Stamps Act 1697

Grant of Stamp Duties to the King, his Heirs, &c

Wee Your Majesties most dutiful & loyal Subjects the Co[m]mons in Parliament assembled being desirous to raise such Aids and Supplies as may be proportionable to Your Majesties great and extraordinary Occasions do humbly present Your Majesty with the free Gift of the further Rates & Duties herein after mentioned and do beseech Your Majesty that it may be enacted and be it enacted by the Kings most Excellent Majesty by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spiritual & Temporal and Co[m]mons in Parliament assembled & by Authority of the same That from and after the First Day of August in the Yeare of our Lord One thousand six hundred ninety eight there shall be throughout the Kingdome of England Dominion of Wales and Town of Berwick upon Tweed raised collected & paid unto His Majesty His Heires and Successors for ever the several and respective Things herein after mentioned which shall be written or ingrossed at any Time or Times after the said First Day of August One thousand six hundred ninety eight (over and above the Rates [X1 and] Dutyes and Sums of Money now due and payable to His Majesty or to any Person or Persons Bodies Politick or Corporate whatsoever for the same) the several and respective Rates Impositions Duties Charges and Sums of Money herein after expressed in Manner and Forme following (that is to say).

Duties on Grants or Letters Patents, &c.

For every Skin or Peice of Vellum or Parchment on which any Grants or Letters Patents under the Great Seale of England or the Seal of the Dutchy or the County Palatine of Lancaster of any Honour Dignity Promotion Franchise Liberty or Priviledge to any Person or Persons Bodies Politick or Corporate or Exemplifications of the same shall be ingrossed or written (Co[m]missions of Rebellion in Process always excepted) the Sum of Forty Shillings.

Pardons, &c. (except Newgate Pardons, &c.)

For every Skin or Peice of Velum Parchment or Sheet of Paper on which any Pardon (except the General Circuits and Newgate Pardon) of or for any Crime or Offence [X2 or of ] any Sum [X2 of Money] or Forfeiture whatsoever or on which any Warrant of Repreive or Relaxation from any Fines Corporal Punishments or other Forfeiture shall be ingrossed or written the Sum of Fourty Shillings.

Grant of Money, &c.

For every Skin of Velum or Parchment or Sheet of Paper upon which any Grant from His Majesty His Heires or Successors of any Sum of Money exceeding One hundred Pounds which shall pass the Great Seal X3 (not directed to the Great Seal) shall be ingrossed or written the Sum of Fourty Shillings.

Grant of Office above £50 per Ann.

For every Skin of Velum or Parchment or for every Sheet of Paper upon which any Grant of any Office or Imployment which [X1 shall] be above the Value of Fifty Pounds per Annum shall be written or ingrossed the Sum of Fourty Shillings.

and of Lands in Fee, &c. under the Great Seal, &c

For every Skin of Velum or Parchment on which any Grant of Lands in Fee Lease for Years or other Grant of Profit not herein particularly charged that shall passe the Great Seal of England the Seal of the Exchequer the Seal of the Dutchy or County Palatine of Lancaster or the Privy Seal (not directed to the Great Seal) shall be ingrossed or written the Sum of Fourty Shillings.

Presentation or Donation, &c. Proviso.

For every Skin or Peice of Velum or Parchment or Sheet of Poper upon which any Presentation or Donation which shall pass the Great Seal of England or upon which any Collation to be made by any Arch-Bishop or other Bishop or any Presentation or Donation to be [X4 made] by any Patron whatsoever of or to any Benefice Dignity or Spiritual or Ecclesiastical Promotion whatsoever shall be ingrossed or written the Sum of Fourty Shillings (Provided such Benefice Dignity or Promotion be of the yearly Value of Ten Pounds or above in the Kings Books).

Dispensation to hold Two Benefices

For every Skin or Peice of Velum or Parchment or Sheet or Peice of Paper on which any Dispensation to hold Two Ecclesiastical Dignities or Benefices or both a Dignitie and a Benefice or any other Dispensation or Faculty from the Lord Arch-Bishop of Canterbury or the Master of the Facultys for the time being shall be ingrossed or written the Sum of Fourty Shillings.

Admittance to Fellowship, or Attorney, &c

For every Skin or Piece of Velum or Parchment Sheet or Piece of Paper upon which Admittance of any Fellow of the College of Physicians or of any Attorney Clerk Advocate Procter Notary or other Officer or Officers in any Court whatsoever shall be ingrossed or written the Sum of Fourty Shillings.

Annual Officers in Corporations, &c. exempted

Provided That this Act shall not be extended to charge with the Duty last mentioned any annual Officer in any Corporation or inferior Court whose Office is under the Value of Ten Pounds per Annum in Sallaries Fees or other Perquisites but the said annual Officer is hereby exempted and discharged from the said Duty.

Appeal from the Admiralty, Arches, &c

For every Skin or Piece of Velum or Parchment or Sheet of Paper upon which any Appeal from the Court of Admiralty Arches or the Prerogative Courts of Canterbury or York shall be ingrossed or written the Sum of Fourty Shillings.

Exemplifications

For every Skin of Velum or Parchment upon which any Exemplification of what Nature soever that shall pass the Seal of any Court whatsoever shall be ingrossed or written the Sum of Five Shillings.

Decree in Chancery, Exchequer, &c

For every Skin of Velum or Parchment or Sheet of Paper upon which any Decree or Dismission made by or in the Court of Chancery Exchequer Court of the County Palatine or Dutchy of Lancaster Courts of the Counties Palatine of Chester Durham or other Court of Equity whatsoever shall be ingrossed or written the Sum of Six Pence.

Institution or Licence under Bishop's Seal, &c

For every Skin or Piece of Velum or Parchment or Sheet of Paper upon which any Institution or Licence that shall pass the Seal of any Archbishop or Bishop Chancellor or other Ordinary or any Ecclesiastical Court whatsoever shall be ingrossed or written the Sum of Five Shillings.

Writ of Error, Certiorari, &c

For every Skin or Peice of Vellum or Parchment or Sheet of Paper upon which any Writt of Error Certiorari or Appeal (except to the Deligates) shall be ingrossed or written the Sum of Five Shillings.

Significavit, &c

For every Skin Piece of Velum Parchment or Sheet of Paper upon which any Significavit pro Corporis deliberatione shall be ingrossed or written the Sum of Five Shillings.

Sentence in the Admiralty, &c

For every Skin or Piece of Velum or Parchment or Sheet or Piece of Paper upon which any Sentence that shall be given in the Court of the Lord High Amiral of England or the Cinque-Ports exerciseing Admiralty Jurisdiction or upon any Attachment that shall be made out of any of the said Courts of Admiralty [X5 or any Relaxation of any such Attachment] shall be ingrossed or written the Sum of Five Shillings.

Letters of Mart

For every Skin or Pieice of Velum or Parchment or Sheet or Piece of Paper upon which any Letters of Mart shall be ingrossed or written the Sum of Five Shillings.

Probates of Wills, Administrations, &c

For every Skin or Piece of Velum or Parchment or Piece of Paper upon which any Probate of a Will or Letters of Administration for any Estate above the Value Twenty Pounds shall be ingrossed or written the Sum of Five Shillings.

Recognizance, Statute Staple, &c

For every Skin or Piece of Velum or Parchment Sheet or Piece of Paper upon which any Recognizance Statute Staple or Statute Merchant shall be ingrossed or written or entred of Record in any Court or Office the Sum of Five Shillings.

Nisi Prius or Postea

For any Skin or Piece of Velum or Parchment upon which any Record of Nisi prius or Postea shall be ingrossed or written the Sum of Two Shillings and Six Pence.

Judgments

For every Skin [X5 or] Piece of Velum or Parchment or Paper upon which shall be ingrossed or written any Judgment whatsoever which shall be signed by the Master of any Office or his Deputy or Secondary or by any Prothonotary or his Secondary Deputy or Clerk or any other Officer belonging to any of the Courts at Westminster who have Power or usually doth or shall sign Judgments the Sum of Two Shillings and Six Pence.

Ecclesiastical Commission, &c.

For every Skin or Piece of Velum or Parchment or Sheet of Paper upon which any Commission issuing out of any Ecclesiastical Court not herein otherwise particularly charged shall be ingrossed or written the Sum of Two Shillings and Six Pence.

Admiralty or Cinque Ports Warrant or Decree, or beneficial Warrant, &c.

For every Skin or Peice of Velum or Parchment or Sheet of Paper upon which any Warrant Monition or personal Decree in any Court of Admiralty or the Cinque Ports shall be ingrossed or written or upon which any beneficial Warrant or Order under the Sign Manual of His Majesty His Heires or Successors (except Warrants or Orders for the Service of the Navy Army and Ordnance) shall be ingrossed or written the Sum of Two Shillings and Six Pence.

Special Bail or Appearance.

For every Piece of Velum Parchment or Paper upon which any Special Bail to be taken in any of the Courts at Westminster or before any of the Judges of the said Courts or in any other Court whatsoever shall be ingrossed or written and for every Peice of Velum Parchment or Paper upon which shall be ingrossed or written any Appearance upon such Special Bail the Sum of One Shilling.

Bill, Answer, Replication, &c.

For every Skin or Piece of Velum or Parchment upon which shall be ingrossed or written any Bill Answer Replication Rejoyder Interrogatories Depositions taken by Commission or any other Pleadings whatsoever in the Courts of Chancery Exchequer Dutchy Court and County Palatine Courts or other Courts of Equity the Sum of One Shilling.

Admission, &c.

For every Skin or Piece of Velum or Parchment and for every Sheet or Piece of Paper upon which any Admission into any Corporation or Company or any Matriculation in either of the Two Universities or any Admission into any of the Inns of Court or Inns of Chancery shall be ingrossed or written the Sum of One Shilling.

Affidavit. Exception.

For every Piece of Parchment or Paper upon which any Affidavit shall be ingrossed or written (except Affidavits taken pursuant to several Acts made in the Thirtieth and Two and thirtieth Years of the Reign of King Charles the Second for burying in Woollen and except such Affidavits as shall be taken before the Officers of the Customs or any Justice or Justices of the Peace or before any Co[m]missioners appointed or to be appointed by any Act of Parliament for the assessing & levying any Aids or Duties granted or to be granted to His Majesty His Heires or Successors and which Affidavits shall be taken by the said Officers of the Customs Justices or Commissioners by vertue of their Authority as Justices of the Peace or Co[m]missioners respectively and not otherwise) the Sum of Six Pence.

Copy of Affidavit filed, &c.

X6 For every Piece of Parchment or Paper upon which any Copy of such Affidvit as is herein before charged that shall be filed or read in any Court whatsoever shall be ingrossed or written the Sum of Six Pence.

Indenture, Lease, &c.; Exception.

For every Skin or Piece of Velum or Parchment or Sheet of Paper upon which shall be written or ingrossed any Indenture Lease or Deed Poll not hereby otherwise charged the Sum of Six Pence (except Indentures for binding poor Parish Children Apprentices).

Original Writ, Subpœna, &c.

For every Piece of Velum or Parchment or Peice of Paper upon which any original Writt (except such Originall on which a Writt of Capias issues) Subpena Bill of Middlesex Latitat Writt of Capias Quo Minus Writt of Dedimus Potestatem to take Answers examine Witnesses or appoint Guardians or any other Writt whatsoever or any other Process or Mandate that shall issue out of or pass the Seals of any the Courts at Westminster Courts of the Great Sessions in Wales Courts in Countys Palatine or any other Court whatsoever holding Plea where the Debt or Damage doth amount to Forty Shillings or above or the Thing in Demand is of that Value shall be ingrossed or written (Writts of Covenant for levying Fines Writts of Entry for suffering Co[m]mon Recoveries and Writts of Habeas Corpus always excepted) the Sum of Six Pence.

Entry of Action in Mayor's Court, &c.

For every Pieice of Velum Parchment or Paper upon which any Entry of any Action in the Mayors and Sheriffs [X7 Cours] of London and in Courts in all Corporations and other Courts whatsoever out of which no Writts Process or Mandates issue holding Plea where the Debt or Damage doth amount to Forty Shillings or above shall be ingrossed or written the Sum of Six Pence.

Common Bail or Appearance.

For every Piece of Velum Parchment or Paper upon which any Co[m]mon Bail to be filed in any Court whatsoever and upon which any Appearance that shall be made upon such Bail shall be ingrossed or written the Sum of Six Pence which Appearance or Co[m]mon Bail the Defendant shall cause to be entred or filed within Eight [X8 Days ] after the Day upon which the Process on which the Defend[en]t. is arrested shall be returnable upon Penalty of Five Pounds to be paid to the Plaintiffe for which the Court shall imediately award Judgment whereupon the Plaintiff may take out Execution.

Rule of Court.

For every Piece of Velum Parchment or Paper upon which any Rule or Order made or given in any the Courts at Westminster either Courts at Law or Equity shall be ingrossed or written the Sum of Sixpence.

Copy.

For every Piece of Velum Parchment or Paper upon which any Copy of such Rules or Orders entred or the Copys of any other Records or Proceedings in any of the said Courts at Westminster not hereby otherwise charged shall be ingrossed or written the Sum of Six Pence.

Ecclesiastical Monition, Libel, &c.; Copy. &c.

For every Skin or Piece of Velum or Parchment or Sheet of Paper upon which shall be ingrossed or written any Citation or Monition made in any Ecclesiastical Court or any Libell or Allegation Deposition Answer Sentence or final Decree or any Inventory exhibited in any Ecclesiastical Court the Courts of Admiralty or Cinque-Ports or whereupon any Copys of them respectively shall be ingrossed or written the Sum of Sixpence.

Charter Party, Policy of Assurance, &c.

For every Skin or Piece of Velum or Parchment or Sheet of Paper upon which any Charter Party Policy of Assurance Pasport Bond Release Contract or other Obligatory Instrument or any Protest Procuration Letter of Attorney or any other Notaryal Act whatsoever shall be ingrossed or written the Sum of Six Pence.

Declaration, Plea, &c.

For every Skin or Piece of Velum or Parchment or Sheet of Paper upon which any Declaration Plea Replication Rejoynder Demurrer or other Pleadings whatsoever in any Court of Law shall be ingrossed or written the Sum One Penny.

Copy.

And for every Skin or Piece of Velum or Parchment upon which any Copy thereof shall be written or ingrossed the Sum of One Penny.

Depositions in Chancery, &c. Exception.

For every Skin of Velum or Parchment or Sheet of Paper upon which any Depositions taken in [X8 the Court of Chancery] or other Court of Equity (except the Paper Draughts of Depositions taken by vertue of any Co[m]mission before they [X8 are] ingrossed) which are not herein before charged or upon which any Copy of any Bill Answer Plea Demurrer Replication Rejoynder Interrogatories Depositions or other Proceedings whatsoever in any Court of Equity shall be ingrossed or written the Sum of One Peny.

Copy of Will.

For every Skin or Piece of Velum or Parchment or Sheet of Paper upon which a Copy of any Will shall be ingrossed or written the Sum of One Peny.

Editorial Information

X1 O. omits.

X2 interlined on the Roll.

X3 Variant reading of the text noted in The Statutes of the Realm as follows: or Privy Seale O. [O. refers to a collection in the library of Trinity College, Cambridge]

X4 interlined on the Roll.

X5 Variant reading of the text noted in The Statutes of the Realm as follows: and O. [O. refers to a collection in the library of Trinity College, Cambridge]

X6 Variant reading of the text noted in The Statutes of the Realm as follows: Courts O. [O. refers to a collection in the library of Trinity College, Cambridge]

X7 interlined on the Roll.

X8 interlined on the Roll.