Bristol Roads and Avon and Frome Navigation Act 1698

XII. Churchwardens, &c. of the City to meet, upon Notice, and settle Rates; to be allowed and confirmed by Two or more Justices, and the Mayor or One Justice may levy the same Quarterly.

Such Persons not meeting or not collecting Rate; Penalty £5; Persons assessed refusing or neglecting to pay; Distress.

And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid That the Church-wardens Overseers of the Poor and Surveyors of the High-waies of the severall Parishes and Precincts within the said City respectively shall and are hereby required to convene within Fourteene Daies after the Election of the said Surveyors at some Publick Place within their respective Parishes or Precincts upon Notice of the Day and Place to be given by One of the Churchwardens of the said Parish who is hereby required to give Notice accordingly and they or the greater Number of them there present are hereby required to make and settle a Rate or Rates Assessment or Assessments upon the severall Inhabitants of the said respective Parishes and Precincts according to their severall Abilities for the Yeare following for the cleanseing of the said Streets Lanes and Publick Places which shall be allowed and confirmed by Two or more Justices of the Peace of the said City whereof the Mayor for the Time being to be one And after the said Rate soe made and confirmed the said Mayor and any one of the said Justices shall have Power and are hereby required to cause the same to be levied and to appoint Collectors for collecting the same by Quarterly Payments within the severall Parishes or Precincts of the said City for which they are soe appointed Collectors and if any such Person or Persons shall wilfully and obstinately refuse or neglect to convene assesse or collect as aforesaid being thereunto summoned and appointed as aforesaid every such Person and Persons shall forfeite the Summ of Five Pounds and in case any Person or Persons soe assessed shall refuse or neglect to pay the same by the Space of Four Daies next after Demand thereof made it shall and may be lawfull for the said Collectors by Warrant under the Hands and Seales of the said Mayor and any one or more of the said Justices to levy the same by Distresse and Sale of the Goods of any such Person or Persons rendring to him or them the Overplus if any shall be after the necessary Charge for takeing such Distresse is first deducted