Taxation Act 1696

XII. Paper Makers, &c. not giving particulars, &c. of Stock in Hand, or omitting or concealing Stock,

Penalty £50.; and Goods omitted or concealed, &c. forfeited.

And be it enacted by the Authority aforesaid That in case any of the said Merchants Stationers Wholesale Sellers Retaylers Paper-Makers or other Person or Persons Bodies Politick or Corporate having on the said First Day of March One thousand six hundred ninety six in his or their Custody or Possession or in the Custody or Possession of any other Person or Persons for his her or their Use Benefitt or Account any Stock or Quantity of Paper Parchm[en]t Vellum or Pastboard shall neglect to give a Particular and Valuation of the same to the proper Officer or Officers on or before the Fifth Day of March One thousand six hundred ninety six or shall wittingly or willingly omitt or leave out of the same any part of his said Stock to the intent to defraud His Majesty or shall remove or carry away or conceal any part of his said Stock before His Majesties Duties thereupon shall be paid or secured as aforesaid that then and in every such Case hee she or they so offending for every such Offence shall forfeit the Su[m]m of Fifty Pounds to witt one Moiety thereof to the King and the other Moiety thereof to him or them that will sue for the same as aforesaid And in all & every such Case and Cases the Paper Parchm[en]t. Vellum or Pastboard for which no such Particular or Valuation shall have been given or which shall be fraudulently o[m]mitted out of the same or which shall be so concealed or carried away before His Maj[es]ties. Duties shall be paid or secured shall be forfeited and shall and may be seized by any of the Officer or Officers aforesaid to His Majesties Use.