Poll Tax Act 1697

Reasons for granting the Subsidy by this Act.

We Your Majesties most dutiful and loyal Subjects the Commons in Parliament assembled having seriously considered Your Majesties extraordinary Occations Do towards supplying thereof most humbly present to Your Majesty a free Gift of the several Sums of Money herein after specified beseeching 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 and Temporal and the Commons in this present Parliament assembled and by Authority of the same That all and every Person and Persons of what Age Sex or Condition soever within this Kingdom of England Dominion of Wales and Town of Berwick upon Tweed shal and do pay unto His Majesty the Sums hereafter mentioned (that is to say) The Sum of One Shilling on the Four and twentieth Day of August One thousand six hundred ninety eight The Sum of One Shilling on the Four and twentieth Day of November One thousand six hundred ninety eight The Sum of One Shilling on the Four and twentieth Day of February One thousand six hundred ninety eight The Sum of One Shilling on the Four and twentieth Day of May One thousand six hundred ninety nine except such Persons as shal receive Alms of the Parish where the dwel and their Children being under the Age of Sixteen Years at the Time of the Execution of this Act And except all poor House-keepers or Housholders who by Reason of the Poverty only are exempted from contributing to the Church or Poor and their Children being under the Age of Sixteen Years And also except all Children being under the Age of Sixteen of all Day Lalourers and of all Servants in Husbandry And also except all Children under the Age of Sixteen Year Years of such have Four or more Children and and not worth in Lands Goods and Chattels or any of them the Sum of Fifty Pounds.