Bank of England Act 1696

XVI. The King may appoint Officers for surveying the Duties on Marriages, &c. and for numbering Windows in Houses not assessed at 10s.; Officers to supervise the Registers of Marriages, &c.; and with the Assistance of Constables, &c. to view Houses not rated 10s; and to certify Under-ratings to the Commissioners, who are to cause the Rate to be set.

And for the better ascertaining and collecting the said several Rates and Duties upon Marriages Births and Burials and upon Batchelors and Widdowers and the said several Rates and Duties upon Houses Be it enacted That it shall and may be lawfull to and for his Majesty his Heires and Successors from and after the Five and twentieth Day of March One thousand six hundred ninety and seven from time to time to give Directions for constituting and appointing such Person or Persons as His Majesty His Heires & Successors shall think meet to be the Officer or Officers for the Survey and Inspection of the Rates and Duties ariseing upon Marriages Births and Burials and upon Batchelors and Widdowers and of the Register or Registers of all such Marriages Births and Burials within the several Counties of England Dominion of Wales and Towne of Berwick upon Tweed and also of the Duties arising upon Houses within the same and for viewing and numbring the several Windows in each House (not already assessed at the Rate of Ten shillings) and for the inspecting & examining the Assessments or Certificates thereof made and to be made from time to time in pursuance of the said Acts for granting the said Rates or Duties or any other thing belonging to the same which Officers or any of them shall have full power to examine and supervise the Register & Registers of all Marriages Births & Burials and of the Assessments of the same and the Assessments of the Windows rated in every Parish and Place as aforesaid and to take Copy or Copies or Extracts of such Register and Assessments and att seasonable times with a Constable Headborough Tythingman or other Officers of the respective Parishes or Places within the several Counties of England Dominion of Wales and Towne of Berwick upon Tweed who are hereby required to assist accordingly to view & examine whether there be any more Windows (in Houses not rated Ten shillings) than is certified and rated in such Assessment and shall have liberty to make like View Examination and Inspection twice in the Yeare att the least dureing the continuance of the said several Duties by this or the said former Acts for granting the same and if upon or after such View or Examination and Inspection of the Registers and Assessments as aforesaid such Officer or Officers shall find that any Person or Premisses are under-rated or not rated & charged as by the said Acts or either of them are directed and appointed such Officer or Officers shall certifie the same to the Co[m]missioners or any Two or more of them within the Division Hundred Parish or Place wherein such Neglect or Failure shall happen to be which said Co[m]missioners or any Two or more of them shall & are hereby required to cause such Rate or Rates to be sett upon every such Person and Premisses as shall be according to the true intent and meaning of the said Acts and either of them.