Taxation (No. 3) Act 1640

XII. Rates estreated under the Seal and Sign Manual of the Commissioners, and Estrent delivered to sufficient Inhabitants, &c. of Hundreds, &c.

By virtue of Estreat Officers, &c. to levy Rate.; Distress.; If Rate not paid in Eight Days, then Distress appraised and sold for Payment of Rate, Overplus to the Owner.; Officers, &c. to answer for the Portion limited to them, only.

And be it further enacted by the authority aforesaid that after the taxes and assesses of the said Summes upon and by the said Assessing & Certificate as is aforesaid made the said Commissioners or as many of them as shall be thereunto appointed and have authority by the Kings Majesties Commission shall with all speed and without delay by theire writing estreat the said taxes thereof under the Seales and Signes Manuall of the said Commissioners or as many of them as shall be appointed at the least and the same shall deliver into sufficient and substantiall Inhabitants Constables Subconstables Bayliffes and other Officers jointly of Hundreds Townes Parishes and other places aforesaid within theire Limits and to other sufficient persons inhabitants of the same onely by the discretion of the said Commissioners with the Assent of the High Collectors and as the place and parties shall require as well the particular names and sirnames as the remembrance of all Sums of Money taxed and set of and upon every person as well Man as Woman chargeable by this Act Householders and all other Inhabitants and dwellers within the said Parishes Townes and Places contributary to this Act of Subsidies by authority of which writing and Estreat soe delivered the said Officers and other persons soe named and deputed severally shall have full power and authority by vertue of this Act immediately after the delivery of the said Writing of Estreat to demaund levie and gather of every person therein specified the Summe and Summes in the same Writing or Estreat comprised and for non payment thereof to distreine the same person or persons soe being behinde by theire Goods and Chattels and the distresse soe taken to keepe by the space of eight dayes at the Costs and Charges of the owner thereof and if the said Owner doe not pay such Su[m]me of money as shall be taxed upon him or her by authority of this Act within the same eight dayes then the same distresse to be apprised by foure three or two of the Inhabitants where such distresse is taken and alsoe then to be sold by the Constable or other Collector for the payment of the said Money and the overplus coming by the sale (if any be) over and above the charge of keeping the said distresse to bee immediately restored to the Owner thereof which said Officers and other persons soe deputed to aske take gather and levie the said Su[m]ms shall answeare and be charged for the portion onely to them assigned & limited to be gathered levied and comprised in the said Writing or Estreat soe to them as aforesaid delivered to the persons and uses in this Act expressed and the said Summe in that writing or estreat to be comprised to pay unto the high Collector or Collectors of that place in manner and forme underwritten thereunto to be named and deputed.