The Smugglers' City
Department of History, University of Bristol

Exchequer Decree making Welsh Ports into Member Ports of Bristol, 18 June 1567

Manuscript: TNA E123/3, fos. 191-2, Decrees & Orders of the Exchequer
Transcribed by : Evan Jones (August, 2007) [check 2]

fo. 191r.

xviii day June - Bristoll

Wheras divers compleyntes and Informacions hathe ben made
and given to the righte honorable William marques of winchester Lorde
Treasourer of Englande, Sir walter mildemay knighte Chauncellor and
undertreasourer of this Courte and the Barons of the same Courte
aswell by the merchauntes of the Cyty and Porte of Bristoll As also
by diverse thinhabitauntes within the Citie of Gloucestre and others
dwellinge at and abowte all the Creekes adjoynynge to the Ryver of
Severne that the Quenes Customes Subsidies and other duties
due to her highnes for all wares and merchaundises aswell broughte
and to be broughte into this Realme to the sayd porte and Creekes
as also caried and to be caried owt from the same is greatly ~
decayed and like to decaye daylye yf spedy remedy in that behalf
be no provided and had in her majesties behalf by reason and occacion
that the lyke and the same Customes and Subsidies and other
duties is not payed and aunswered to her highnes within and
at any and every the sayd Creekes for the sayd wares and ~ ~
m er chaundises there shipped or Landed as is in the sayd porte
of Bristoll where upon after diverse and many consultaciones and consideracions in the
premisses by the sayd Threasourer Chauncellor and Barons held, and
the Recordes of this Courte to them shewed provynge that the Creeke
of Chepstowe hath ben of olde tyme and oughte to be a member of
the sayd Porte of Bristoll and Subsidies and other dueties
there arrisinge hath ben aunswered by the Customers and ~
Collectors of the porte of Bristoll aforsayd And that tyme
out of mynde there hathe bene and yet is one officer apperteyninge
to the sayd porte of Bristoll called the Clerke of the Creekes ~~
adjoyninge to the Ryver of Severne And to thentent that the
Quenes highnes shalbe hereafter truly duly orderly and ~ ~
unyformely aunswered of her sayd Customes Subsidies and ~
other dueties within every the sayd Creekes in suche order forme
and sorte as her highnes is and hathe bene aunswered for the
like within the porte of Bristol aforesayd accordinge to the ~
Statutes Lawes Customes and usages within this Realme
of Englande as Reason is And also for thavoydinge of all
contencions sutes and trobles whiche mighte arise and growe
by reason of the diversitie of Receptes and paymentes
of the Customes Subsidies and other duties aforesayd and
for the quietnes of merchauntes resortinge or that shall resorte
to any the sayd Creekes with any their wares and merchaundises
It is ordered and decreed the xviiith daye of June in the
yere of the Reigne of our Soverainge quene by the grace
of god Quene of Englande Ffraunce and defender
of the faith & by the sayd Treasourer Chauncellor and
Barons that from henseforthe the Creekes of Chepstowe
Swansey Cardyff and all other Cre ekes used as landing

fo. 191v.

or discharginge places whatsoever havinge their passage
and water Course into the river of Severne or from the
same shalbe reputed taken accepted and used as members
and Creekes belonginge to the sayd porte of Bristoll and the
like Customes Subsidies and other dueties hereafter to be due
to the Quenes majestie her heirs and Successors for the causes aforesaid
shalbe payed receaved and taken within every the sayd Creekes as
shalbe payde receaved and taken with in the sayd Porte of Bristoll
for lyke wares and merchaundises there to be landed and discharged
and that all thofficers aswell for the Receipte of the sayd dueties
and controllemente thereof as Serchers within every the sayd
Creekes and places shalbe deputies and substitutes to the ~
Customers or Collectors, Comptrollers and Sercher of the sayd
porte of Bristoll And that all and every of the sayd deputies
and substitues shall quarterly every yere certifie particulerly
in writinge under their handes to the sayd Customers ~ ~
Comptroller and Sercher within the sayd porte of Bristoll
every one of them to thofficer or officers under whome
he or they shall so serve all and every their several doinges ~
entries and receiptes within every of the sayd Creekes within
the sayd quarter of a yere nexte before the sayd certificates
and also that the sayd deputies or subsitutes under the sayd
Customers or Collectors of Bristoll within every of the sayd Creekes
shall from henseforthe every half yere or within xiiii dayes
nexte after the sayd halfe yere expired well and truly
contente and pay or cause to be contented and payed
unto the sayd Customers or Collectors all and every suche ~
somme and sommes of money as they or any of them shall
or may receve for the Customes Subsidies and other ~
duties of and for all wares and merchaundises whiche
within the sayd half yere shalbe within their severall charges
shipped owtwarde or laide one Lande inwarde And that the
sayd severall deputies or substitutes in their several charges shall
make no cocket or other discharge for any merchaunte for his
goodes before they have receaved the Customes Subsidies and
duties aforesayd or agreed for the same and to use or occupy
no other Seales within their several charges but suche as the
said officers of Bristoll shalbe privie unto with suche ~ ~
differences for every of the sayd Creekes as they may be perfectllie
knowen and discerned from the like Seales of the Porte
of Bristoll And it is further ordered and decreed that the
sayd severall deputies or substitutes from tyme to tyme ~
shall enter into sufficiente bonde or bondes to the hed officer
or officers of the porte of Bristoll for the tyme beinge under
whom he or they shall serve for the true observinge and ~ ~
aunseringe of so muche of this order and decree as to hym

fo. 192r.

or them shall appertyene and belonge And that the sayd
hed officers of the porte of Bristoll shall not directe any ~
warraunte to the sayd Clerke of the Creekes or his deputies ~
under their Seales of office, the sayd warraunte to be particularly
made at the lenght and that the sayd Clerke of the Creekes
or his deputies shall not onely from tyme to tyme certifie the
sayd officers of the porte of Bristoll as his or their severall
doynges to his office apperteyning in writinge under his
Seale of office but also for the better and more perfecte ~
aunsweringe of the quenes sayd Customes Subsidies and
other duties, and for the better comptrolmente of the sayd
officers and the sayd Clerke of the Creekes shall yerelye in
michaelmas terme cetifie and deliver unto this Courte
one particuler booke signed with his hande makinge ~
mencion of all the sayd Cockettes that shalbe to hym ~ ~
directed for any cause within one hole yere nexte before
the feaste of St michaell tharchaungell before the same
certificate so to be made as afore sayde with the names
and burdens of every shipp boate or other vessell that
shall passe in or out of his sayd office and all other
thinges to his sayd office appertyninge duringe the tyme
he shall continue in theoffice aforesayd./