Updated:
25-Aug-2007

fo. 117r.

Articles ffor Reformacion of the disceites used in the paiment
of the Quenes Majesties Revenewes of Custom Subsidy and
Impost and likewise to reforme the disorders used by the
officers marchantes shippars & others by whom her majestie
is deceyved

And ffirste a Reformacyon for the
officers belonginge to the Custom

The chieffe grounde & helpe to reforme all the abuses &
disceites that be used to disceive the Quenes Majestie of her custome
Subsidie Imposte & other Rightes & dewties msute be to enlarge
the custome howse & the wharffe according to the platte or
fforme that George Nedham devised longe since which was that
theare might be sufficient place provided at the Custome Howse
that all gooddes eyther goinge owte or comyng into this Porte
of London mighte be laden & unladen at the Custome Howse
in the sighte & presence of all her Majesties officers and other
Bystanders and that marchantes & officers shoulde be no
Longer suffred to Lade & unlade goodes at so many sundrie
blinde keys & plattes as ys nowe per mitted wheare marchantes
aswell Strangers as Englishe have dwellinge howses &
warehowses wheare bothe the officers the marchantes and
key kepars use their disceites & both day & nighte tyme
may doe what they will, so that this one pointe beinge
Reformed all the reste of goodd orders & iuste dealinge will
quietlie & orderlie followe /

fo. 117v.

And Ffirste for reformacyon of officeis
& their Clarkes

The head officers & theire
clarkes to be bounden to
observe owres & geove
attendaunce in the custome
house.

Ffirste that the Customers Comptrowlers & their Clarkes may
be commaunded to be at the Custome Howse & give attendaunce to
receive the Quenes Majesties dewties & to serve the marchantes &
shippars bothe before noone & after accordinge to the owres
appointed for the same uppon some paine of punishment to
be provided therefore

That no entrie of goods
be made in any place
but in customehouse
onely

That no Entrie of marchantes goodes neyther goinge owte
nor cominge in be made or taken in any place but in the
Custome howse onelye and at such tymes as both the Customers
& Comptrowlers or their sufficient or Deputies shalbe
present and Immediatlie enter the same in their bookes
accordinge to the order of those billes of Entrie delivered to your
honours uppon some paine to be provided ffor the same

no warrantes Billes nor
other writinges be made
sealed or delivered but
in the customehowse
onlye.

That no warrantes billes Cockettes Sertificattes or other
writinges apperteininge to cutome be made sealed or delivered
in any place but in the Customehowse only in the presens
of the officers

waiters & serchers to
have their offices uppon
the customehousekey &
be bounden to geove
attendaunce of the
merchantes at the owres
appointed.

That ii convenient places may be appointed uppon the
new Customehowse key where both waiters & Serchers at
either Ende of the same wharffe may have several
offices by the owtewarde & Inwarde Customehowse as dothe
appeare in Nedhams platt & there to give their attendaunce
both before noone & after noone to see the Ladinge and
unladinge of the marchantes gooddes & resceive their billes

fo. 118r.

Cockettes & other writinges & be bounden to observe the owres
appointed uppon some paine

the buildinge of the
new wharffe will
cut of superfluous
officers.

The new wharffe beinge made & the headd officers placed
uppon the same as ys appointed in the said Platt and the
owres of gevinge attendaunce observed by the officers & their
Clarkes as ys declared where as now there be v under

to many officers be
unprofitable

Serchers beside Master Grey, ii Serchers with Master Grey will
serve, & of xvi weyters, vi wilbe sufficient ffor these
ii kindes of under officers be verie hurtefull & do moste
maintaine them selves by deceyvinge the Quenes majestie and
speciallie the weyters takinge charge of gooddes Inwarde
who having but iiii £ standinge wages & all the rest of
their ffees & proffettes that they can honestlie or justly

of small ffees greate
houses kepte.

have ys not worth paste x or xii £ a yere more to ev er y
mans share which ys not able nor can mainteyne suche
chargeable houses & portes as diverse of them do kepe And
trewlie my lorde to saie uprightlie the greatest disceyte

under officers do most
deceive the quene.

& damage that ys or hath bene done to her majestie ys by
the consent & procurement of her highness officers to the
Custom howse belongeinge

officers wilbe ageinst
buildinge the cutome
house:

Your honor shall ffinde that div er se of thofficers & specially
the waiters Serchers customers Clarkes & key kepars will
reipine & with all pollecyes & subtill meanes they can by

And will reise excla=
masions

Exclamacions of key kepars wharfengers lightermen
& shippars seeke to hinder the enlarginge & makinge of
the custome howse by reason they would still have all

fo. 118v

because they woulde have
all goodes to be laden &
unladen in corners.

thinges at libertie to be laden & unladen in Corners
& to have the Entrie of gooddes & makinge of billes Cockettes

& make billes & other wri=
tinges at their howses &
not in the custome house.

& other writings at home in their howses & not to observe
the owres appointed before noone & after noone to give
attendaunce of merchantes at the custome howse but will

& geove no attendaunce
in the customehouse but
deale frowardly.

ffinde excuses & purposely deale ffrowardly & stowtlie to
maintaine their olde disordered libertie, oneles by some

to maytaine their
olde disordered libertie

fforcible meanes as losse of offices or other like punishment
as heare after shall follow they may be compelled to do

but beinge compelled to
kepe orders.

their dewties ffor the Customeshouse beinge enlarged
& vi new Cranes buylded & theofficers forced to geove

the customehouse being
builded

attendaunce in the Custome howse from our Ladies day
till michaelmas from vii of the clocke in the morninge till

they shall do more service
in one day then they
cand do now in ii dayes

xi & at after noone from ii till v. And ffrom michelmas
till our Ladies day from ix in the morninge till xi & at
after noone from ii till iiii, they may quietly dispatche
more merchantes & their gooddes in one day then they can
do now in ii
Theare ys one thinge my Lorde the doinge therof woulde
not onely be great honour to the Quenes majestie but great

Bookes of the rates of the
custome to ly open
in the customehouwse

Equitie quietnes & contentacion to the marchantes both
Englishe & straungers & sepecially in this tyme that her
Majestie letteth her custome to ffarme which ys that bookes
faire written in parchement mighte not onely be appointed
in both the custome howses Inwarde & outwarde to ly open to
all men as the Bible doth in the Churche wherein shoulde

fo. 119r.

be writen the juste Rates of all dewties that merchantes
both englishe & straungers owghte to pay to her majestie both
Inwarde & outewarde but also that her majestie woulde

the like bookes to be
put in prynte.

further permitt the same bookes iustly to be sett forth in
Printe that all people might certenly know what
dewties they owght to pay ffor every kynde of merchandises
both inwarde & owtwarde & not to stande to the discrescyon &
curtesie of thofficers & speciallie their clarkes who kepe
the Rates privately to them selfes alledinge the bookes
now in Prynte be false & uncertein & the merchantes muste
stande to their written bookes & thus deale with men as yt
pleaseth them & specially for goodes inwarde where many
m er chantes be abused & dare not complaine by reason they
have nothinge to show for them selffes

The Customers Comptrowlers & all other officers pertayninge

officers by sufferaunce
forgett thier dewties

to custome throwghowte this Realme of Late yeares have
hade such lib ertie under the laste lord Treasorer decesed
that in maner they did what they could withowte having

waxe mervelous
riche:

Comptrowllment & therby growinge such marveylous
great wellth, that never anye officers that served
before them in those places weare any thinge
comparable to them, And beinge so Riche have taken
uppon them & kepte such greate state that till now
yo ur honor came to be Lorde Treasurer the head officers

thinke skorne to doe
theyr dewties

them selfes in maner thought skorne & selldome
came to the Custom howse but toke their pleasure

fo. 119v.

followe their private
busynes

& followed their owne private busines appointinge
a numbre of Clarkes to serve & take the charge under
them who rulinge all thinges as hit pleased them be

appointe clarkes under
them.

in like maner growen so Riche that some of them have
Clarkes under theme again which under Clarkes havinge

havinge litle wages
exacte dubble & treble
of merchantes & shippers

Little wages to mayntaine them selfes exacte in
reysinge of new dewties of Entries of shippes in makinge
billes Certificattes Cockettes & other wrytinges ffor
merchantes & shippars & are become so stowte that often

misuse them.

tyme they abuse honeste men bothe in wordes & deeddes
nor will not give such attendaunce in the Custome howse

deley them from day
to day:

as they owghtt & often tymes will not be fownde but delay
the merchantes & shippars ffrom day to day for Cockettes
billes Certificattes & other writinges, causinge them to

make them to runne
from howse to howse.

Run ne from one officers howse to an other which beinge ffarre
a Sundar & the clerkes seldome at home & specially
at after noone, the Shippers often tymes by losinge of

where be losinge of one
tyde somtyme a viage
ys hindred 3 or 4
monthes

one tyde when the winde ys ffayre their
voyages be hindred iii or iiii monthes to their great

to the greate losse and
hindraunce of bothe
merchantes & shippars

Losse & hindraunce & in the ende to be dispatched they
must give somethinge to the Clerkes or offycers or

geove money to the
clerkes

ells some ffayned deleys be fownde to staye them by
this meanes the clerkes have reysed new charges

dubble & treble they
owght to pay

uppon the m er chantes & shippars dubble & treble of
that the ought to take or weare woonte to have
These new exactions deleys if yt please your

fo. 120r.

to the great griefe
of m er chantes and
shippars

honor are more grevous to the merchantes & shippars then
the paiment of their Custome subsidy & Imposte for havinge
iustly paied & done their dewties to the Quene they thinke
they deserve & ought to be well used & under your
honours Correccion these abuses be so profitable to thofficers
& their Clarkes that in my opinion they will hardely

this disorder will not
be holpen but by
severe punishment

be redressed with ouwte some severe order to compell them
ffor the doinge whereof if hit shall like your honour me
thinke hit weare goodd that ii tables should be hanged

ii tables to be sett
open in the custome
house what dewties
the officers & clerkes
ought to take of the
merchantes & shippers.

upp in eyther Custome house wherein should be
writen both the owres & tymes that thofficers owght
to give their attendaunce & what dewties or
ffees they owght to take of merchantes & shippars for
everie kynde of writinge or other thinge perteyninge
to their office & not to exceede that ys appointedd
uppon some such paine as your honor shall thinke
good /

In all places beyond the seas where princes doe
appointe the resceit of their customes they make

In all places beyond
the seas the costomers
& officers dwell at
the custome house.

houses in the same place for thofficers to dwell uppon
to thentent they shalbe continually present not onely
to receive their dewties of the merchantes but to see the
merchantes & shippars do their dewtie & that beinge done
they may be well used & dispatched & trewly under
your honours correccion yt weare goodd (if you determine
that the custom howse shalbe enlarged) yt will quite

fo. 120v.

if hit weare so heare it
woulde dubble & treble
quite the charges of
buildinge to her the
quene.

the coste dubble & trebble to her majestie if all the head
officers mighte dwell & be placed theare or if your
honours will not place all the head officers at the leaste
bothe the Comptrowlers of the Inward and owtwarde

as the officers dwell
nowe ys both unprofit=
able & unorderlye.

custome might have their dewllinge howses theare uppon
the same wharffe for the surer service of her majestie &
the better expedicion contentacion & quyetnes of the
merchantes & shippars, ffor as thofficers now dwell
ys both unorderlie & troblesome both to them selfes
& others

A general reformacion for
all officers belonginge
to custome as well att
all other portes in this
Realme as att
London

And further my lorde under your honours correccion I am
so bowlde to show my opinion for a general reformacion
concerninge the officers belonginge to the custom house
who as they be in all sortes to many in number &

beinge to many at diverse
portes

specially here in London As by mowth (if it be
your honors pleasure) I shall showe you further
so not only in London but throwghowte all

And by sufferaunce are
become Riche:

Englande as ys declared by the sufferaunce of the
Late lorde Treasurer deceased they be come so

Careles of their dew=
tie to the quene.

Riche & Careless bothe of their service & dewtie
to the Quenes Majesties & so privat to them

private to them
selffes.

selffes that with oute some sharpe & severe order they
will not be reformed & till suche reformacion be done
uppon them certenly her majestie shall never be well
served & to say the verie truth my lorde man of the
Quenes officers them selfes be the procurers of the

fo. 121r.

& procurers to deceive
the quene & specially
in the cuntrey:

merchants to deceive her majestie & be partakers of the spoile
& speciallie in the Cuntrie where thofficers havinge no

wheare the quenes dewties
ys skarcely halfe
paid & no mervaile

man to loke unto them her highnes ys skarcely halffe
answeared her Rightes & dewties & no marvaile for of all
theofficers in this Realme belonginge to Custome and

for offices be soulde for
marvellous sommes of
money:

specially for headd officers ther ys not vi per sons, but
they have bought thier offices some once some twise, at

wise men marvel howe
the byars can honestly
get their money
againe

such height & unreasonable prises as ys marvel to all
men how of so small wages or of other dewties lawfully
belonginge to them the can Justly or honestly reyse &
gett those great sommes Ageine & become so riche but

but eyther to deceive
the prince or merchant

eyther to do wronge to the Prince or the subiectes & the merchantes

the merchant will not
pay more then his
dewtie

And subiectes will not lightly take wronge or pay
more then their dewties so that this losse & damage

so the losse lightes
uppon the prince

lightes alwayes uppon her majestie by meanes of her
owne officers for reformacion whereof my opinion ys

to reforme this disor=
der

that on officer belonginge to custom should have any
Patent or assurance of his office but from yeare to

All officers belongynge
to custome.

yeare & at every yeares Ende at some certen day
appointed in the Terme tyme to make them the
better to know them selfes & do their dewties both

once a yeare to apperre
in thexchecker.

to her majestie & merchantes they should all appeare in
the Exchecker before the lorde treasurer the Chauncelor

openly to answere all
thinges obiected
ageinst them.

the Barons & other head officers of that Court for the
tyme beinge & these openly to stande & answere
to all men for any wronge that mey be obiected

fo. 121v.

aswell by the prince as
the merchantes & subiectes

ageinst them eyther on her Majesties behalffe
or on the merchantes & shippars as well Englishe as

as they shalbe tried ey ther
to continew in their
office or ells displaced.

strangers & theare as their service & doinges shalbe
founde & tried eyther to be remitted for one yeare
Longer in to their offices or ells punished or dismissed
if they deserve as that honourable Cowrte shall
see cause. By this order thofficers speciallye
they of the Cuntry wilbe brideled & be in ffeare

in some place of Jar=
manye if the customers
deceive the princes
they be hanged as
fellons.

that every man will seeke to entise them to do
evell to thentent as the day Appointed of their
answearinge in thexchecker to accuse them thus eyther
for ffeare of loss of their office or the open shame
or punishment they shall recieve in that honorable
pre sence if they do offende they wilbe more ready
& Carefull to do their dewties both to her majestie &
merchantes

An evill & perillous
example.

There be many (my Lorde) that do mistake & thinke
hit daungerous that Master Birde beinge chiefe officer
for the Resceit of her maiesties dewties owtwarde that
William Revet beinge his brother in Lawe should be
suffered to be his Comptrowller for they ii agreinge
may do much harme diverse weys

the quene deceived by
transportinge foren
commodyties owt of
this realme /

Whereas often tymes forren commodyties comminge into
this Realme not beinge in Reyquest but more worth
in other Cuntries the bringers thereof into this
Realme be he Englishe or Straungers havinge once

fo. 122r.

paid her majesties Rightes & dewties belonginge to the same havinge
still the propertie of the same gooddes in him mey lawfullie at
his pleasure shipppe them awey by Certificatt to any foren
Region with out any other dewtie payinge to her majestie but
the same gooddes beinge once solde from him to any other
per son the propertie therof ys changed & if the person that bought the
same commodities heare in Englande be disposed to transporte
them owte of this Realme agein he moste pay her majestie so
muche dewtie as doth aperteine to englishe or straungers in

the maner of the
deciete:

this case her majestie ys greatly deceyved ffor hit ys
commen use amongeste the merchantes that by suche goodes in
Englande myndinge to transport the same owte of this
Realme agein to condicion with the merchantes that first brought
in the same to enter yt owtewarde in the Customeshowse
in his owne name only to deceive her majestie of such Rightes

the remedie to helpe
hit.

& dewties as the last byar owght to pay ffor remedy wherof
yt weare goodd that ever y merchant that transporteth such gooddes
alledginge the propertie therof still to remaine in him selve
should make his bill of Entrie as for gooddes owtwarde &
put in these woordes followinge & be sworne to them. I T.B.
mercer of London desire licence of the Quenes majestie to
transport these forren commodities to Hamborow brought by
me from Rochell into this Realme in such a shippe master such
a man such a yeare such a moneth & such a day & paide
her majestie dewties belonginge to the same all which goodes
I take myne othe to be the very same I firste brought into

fo. 122v.

this Realme & never solde them but all the same goodes do still

beinge holpen it will
save the quene ii M markes
at least yearlie.

remaine & belonge unto me as when I entred them firste
nor that I do not transporte the same commodites by any colorable
meanes to the use of any other person to thentent to deceive her
majestie of her Rightes & dewties In wyttnes wherof so this
order beinge observed I dare say will profytt the quenes majestie
ii thousande markes yearly at leaste

That no gooddes entred at sight shalbe conveyed to any

no gooddes entred att
sight shall go from the
customehowse till yt
be sene & entred in the
bookes

of thofficers or merchantes howses to be opened & sene, but
streightewey taken upp & put into the quenes store howse
appointed for that purpose & there no longer to be kept
then the head officers to rise & the owres appointed before
noone & after noone at which tyme without further deley the
same gooddes to be opened & sene by the Customer Comptrowler
& Surveyor or by ii of them at the least or their deputies
havinge with them ii weyters & uppon sight of the same
goodes the merchante streight wayes to make his bill of
Entrie as ys appointed & deliv er hit subscribed to the
Customer & he streight wey to enter the same into his booke
as other billes be

order for all maner
gooddes shipped owtwarde
by certificat

That no cloth nor other Englishe or fforren commodyties
beinge so packte or made upp wherein disceyt mey be used
beinge once entred uppon any shipp to be transported
owtwarde & can not be taken into the same shippe (as
verie often tymes yt so happeneth) but after by certificatt
must be laden uppon som other shippe that no such clothe

fo. 123r.

nor other gooddes whatsoever beinge so packt as above said be
suffred to be caried to the merchantes howse but streight
weys to be put into the quenes storehowse appointed for that
purpose under the kepeinge of the Comptrowller & Sercher, till
hit be shipped in some other shippe in such order as cloth or other
commodities be used to be shipped

order to be taken
for wett clothes goinge
owtwarde being
dried & shippedd
ageine

Wheas oftentymes yt chaunceth by foule wether or other misfortune
clothes or other commodities shipped owtwarde be wett in lighters
by reyne in shippes by leykes which gooddes after of necessytie
muste be taken upp agein & dried which cannot be well done
but in the merchantes houses some goodd order would be
pro vided to see the same gooddes weare not chaunged for theare
ys great deceyt used that waye

Reformacion for merchantes

the maire & alder
men of London

The maire the aldermen & Citizens of London & the governor

the governor of merchantes
adventurers.

the assistanse & Comminalitie of merchantes aventurars
havinge authoritie from the quenes majestie & her moste noble

beinge driven to make
sharpe lawes have
ordeyned

progenitors to make penall lawes amongest them selves for
the punishment of such persons as by no easie or reasonable
meanes would liffe in order but contemptuosly proceeded
from one wickednes to an other & would not be ruled till

for certen offences the
losse of freedome of
eyther corporacion

sharper lawes weare provided which was to lose their freedome
& libartie both in London & in Fflaunders, the offences to the
Cittie of London be for coloringe of Strangers or foreners
gooddes for disobeyinge the maire & Aldermen in sundry

fo. 123v.

sleight causes amongeste the merchantes aventurars in
breakinge of orders in shippinge gooddes owte of
Englande into forbidden places wheare the marte ys not
kepte & for byinge of wares in townes & places beyonde
the seas which in like maner weare forbidden, for colouringe
straungers gooddes not ffree of that Company, for disceyvinge the
Company in payment of Impositions & other dewties,
which such like yf any ffreeman of London or merchant
aventurar offend in any of these cases, both themselves,
their children, & servantes, lose their ffreedome & libartie
for ever, & cleane cut of from both Corporacions as disceytfull
& nowghtie members not worthie to liffe amongest them nor

therefore seinge these
corporacions beinge
but privat members.

never to be Remitted to their ffreedome agein. Therefore
seeinge the Cytizens of London & the merchantes aventurers
beinge but private Corporacions & by disorder of their cytizens

ordeine & execute
such sharpe lawes
for small offences
towardes them selfes

have bene forced to ordeine & execute such sharpe lawes
amongest them selfes uppon their brother & fellowe
Cytizens that do offende in thiese private thinges
apparteyninge & touchinge them selfes, & that yt ys they
& merchantes & Sytizens of the Cyttye by whom her

then such persons as
deceive her majestie of
such rightes & dewties
as be geven her
highnes

majestie ys deceyved of such Rightes & dewties as by acte
of Parliament being of greater authorite then
their private lawes, ys geven to her highnes for the

by acte of parliament
beinge of greater
force then their
Lawes ought to be
punished by the like
Lawes.

maytenaunce of the Corone & state of this Realme wherof
themselves be members & will nether regarde Lawe
Dewtie Conscience nor Honestie, yt weare great reson

fo. 124r.

And there owght the like or sharper lawes to be provided &
made & executed uppon them for disseyvinge of her majestie
as for deceyvinge the Cyttie of London or the merchantes
aventurars/ As if any merchant whatsoever beinge Englishe
or any shippars wharffenger keykeper Lighterman or any
other per son beinge a Cyttizen & ffreeman of London & proved
to have offended in the pre misses to forfait the gooddes uncustomed
to the Quenes majestie accordinge to the order by Parliament
& to be called before the maire of London & the Aldermen of
the same or before the governor of the merchantes adventurars &

The like order to be
used all Englande
throwghe.

uppon suche dewe promisse to be made they to call a Courte
as they use for them selfes in suche cases & there to disfranches
the offenders their children & servantes for ever as nawghty
& disceytfull subiectes never to be remitted to their freedome
ageine of neyther Corporacion with owt the Speciall licence or
Com m aundement from the Quenes majestie or her honorable

the punshiinge of one
or ii wilbe an example
to a number

Counsell my lorde one or ii beinge thus punished with
Losse of their ffreedome being cleane cut from occupienge
& from the fellowship of their ffriendes & acquayntaunce
& be made as hit weare a mockinge stocke & pointed at with
ffingers the shame therof will put such feare in men
that the dare not attempt such disceytes as they now doe
for lacke of such severe punishment
The same order to be taken both in Saint Katherens
Southwarke and all Englande throwghe where any

fo. 124v.

marchandisses be used in townes Corporate or any other
places where no ffreedome or libartie ys to be loste
to be forbidden never to use the tade of m er chandises
agaeine

Ffor merchantes Straungers

A punishment for
merchant straungers
that deceive the quene
in payenge of
custome.

Yf any merchantes stangers inhabitinge or usinge the trade
of merchandise in any place within this Realme beinge
Denizen or other that ys proved with any of the ffaultes
afforesaid shall forfait the gooddes so uncustomed and be
be com m aunded to departe the Realme within a certen tyme
& beinge a denizen to lose his gooddes so uncustomed and
Denizenshipp also & be in like maner commaunded to departe
this Realme as the other straungers as disceytfull
& Craftie persons & not to returne agein without the
speciall licence of the Quenes majestie as afforsaid

Ffor shippars

Theare was by acte of Parliament holden the firste
yeare of the Quenes Majesties Reigne certen lawes provided both
ffor merchantes Shippars key kepers wharfengers & other
watermen which lawes if they weare well loked to and
executed would serve to reforme the shyppars but for the
merchantes keykepers wharffengers & watermen will by
no meanes so well be reformed as by the losse of their
ffreedome, ffor by the weedinge owte of the nowghtie

fo. 125r.

and disceytfull membars the honest merchantes that pay
their dewties Justlie shall not be hindered as they now
be And dowtles if your honor thinke this punishment
meete to be used, yt will easelly &willingely graunted,
by reason yt ys beneficiall to all honest and trewe
Dealinge men /