# Trade with Africa Act 1697, Section VI: Oath to be taken on Exportation of Merchandizes imported from England, &c.


Master and one of the Owners to give Bond, &c. for Ship's sailing to Africa, &c.; Officers of Custom House to take such Bonds and keep distinct Entries, &c.; Company to have Duplicate, &c.; Officer to pay Sum received, deducting £ 5 per Cent.
And that when and as often as any Goods or Merchandize are or shall be exported from the Colonies & Plantations to Africa as aforsaid that were there imported from England the said Owner or Exporter of such Goods and Merchandizes so exporting the same shall also swear That to the best of his Knowledge and Belief such Goods and Merchandizes so entred were imported from England into that Colonie or Plantation and that the true & real Value thereof as cost in England is fully expressed in the said Entry And that the said Master and one of the Owners or Freighters of every such Ship or Vessel so entred as aforesaid at the time of such Entry or before the said Ship, or Vessel shall be cleared at the Custom-house shall give Bond to his Majesty his Heirs and Successors to the Value of such Ship and Lading That the said Ship or Vessel shall (Wind and Weather permitting not being hindred by other unavoidable Accidents) sail directly to the Coast of Africa between Cape Mount and the Cape of Good Hope aforesaid and from thence shall directly return to and unlade in England or in one of his Majesties Colonies or Plantations aforesaid and the said Collector or Chief Officer of the Custom-house aforesaid for receiving the said Entries and Duty as aforesaid and administring the Oaths by this Act appointed to be administred is and are hereby directed and appointed to take such Bond as aforesaid and to keep in a Book or Books a particular Account seperate and distinct from the Custome-house Accounts of all such Entrys made and Duties paid and payable to and for the Use of the said Company as aforesaid And on Demand made by the said Company or any Person or Persons by them for that Purpose appointed shall render and deliver or cause to be rendred and delivered to the said Company or their Assigns a true and fair Duplicate of all such Entries and Oaths made and signed and Bonds given and Moneys paid by the Person or Persons so swearing signing and paying the same and shall pay or cause to be paid to the said Company or their Assigns all such Sum or Sums of Money by him or them so recieved or to be received as aforesaid deducting the Sum of Five pounds for every Hundred pounds accounted for and paid to the said Company and so in proportion for a greater or lesser Sum received for & on the behalf of the said Company in Recompence for his or their Trouble.

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Source: https://www.legislation.gov.uk/aep/Will3/9/26/section/VI (the official version)
Page: https://openlegislation.uk/trade-with-africa-act-1697/section-VI
Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Source: legislation.gov.uk, The National Archives.