A duty of two shillings on every ton of wine imported into England by foreigners or merchant strangers. It was a composition for the privileges granted to them by king John and Edward I., and originally received by the crown; but is has been granted to certain noblemen. It was called butlerage because originally paid to the king's butler for the king.

A duty of two shillings on every tun of wine imported into England by merchant strangers; -- so called because paid to the king's butler for the king.