TONNAGE AND POUNDAGE  , in England, customs duties anciently imposed upon exports and imports, the former being a duty upon all wines imported in addition to prisage and butlerage, the latter a duty imposed ad valorem at the rate of twelve-pence in the pound on all merchandise imported or exported . The duties were levied at first by agreement with merchants(poundage in 1302, tonnage in 1347), then granted by parliament in 1373, at first for a limited period only . They were considered to be imposed for the defence of the realm . From the reign of Henry VI. until that of James I. they were usually granted for life . They were not granted to Charles I., and in 1628 that king took the unconstitutional course of levying them on his own authority, a course denounced a few years later by 16 Car . I. c . 18 (164o), when the Long Parliament granted them for two months . After the Restoration they were granted to Charles II. and his two successors for life . By acts of Anne and George I. the duties were made perpetual, and mortgaged for the public debt . In 1787 they were finally abolished, and other modes of obtaining revenue substituted, by 27 Geo . III. c . 13 (1787) .

Poundage also signifies a

fee paid to an officer of a court for his services, e.g. to a sheriff's officer, who is entitled by 29 Eliz. c . 4 (1586–1587) to a poundage of a shilling in the pound on an execution up to £loo, and sixpence in the pound above that sum .