Fire-Hearth and Stoves Taxation Act 1662

XI. Sheriffs of Cities and Towns appointed Collectors;

Constables to deliver to them Duplicates of Accounts of Hearths and Stoves.; The said Sheriffs to give Acquittances without Fees; and pay Monies received by them into the Exchequer, with Names of Defaulters; and may deduct 4d. in the Pound. Officers of Exchequer to discharge such Persons without Fee; and sue out Process where no Distress.

Provided alwaies And bee it enacted that the High Sheriffe of London and Middlesex for the time being for London and so much of the County of Middlesex as lies within the Bills of Mortality other then the Inns of Court and Chancery and the High Sheriffe of Surrey for the time being for the Borough of Southwark and all other Sheriffs of any other City or Town being a County of it selfe for such Cities and Townes respectively shall bee and are hereby made Collectors of and for the several duties ariseing within their several and respective limits For which end and purpose and in those places only the Constables Tithingmen Headboroughs and other Officers shall deliver unto the Sheriffes of the Cities and places aforesaid Duplicates of the same accompts of Hearths and Stoves which the said Constables Headboroughs Tithingmen and other Officers are appointed by this act to take from time to time and to deliver to the Justices of Peace to be inrolled as aforesaid And the said Sheriffes of the Cities and places last before menc[i]oned are hereby enabled to levy the said Duties and required to give acquittances without any Fees as fully and amply to all intents and purposes as in this act is appointed to be done by any other collectors And the said Sheriffes shall from time to time within forty dayes after the said Duties shall be payable by vertue of this act make payment of all the moneys levied into His Majesties Exchequer with a perfect List of the Names of such persons as shall make default of payment where no distresse can be found to be taken Any thing in this act to the contrary notwithstanding And the said Sheriffes shall deduct out of their payments Foure pence in the pound whereof Three pence to be for themselves and One penny for the Clerke of the Peace to be recovered as aforesaid And that his Majesties Officers in his said Court of Exchequer shall discharge all such persons who paid theire respective Duties without taking any Fees for the same and shall alsoe issue out Processe to levy the said Duty upon such persons who shall fail in payment thereof where no distress can be found to be taken according to this act.