Hello ya'll: I'm currently in the middle of a book that explains the politics, socio-economics, and religious factions that led up to the Civil War in England. It seems that when the colonies started getting off the ground, the king (and everyone else) wanted a piece of the pie. The king (James1) started taxing all import/exports. As such, it was critical that everything that was weighed in and taxed should be exactly as it was represented if there was to be a profit margin. As long as King James supported their cause, the merchants were willing to pay the taxes that were levied. ~Virginia