Stamps Act 1697

XII. Commissioners may appoint a fit Person to attend in any Court or Office to take Notice of the Stamps, &c.

Judges to make Orders, &c. herein; Commissioners and Officers to take the following Oath.

And be it further enacted by the Authority aforesaid That the Commissioners for the said Dutys on Velum Parchment and Paper from time to time shall and may appoint a fit Person to attend in any Court or Office to take Notice of the Velum Parchment or Paper upon which any the Matters or Things aforesaid shall be ingrossed written or put and of the Marks or Stamps thereupon and of all other Matters and Things tending to secure the said Duties and that the Judges in the several Courts and such others to whom it may appertain at the Request or Requests of such Commissioners or of any Two or more of them shall make such Orders in the respective Courts and do such other Matters and Things for the better secureing of the said Duties under their Charge as shall be lawfully and reasonably desired in that Behalf and that every Person who shall be commissionated as aforesaid and every Person to be imployed by or under them for the marking or stamping of Velum Parchment or Paper as aforesaid before his acting in the marking or stamping of the said Velum Parchment or Paper shall take the Oath following (that is to say).

I A. B. do swear That I will faithfully execute the Trust reposed [X1 in] me pursuant to the Act of Parliament for the further or additional Duties upon [X2 stampt] Velum Parchment and Paper without Fraud or Concealment and shall from Time to Time true Account make of my Doings and deliver the same to such Person or Persons as His Majesty His Heires or Successors shall appoint to receive such Account and shall take no Fee Reward or Profit for the Execution or Performance of the said Trust or the Business relateing thereunto from any X3 other than such as shall be paid or allowed by His Majesty His Heirs or Successors or by the Commissioners of His Majestys Treasury or any Three or more of them now being or by the Treasurer of the Exchequer or Three or more of the Commissioners of the Treasury for the time being.

Oath, how to be administered.

Which Oath shall and may be administred to such Commissioner or Commissioners [X1 by any Three or more of the same Commissioners] which shall be appointed as aforesaid. And any of the said Commissioners shall and may administer the like Oath (mutatis mutandis) to such Sub-Commissioners or other Persons which shall be imployed under them in the said Business of marking or stamping.

Editorial Information

X1 Variant reading of the text noted in The Statutes of the Realm as follows: stamp O. [O. refers to a collection in the library of Trinity College, Cambridge]

X2 Variant reading of the text noted in The Statutes of the Realm as follows: Persons O. [O. refers to a collection in the library of Trinity College, Cambridge]

X3 interlined on the Roll.