June 1657: An Act for the taking away of Purveyance and Composition for Purveyance.

June, 1657

[9 June, 1657.]

Grievance.; Commissions Warrants and Compositions for Purveyance shall be void.; Felony.; Repeal.

Whereas the Kings of these Nations formerly by their Officers called Purveyors, Victuallers, Buyers, Takers or Caters, and sometimes by their Commissioners, by Warrants and Commissions, have usually at their wills and pleasures seized and taken the Carts, Waggons, Carriages and Horses of the People, for removal of the Kings Houshold, and for other uses; And also the Hay, Straw, Oats, Corn, Cattel, Victual, Flesh, Fish, Wood, Timber, and other Goods and Chattels of the said People for provision of the Kings Houshold, paying for the same what prices they pleased, and many times paying nothing for the same: And taking Compositions from Counties and other places for Purveyance, to the great and unsupportable grievance of the said People of this Commonwealth: Be it therefore Enacted and Ordained, and it is hereby Enacted and Ordained by his Highness the Lord Protector, and the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, That from henceforth all such Commissions, Warrants and Compositions for Purveyance shall be void: And if any Purveyor, Victualler, Buyer, Taker or Cater, or any other person whatsoever, shall hereafter take any Carts, Waggons, Carriages, Barges, Boats, Horses, Hay, Straw, Oats, Corn, Cattel, Victual, Flesh, Fish, Wood, Timber, or any other Goods or Chattels whatsoever, from any of the People of this Commonwealth, by vertue, colour or pretence of any Law, Statute, or pretended Custome for Purveyance, or Pre-emption, or Composition for Purveyance or Pre-emption whatsoever, all such seizing, taking or buying shall be Felony, and is hereby adjudged and declared to be Felony; And the person and persons so offending shall be adjudged guilty of Felony, and be tryed and suffer as Felons, according to the course of the Common Law. And all Statutes, Laws, Customes or Usages touching Purveyance or Pre-emption, or Compositions for Purveyance of Pre-emption, are hereby repealed and declared to be utterly void to all intents and purposes.