Marriage Duty Act 1694

XVI. At the End of each of the Five Years Collectors to cause a Copy of Assessment signed by them, with the necessary Alterations and Names of Collectors for the succeeding Year, to be delivered to Two or more Justices;

Justices to peruse the same, and if they suspect that Persons are omitted who ought to be named in Certificate or that the Quality, or Estate is not truly stated, then they may summon such Persons. Such Persons neglecting to appear, to pay double; and the said Justices may examine into the Degrees and Estates of such Persons; and may enlarge or abate Assessment; Justices after Examination to sign and allow Assessments, and appoint Collectors, and deliver such Assessment to them; Collectors to act, under Penalties herein mentioned.

And bee it further enacted for the better and more equal chargeing the duties ariseing by this Act that att the end of every yeare of the said terme of five yeares for which the said duties are hereby granted the Collectors for the next preceding yeare shall cause a copy of the respective assessments given to them and of the collection made by them for such Division Parish or Place for which they were appointed Collectors respectively to bee fairely written and signed by them but with such alterations therein as shall bee necessary by reason of the death change of quality or degree or removal of any person or persons or otherwise and att the bottom thereof shall write or cause to bee written the names of two or more of the most substantial inh[ab]itants of the respective Cities Townes Boroughs Divisions or Places for which they were Collectors [X1 whom] they in their judgement shall think fitt to bee appointed Collectors of the said duties within the said Cities Boroughs Towns Divisions or Places respectively for the ensueing yeare and the said Collectors are hereby appointed and required to deliver or cause to bee delivered the said assessment soe fairely written and signed by them together with the names of the persons nominated by them as fitt to bee Collectors for the yeare ensueing or a true duplicate thereof signed as aforesaid unto two or more Justices of the Peace for the respective Counties Ridings Cities Townes Divisions or Places for which they were appointed Collectors respectively within the space of ten days after the end of every yeare of the said terme of five yeares for which the duties mentioned in this Act are granted which Justices of the Peace are hereby authorized and required strictly to peruse the same and examine the presenters thereof and if the said Justices or any two of them within their several Limits or Divisions shall att the time of the delivery of such Certificates or Assessments or within ten days after have certaine knowledge or have cause to suspect that any person or persons who ought to bee mentioned in the said certificates or assessments is or are omitted or that any person or persons in the said [X2 certificates] mentioned is or are of a higher degree or quality or of a greater estate then in the said certificate is mentioned or is otherwise undercharged or not duely charged according to the direction of this Act the said Justices or any two of them shall have power to summon such person or persons to appeare before them att a day and place prefixt to bee examined touching the rates and duties aforesaid or touching other matters which may any ways concern the premisses And if any person or persons summoned to bee soe examined shall neglect to appeare not haveing a reasonable excuse for such his default every person soe makeing default shall pay unto his Majesty double the su[m]m of the rate he should or ought to have been sett att And moreover the said Justices of the Peace to whom such certificates or assessments shall bee delivered or any two of them or any other two Justices of the Peace of the respective Counties where such assessment shall bee made shall have power and are hereby required by all lawfull ways and meanes to examine and enquire into and concerning the several degrees ranks qualifications and estates of such persons as are chargeable by this Act and thereupon to enlarge alter abate or diminish the said assessments soe delivered to the said Justices soe that such rate or rates may bee sett and imposed upon every such person or persons as shall bee according to the true intent and meaning of this Act And the said Justices of the Peace or any three or more of them shall after such perusal and examination thereof sett their hands to the said respective assessments testifying their allowance thereof and shall likewise no[m]iate and appoint two of the persons named in the said certificate or assessment to bee Collectors for the respective Divisions & Places for which they were soe presented and shall forthwith deliver or cause to bee delivered such assessment soe by them allowed of unto the respective persons by them nominated to bee Collectors for the yeare ensuing who are hereby strictly enjoyned and required to collect and pay the several rates and duties soe rated and assessed according to the directions herein before contained for and touching the Collectors of the said duties hereby granted and under the several penalties and forfeitures hereby inflicted upon Collectors for neglect or not performance of their duty.

Editorial Information

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