Burying in Woollen Act 1678

III. Persons in Holy Orders, &c. to keep a Register of Burials.

Affidavit that the deceased was buried in Woollen only to be brought to the Parsons.; If no such Affidavit, Goods of the deceased liable to the said Penalty.; If no Distress Goods of Person where Party died, or of Persons acting contrary to this Act, liable to Distress.; Master, &c. or Relations of deceased liable.; Penalty to be paid before Debts.

And it is enacted by the Authoritie aforesaid That all persons in Holy Orders Deanes Parsons Deacons Vicars Curates and their or any of their Substitutes doe within their respective Parishes Precincts and Places take an exact Account and keepe a Register of all and every person or persons buryed in his or their respective Parishes or Precincts or in such common Buryall places as their respective Parishioners are usually buryed and that some one or more of the Relations of the party deceased or other credible person shall within eight dayes next after such Interrment bring an Affidavit in writeing under the hands and seales of two or more credible Wittnesses (and under the hand of the Magistrate or Officer before whome the same was sworne for which nothing shall be paid) to the Minister or Parson That the said person was not putt in wrapt or wound up or buryed in any Shirt Shift Sheete or Shround made or mingled with Flax Hempe Silke Haire Gold or Silver or other then what is made of Sheeps Wooll onely or in any Coffin lined or faced with any Cloath Stuffe or any other thing whatsoever made or mingled with Flax Hempe Silke Haire Gold or Silver or any other Materiall but Sheeps Wooll onely And if noe Relation of the party buryed or other person shall bring an Affidavit as aforesaid to the Parson or Minister within the time aforesaid That then the Goods and Chattels of the party deceased shall be and are hereby made lyable to the aforesaid Forfeiture of Five pounds to be levyed by way of Distresse and Sale thereof by Warrant of the Cheife Magistrate in any Towne Corporate or any Justice of the Peace or in default thereof by like Distresse and Sale of the Goods of the person in whose House the said partie dyed or of any that had a hand in putting such person into any Shirt Shift Sheete Shround or Coffin contrary to this Act or did order or dispose the doeing thereof and in case such person were a Servant and that he or she dyed in the Family of his or her Master or Mistresse That the same be levyed on the Goods or Chattells of his or her Master or Mistrisse and if such person dyed in the Family of his or her Father or Mother That then the same be levyed upon the Goods and Chattells of his or her Father or Mother in Manner and by Warrant as aforesaid which said Forfeiture or Forfeitures shall be levyed paid and allowed out of the Estate of the said deceased person before any Statute Judgement Debt Legacy or any other Duty whatsoever due oweing or payable from the said Deceased.