Poll Tax Act 1660

The Reasons for passing this Act.

Noblemen and their eldest Sons of the Age of 21.; A Baronet.; A Knight of the Bath.; Knight Batchelor.; King's Sergeant.; Esquires.; Widows rated at One-third according to Rank of Husbands.

Whereas the present raising of great su[m]mes of money for the speedy disbanding of the forces both by Land and Sea is a matter of vast consequence and urgent necessity soe that not onely the happines and peace of his Majestyes Kingdomes, but alsoe the well being and prosperity of them depends upon it, which said summes of money cannot be soe suddainely raised as the pressing occasions doe require without some extraordinary meanes used, to the which all his Majestyes subjects in this visible exigence of the Kingdome will heartily and cheerfully submitt seeing it is to free themselves from soe great a burthen and dayly increesing charge May it therefore please your most Excellent Majesty that it may be enacted And be it enacted by the Kings Most Excellent Majesty and by the Lords and Commons in this present Parliament assembled and by the authority of the same that all and every person and persons who at the time of the execution of this Act shall be of the severall rankes and degrees hereafter mentioned shall to the purpose afforesaid contribute and pay the severall summes of money hereafter in this Act sett downe and appointed that is to say Every person of the degree of a Duke of England Scotland or Ireland inhabiting and residing within this Kingdome shall pay the summe of one hundred pounds. Every person of the degree of a Marquesse of any of the said Kingdomes inhabiting and residing within this Kingdome shall pay the summe of fowerscore pounds. Every person of the degree of an Earle of any of the said three Kingdomes and inhabiting or residing within this Kingdome the summe of threescore pounds. Every person of the degree of a Viscount of any of the said three Kingdomes and inhabiting and residing within this Kingdome the summe of fifty pounds. Every person of the degree of a Baron of any of the said three Kingdomes and inhabiting or residing within this Kingdome the summe of forty pounds. Every eldest sonne of a Duke of any of the said three Kingdomes and inhabiting or residing within this Kingdome being of the age of one and twenty yeares the summe of threescore pounds. Every eldest sonne of a Marquesse of any of the said Kingdomes and inhabiting or residing within this Kingdome being of the age of one and twenty yeares the summe of fifty pounds. The eldest sonne of an Earle of any of the said three Kingdomes and inhabiting or residing within this Kingdome being of the age of one and twenty yeares the summe of forty pounds. Every eldest sonne of a Viscount of any of the said three Kingdomes and inhabiting or residing within this Kingdome being of the age of one and twenty yeares the summe of thirty five pounds. Every eldest sonne of a Baron of any of the said three Kingdomes, and inhabiting or residing within this Kingdome being of the age of one and twenty yeares thirty pounds. Every person of the degree of a Baronet of any of the said three Kingdomes or of Nova Scotia and inhabiting or residing within this Kingdome the summe of thirty pounds. Every person that is a Knight of the Order of the Bath inhabiting or residing within this Kingdome the summe of thirty pounds. Every person who is a Knight Batchelor inhabiting & residing within this Kingdome the summe of twenty pounds. Every Sergeant at Law the summe of twenty pounds. Every person of the degree of an Esquire, or soe reputed, inhabiting and residing within this Kingdome and above the age of one and twenty yeares the summe of ten pounds. Every Widow respectively according to her husbands degree, shall pay the third part [X1 by this Act] rated [X2 by this Act] upon that degree of which the husband of such Widdow was in his life time.

Editorial Information

X1 O. omits.

X2 interlined on the Roll.