Encouragement of Trade Act 1663

X. Recital that by bringing fatted Cattle the Rents of Lands have fallen.

For every Head of great Cattle, except of Scotland, imported after the 1st July and before 20th December; and of great Cattle of Scotland imported after 24th August and before 20th Dec. 20s. to the King, 10s. to Informer, 10s. to the Poor.

And lastly whereas a very great part of the richest and best Land of this Kingdome is, and cannot soe well be otherwise imployed and made use of as in the Feeding and Fattening of Catle, And that by the comeing in of late of vast numbers of Catle already fatted such lands are in many places much fallen and like dayly to fall more in their Rents and Values and in consequence other Lands alsoe to the great prejudice detriment and impoverishment of this Kingdome Be it further enacted by the Authoritie aforesaid and it is hereby enacted That for every head of great Catle (excepte such as are of the breed of Scotland) that shall be imported or brought into England Wales or the Towne of Berwicke upon Tweede after the First day of July and before the Twentyeth day of December in any yeare, And for every head of great Catle of the breed of Scotland that shall be imported X1 into England Wales or the Towne of Berwicke after the Fower and twentyeth day of August and before the Twentyeth day of December in any yeare there shall be paid to His Majestie His Heires and Successors the summe of twenty shillings, And the summe of ten shillings to him or them that shall informe or seise the same, And the summe of tenn shillings to the Poore of the Parish where such Seisure or Information shall be made to be recovered and leavyed by Bill Plaint or other Action wherein noe Essoigne Protection or Wager in Law shall be allowed.

Editorial Information

X1 Variant reading of the text noted in The Statutes of the Realm as follows: or brought O. [O. refers to a collection in the library of Trinity College, Cambridge]