properly belong to the people of that Countrey
or Place, of which the said Goods are the Growth, Production or
Manufactures; or to such Ports where the said Goods can onely be, or
most usually are first shipped for Transportation; And that under the
same penalty of forfeiture and loss expressed in the former Branch
of this Act, the said Forfeitures to be recovered and employed as is
therein expressed.
And it is further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That no Goods
or Commodities that are of Forein Growth, Production or Manufacture,
and which are to be brought into this Commonwealth, in Shipping
belonging to the People thereof, shall be by them Shipped or brought
from any other place or places, Countrey or Countreys, but onely
from those of their said Growth, Production or Manufacture; or from
those Ports where the said Goods and Commodities can onely, or are,
or usually have been first shipped for Transportation; and from none
other Places or Countreys, under the same penalty of forfeiture and
loss expressed in the first Branch of this Act, the said Forfeitures
to be recovered and employed as is therein expressed.