BUTLERAGE of wine, is a duty of 2 s. for every ton of wine imported by merchants strangers; being a composition in lieu of the liberties and freedoms granted to them by king John and Edward I. by a charter called charta mercatoria.
Butlerage was originally the only custom that was payable upon the importation of wines, and was taken and received by virtue of the regal prerogative, for the proper use of the crown. But for many years past,
there having been granted by parliament subsidies to the kings of England, and the duty of butlerage not repealed, but confirmed, they have been pleased to grant the same away to some nobleman, who, by virtue of such grant, is to enjoy the full benefit and advantage thereof, and may cause the same to be collected in the same manner that the kings themselves were formerly wont to do.