An act for preventing frauds, and regulating abuses in the plantation trade.

WHEREAS notwithstanding divers acts made for the encouragement of the navigation of this kingdom, . . . great abuses are daily committed to the prejudice of the English navigation, and the loss of a great part of the plantation trade to this kingdom, by the artifice and cunning of ill-disposed persons: For remedy whereof for the future,

II. Be it enacted, . . . That after the five and twentieth day of March, one thousand six hundred ninety eight, no goods or merchandizes whatsoever shall be imported into, or exported out of, any colony or plantation to his Majesty, in Asia, Africa or America, belonging, or in his possession, or which may hereafter belong unto, or be in the possession of his Majesty, his heirs or successors, or shall be laden in, or carried from any one port or place in the said colonies or plantations to any other port or place in the same, the kingdom of England, dominion of Wales, or town of Berwick upon Tweed, in any ship or bottom, but what is or shall be of the built of England, or of the built of Ireland, or the said colonies or plantations, and wholly owned by the people thereof, or any of them, and navigated with the masters and three fourths of the mariners of the said places only (except such ships only as are or shall be taken as prize,… and also except for the space of three years, such foreign built ships as shall be employed by the commissioners of his Majesty's navy for the time being, or upon contract with them, in bringing only masts, timber, and other naval stores for the King's service from his Majesty's colonies or plantations to this kingdom, to be navigated as aforesaid, and whereof the property doth belong to English men) under pain of forfeiture of ship and goods; …

VI. And for the more effectual preventing of frauds, and regulating abuses in the plantation trade in America, be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid, That all ships coming into, or going out of, any of the said plantations, and lading or unlading any goods or commodities, whether the same be his Majesty's ships of war, or merchant ships, and the masters and commanders thereof, and their ladings, shall be subject and liable to the same rules, visitations, searches, penalties and forfeitures, as to the entring, lading or discharging their respective ships and ladings, as ships and their ladings, and the commanders and masters of ships, are subject and liable unto in this kingdom, by virtue of … [14 Chas. II., ch. II]: and that the officers for collecting and managing his Majesty's revenue, and inspecting the plantation trade, in any of the said plantations, shall have the same powers and authorities, for visiting and searching of ships, and taking their entries, and for seizing and securing or bringing on shore any of the goods prohibited to be imported or exported into or out of any the said plantations, or for which any duties are payable, or ought to have been paid, by any of the before mentioned acts, as are provided for the officers of the customs in England by the said last mentioned act … [14 Chas. II., ch. II], and also to enter houses or warehouses, to search for and seize any such goods; …

XVI. And be it further enacted…That all persons and their assignees, claiming any right or propriety in any islands or tracts of land upon the continent of America , by charter or letters patents, shall not at any time hereafter aliene, sell or dispose of any of the said islands, tracts of lands or proprieties, other than to the natural-born subjects of England , Ireland , dominion of Wales , and town of Berwick upon Tweed , without the license and consent of his Majesty, his heirs and successors, signified by his or their order in council, first had and obtained. …