On the Method of Plants

standing this grievous imposition A tax or duty placed on goods, we receive not the supply of Arms, Ammunitions, Ministers, Servants for Governors, and Sheriffs, Secretaries, Captains, and all other Officers, according to the Honorable Company’s own Book of Laws. Therefore to prevent the Judgments of God, and the ruin of these Islands, and for the forementioned and divers other weighty reasons and considerations, we do Enact; and therefore

Be it Enacted by this present General Assembly General Assembly: The local legislative body of the colony, That whereas there hath been an unjust Imposition and Exaction by some Members of the Company, of one penny per pound original: "per pound", of all Tobaccos coming from this Island, of the growth of this Island, that no person or persons whatsoever shall presume to ask, demand, or receive any Imposition of any person whatsoever, by virtue of any former Custom, Colour, Order or pretense whatsoever, for Tobacco of the growth of this Island, coming to the Realm of England, contrary to His Majesty’s Letters Patents Letters Patents: A legal instrument in the form of a published written order issued by a monarch, the Honorable Company’s Book of Laws, upon the penalty His Gracious Majesty hath provided in such like Cases.

Whereas many of His Majesty’s Subjects, and our loving Friends, sailing to and fro near these Islands, would with their Ships put in here to the relief of their wants, the interest and advantage of the Inhabitants, to take refreshments; but whereas the Port-charges are so great and unreasonable upon all Ships putting in here, though but for Water or Provisions, that they are many times willing to run the adventure of the loss of their Ships, and great misery of themselves: For the which reasons, and divers other good considerations, we do Enact, and by the power and authority of this present Assembly,

Be it Enacted, That any Ship or Ships coming into these Islands for refreshment, shall pay no Port-charges save Pilotage The fee for a local guide to navigate a ship into harbor, and the Tollage original: "Tolage"; a fee for using a facility for Water and Wharfage The fee for using a pier or dock, unless the said Ship Trades for anything save for