Poll Tax Act 1697

VII. Gentlemen who by 3 W.& M. c.6. §7. paid double, or have been returned into Exchequer for Non-payment, not appearing before the Commissioners to take the Oaths, to pay double.

And be it further enacted That every Gentleman or Person so reputed or owning or writing himself such or being above that Quality and under the Degree of a Peer of this Realm and having an Estate of the Value of Three hundred Pounds and being of the Age of Sixteen Years or upwards and within this Realm at the Time of the Execution of this Act who have not already taken the Oaths to His Majesty hereafter mentioned and who shal not voluntarily appear before the said Commissioners or Two or more of them within the Time lymitted by this Act for hearing Appeals and take the Oaths mentioned and required to be taken by an Act made in the First Year of the Reign of His Majesty and the late Queen of Blessed Memory intituled An Act for abrogating the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance and appointing other Oaths (which Oaths the Commissioners or any Two or more of them are hereby impowred and required to administer) and make an Entry or Memorandum thereof in some Book to be kept for that Purpose shal be charged with and pay to His Majesty double the Sums which by force or virtue of any Clause in this Act he should or ought to pay or be charged with to be levyed collected answered recovered and paid in such Manner and by such Ways and Means as are in this Act expressed and appointed for and concerning the Rates and Sums hereby intended to be doubled as aforesaid.