Fire-Hearth and Stoves Taxation Act 1662

III. Constables, &c. to require of Occupiers to deliver such Accounts in Writing under their Hands.

On Default, or if no Occupiers, then, on Notice to be fixed on the Door, Constable, &c. may enter and view.; Constable, &c. neglecting; Penalty.; Making false Return; Penalty 40s.

And be it enacted by the Authority aforesaid That the respective Constables Headboroughs Tithingmen or other such Officers within whose limitts any such House or Edifice charged by this act as aforesaid are and the respective Treasurers and other Officers of the respective Inns of Court Inns of Chancery Colledges and other Societies aforesaid shall by the last day of May One thousand six hundred sixty and twoe require the several Occupiers of every such House Edifice Lodging and Chamber aforesaid to deliver in to them respectively Accounts in writing as aforesaid under theire several and respective hands of all such Hearths and Stoves as aforesaid as shall be within theire respective Houses Edifices Lodgings and Chambers and upon receipt of the same or upon default of such Account in writing or in case there be no occupiers then within six dayes after notice in writing fixt to the doore requiring such Account to bee made the said Constables or other Officers respectively as aforesaid shall enter into the said respective Houses in the day time and compare such Accounts and see whether the same be truly made or not And if no such Account be delivered then shall take information by theire own view of the number of such Hearths and Stoves upon pain that every Constable Treasurer and other Officer aforesaid who shall neglect to doe the same shall forfeit for every weeke hee or they shall soe neglect the su[m]m of five pounds and for every false returne wilfully made contrary to this act he or they shall forfeit and lose for every Hearth or Stove so falsely returned or omitted the su[m]m of forty shillings.