WHylest we the kynges maie­sties faythfull louing and obedient subiectes, the lordes & cōmons assem­bled in this present parliament do cō ­syder the present state of the worlde, what great troubles be in all places, what enemies both his maiestie and this his realme hath and is lyke to haue, and that their malice and ha­tred is bent, partly to dyminishe his graces maiestie & the honour of this his Realme, partly to spoile the same of the iust, true, & auncient enheritaunce, right, and title, that his high­nes & his most noble progenitours kinges of this Realme of England haue alwayes had to the Realme of Scotland, being a member and part of his kingdome and dominion: and chieflye for that we of late ha­uing abandoned the aucthoritie of the Byshop of Rome and his wic­ked doctrine, haue and do adhere to Christe and his most holy word, as becometh all christians to do, that mean to be no lesse in dede, then they professe in name: Whylest we also consyder, that his grace, and we his faithful and obedient subiectes be but one body politique, his highnes the head and we the members, and that no good or felicitie can come to the one, but the other shalbe partaker therof, and that no hurt or ad­uersytie can happen to the one where with y^e other shall not also be gre­vid: Whylest also we consyder the practyses and policies of other prin­ces and potentates, what great preparations, they make both of men and also of other furniture for the warres, and what great treasure thei of late haue leuied and gathered of their subiectes: we perceyuing that all the kynges maiesties procedings holye tend to the aduauncement of the true glorie of God, the maintenaunce of the maiestie of the Im­periall crowne of this Realme, and the defence and sauitee of vs & this his realme, fully minded to cleaue & stick to God & his most holy word, vtterlie determined to mainteyne his graces honour and all such righ­tes and titles as be annexed to his Imperiall croune, prest and redie, to defende our selfes & this his realme & our countrie: and fynally con­tent to leaue father, mother, brethren, systren, wyfes, chyldren, landes, goodes, yea, and this mortal life also, rather then we would deny Christ and forsake his worde, whiche is the lyuelye foode of mās soule, rather then we would suffer his royall maiestie, to be in any part diminished, rather then we would consent, that the Imperial crowne of this realme should be depriued of any honour, tytle, ryght or interest therunto belō ­gyng: [Page] & fynally rather then any forien powre, should do vs or our coū ­trie any hurt or iniurye, haue thought it good to prepare and make not only our persones redie for the warres, hauing a full affyaunce & par­fyt cōfydence in God, that as he alwaies hath lent victorie to suche as professed him & put their hole trust in him: albeit they were but verye few and that very feble in mans sight, in respect of y^e multitude & force of their enemies: so he now wyll haue speciall regarde & eye to this litle realme, and vs his poore seruaūtes & litle flocke, taking to his charge and defence our litle shephard, tyll yeares & strength make him better able to vicket with his enemies, & that therfore he with vs & for vs wyl deuise to withstād, resist, & subdue the force and puissaūce of our stoute foes, no more ours then his, at the least, ours for his cause: but also to make among vs a masse of money, to relief & mainteine the great & me­stymable charges that our most graciouse soueraigne lorde hath & dai­lie doth susteine, a thing much vnable to serue any pece of his present necessities, if his grace did meane to spare any part of his own treasure, beseching his grace, not to cast his eyes, vpon the smalnes of this our symple present, but to laye by it our good wylles, whiche we make the chiefest part of our relief, it faithfully promysyng, al the rest to be redy, when peryll or enemy shall declare this not to suffyce. First we his gra­ces said subiectes do by the aucthoritie of this present parliament frely and franckelie geue and graunt vnto his most royall maiestie a relief, to continue by the space of .iij. yeres to be rated, taxed, leuied and gathe­red of euery parson of what estate or degree he be, according to the te­nour of this acte after the rate and in maner and fourme followyng, y^t is to say, aswel of al & euery person as is or hereafter shalbe his graces natural subiectes, as of al & euery fraternitie, guilde, corporatiō, mistery brotherhed, companye and cominaltye corporat or not corporat within this realme of England, wales and other the kynges dominions being worth ten pondes in money, Coyne, plate, stocke of marchandise, corne grayne, shepe, beastes, cattals or other goodes mouable, aswell within this realme as without, and of all suche sōmes of money as to hym or them is or shalbe owing, wherof he or they trust in their cōscientes suer­lye to be payed: yerely twelue pence of euery pound. And of euery alien or straunger borne out of the kinges obeysaunce aswell denysen as not denysen inhabityng or resyaunt w^t in this realme or any other y^e kinges dominions beyng worth ten poundes in money, coyne, plate, stocke of marchandise, corne, grayne, shepe, beastes, cattals, or other goodes mo­uable, aswell within this realme as without, and of al suche sommes of money as to him is or shalbe owing, wherof he trusteth in his cōscience to be suerly payed: yerely two shyllynges of euery pound. And of euery alyen or straunger borne out of the kinges obeysaunce aswell denysen as not denysen inhabiting or resyaunt within this realme or any other the kynges dominions, beyng worth twenty shyllynges and vnder ten poundes in money, coyne, plate, sttocke of merchaundise, corne, grayne, [Page ij] shepe, beastes, cattell, or other goodes mouable, aswel within this real­me as without, and of al such sommes of money as to him is or shalbe owing, wherof he trusteth in his cōscience to be suerly paid, yerely twelf pence of euery pound. Except & out of y^e premysses deducted suche som­mes of money as any person or persones before chargeable owe and in his or their cōsciēce truly minde to paie. And excepted also y^e apparel of such parsons their wifes & childrē belongīg to their awne bodies, sauīg iewels, gold, syluer, stone & perle. Excepted also alwayes from y^e charge, assessement & payment of y^e said relief, all money, goodes & cattalles of orphanes bequethed or lefte vnto them by their parentes or other their frendes deceassyd. And y^t all plate, coyne, Iewels, goodes, debtes, & cat­tals, personalles, being in y^e rule & custodie of any person or persones to the vse of any corporatiō, fraternitie, guild, misterie, brotherhod, cōpay­nye or any cominaltie being corporat, or not corporat, be & shalbe rated, set, & charged by reason of this acte, at y^e value certefied by y^e presētours of y^e certificat, to be sworne, of euery poūd in goodes, & debtes as is abo­uesaid. And y^e sommes y^t are before rehersed, set & taxed, to be leuied, & taken of them y^t shall haue such goodes in custodie, as is before rehersed. And y^e same parson, or parsones, & bodye corporate by the aucthorite of this acte, shalbe discharged against him or them, y^t shal or ought to ha­ue y^e same at the time of the paiment or delyuerie therof, or at his other­wyse departure from y^e custodie or possessiō of y^e same. Except & alwaies forprysed from y^e charge & assessement of this relief, all goodes, cattals, Iewels, & ornamētes of churches & chapelles, ordeined, & vsed in chur­ches or chappelles, for diuine seruice therin to be celebrated. Also we y^e kinges maiesties subiectes do geue, & graunt to his highnes, eight pēce to be payed yerely, duryng the said .iij. yeres, by euery other persone not borne vnder y^e kinges obeisaunce, being denisen, or no denisen, other then women couert, souldiers, & such persones as be vnder y^e age of .xii. yeres, dwellīg or resyaūt w^t in this realme or any other y^e kynges domi­nions. And y^e sayd reliefes, shalbe by y^e aucthoritie afore sayd: taxed as­sessed & rated, during y^e said .iii. yeres, in euery shere: riding, lathe, wapē ­take, rape, citie, Borough, toune, & euery other place, within this realme of Englande, & wales, & other y^e kinges dominions, in fourme followīg that is to say: y^e fyrst yere before y^e xx. daye of Marche, & the other two yeres, before y^e .xx. daye of Ianuarie. The fyrst paiment of y^• said relief, to be had, made & paide, at y^e receipt of the kinges exchequer before the vi. day of May next comming. And the second to be made & paied, at y^e said receipt, before y^e .xx. day of Aprill, which shalbe in y^e yere of our lord God after y^e computacion of the churche of England .M.cccccl. And the third payment to be had & made at the sayd receipt, before y^e .xx. day of Apryll which shalbe in the yere of our lorde .M.ccccc.li. And the som­mes aboue sayd: of and for the sayd relief, shalbe taxed, set, asked, & de­maunded, taken, gathered, leuied, & payed, vnto the vse of our sayd so­ [...]eraigne lord, his heyres & successours, in fourme aboue sayd, aswell [Page] within liberties, frāchesyes, sanctuaries, auncient demeasne, and other whatsoeuer place exempte, or not exempt, as without. Except suche shy­res, places, and persones, as shalbe forprised, in & by this presēt acte: any graunt, charter, prescription, vse or lybertie, by reason of any letters pa­tentes, or other priuilege, prescription, alowaunce of the same or what soeuer other matter of discharge here tofore to the contrary made graū ­ted, vsed, or obteigned notwithstanding. And it is further enacted by y^e aucthorytie of this present parliament, y^t euery such person, aswell such as be borne vnder y^e kinges obeisaunce, as euery other person straūger borne, denisen or not denysen, inhabiting within this realme, or within wales, or other y^e kynges dominiōs, whiche at y^e time of y^e sayd assessing or taxacion yerely to be had or made, shalbe out of this realme, & out of wales, & hauè goodes or cattals, within this realme, or in wales, shalbe charged & chargeable for the same, by y^e certificat of y^e inhabytauntes of the partyes, wher such goodes, cattals, landes, tenementes, or other the premisses thā shalbe, or in such other place, wher such person or his fac­tor, deputie or attorney, shal haue his most resorte vnto withī this real­me, or in wales, in lyke maner as if y^e same persone were or had ben at y^e tyme of y^e same assessyng within this realme. And y^t euery person, abidīg or dwelling within this realme, or without this realme, shalbe charged, and chargeable to y^e same relief, graūted by this acte, according and af­ter y^e rate, of the value of his substaūce, goodes & cattals, and other pre­mysses, as such parson so to be charged, shalbe set at in the time of y^e said assessyng, or taxacion vpon him to be made, and in none otherwyse.

And further we the kinges subicctes, do geue and graunt frelye to his highnes, one other relief to be paid, yerely duryng .iij. yeres, at y^e rcceipt of y^e kinges exchequer, after the rate & in maner, & fourme folo­wyng, y^t is to saye, of euery Ewe, kept for the most parte of the yere, in seuerall salt, or freshe marshes, or in leuerall pasture, y^t is to say: groun­des not commen, nor cōmenly vsed to be tylled. .iii. pence. Of euery we­ther, and other shere shepe kept in pasture or marshes, as is afore sayd, two pēce. And of euery shere shepe kept, on cōmons or on seueral groū ­des, commenly vsed to be tylled thre half pence. To be paied yerely, du­ring the sayd .iii. yeres, by the owner, or owners of the same shepe, & not by any person that hath the same shepe in farme, or by leasse, paiyng a rent ar any other profyt for the same, or whiche is or shalbe bound by any maner of couenaūt or suretie to restore the same, or as many shepe or the value therof at any tyme.

PROVIDED alwaies and be it enacted by the auctoritie afore­sayd, that euery person not hauing aboue the nomber of ten shere shepe, shal paye yerely durig the said .iii. yere, one halfpeny, for y^t polle of eue­ry suche shere shepe, and that euery person hauing aboue ten shere she­pe, and not aboue .xx. shall paye for euery of them but one peny, duryng euery of the sayd .iii. yeres, any thyng before in this graunt of the relief of shepe, cōteined to the contrarye in any wyse notwythstandyng. The [Page iij] fyrst paiment of the said relief of shepe, to be made before the fyrst daye of Nouember, next comming: the seconde before the fyrst daie of Nouē ­ber whiche shalbe in the yere of our lord God .M.ccccc.l. And the third before the fyrst daye of Nouember, which shalbe in the yere of our lord God M.ccccc.li.

PROVIDED alwayes and be it ordeined and enacted by the aucthoritie aforesayd, that if the value of the shepe, cattall, and other moueable goodes, of him or her, that hath shepe chargeable to the pay­ment of the said relief, being rased and gathered into one hole and en­tire some and value, shalbe found greater, and more for the aduaunce­ment of this relief, than the paymēt that ought to be made by the polle of the said shepe, as is before declared, that then the owner of the sayd shepe, shall not be chargeable with the payment, after the rate of the polle. And if it shall appere that the paiment after the rate of the polle shall excede in value, and be more beneficial to the king, then the money rated of the hole substaunce of any persone: That then such person ha­uing shepe shalbe charged to paie after y^e rate of the polle, and not after the value of his entier substaunce: The relief payed the yere before of his entier substaunce to be taken, and accompted as percell of the som­me that shalbe due and payable in the hole at the yeres ende vpon the accompt made for the polle of his shepe.

¶ ALSO we the kinges sayd subiectes by the aucthorytie afore­sayd, do geue and graunt vnto the kinges maiestie, one other relief, that is to saye. viii. pens of the pounde, of the pryce and value of al and synguler wollen clothes, carseyes, fryses, cottons, kendales, & all other kinde of wollen clothes, of what sorte or making soeuer they be, that frō the feast of the Natiuitie of saint Iohn Baptist next cōming, during thre yeres then next folowing shalbe made by any persone to be put to sale, the same relief to be leuied and gathered yerely during the said thre yeres, of the maker of the sayd clothe, in such maner and fourme as he­reafter in this acte shalbe declared.

PROVIDED alwaies, and be it ordeined & enacted, by the auc­thoritie aforesaid, that if it shall appere that the rate of. viii. pens of the pounde, of the price and value of the clothe, by suche clothier made as is aforesaid, shall excede the rate of .xii. pence of the pounde, of his goo­des and cattals, that then euerye suche clothier, shall paye onely after the rate of. viii. pence of the pounde, of the clothes, & not after the value of his goodes and cattals, the relief payed the fyrst yere of his entier substaunce to be taken▪ and accompted as percell of the somme that shalbe due and payable in the hole at the first yeres ende vpon accōpte for the clothes by hym made as is afore said. The second relief, paied of his entier substaunce, to be taken and accompted as percell, of the some that shalbe due and payable, in the hole at the second yeres ende vpon accompt for the clothes by him made, as is afore said. And the third re­lief, [Page] payed of his entier substaunce to be taken and accompted as per­cell of the somme that shalbe due and payable in the hole at the third yeres ende vpon accompt for the clothes by him made, as is aforesayd.

PROVIDED also, and be it ordeyned and enacted by the auc­thorytie aforesayd, that if any persone to the [...]ntent to defraude the kin­ges maiestie of the reliefs graunted by this acte, or any parte therof do coloure and take vpon him, by the assent or consent, of the true owner therof, to be owner, or proprietary of any goodes, shepe, clothes, or other thinges chargeable to the payment of the sayd relief, and in dede shal­be founde, tryed or proued, not to be iust and ryght owner therof, vpon any informacion therof to be made in the kinges courte of exchequer wythin two yeres next after suche offence, that not onlye suche goodes, shepe, clothes, and other thinges, or the value therof shalbe forfayted to the kyng, but also the partie so falselye colouring the same, or preten­ding to be owner, or proprietarye of the same, shall forfeyte and lose to the kyng, the treble value therof, to be leuied of his goodes and cattals, landes, and tenementes to the kinges vse.

AND to the entent that the kinges maiestie may be iustly and truly satysfied of the sayd relief, of the value and substaūce of euery mannes goodes, and other sommes, to be payed by siraungers, denysens or not denysens, by vs to his highnes geuen in maner and fourme afore ex­pressed, and in no part therof be defrauded, as our entent and hope is his grace shall not be: Be it ordeyned and enacted by the aucthoritie aforesayd, that the lord Chauncellour of Englande, the lord Thresau­rour of England, the lord Presydent of the kinges most honorable counsayll, the lord Priuie seale, and the lord great Chamberlayne of England, for the tyme beyng, or two of them at the least, wherof the lord Chauncellour or the lord Threasourer, to be one of them, shal and may name and appointe of and for euerye shyer, rydyng, and other places, aswell within this realme, as in wales, and other the kinges dominiōs, as also for euerie citie and toune, beyng a countie of it selfe, and of and for the Isle of wyght, such certayne nomber of persones of euerye of the same shyres, rydynges, lathes, wapentakes, rapes, cities, tounes, and Isle of wight, and euerye other place, and other the inhabitauntes of the same, to be commissioners within the same, wherof they be inhaby­tauntes, and also of and for the honorable housholdes of the king our soueraigne lorde, the ladie Marie, and the ladye Elyzabeth graces, the kynges maiesties listers, certayne hed officers of the same, to be com­missioners of the same housholdes, in what shyres or other places, the sayd housholdes shal happē then to be: & the lord Chauncellour, or lord Thresaurour, and other with him before named, in like maner may na­me and appoincte of euerye other suche borough and toune corporat, aswell in England, as in wales, and other the kinges dominions, as they shall thinke requisyte, syx, fyue, foure, thre, or two, of the hed offy­cers, [Page iiii] and other sad and honest inhabitauntes of euery of the sayd cy­ties, boroughes and tounes corporat, according to the nomber & multi­tude of people beyng in the same: the whiche persones if any suche be therunto named of the sayd inhabitauntes of the sayd boroughes and tounes corporate, not beyng counties in them selfes, shalbe ioined and put as commissioners with the persones, named for such shyres and ry­dinges, as the sayd boroughes and tounes corporat not being counties in them selfes be set, & haue there beyng: which persones so named, for & of the sayd boroughes and tounes corporat, not beyng coūties, by rea­son of there dwellyng in the same, shall not take vpon them, ne none of them, to put any parte of there commission, in execution for the premys­ses, out of the sayd borough or toune corporat, wherin they beyng so named onely for the same, be dwelling, and also not to execute the sayd commission, within the borough or toune coporat, wher they be so dwellyng, but ioyntly wyth thre at the least of the other commissio­ners wythin the shyre or rydyng, and in that commission wherin they be so dwellyng, at suche dayes and tymes, as the sayd other commissio­ners for the same shere and ryding, shal therunto lymyte and appoinct within the same borough or toune corporat, not beyng countie corpo­rat, wherof they so be, and not out of such borough or toune, and in that maner to be aiding and assysting, with the said other commissioners, in and for the good executing of the effect of the sayd commission, vpon peyne of euery of the sayd commissioners, so named for euery such citie, borough, and toune corporat, not beyng a countie, to make suche fyne as the sayd other commissioners in the commission, of and for the sayd shyre or riding so named, or thre of them at the least, shall by there dys­crecions set and certefye into the kinges exchequer, ther to be leuyed to the vse of our souereygne lord the king, in lyke maner as such or lyke sommes had ben set and rated vpon euery such persone for the sayd re­lief: The whiche commissioners so named, of and for the said cities, bo­roughes and tounes, not beyng counties, and only put in the said com­mission by reason of there dwellyng in the same, shall not haue any part of the porcion of the fees and rewardes for the commissioners, and the [...] clerkes in this acte, afterward specifyed. And the Chaūcellour of Eng­lande, or keper of the kynges great Scale for the tyme beyng, shall make and direct out of the courte of chauncery, vnder the kinges great seale, seuerall commissions, that is to saye, to euerye shyre, rydyng, la­the, wapentake, rape, citie, toune, borough, Isle, and housholde, vnto suche persone and persones, as by his discrecion and other with hym before appoincted and named, in lyke maner and fourme as is afore rehersed, shalbe thought suffycient for the sessyng and leuyeng of the sayde relief in all shyres and places, accordyng vnto the true mea­nyng of this acte: whiche commissyon shalbe directed and deliuered to the sayd commissioners, or to one of them yerely, duryng the saye thre [Page] yeres, in maner and fourme folowyng, that is to saye: the fyrst yere be­fore the tenth daye of Marche next commyng, and the other two yeres, yerely before the fyrst daye of Ianuary: and to euery of the sayd com­missions, ten cedules, conteynyng in them the tenour of this acte, shalbe affyled, by the whyche commission the commissyoners in eue­ry suche commission named, according vnto this acte, or as many of them as shalbe appoincted by the kinges cōmission, shall haue full po­wer & aucthoritie to put the effect of y^e same commission in execucion. And that by aucthoritie of this acte, after such commission to them dy­rected yerely during the said thre yeres, they may by their assentes and agrementes, seuer them selfes for y^e execucion of their cōmissyon, in hū ­dredes, lathes, wardes, rapes, wapentakes, tounes, parysshes, & other places, within the lymytes of their sayd commissyon, in such fourme as to them shall seme expedient to be ordred, and betwene them to be com­moned & agreed, according to the tenour and effect of the commission to them therin directed, vpon whiche seueraunce, euery person of this pre­sent parliament that shalbe commissioner, shalbe assygned in the hun­dreth where he dwelleth.

PROVIDED alwaies, that no persone be or shalbe compelled to be any commissioner, to and for the execution of this present acte, but only in the shire where he dwelleth and inhabiteth: and that any person being assygned to y^e contrarye therof, in any wise shal not be cōpelled to put in execucion the effect of this act, or any parte therof. And it is also enacted by y^e aucthorytie of this present parliament, that the commissio­ners, and euery of them whiche shalbe named, lymyted, and appoincted accordyng vnto this acte to be commissioners, in euerye suche shire, ry­dyng, lathe, wapentake, rape, cytie, toune, borough, Isle, and the sayd housholdes or any other place, and none other, shall truly, effectually & dylygently for ther parte, execute the effect of this present acte, accor­dyng to the tenour therof in euery behalfe, and none otherwyse by any other meanes, wythout omission, fauour, dread, malice, or any other thyng to be attempted and done by them, or any of them, to the contra­ry hereof: and the said commissioners, or as many of them as shalbe ap­poincted by the sayd commission, and none other, for the execution of the sayd commission, and acte, shall the fyrst yere of the paiment of this relief of goodes, before the .xx. daye of Marche, and the other two ye­res, yerely before the .xvi. daye of Ianuary, by vertue of the commis­syons, delyuered vnto them, in fourme abouesayd, dyrect their seuerall or Ioynte precept vnto. viii. vii. vi. v .iiii. or thre, or moo, as for the nomber of the inhabitauntes shalbe requysyte, of the most substanciall discrete, and honest persones inhabytauntes, to be named by the said cōmissioners, or by as many of them as shalbe appoincted by y^e said cō ­mission, of & in hundredes, lathes, rapes, wapētakes, wardes, parishes, tounes, & other places, aswel w^tin liberties, fraūchises aūciēt demeanes [Page v] places exempted, and sanctuaryes, as without, within the lymytes of y^e shires, ridinges, lathes, wapentakes, rapes, cities, tounes, boroghes, or Isle, aforesaid, & other places within y^e limites of there commission, and to the constables, subconstables, batlliffes, & other like officers or myni­sters, of euery of y^e said hundredes, tounes, wardes, lathes, wapētakes, parishes, & other places before said: as to y^e sayd commissioners, & euery nomber of them vnto thre or two of them, by there discrecion in diuisiō, shal seme expedient, as by y^e maner and vse of y^e parties shalbe requisite, straitly by y^e same precept charging & commaūding y^e same inhabitaū ­tes constables, & other officers aforsaid to whom such precept shalbe so directed to appere in their proper persones before y^e said cōmissioners, or such nomber of them as they shall deuide them selfes, according to y^e tenour of y^e sayd commission, at certain dayes & places by y^e said cōmis­syoners, or any nomber of them as is abouesayd, within cities, borou­ghes, or tounes corporat, or without in any other place as is aforesaid, by ther discretions shalbe limited therunto, to do & accomplishe all y^t to them on y^e part of our soueraigne lord y^e king shalbe enioyned touching this acte: cōmaunding further by y^e same precept, y^t he to whose handes such precept shall come, shall shewe or delyuer y^e same to the other inha­bitaūtes or officers, named in y^e same precept, & y^t none of thē faile to ac­cōplishe y^e same, vpō paine of fortie shillinges, to be forfaited to y^e king.

AND it is further ordeined by y^e said aucthoritie of this parliamēt, that y^e said daye & place prefyxed, & limited in y^e said preceptes, euery of the cōmissioners, then beyng in y^e shyre, & hauing no sufficient excuse for his absence, shall at y^e sayd day, & place prefixed for y^t parte wherunto he was limited, appere in his proper person, & there y^e same commissioners being present, or as many as shalbe appoincted by y^e kinges commissiō, shal cal or cause to be called before them, y^e sayd inhabitaūtes & officers, to whō thei haue directed ther said preceptes, & which had in cōmaunde­mēt, ther to apere by y^e said precept of y^e said cōmissioners. And if any person so warned, make default onlesse he thē be letted by sycknesse or law­ful excuses, & y^t let then to be witnessed by the othes of two credyble per­sones: Or if any so appering refuse to be sworne in fourme folowing, to forfayte to the kyng fortie shyllinges: & so at euery tyme during y^e sayd thre yeres prefixed for y^e same cause, vnto such time, the nomber of euery such persons, haue appered & certefied in fourme vnder written: & euery of them so making default, or refusing to be sworne, to forfaite to y^e king fortie shillinges: & vpō the same apparaunce had, one of y^e most substā ­ciall inhabitauntes or officer, so ther being warned, & appering before the sayd commissyoners, shalbe sworne yerely during y^e said thre yeres, vpon a boke openly before the commissioners in fourme folowing.

I shal truly enquire w^t my fellowes, y^t shallbe charged w^t me, of y^e hū ­dred, wapentake, warde, toune, or other place, of y^e best & most value of y^e substaunce of euery parson, dwellyng & abiding within the limites of y^e places that I and my fellowes shalbe charged with, & of other whiche [Page] shal haue his or their most resort vnto any of y^e said places, & chargea­ble w^t any some of money, by this acte of this said relief, & of al other ar­ticles, y^t I shalbe charged with, touching the sayd acte, and accordig to the entent of the same, and there vpon, as nere as it may or shal come to my knowlege, not only truly to present and certefye before you, the na­mes, surnames, additions, and the best and vttermost substaunce and values of euery of thē of there goodes, cattalles, dettes, & other things, chargeable by y^e sayd acte, and how many straūgers, denisens or not de­riysens, beyng aboue the age of .xii. yeres, be resiaūt and dwellyng w^tin the lymytes of my charge, of what value in goodes and other thinges, chargeable to the payment of this relief they be, & whether they be hous­holders or seruaūtes, or otherwise vnder y^e rule & gouernmēt of ther pa­rentes without any conceilement, fauour, loue, affeccion, dread, feare, or malyce, so helpe me God, and the holy contentes of this boke.

AND euery other persone y^t shall appere there yerely by y^e sayd pre­ceptes, shall make like othe, and vpon y^e othe so taken as is before sayd: by y^e inhabitaūtes & officers of euery hundred, ward, wapentake, toune, or other place, y^e said cōmissioners shal yerely openly there read or cause to be read vnto them y^e sayd rates, & opēly declare y^e effect of their char­ge vnto them, in what maner & fourme they ought & should make there certifycates, according to y^e rates & sommes therof abouesaid, and of al maner of persōs, aswel of Aliens & straūgers, denisens, or not denysēs, inhabyted within this realme, as of such persones as be borne within y^e kynges obeysaunce, chargeable to this acte, & of the goodes & cattalles of fraternities, guildes, corporacions, brotherhedes, misteriers, cōpai­nies, and cominalties & other, as is aboue said: and of persons being in the parties of beyond y^e sea, hauing goodes or catals within this realme as is before sayd: & of all goodes being in custody to y^e vse of any other, as is aboue said: by y^e which informaciō & shewing, y^e sayd persons shal haue such playn knowlege of y^e true entent of this present acte, & of the manour of ther certificat, y^t the same persons shall haue no reasonable cause to excuse them by ignoraūce. And after such othes, & y^e statute of y^e said relief, and y^e maner of the said certificat, to be made in writting con­teining y^e names, surnames, and additions of euery persone, & whether he be borne without y^e kinges obeisaunce or within, and y^e best value of euery persone in euery degre, of y^e value of goodes, and cattals, dettes, and euery thing to their sayd certificat, requisite and necessarye to them declared: y^e sayd commissioners ther beyng, shall by ther discretions ap­poinct & limite vnto y^e said persones, an other daye & place to apere be­fore the sayd commissioners, & charging y^e sayd persones, y^t they in the meane tyme shal make diligent enquiry by al waies & meanes of y^e pre­misses, & then & ther euery of thē, vpō paine of forfaiture of .xx. shelīgs, to y^e king, to appere at the said new prefixed daie & place, ther to certifye vnto y^e said cōmissioners in writing, according to there said charge, & accordīg to y^e true entēt of y^e said graūt of relief, & as to thē in maner afor­sayd [Page vi] hath ben declared & shewed by the commissyoners, at which daye & place so to them prefixed, if any of y^e sayd persones make default, or ap­pere & refuse to make y^e sayd certificat: y^t then euery of thē so offēding, to forfayte to the king fortye shyllynges: Except only a reasonable ex­cuse for his default by reason or sycknes or otherwise by y^e othes of two credyble persones there witnessed be had: & of suche as appere redy to make certificat, as is afore said y^e sayd cōmissioners ther being shal ta­ke and receiue the same certifycat & euery parte therof, and the names values and substaunce of euery persone so certifyed: And if the same cōmissioners se cause reasonable, they shal examine y^e said presentoures therof, & there vpon the sayd commissioners at the sayd dayes & place by there agrement among them selfes shall yerely during the sayd thre yeres, openly ther prefyx a daye at a certain place or places with in the lymites of there commission by their discrecion, for their further proce­ding to the sayd asscssyng of the same relief, and there vpon at the sayd daye of the said cettifycat (as is before sayd) taken, the same commissio­ners shal make their precept or preceptes to the constables, subconsta­bles, bailiffes or other officers of such hundredes, wapentakes, tounes or other places afore sayd, as the same commissioners shalbe of, cōpry­syng & conteyning in the same precept the names, surnames & additiōs of all persones presented before them in the sayd certificates: of whome if the sayd commissioners or as many of them as shalbe therunto ap­poincted by y^e kinges commission shal then haue vehemēt suspect to be of more greater value or substaūce in goodes, cattals or sōmes of mo­ney owing to them, or other substaunce before said, then vpon such per­son or persones shalbe certefyed, the same cōmissioners shal make there precept or preceptes directed to the constable, bailyffes, and other offy­cers, commaunding y^e same constables bailiffes & other officers, to whō such precept shalbe directed to warne such persones whose names shall be comprised in the said precept, at there mancions or to their persones, that y^e same persones named in such preceptes & euery of them, shal per­sonally appere before y^e said commissioners at y^e same new prefyxed day and place, ther to be sworne & examined by al wayes and meanes by the said commissioners of ther greatest substaunce and best value, and of al and euery sommes of money owing to them, and other whatsoeuer mat­ter cōcerning y^e premisses or any of them, accordīg to this acte. At which daye and place so prefyxed, the sayd commissioners than there beyng, or as many of them as shalbe therūto appoincted by the kynges cōmissiō, shall cause to be called the sayd persones, whose names shalbe compry­sed in y^e said precept, as it is before said for their examinaciō. And if any of the persones whiche should be warned, as is before sayd, to be exami­ned, whiche at any tyme after the warning, and before the prefyxed day shalbe within such place, wher he may haue knowlege of the sayd appe­raūce to be made, make default & appere not▪ onlesse a resonable cause, or els a reasonable excuse by the othes of two credyble persones before the [Page] sayd commissyoners be truely alleged for his discharge, that then euery of them so makinge default, to be taxed and charged to the king with & at the double sōmes of the rate that he should or ought to haue ben set at, for and after the best value of his goodes & substaunce vpō him cer­tefied, if he had appered, by y^e discrecion of the cōmissioners there being. And in like maner if any of them suspected, as is before sayd, appere & refuse to be sworne in fourme folowing: then euery suche offender to be taxed and charged to the king with and at the double somme of the rate that he should or ought to haue ben set at, for & after y^e best value of his substaunce vpon him certefied by y^e said persones y^t made the certificat, as is before said, by y^e discrecions of the cōmissioners ther than beyng & euery of the persones so ther & then apperyng: Whose names shalbe ex­pressed in the said precept or preceptes, & in whom any vehement suspect was or shalbe had in fourme aboue sayd, shall trauell with y^e same per­sone so suspecte, by all suche waies & meanes they can: And further the sayd Commissioners, or as many of them as shalbe hereunto appoinc­ted by the said Commission, by ther discrecion shall openly swere y^e same person in this maner and fourme folowing.

¶ I shall faythfully, truly, and plainly according to my knowlege, shew vnto you the kinges Commissioners, and to other by you assig­ned, the best and greatest value or aboue of all my goodes & Cattals, & somes of money to me owing, accordīg to y^e graūt of this acte of relief, & truly aunswer to y^t I shalbe examined of, touchīg the premisses, with­out couyn or deceipt, so helpe me God, & the holy cōtentes of this boke.

And if any persone that shoulde appere be excused in fourme aforesaid by witnes of credyble persones, y^e same persones shalbe examyned by their othes of his or their greatest and best value and substaunce so lacking and excused, and by the best of ther certifycat or knowlege, or of the other first certifycat vpon him or thē made, the same persone so lac­king and excused of his apparaunce to be set and rated by the said Cō ­missioners, or otherwise to be set and rated in this case as shall seme best by the discretions of the said Commissioners. And if it happē to be pro­ued by witnes, his owne cōfessiō or other lawful waies or meanes, withē one yere after any such othe made, y^t the same person so taxed and sworē, was of any greater or better value in goodes or other thinges aboue specifyed at the tyme of his said othe, then y^e same persone so sworne did declare vpō his othe: That thē such persone so offending shal lose & for­fayte to y^e king foure tymes so much in lawful money or England as y^e same persone so sworne was set & taxed at, to paie for the sayd Relief.

And if any person certefied or rated by vertue of this acte, be he com­missioner or other, to any maner of value, do fynd him selfe greued w^t the same presentmēt sessyng or taxing, & ther vpon complain to y^e Com­missyoners, before whō he shalbe rated, sessed or taxed, or before two of them, that then the said Commissioners, shall by all wayes and meanes examine particularlye & distynctlye the persone so cōplainaunt & other [Page vij] his neighbours, by their discrecion, of euery his goodes, cattalles & deb­tes aboue mencioned, and after due examinacion, and perfect knowlege therof had and perceiued by thesaied Commissioners▪ whiche shall haue power, by aucthoritie aforesaid: thesaid Commissioners, or two of theim to whom any suche complaint shalbee made by their discrecions, vpon the othe of thesaid person so complainyng, maie abate, defalke, encrease, or enlarge thesame assessement, accordyng as it shall appere to theim iust vpon thesaid examinacion, and thesame somme so abated, defalked, encreased, or enlarged by theim, to bee streated in forme as hereafter en­sueth, so that he come before the extreates of thesaid assessyng be deliue­red by thesaied Commissioners into the kynges Exchequer. And if it be proued by witnes, his awne confessiō, or other lawfull waies or meanes within a yere after any suche othe made, that thesame persone so taxed & sworne, was of any greater or better value in goodes, or other thynges aboue specified, at the tyme of his saied othe then thesame persone so sworne, did declare vpon his saied othe: that then euery suche persone so offendyng, shal lose & forfaite to the kyng .iiii. tymes so muche in lawful money of Englande, as thesame persone so sworne, was set at or taxed to paie. And all persones, sette, rated and taxed as is aforesaied, shalbee bounde and charged by thesame: and the somme or sommes vpon hym set, to bee due towardes the paiment of this relief, and to bee leuied as hereafter shalbe specified.

AND it is also enacted by thesaid aucthoritie, that euery person ye­rely duryng thesaid .iii. yeres, as is aforesaid, shalbe rated, taxed and set and the some on hym set to be leuied at suche place, wher he & his family at y^e time of thesame presentmēt to be made, shal kepe his house or dwel­lyng, or where he then shalbe moste conuersaunt abidyng or resiaunt, or shall haue his moste resort, and shalbee best knowen at the tyme of the­saied certificat to bee made, and no where els. And that no Commissio­ner for this Relief of goodes, shalbe rated or taxed for his goodes, but in the shire, citie, or other place, where he dwelleth and is Commissioner. And if any persone chargeable to this Acte, at the tyme of thesaid asses­syng, happen to be out of this realme, and out of Wales, or farre from the place where he shalbe knowen, then he to bee set where he was last a­bidyng, in this realme or within Wales, and best knowen. And after the substaunce and value of euery persone, knowen by the examinacion, cer­tificat, and other maner of wise, as is aforsaid, thesaied Commissioners or as many of theim as shalbe appoyncted by the kynges Commission, shall after the rate aforesaid, set and taxe euery person, accordyng to the rate of substaunce, and value of his goodes and cattalles: whereby the greatest and moste best somme, accordyng to his moste substaunce, by reason of this act, ought or maie be set or taxed.

BE it also ordeigned by thesaid aucthoritie, that no persone hauyng twoo mancions, or twoo places to resort vnto, or callyng hymself hous­holde [Page] seruaunt or waityng seruaunt, to the kynges highnes, his graces sisters, or to any noble man or woman, shalbe excused vpon his saiyng, from the taxe of thesaied relief in neither of the places where he maie bee sette, onlesse he bryng a certificat in writyng from the Commissioners, where that he is so set in deede at one place. And if any happen to bee set in twoo places, vpon certificat thereof made, the best and moste somme vpon hym so taxed, to bee taken and abyde, and the other to bee dischar­ged, so that thesame certificat of his assessyng and paiment, bee made thereof in writyng, vnder the seales of the Commissioners, or of as ma­ny of theim as shalbee appoyncted by the kynges Commission: whiche certificat so made, shalbe at all tymes a sufficient discharge for hym, and the Collectour of thesame, aswell against any Collectour, that shall de­maunde thesame vpon hym rated or taxed, as against the kyng and all other persones.

And if any persone that ought to bee set, by reason of his remouyng or resortyng to two places, or by reason of his saiyng, that he els where was taxed, or by reason of any priuilege, by his dwellyng or abidyng in any place, not beyng foreprised in this Acte, or any otherwise by his couyn or crafte, happen to escape from the yerely assessyng, and bee not sette, and that proued by presentment, examinacion or informacion, be­fore thesaied Commissioners, or as many of theim as shalbe by thesame Commission appoyncted, or by the Barones of the kynges Exchequer, or twoo Iustices of the Peace of that countrey, where suche persone dwelleth: then euery suche persone, that by suche meanes or other wyse, wilfully by couyn, shall happen to escape from the assessyng of the­saied reliefes, or of any of theim, and not bee rated, taxed, and set, shalbe charged vpon the knowlege and proffe thereof, with, and at the double value that he should, or ought to haue been sette at afore, accordyng to his behauoure: thesame double value to bee leuied, gathered and paied of his goodes, and cattalles, landes and tenementes, towardes thesaid relief, and further to bee punished, accordyng to the discrecions of the Barones, Iustices, or Commissioners, before whom he shalbe conuicted for his offence and deceipt in that behalfe.

And it is further ordeigned and enacted by the aucthoritie aforesaid, that not onely euery assessour shalbe rated, taxed and assessed yerely, du­ryng thesaied three yeres, for the value of his goodes and cattalles, by the Commissioners, or the moste part of theim, by whom he is appoyn­cted to bee an assessour, but also that euery Commissioner assigned and deputed, for the orderyng, taxyng, ratyng, and leuiyng of this relief, graunted to the kynges Maiestie, of twelue pence of the pounde, of the value of euery mannes goodes, dwellyng within the precinct and limit of his Commission, for his awne substaunce in goodes, shalbe sessed, ta­xed, valued and rated yerely, duryng thesaied three yeres, by the exami­nacion and sessyng of the rest of the Commissioners, named in thesame [Page viij] Commission, or the moste part of theim, after suche value of his goodes and cattalles, as is mencioned in this Acte. And that all persones of the estate of a Barō or Baronesse, not being maried, and euery estate aboue shalbe examined and charged, of the paiment of this relief of their goo­des, before the lorde Chauncellor, the Lorde Theasaurer of Englande, and lorde priuey seale for the tyme beyng, or other persones by the kyn­ges aucthoritie to be limited: and thei to bee charged yerely, duryng the­said thre yeres, for their goodes and substaunce, accordyng to their exa­minacion aforesaied. And the sommes vpon them set, with the names of the Collectours appoyncted, for the gatheryng and paiyng of thesame, be extreated, deliuered, and certified at daies and places aboue specified by thesaied Chauncellor, Theasaurer, and lorde priuey Seale for the tyme beyng, or suche other persones, as shalbe appoyncted by the Kyn­ges highnes.

AND it is further ordeined and enacted, by thaucthoritie aforesaid, that after the Taxes and Assessementes, of thesaied sommes, vpon and and by thesaied examinacion and certificat, as is aforesaied made, the­saied Commissioners shall yerely duryng thesaied three yeres, within .x. daies nexte after the Taxacion and Assessement, of paiment of thesaied Relief, by writyng Indented to bee made of thesaied Taxacion and As­sessement, vnder the seales and signes manuelles of thesaied Commissi­oners, deliuer vnto sufficient and substanciall inhabitauntes, Consta­bles, Subconstables, Bayliffes, or other officers ioyntly of Hundredes. Tounes, Parishes, and other places aforesaied within their limites, or to other sufficient persones, inhabitauntes of thesame, onely by the dis­creciō of thesame Commissioners, and as the place and parties shall re­quire, aswell the particular names and surnames, as the remembraunce of all sommes of money, Taxed and sett of and vpon euery persone, as­well manne as woman chargeable to this Act, housholder, and al other inhabitauntes and dwellers, and all Fraternities, Guyldes, Corpora­cions, Misteries, Brotherhoddes, Compaignies and Cominalties, cor­porat or not corporat, within thesaied Parishes, tounes & places, contri­butory to this Act of relief. By aucthoritie of whiche writyng, or estreat so deliuered, thesaid officers or other persones so named and deputed se­uerally, shall haue full power and aucthoritie by vertue of this act, un­mediatly after the deliuery of thesaid writyng or estreate, to demaunde, leuie, and gather of euery persone and Fraternitie, Guyld, Corporacion Mistery, Brotherhod, Compaignie, and Comminaltie, corporate or not corporate therin specified, the somme or sommes in thesame writyng or estreat cōprised. And for non paiment therof to distrain the goodes and cattalles, of suche persone, Fraternitie, Guylde, Corporacion, Mistery, Brotherhod, Compaignie and Comminaltie, corporat or not corporat, and the distresse so taken, to kepe by the space of eight daies, at the co­stes and charges of the owners thereof: And if thesaied owner doo not [Page] paie suche somme of money, as shalbe taxed by this acte, within the same viii. daies, then thesaid distresse to be apprised, by .iiii .iii. or two of the in­habitantes, where suche distresse is taken, and also to be solde by thesaid Constable and other collector for the paiment of thesaid money: and the ouerplus commyng of the sale and kepyng thereof (if any be) to bee im­mediatly restored to the owner of the same distresse, whiche saied officers and other persones so deputied to aske, take, gather, and leuie the saied sommes, shall answere and bee charged for their porcion, onely to theim assigned or limited, to be gathered, leuied, and comprised in the saied wri­tyng or estreate, to theim as is aforesaied deliuered, vnto the vse of our souereigne lorde the kyng, his heires and successors, and thesaid somme in that writyng or estreat cōprised, to pay vnto the high collector or col­lectors, of that place for the colleccion of the same, in maner and fourme vnder written, to be named and deputed: and the same inhabitaūtes and officers, so gatheryng the same perticular sōmes, for their collecciō ther­of, shall reteigne for euery .xx. s̄. so by theim receiued and paied .ii. d. and that to be allowed at the paiment of their colleccion, by them to be made to the high collector or collectors.

PROVIDED alwaies, and be it ordeigned and enacted, by thau­cthoritie aforesaid, that if any persone not beyng the kynges subiect na­turally borne, denisen or not denisen, beyng aboue the age of .xii. yeres, & not worth .xx. s̄. in goodes, and be at the tyme of the paiment of the reli­fes, of. viii. d. due by this acte of euery suche persone, or at any tyme du­ryng thesaid thre yeres, in seruice with any man or woman, or vnder the gouernaunce of his or her father or mother, that euery suche Master or Maistres, father or mother, shalbe charged with the paiment therof, for suche person in like maner and fourme, as he or she is or ought to be for the reliefes due by themselfes. And that it shalbee lefull for euery suche Master and Maistres to defalke, abate, and reteigne of the wages of suche seruaunt, so muche as he or she had before paied for suche seruaūt towardes the paiment of thesaied reliefes.

AND further bee it enacted by thesaied aucthoritie of this present Parliament, that thesaid commissioners, shall yerely duryng thesaid .iii. yeres, name suche sufficient and able persones, whiche then shall haue & possede landes, or other hereditamentes in their awne right, of the yere­ly value of .x. l. or goodes to the value of an. C. marke at the lest, and the same persones seuerally, by the discrecions of the same commissioners in shires, Ridynges, Lathes, Wapentakes, Rapes, cities, tounes corporat, and other whatsoeuer places, aswel within places priuileged as without not beyng forprised in this act, to be high collectors̄ & haue the collecciō and receipt of thesaied sommes, set & leuiable within the precinct, limites and boūdes, where thei shalbee so limited to gather & receiue: to euery of the whiche collectors so seuerally named, thesaid cōmissioners, or two of thē at the lest, yerely duryng thesaid .iii. yeres, within .xii. daies next after [Page ix] thesaied whole somme of thesaid reliefes, shalbe set and rated by all the limites of the same their commission, or in suche limites as the high col­lectors shalbe so seuerally assigned, shall vnder their seales and signes manuell, deliuer one estreate indented in parchemēt, to euery of the same high collectors, comprisyng in it the names of all suche persones, as wer assigned to leuie thesaied particular sommes, and the sommes of euery hundred, Wapentake, toune, or other place aforesaid, with the names & surnames of the persones so chargeable, accordyng to the estrete so first thereof made (as is beforesaied) and deliuered: and the collector so to bee assigned, shalbe charged to aunswere the whole somme, comprised in the saied estrcate limited to his colleccion, as is aforesaied.

PROVIDED alwaies and be it enacted by thauctoritie aforsaid, that thesaid commissioners hauyng aucthoritie by this act, to name the­saied high collectors of thesaied reliefes, yerely duryng thesaied thre ye­res, shall immediatly vpon their nominacion and eleccion, take by au­cthoritie of this present Parliament, sufficient Recognisaunces or Ob­ligacions, without any fee or reward to be paied therefore, of euery per­sone so by theim to bee named to bee high Collector, to bee bound to the kyng in the double somme, of the somme of his colleccion, and to bee en­dorced and made vpon suche condicion, that if thesaied Collectour, his Heires or Executors, do truly content and paie, to the vse of the kyng, his Heires, or Executours, in his receipte of his Exchequer, before the daie appoyncted by this acte, so muche of thesaied somme of money, al­lotted and appoyncted to his colleccion, as he shall Collect and gather, and content and paie the residue of his Colleccion and charge, within one moneth next after suche tyme, as he hath gathered and collected the same residue: that then thesaid recognisaunce or obligacion to be voyd, or els to stand in his ful strength and vertue. Whiche recognisaunce or obligacion so taken thesaid cōmissioners shall certifie & deliuer into the Kynges Exchequer, with the certificat of thesaied taxacion and rate of thesaied relief, at and by the tyme to theim prescribed and appoyncted by this act, vpon pein of forfeiture of .x. l. to the kyng, for euery recogni­saunce or obligacion not certified. And that euery such collector so elec­ted, named and chosen, vpon request to hym made, shall knowlege and make thesaid recognisaunce or obligacion, vpō like pein and forfeiture of .x. l. to the kyng, for the refusal therof: and euery suche collector, so ye­rely deputed, hauyng thesaied estreate in patchement, as is aforesaied▪ shall haue aucthoritie by this act, yerely duryng thesaied three yeres, to appoynct daies and places, within the circuite of his Colleccion, for the paiment of thesaied relief to hym to bee made, and thereof to geue war­nyng by Proclamacion or otherwise, to all thesaid Constables, or other persones or inhabitauntes, hauyng the charge of the particular collec­cion, within the Hundredes, Parishes; Tounes, or other places by hym or them limited, to make paiment for their saied particuler colleccion of [Page] euery some, as to thē shall appertein. And if at thesaid daie & place so li­mited and prefixed by thesaid collector, thesaied Constables, officers, or other persones or inhabitauntes (as is aforesaied) for thesaid particuler colleccion appoyncted and assigned within suche hundred, citee, toune, or other place, do not paie vnto thesaid collectors, the some within their seuerall hundredes, tounes, Parishes, and other places, due & comprised in thesaid estrcates thereof to them deliuered by thesaid commissioners, as is before said, or so muche therof as thei haue by any meane receiued (ii. d. of euery pound for thesaied particuler colleccion, as is beforesaied, alwaies to be therof allowed, excepted & abated) that then it shalbe law­full to thesaid high collectors, and euery of them, and to their assignes, to distrain euery of thesaied Constables, officers, and other inhabitaun­tes for their saied seuerall and particuler colleccion of thesaid sommes, comprised in thesaied estreate and writyng therof, to them and euery of them, as is before expressed deliuered: or for asmuche of the same somme, as so then shall happē to be gathered and leuied, beyng behynd and vn­paied, by the goodes and cattalles, of euery of thē so beyng behind: and the distresse so taken, to be kept appreised and sold, as is aforesaid: and therof to take and leuy the some so then beyng behynd and vnpaied, and the ouerplus commyng of the sale of thesaied distresse (if any bee) to bee restored and deliuered vnto the owner, in forme aboue remembred.

PROVIDED alwaies, that no persone inhabited in any citce, bo­rough, or toune corporat, shalbe compelled to be an assessor or collector, of, or for any part of thesaid relief, in any place or places, out of thesaied Citee, Borough, or toune, corporate where he dwelleth. And it is also by thesaid aucthoritie enacted, that if any inhabitaunt or officer, or whatso­euer persone or persones charged, to, and for the colleccion or receipt, of any part or porcion of thesaid relief, in any of thesaid thre yeres, by any maner of meane, accordyng to this act, or any person or persones for thē selfes, or as keper, deputie, factor or atturney, of, and for any other per­son or persons, of any goodes and cattalles, and the owner therof at the tyme of thesaid assessyng to be made, beyng out of this realme, or in any other parties not knowen, or of, and for the goodes and cattalles of any other person or persones, or of any corporacion, fraternitie, guyld, miste­ry, compainy, or other whatsoeuer comminaltie, beyng incorporat or not incorporate, and all persones hauyng in their rule, gouernaunce, or cu­stody, any goodes or cattalles, at the tyme of thesaid assessyng, or any of them to be made, or whiche for any cause, for, & by colleccion or for hym self, or for any other, or by reason that he hath the rule, gouernaunce, or custody of any goodes or cattalles, of any other person or persones tra­ternitie, Guylde, Corporacion, Cominaltie, Compaignie, or Mistery, or any suche other like or as factor deputie, or attorney, of or for any persō, shalbee taxed, rated, valued, and set to any somme or sommes, by reason of this act: and after the taxacion or assessyng, vpon any suche person or [Page x] persones, as shalbe charged with the receipt of the same, happen to die or depart from the place, where he was so taxed and set, or his goodes and cattalles to bee so eloyned, or in suche priuie and couert maner kept, as thesaid persone or persones charged with the same, by extreates or other writyng frō thesaid commissioners, cannot ne may leuy tht same some or somes, cōprised within their said extreates by distresse, within the limites of their colleccion, as is beforsaid, or cānot sel suche distresse, or distresses as be taken for any of thesaid yerely paimentes, before y^e tyme limited to the high collector, for his paimēt to be made in the kynges receipt: then vpon relacion therof made, with due examinacion by the othe or exami­nacion of suche persone or persones, as shalbe charged with, and for the receipt and colleccion of the same, before thesaied commissioners, or one of them, or before the high collector or collectors, where suche persone or persons or other, as is aforesaid, their goodes and cattalles wer set and taxed: and vpō plain certificat therof, made into the kynges Exchequer, by the same commissioners, or any one of them, or vpon the othe of one of the high collectors, in thesaid court of thexchequer, of y^e dwellyng place, names and sommes of thesaid persones, of whom thesaid sommes cānot be leuied & had, as is beforesaied, then aswell the Constables and other inhabitauntes, appoincted for the particuler colleccion, against the high collectors, as the high collector, vpon his accompt and othe in thesaied Exchequer, to be discharged therof, and processe to be made for the kyng out of thesaied Exchequer, by the discrecions of the Barons of thesaied Exchequer, against suche persō, his heires or executors, so beyng behind with his paiment. And ouer that the same cōmissioners, to whō any such declaracion of the premisses, shalbe made in forme aforesaid, frō tyme to tyme, shall haue full power & aucthoritie, duryng thesaid .iii. yeres, to di­rect their precept or preceptes, vnto thesaid person or persones, charged with any some, of, for or vpon any such person or persons, or other as is abouesaid, or to any shirieffes, stewardes, bailieffes, or other whatsoeuer officer, minister, persō or persōs, of suche place or places, where any suche person or persons, so owyng suche some or sommes, shall haue landes & tenemētes, or other hereditamentes, or real possessiōs, goodes or cattals, wherby any suche person or persons so indebted, his heires, executors, or assignes, or other hauyng the custody, gouernaunce, or disposiciō of any goodes, cattals, lādes, tenementes, or other hereditamētes which ought or may by this act lawfully be distreined, or taken for y^esame, hath & shal haue goodes, cattals, lādes, tenemētes, & other possessions, wherof suche some or sōmes, whiche by any suche person or persons, maie or ought to bee leuied, be it within the limite of suche commission, where suche person or persōs, was or wer taxed, or without in any place within this realme of Englāde, Wales, or other the kynges dominiōs, Marches or territo­ries: by whiche precept aswel suche person, or persons as shalbe charged to lcuie suche money, as thofficers of the place or places, where suche di­stresse [Page] stresse maie bee taken, shall haue full power and aucthoritie, to distreine euery suche persone indebted, charged or chargeable by this acte, or his executors or administrators of his goodes and cattals, his factors, de­puties, lessees, fermours and assignes, and all other persones, by whose handes or out of whose landes any suche persone, should haue rent, fee, annuitie, or any other proffite, or whiche at the tyme of thesaid assessyn­ges shal haue goodes or cattalles, or any other thyng moueable, of any suche persone or persones beyng indebted, or owyng suche somme. And the distresse so takē, to cause to be kept appreised and sold, in like maner and forme, as is aforesaid, for the distresse to be taken vpon persones, to be taxed to thesaid relief, and beyng sufficient to distrein, within the limi­tes of the collectors, inhabitauntes, or other officers charged with or for thesame sommes, so vpon theim to be taxed. And if any suche distresse for none paiment, happen to be taken out of the limite of the persones char­ged and assigned to leuie thesame, the persōs so charged for the leuiyng of euery suche somme by distresse, shall perceiue and take of thesame di­stresse, for the labor of euery person, goyng for thexecuciō therof, for eue­ry mile that any suche person so laboreth for thesame .ii. d. And euery fer­mor, tenaunt, factor, or other whatsoeuer persone beeyng distreined, or other wise charged for paiment of any suche somme or sommes, or any other somme, by reason of this act, shalbe of suche somme or sommes, of hym or them so leuied and taken, discharged & acquited at his nexte daie of paiment of thesame, or at the deliuery of suche goodes and cattalles, as he that is so distreined had in his custodie or gouernaunce, against him or them that shalbe so taxed and set: any graunt or writyng obliga­tory, or other whatsoeuer matter to the contrary made heretofore not­withstādyng. And if any suche person, that should be so distreined, haue no landes or tenementes sufficient, wherby he or his tenauntes, and fer­mors maie be distreined, or hath eloyned, alyened or hid his goodes and cattalles, wherby he should or might be distreined, in suche maner that suche goodes and cattalles shall not bee knowen, or founde, so that the somme by hym to be paied in thesaid forme, shall ne can be conueniently leuied▪ then vpon relacion thereof vnto the Commissioners, where suche persone or persones was taxed and set, by the othes of hym or them, that shalbe charged with the leuy & paiment of that some or sommes, thesame commissioners shal make a precept, in suche maner as is aforsaid, for to attache, take & arrest the body, of suche person or persones, that ought to paie thesaid sommes, & by this act shalbe charged with and for thesame somme or sommes, and them so taken safely to kepe in prison, within the shire or other place, where any suche person or persons shalbe takē and attached there to remain without baile or mainprise, vntil he haue paied the somme or sōmes, that suche persones for hymself or for any other, by this act shalbe chargeable, or ought to be charged withall, & also for the fees of euery suche arrest to hym or thē y^t shal execute such precept .xx. d. [Page xj] And that euery officer, vnto whom suche precept shalbe directed, do his true diligence to execute thesame, vpon euery persone so beyng indebted vpon pein to forfaict to our saied souereigne Lorde the Kyng, for euery default in that behalfe .xx. s̄. And that no keper of any gaile, frō his gaile suffre any suche person to go at large by lettyng to baile, or otherwise to depart out of his prison, before he haue paied his saied debt, and thesaid xx. d. for thesaied arrest, vpō pein to forfaite to our souereigne lorde .xl. s̄ and thesame gailer to paie vnto our saied souereigne Lorde, the double value aswell of the rate, whiche thesaid persone so imprisoned was taxed at, as of thesaied .xx. d. for the fees. And like processe and remedy in like fourme shalbe graunted by thesaied commissioners, at like informacion of euery persone or persones, beyng charged with any somme of money for any other persone or persones, by reason of thesaied reliefes, euery of thesaid thre yeres, and not therof paied, but wilfully withdrawen, ne the same leuiable within the limite where suche person was therunto taxed. And if the somme or sommes, beyng behynd vnpaied, by any persone or persones, as is before saied, bee leuied and gathered by force of thesaied processe, to be made by thesame comissioners, or if in default, or for lacke of paiment thereof, the persone or persones so owyng thesaied somme or sommes of money, by processe of thesame commissioners to be made (as is aforesaied) be committed to prison in forme aboue saied, that then the saied commissioners, whiche shall award suche processe, shall make cer­tificat therof in thesaid Exchequer, of that shalbe doen in the premisses, in the Terme next folowyng, after suche somme or sommes of money so beyng behynd, shalbe leuied, and gathered, or suche persone or persones for none paiment of thesame committed to prison.

AND if it happen any of thesaied collectors, to bee assigned, or any Maior, Sherif, Steward, Constables, hedboroughes, housholder, bai­lief, or any other officer or minister, or other whatsoeuer person or persōs to disobey thesaied cōmissioners or any of thē, in the reasonable request to them made, by thesaied commissioners, for yerely execucion of thesaid cōmission, duryng thesaied .iii. yeres: or if any of thofficers or other per­sones, do refuse that to theim shall appertein or belong to do, by reason of any precept to him or thē to be directed, or any reasonable commaūd­ment, instaūce or request touchyng the premisses, or other default in any apparaūce or collecciō do make, or if any person beyng suspect or not to be indifferētly taxed, as is afore said, do refuse to be examined according to the tenor of this act, before thesaied commissioners, or as many of thē as shalbe therunto assigned, as is aforesaid, or wil not appere before the same cōmissioners, vpon warnyng to hym made, or els make resistaūce or reskous vpon any distresse, vpon him to be takē for any percell of the said relief, or cōmit any misbehauor in any maner of wise cōtrary to this act, or cōmit any wilfull omission, or other whatsoeuer wilfull none do­yng or misdoyng, contrary to the tenor of this act or graunt: thesame cō ­missioners, [Page] or twoo of them at the least, vpon probable knowlege of any such misdemeanours, had by informacion or examinatiō ▪ shall and maie set vpon euery suche offendour, for euery suche offence in name of a fine, by thesame offendor to be forfeited .xx. s̄. or vnder, by the discreciō of the­same Commissioners. And further, thesaid commissioners, & euery nom­ber of thē, to two of them at the le [...], shal haue aucthoritie by this present Parliament, to ponishe euery suche offendor by imprisonment, there to remaigne and to bee deliuered by their discrecion, as shall seme to theim conuenient. Thesaied fines (if any suche bee) to bee certified by thesaied commissioners, that so assessed thesame, into thesaid kynges Exchequer, there to be leuied & paied, by the Collectors of that parties for thesaied reliefes, returned into thesaid Exchequer, to bee therewith charged with the paiment of thesaied Relieffes in suche maner, as if thesaid fines had been set and Taxed vpon thesaied offendours, for thesaied Reliefes.

IT is also enacted by thesaid aucthoritie of this present Parliament that euery of thesaied high Collectours, whiche shall accompte for any parte of thesaid Reliefes in the kynges Exchequier, vpon their seuerall saied accoumptes to bee yelden, shalbee allowed yerely duryng thesaied three yeres, for euery pound limited to his Colleccion wherof any suche Collectour shalbe charged, and yelde accompte, sixe pence, as parcell of their saied charge, that is to saie, twoo pence of euery pounde therof▪ for suche persones as then haue had the particuler Colleccion, in the Tou­nes and other places (as is aforesaied) specified in his Colleccion: and other twoo pence of euery pounde thereof, euery of thesaied chief Col­lectours there accomptant, to receiue to their awne vse for their laboure and charge, in and about the premisses: and .ii. d. of euery pound, residue to bee deliuered▪ allowed and paied by thesaied Collectours, so beeyng thereof allowed, to suche of the Commissioners as shall take vpon them the businesse and laboure, for and aboute the premisses: That is to saie, euery Collectour to paie that Commissioner or Commissioners, whiche had the orderyng and the writynges, of and for thesaied Reliefes, where thesaid Collectour or Collectours had their Colleccion, for expences of thesaied Commissioners▪ so takyng vpon them thesaied businesse, and la­bour of their clerkes, writyng thesaied preceptes and estreates for the­saied Colleccions, thesame last twoo pence of euery pounde, to bee deui­ded emongest thesaied Commissioners, hauyng regard to the labor and busines, taken by them and their saied clerkes, in and about the premis­ses: for whiche parte so to thesaied Commissioners atteignyng; thesaied Commissioners, and euery of them ioyntly and seuerally, for his or their saied parte▪ maie haue his remedy against thesaied Collectour or Col­lectours, whiche therof been and might haue been allowed, by accion of debt, in whiche the defendaunt shal not wage his lawe, neither protecciō or other essoyne shalbe allowed.

AND that no persone now beyng of the nomber of the compaignie, [Page xij] of this present Parliament, nor any Commissioner shalbe named or as­signed to be any Collector, subcollector, or presentor of thesaied reliefes, or of any part therof, nor no Commissioner shalbe cōpelled, to make any presentment or certificat, other then in the kynges Exchequer, of for or concerning thesaid reliefes, or any part therof in any of thesaid .iii. yeres And likewise that none other persone, that shalbee named or assigned to be commissioner in any place, to and for thexecuciō of this act of reliefes in any of thesaid .iii. yeres, be or shalbe assigned or named hed collector, in any of thesame thre yeres of thesaid reliefes, neither of any part there of. And that euery suche persone or persones, whiche shalbe named and appoyncted (as is aforesaid) to be hed Collectors, in and for one of the­saied thre yeres, shall not be compelled to be Collector, for the other and last yere. And thesaied Collectors, whiche shalbe assigned for the collec­cion of thesaid reliefes, or for any part therof, and euery of them be and shalbe acquited and discharged, of all maner fees, rewardes, and of eue­ry other charge in the kinges Exchequer or els where, of them or any of theim, by reason of that colleccion, paiment or accomptes, or any thyng concernyng thesame to bee asked. And that if any persone receiue and take any fees, rewardes or pleasures of any suche accomptant: that then he shall forfeit to the kyng, for euery peny or value of a peny so taken .xx pence, and suffre imprisonment at the kynges pleasure.

AND after the taxyng & assessyng of thesaid yerely reliefes (as is be­foresaid) had & made, and thesaied estreates therof in parchement, vnto the Collectors (in maner & forme before rehersed) deliuered, thesaid Cō ­missioners whiche shall take vpon them the execucion of this act, within the limites of their Commission, by their agrementes shall haue metyn­ges together, at whiche metyng euery of thesaid commissioners, whiche then shall haue taken vpon thē, thexecucion of any part of thesaid com­mission, shall by hymself, or by his sufficient deputie, truely certifie and bryng furth vnto thother commissioners, named in thesaid Commission the certificat and presentment made before hym & suche other commissi­oners, as wer limited with him in one limite, so that thesame certificates may be accōpted and cast with other certificates, of thother limites with in thesame commission: and then thesaid commissioners, and euery nom­ber of thē, vnto two at the least (as is a foresaied) if thei be in life, or their executors, or administrators of their goodes, if thei bee then dedde, shall ioyntly & seuerally as thei wer deuided within their limites, vnder their seales yerely, duryng thesaid .iii. yeres, by their discreciō make one or se­uerall writynges, indented, conteinyng in it aswell the names of thesaied collectors, by the cōmissioners for suche colleccion, & accompt in thexche­quer, and paimēt in thesaid receipt, deputed & assigned, as the grosse and seuerall sommes, written vnto euery suche Collector, to receiue thesaied reliefes, & also all fines, amerciamentes & other forfaitures, if any suche by reason of this act, happen to be within the precinct & limite of their cō mission, [Page] to be certified into the kynges Exchequer by thesaid commissio­ners yerely, duryng thesaid .iii. yeres, before the daies of paiment therof, at thesaied receipt limitted & appoyncted. In whiche writyng or writyn­ges, indented so to be certified, shalbe plainly declared & expressed, aswel the whole & intier somme and sommes of thesaid relief, seuerally limited to the colleccion of thesaied Collectours, as the names of thesaied Col­lectours, seuerally deputed and assigned to the Colleccion of thesaied Sommes, so that none of thesaied Collectours, so certified in thesaied Exchequer, shalbee compelled there to accoumpt or to bee charged, but onely to and for the sommes limited to his Colleccion, and not to or for any somme limited to the Colleccion of his felowes, but that euery of theim shalbee seuerally charged for their partes, limited to their Col­leccion. And if thesaied Commissioners, ioyned in one commission, emō ­gest theimselfes, in that matter cannot agree, or if any of theim bee not ready, or refuse to make certificat with other of thesame Commissio­ners: that then thesame Commissioners maie make seuerall Indentu­res (in fourme aforesaid) of their seuerall limites or seperacions of Col­lectours, within the limites of their Commission, vpon & in the Hundre­des, Wardes, Wapentakes, Lathes, Rapes, or suche other like diuisi­ons, within their said seuerall limites of their commission, as the places there shall require to bee seuered and deuided, and as to thesame Com­missioners shall seme to make diuisions, of their limites or Colleccions, for the seuerall charges of thesame Collectours, so that alway one Col­lectour shalbee charged and accoumpt for his parte to hym to bee limi­ted onely by hymself, and not for any somme limited to the parte of any of his felowes. And the charge of euery of the Collectours, to be set and certified seuerally vpon theim, and euery suche Collectoure, vpon his accoumpt and paiment of the sommes of money, limited within his col­leccion, to bee seuerally by hymself acquited and discharged in thesaied Exchequer, without paiyng any maner of fees or rewardes, to any per­sone or persones for thesame, vpon the pein and penaltie last aboue said and not to bee charged for any porcion of any other Collectours. And if any Commissioner after he hath taken certificat of thē that (as is afore­said) shall before any suche Commissioner be examined, and the sommes rated and set, and the bokes and writynges therof, beyng in his handes: or if any Collector or other person, charged with any receipt of any part of any of thesaid reliefes, or any other person, taxed or otherwise, by this act charged, with and for any parcell of thesaid relieffes, or with any o­ther sōmes, for fine, amercement, penaltie, or other forfeiture, happen to dye before suche Commissioner, Collector, or other, whatsoeuer persone or persons haue executed, accomplished, satisfied, & sufficiently dischar­ged it, whiche to euery suche persone shall appertein or belong to do ac­cordyng to this act: then the Executors and Heires of euery suche persō and all other seazed of any landes or tenementes, that any suche person [Page xiii] beeyng charged by this acte and deceassyng before he be discharged thereof, or any other to his vse onely had of estate of inheritaunce at the tyme that any suche person was named Commissioner, Collectour, or in any otherwise charged with & for any maner of thyng to be done, satisfied or payed, by reason of this act, and all those that haue in their possessions or handes any goodes or cattalles, that were to any suche person at the tyme of his death, landes or tenementes that wer thesame persones at the tyme that he was (as is aforesayd) charged by this acte, shalbe by thesame compelled and charged to do & accomplishe in euery case as the same person, so beyng charged, should haue done and might haue been compelled to do, if he had been liuyng, after suche rate of the landes & goodes of the sayd Commissioner or Collectour, as the partie shall haue in his handes. And if thesame Cōmissioners for causes rea­sonable them mouyng shall thynke it not cōuenient, to ioyne in one cer­tificat, as is before sayd: then the sayd person or persones that shall first ioyne together, or he that shal first certifie the sayd writyng indented, as is aforesayd, shal certifie all the names of the Cōmissioners of that Cō ­mission, wherevpon suche writynges shalbe there than to be certified, with diuisions of the hundredes, wapentakes, wardes, tithynges, or o­ther places to and among suche Commissioners, of thesame Cōmission, with the names of thesame Cōmissioners where suche seperacions & de­uisions shalbe, with the grosse sūmes of money aswell of & for the sayd Relief taxed or set of or within the sayd hundredes, wardes, wapētakes or other places to him or them deuided or assigned that shall so certifie the sayd first writyng, as of fynes, amerciamentes, penalties, and other forfaitures, if any happen to be within thesame limittes, whereof the same writynges shalbe certified.

And after suche writyng indented, which (as is aforesayd) shalbe cer­tefied, and not contayne in it the whole and full sommes set and taxed within the limyttes of thesame Commission, the other Commissioners of the same, euery of the sayd thre yeres before the day of paiment of the sayd Relief at the sayd receipt limitted and appoincted by this act, shal certifie into the sayd Exchequier by their writyng or writynges inden­ted to be made, as is beforesayd, the grosse and seuerall summes set and taxed within the places to them limitted for the sayd subsidie and other fynes, amerciamentes, penalties, and forfaytures, with the names of the hundredes, wardes, wapētakes, and other places to them assigned: or els by their sayd writynges indented to certifie at the sayd place be­fore the day of payment therof at the sayd receipt, as is aforesayd, reso­nable causes for their excuses, why they may not make suche certificat of and for the sayd Relief, with fynes, amerciamentes, penalties, and other forfaitures growyng or set by reason of the causes of their lett [...]s, or of their non certifiyng, as is aboue sayd, or els in default therof, pro­ces to be made out of the Kynges Exchequier against the sayd Com­missioners [Page] and euery of theim not makyng certificat, as is aforesayd, by the discrecion of the Thesaurour & Barons of the sayd Exchequier.

Prouided alwayes that if any person or persones chargeable to this Relief of payment for his goodes shal happen at any tyme duryng the sayd thre yeres to be set or presented in two or mo places then one, and the same beyng certified into the kynges court of Exchequier, that then the partie or parties so set or presēted & certified takyng a corporal other before the Barons of the kynges Exchequier, or before any two of thē, or before any person or persones beyng aucthorised by cōmission to be directed from the sayd Barons or any of theim, whiche commission or cōmissions the sayd Barons or ii. of them shalbe authorised & haue full power & aucthoritie to make by this act, that he or they is or be the same selfe person or persons so set, and that he or they is or be, set or presented in two or mo places then one. And that he or they haue then been by the space of one yere nexte before the takyng of the sayd othe more conuer­saunt and dwellyng in any one of the same places where he or they shal so happen to be set or presented then in the other: that then the partie of parties so set or presented in two or mo places then one, and so takyng his othe without any other plee in writyng, shalbe clerely discharged a­gainst the kyng, his heyres & successours or euery of the sayd assesemen­tes and presentmentes, sauyng onely of the assesement and presentment in the place where he or they was or were moste conuersaunt & dwellyng as is before sayd.

And be it also enacted by the aucthoritie aforesayd, that the Barons of the kynges Exchequer or two of theim for the tyme beyng, shal not onely haue full power & aucthoritie to receiue and take the othe of suche partie or parties as shalbe so set or presented in any mo places then one, but shall also vpon the same othe or othes so taken, discharge the partie & parties of all suche summes of money as he or they should bee in any wise charged with, sauyng onely of suche summes of money as the same partie or parties were so sessed at in suche place and places where he or they were most conuersaunt and dwellyng as is aforesayd.

And to the intent the kynges maiestie may be truly & iustly answered of the sayd relief of the polle of shepe before by vs graūted to his high­nes: be it ordained and enacted by the aucthoritie aforesayd, that yerely duryng thesayd iii. yeres before the first day of May, there shalbe a Cō ­mission with ten cedules containyng in them the tenor of this acte to be annexed to suche commission directed vnder the kynges great seale of England into euery coūtie, shyre, ridyng, citie, borough, toune corporat, and the Isle of Wight, and into all and euery other place within this realme and other the kynges dominions that is or shalbe chargeable to the paiment of the sayd Relief of the polle of shepe to suche persones as the same yere before were Commissioners for the assesement and taxaciō of the value of euery persons goodes and substaunce, in the same shire [Page xiiii] or other place, or to as many of them as shalbe then liuyng, and to suche other persones as the sayd lorde Chauncelor and other with him before named shall name and appoinct. By the whiche commission the Com­missioners shal haue full power and aucthoritie to enquire by the othes of the Person, Vicar or curate, & iiii. or as many honest persons of euery parish, village, and hamlet within the limittes of their cōmission, wher­of the Constable, Tithyngman or Borsolder shalbe one, if any Consta­ble, Tithyngman or Borsolder be dwellyng in the same parishe, village or Hamlet, and by the othes of as many other honest & discrete persons as they shall thynke cōuenient, or otherwise by suche meanes and polli­cies as they shal thynke best, wherby the truth may appeare of the nom­ber and natures of all and synguler sheepe beyng within the limittes of their commission, whose they be, in what toune or parish the owner dwel­leth, and of what state or degree he is, and whether for the moste part of the yere they be kept in seuerall pastures, or seuerall marshes, or in com­mons, or groundes commonly vsed to be tylled: the tenor of whiche othe hereafter foloweth.

¶ Ye shall diligently enquire and iustly and truly present and certifie vs the kynges Commssioners what nomber of Ewes, Wethers & other shere shepe be within the limittes of your charge, whose they be, in what toune or parishe the owner dwelleth, of what condicion and degre he is, & whether for the moste part of the yere they be kept in seuerall pastures or seueral Marshes, or in cōmons or groūdes comenly vsed to be tylled, as ye trust to be saued by the merites of Christes passion.

And it is also ordained and enacted by the aucthoritie aforesayd, that yerely duryng the sayd thre yeres, on the Tuesdaye after the feast of the Natiuitie of sainct Ihon Baptist, there shalbe a generall suruay made, of all and singuler shepe, in euery parish, village and other place within this realme, the Isle of Wight & other the kynges dominions chargea­ble to the payment of this Relief of sheepe, by suche persones as shalbe appointed & sworne to do the same in maner and fourme before rehersed. And that vpon suche suruay, euery shepe shalbe taken for a shere shepe that is at the tyme of the suruay of the age of one yere or more, albeit the same shepe be not at that tyme shorne.

And it is further ordained and enacted by the aucthoritie aforesayd, that if any parson to the intent to defraude the execucion of this statute shall remoue the sayd daye of suruay his sheepe before the suruay taken from the vsual place where thei were comonly kept for the moste part of the yere, or els shall cause them or any part of them to be conueyed to a­ny other place whereby they shall not be suruayed, or whereby the kyng shall lose any part of the Relief to him geuen by this statute, that euery person so offēdyng shall forfaite and lose to the kynges Maiestie, treble so muche as he ought to pay by vertue of this statute.

And it is also ordayned & enacted by the aucthoritie aforesayd, that if any person sommoned to appeare before the sayd cōmissioners, do make [Page] defaulte hauyng no reasonable excuse: or appearyng, shal refuse to take the sayd othe, or takyng the sayd othe shal not diligently attend and en­deuour the execucion therof, or shall not appeare and make presentment before the sayd Cōmissioners at suche tyme & place as he shalbe appoin­ted, that euery person so offendyng for euery suche default shal forfayte and lose to the kynges Maiestie xl. s̄.

And it is also ordayned and enacted by thaucthoritie aforesayd, that yerely duryng the sayd thre yeres within one moneth next after the sur­uay of shepe, and the presentmentes made by the viewers of the sheepe in maner and forme as is before declared, the Commissioners in euery shire or other place shal all or the most part assemble them selues toge­ther, and conferre the presentmētes made before them of the shepe, with the presentmentes before made of the value of the goodes & substaunce of all persones within the limittes of their commission. And that vpon suche collacions of the presentmentes if it shal appeare vnto them that any person is chargeable by vertue of this acte to paye for the polle of his shepe whiche before was not charged for his goodes. Or that if any person within the limittes of their cōmission be chargeable to pay more after the rate of the polle of his shepe presēted before them, then he was before for the value of his substaunce of his goodes, the said Cōmissio­ners or the more part of them as they shalbe deuided, shall within one moneth next after suche assemble by their writynges indented to be sig­ned and sealed by them, make furth extreates of all & singuler sūmes of money that any person ought to paye for the rate of y^e polle of his shepe not beeyng before charged with his goodes, or for the ouerplus that a­ny person ought to pay for that the rate of the polle of his sheepe doeth surmount the paiment before made of y^e value of his goodes, & thesame writynges shal not onely deliuer vnto sufficient and substanciall inha­bitantes, Constables, Subconstables and other officers and persones ioyntely of hundredes, tounes, parishes, and other places within the li­mittes where the owners dwel or haue their moste vsual abidyng, to be leuied, gathered, and receiued of the owner of suche sheepe or his execu­tours or administratours, but also shall in like maner deliuer the like writyng to the high Collectour of the same limit, to charge him with the receipt therof of the Subcollectour or Subcollectours, & the payment therof at the kynges receipte. And that the sayd Subcollectours, and Commissioners, shall not onely haue for their labours vi. d. of euery pound, commyng, growyng and to bee payed to the kynges Maiestie for the Relief of the polle of the sheepe by vertue of this acte, but also that they and euery of them shall haue the like power and auctoritie to gather and leuy thesame, and all fynes and forfaytures commyng and growyng for the execucion and gatheryng of this Relief of the polle of shepe by suche like waies and meanes as before in this act be limitted & appointed for the leuiyng and gatheryng of the Relief of goodes. And that the sayd Cōmissioners, Collectours and all and euery other person [Page xv] and persons shall behaue, ordre, and vse themselues in all & euery thyng concernyng thexecucion of this part of the statute touchyng the leuiyng and gatheryng of the relief of the polle of the shepe, as before in this act is limitted & appointed for to do touching the Relief of the goodes vpō like paynes, penalties & forfaitures as be before declared in this acte.

Prouided alwayes and be it ordained and enacted by the aucthoritie aforesayd that al & singuler summes of money due to the kynges Ma­iestie of this Relief of the polle of shepe, shalbe gathered by the Subcol­lectour or high collectour of the limittes where the owner dwelleth and none other place.

And it is further ordayned and enacted by the aucthoritie aforesayd, that the sayd Cōmissioners for the suruay of the nombre and value of the shepe shal yerely duryng thesayd thre yeres make returne and certi­ficat vnto the kynges Exchequier before the x. day of October aswel of the count [...] parte of al and euery extreates deliuered by them to the high Collectours, as also of all and singuler presentmentes made before thē, and of all & singuler their procedynges concernyng the sayd cōmission. And that in the ende of all and euery their certificats they shall make special remembraūces and declaracions of all and singuler persons not dwellyng within the limittes of their cōmission, that haue sheepe within the limittes of thesame commission, where suche persons dwel, & of what state and degree they be, what nombre, and what kynde of shepe they be, and in what groūdes for the most part of the yere they be kept. And that vpon suche returne and certificat of the commission to be made by the Commissioners for the suruay of shepe beyng conferred with the bokes of the taxation and value of the substaunce or euery person, if it shal ap­peare that the kynges Maiestie ought to haue more by any meanes to­ward the sayd Relief then before was payed or payable, that then vpon an extreate therof to be made out of the sayd court of the Exchequier to the high collectour of the place where the partie that ought to pay more dwelleth, thesame Collectour shalbe therwith charged, & shall gather & leuy thesame in like maner and fourme as he ought to do the rest of his Collections.

And to thintent the kynges Maiestie may be iustly answered for the Relief by vs before graunted of the price and value of all clothes: be it ordayned and enacted, that the Commissioners to be appointed for the taxacion of the Relief of the substaunce of euery person, shall haue full power and aucthoritie by vertue of this acte, and of their commission, as they shalbe deuided, to name, constitute, and appoint, in euery Citie, Borough, Toune, Hundred and parishe, within the limittes of their de­uisions by their discrecions, suche and so many honest, substancial, and discrete menne, to be praisers of the sayd clothes, chargeable to the pay­ment [Page] of this Relief of clothes, as they shall thinke conuenient & necessa­ry, & them from tyme to tyme to alter & put newe in their places as they shall haue occasion. And that thesayd praysers before they take vpon them the appraisement of suche clothes, shalbe sworne in maner & forme folowyng.

¶ Ye shal faythfully and truely esteme and set the iust pryce & value of all suche clothes as shalbe brought vnto you to be viewed and pray­sed, as ye shal in your cōsciences thynke thesame worth to be solde when they shalbe wrought, and thesame shall not suffer to be deliuered out of your custody, tyl ye haue made of the colour, kynde and pryce therof an entry both in the boke of the clothier and also of the Aulnageour or his deputie, & set to your handes or markes declaryng who was the owner of the clothe, and the kind and price therof, so helpe you God and by this booke.

AND it is also ordayned and enacted by thaucthoritie aforesayd, that all kynde of clothes whiche from and after the feast of the Natiuitie of sainct Ihon Baptist next commyng, duryng the space of thre yeres then folowyng, shalbe made within this realme, or Wales, to be vttered and put to sale, shalbe sealed with the kynges seale, remainyng in the custo­dy of the Aulnageour, or his deputie, or deputies, and praised by two of the sayd praisers at the least, and entred into the bokes hereafter in this act mencioned, vpon paine of forfayture of the same clothe, the one halfe to the kynges Maiestie, the other to the partie that shall seaze the same.

AND it is also enacted by thaucthoritie aforesayd, that there shalbe it. bookes yerely made, of the appraisyng of all and euery kynde of clothe to be made duryng the sayd .iii. yeres, thone of which bokes to remaine with the Aulnageour or his deputie, wherin shalbe written the colour, kynde and price of all and synguler clothes viewed and appraysed that yere, accordyng to the tenor of this statute, vnto whiche boke, the owner of euery cloth or some other person for him, and the praisours, shal set to their handes or markes when the clothe is sealed: And the other booke shal remayne with the owner of the sayd clothe whervnto the sayd Aul­nageour and praysours shal set their handes and markes. And that the owner of all and euery cloth chargeable to the payment of the Relief of clothes graunted by this acte, yerely within xx. dayes after the yere ex­pired, shal deliuer his sayd booke so subscribed or marked with the han­des of the Aulnageour or his deputie and praysours to the Commissio­oners for the taxacion and assesment of the sayd Relief within the li­mitte where suche clothier dwelleth, or to one of them, vpon payn of for­fayture by the same clothier of treble so muche as he ought to pay to the kyng by reason of the aforesayd Relief of his clothes so sealed.

AND it is further ordayned and enacted by the aucthoritie aforesayd, [Page xvi] that euery Aulnageour shall yerely frō & after the sayd feast of the Na­titutie of saint Ihon Baptist next commyng, kepe a parsite booke of the colour, kynd, and price of all and singuler clothes by him sealed, and the names of the owners therof in maner and fourme as is before declared, and thesame booke yerely shal make and deliuer to the Commissioners, for the taxacion of goodes within the limites wher suche Clothe maker dwelleth, or to one of them, within xx. dayes next after the yere expired.

AND it is further ordayned and enacted by the aucthoritie aforesayd, that if any Aulnageour or his deputie do not make and deliuer thesayd booke in maner and forme before rehersed, or do wylfully conceale any clothe by him sealed, & do not entre it into the sayd booke, that for suche offence the sayd Aulnageour shal not onely forfayte his office, but also shal make fyne at the kynges will.

AND it is also ordayned and enacted by thaucthoritie aforesayd, that the sayd Cōmissioners of that limitte hauyng receiued the sayd bookes of the Aulnageour or his deputie or deputies, and the owner of the clo­thes, shal conferre the rates of the Relief of the clothes▪ comprehended in the sayd bookes, with the taxacion and payment of the owner of the same clothes for his goodes. So that if it shal appeare thereby to them that the owner of any cloth is chargeable to pay for his clothes, whiche before was not chargeable for his goodes, or that suche owner ought to paye more after the rate of the Relief of his clothes containyng in the bookes deliuered to theim, then he was before charged for the value of his substaunce of his goodes, the sayd Commissioners as they be deui­ded shal within one moneth next after the sayd bookes receiued, by their writyng indented to be signed and sealed by them, make furth extreates of al & singuler summes of money that any person ought to pay for his clothes, not beeyng before charged with his goodes & for the ouerplus that any suche person ought to pay for that the rate of the clothes doeth surmount the payment of the value of his goodes before made: and the same writyng shal deliuer to the high Collectour of thesame limitte, to charge him with the receipt hereof, of the maker of the sayd clothes: and the payment therof at the kynges receipte. And that the sayd high Col­lectour shal haue the like power & aucthoritie to gather & leuy thesame, by suche like wayes and meanes as before in this acte bee limitted and appointed to the Subcollectour for the leuiyng and gatheryng of the Relief of goodes.

AND it is further ordayned and enacted by the aucthoritie aforesayd, that the sayd Commissioners shall yerely duryng the sayd thre yeres make returne and certificat into the kinges Exchequier before the tenth daye of October, not only of the counterpane of all and euery extreate [Page] deliuered by him to the high Collectour, but also of the booke receiued of the Aulnageour as is aforesayd, and the praisours names, and of all and singuler their procedynges cōceruyng the sayd payment of the Re­lief of clothes.

And it is further ordayned and enacted by the aucthoritie aforesayd, that euery of the sayd high Collectours whiche shall accompt for any part of the sayd Relief of clothes in the kynges Exchequier, vpon their seuerall sayd accōptes to be yelden, shalbe alowed yerely duryng y^e sayd thre yeres, for euery pound limitted to his Collection, wherof any suche Collectour shalbe charged and yelde accompte, vi. d. as parcell of their sayd charge, that is to say, ii. d. of euery pound thereof for suche persons as bee limitted to be praysours, for their paynes and labours: and other ii. d. of euery pound therof, euery of the sayd chiefe Collectours there ac­comptant, to receiue to their owne vse for their labours and charge in & aboute the premisses: and ii. d. of euery pounde residue to be deliuered, allowed and payed by the sayd Collectours, so beeyng thereof allowed, to suche of the Commissioners as shal take vpon theim the busynes and labour for & about the premisses, that is to say, euery Collectour to pay that Commissioner or Commissioners whiche had the orderyng and the writynges of and for the sayd Relief of clothes where the sayd Collector or Collectours had their colleccion, for expences of the sayd Commissio­ners so takyng vpon them the sayd busynes and labour of their clerkes writyng the sayd preceptes and estretes for the sayd colleccions: the same last ii. d. of euery pound to bee deuided among the sayd Commissioners, hauyng regard to the labour and busynes taken by them and their sayd clearkes in and aboute the premisses. For whiche parte so to the sayd commissioners attainyng, the sayd cōmissioners vi. v. iiii. iii. or as many of them as shalbe therto appointed by the kynges commission and eue­ry of them ioyntly and seuerally for his or their sayd part may haue his remedy against the sayd Collectour or Collectours whiche thereof been and might haue been allowed by accion of debt, in whiche the defendant shall not wage his lawe, neither proteccion, Iniunccion or other essoyne shalbe allowed.

Prouided alwayes, that this graunt of Relief nor any other thyng therin contayned, do in any wyse extend to charge the inhabitauntes or dwellers within Ireland, Bulleyne and the countie of thesame, Calleys, Hammes, Guysnes and the Marches of thesame, Iernesey and Garne­sey or any of them, of for or cōcernyng any goodes whiche the said inha­bitauntes or dwellers, or any other to their vse haue within Irelande, Bulleyne, the countie of the same, Calleys, Hammes, Guysnes, or other Marches of thesame, Iernesey, Garnesey, ar in any of them.

Prouided also, that the sayd graunt of Relief do not in any maner of wise extend or be preiudicial or hurtful to thinhabitaūtes or resiauntes [Page xvii] at this present tyme within the fiue Portes corporate, or to any of their membres incorporate or vnited to the same fiue Portes, or to any of the same fiue Portes, of or for any part or parcel of the sayd summes graū ­ted in this present Parliament of the sayd inhabitauntes now resiaūtes or any of them to bee taxed, set, asked, leuied or payed, but that the sayd inhabitauntes and now resiauntes of the sayd Portes & their membres and euery of them, bee and shalbe of and frō the sayd graunt & payment of the sayd Relief of their goodes and cattalles duryng their resiauncie there and no lenger acquited and discharged, any matter or whatsoeuer thyng in this present acte made or had to the contrary notwithstādyng.

Prouided also that this presēt act of Relief, ne any other thing therin cōtayned extend to any of the English inhabitaūtes or resiaūtes in any of the coūties of Northūberland, Cumberlād, Westmerland, the toune of Barwyke, the toune of Newcastle vpō Tyne and the bishopricke of Durham, nor to any of them, of for or cōcernyng any goodes, clothes or shcepe, whiche the same inhabitauntes or dwellers or any other to their vse, haue within the sayd counties of Northumberland, Cumberland, and Westmerlād or the toune of Barwike, the toune of Newcastle vpō Tyne, or the bishopricke of Durham or any of theim, but that they and euery of them, shalbe of & from the sayd Relief, of and for their goodes, liyng and beyng in the same coūties, tounes & bishopricke or any of thē, vtterly acquited and discharged, any thing in this present act before re­hersed to the contrary notwithstandyng.

Prouided also that this act ne any thyng therein contained shall ex­tēd to the goodes of any College, Hall, or Ostle within the vniuersities of Oxford & Cambryge or any of them, or to the goodes of the College of Wynton. founded by bishop Wykham, or to the goodes of y^e College of Eton next Wyndesore, or to the goodes of any reader or scholer with in the sayd Vniuersities and Colleges, or any of them there remainyng for studye, without fraude or couyn, any thyng in this act contayned to the contrary in any wyse notwithstandyng.

Prouided alwayes and be it enacted by thaucthoritie aforesayd that no spiritual person shalbe charged by this act for any of his goodes or cattalles, other then for sheepe, nor shalbe charged by this acte for any suche his shepe whiche he hath, or at any tyme within thre yeres next fo­lowyng shal haue or kepe for the only purpose to be spēt or eaten in his house, so as the nombre of the same shepe so purposed to be spent & eaten yerely in his sayd house, do not excede the nombre of foure hundreth shepe for one yere, nor for any suche his shepe as do go and fede, or shall go or feede for the most part of euery yere of iii. yeres next cōmyng vpō his landes, tenementes or conunons, whereof suche spiritual persone is or shalbe seazed in the right of his churche or promocion spiritual, whi­che lādes, tenementes or commons be chargeable to the payment of the first fruites and tentes.

And forasmuche as diuers and sondry the kynges Maiesties tenasi­tes and other thinhabitauntes and dwellers within the coūties of Pen­broke, Carmarthen, Cardygan, Glamorgan, Breknock, Radnor, Moūtgomery, Denbigh, Flynt, Marioneth, Anglesey, Carneruon and of the countie Palentine of Chester, be at this present tyme charged & charge­able with the seuerall paymentes of diuers great summes of money (by the name of a Mysc) due to his Maiestie, according to the seueral custo­mes of the sayd coūtres, for the payment wherof diuers and sondry the gentlemen and other the inhabitantes of the sayd counties be and stand bound to his highnes: The kyng our soueraigne lorde is therfore plea­sed and contented that it be prouided, ordained & enacted by the auctho­ritie aforesayd, that this act or any thing therin cōtained, shal not extend to charge any of the kynges Maiesties tenauntes & other thinhabitātes and dwellers within any of the sayd coūties of Penbroke, Carmarthen, Cardygan, Glamorgan, Brecknock, Radnor, Moūtgomery, Denbigh, Flynt, Marioneth, Anglesey, Carnaruon and the countie Palentine of Chester beyng charged or chargeable with the sayd Myse for or with a­ny of the paymentes of the sayd Relief graūted to y^e kinges Maiestie by this acte, vntill the seuerall dayes and tymes appointed and agreed for the paimentes of the sayd Myses shalbe expired. And that the first pay­ment of the sayd relief for goodes shalbe made at the receipt of y^e kinges Exchequier before the first day of Maye then nexte folowyng after the day appointed for the later payment to bee made of the sayd Myse, and so yerely before the first day of May at the receipt of y^e sayd Exchequer vntil the thre seueral paymētes of the sayd Relief be fully made in suche and like maner, forme and ordre as is ordayned and appointed by this act for the kynges subiectes concernyng the sayd Relief of goodes to be made at the receipt of the sayd Exchequer, accordyng to the tenor of this present act. And also that the fyrst paymentes of Relief for clothes and shepe in euery of the sayd seueral Counties shalbe made in the sayd Ex­chequer after the sayd Mises, due to bee payde, at suche and like dayes & tymes yetely as is afore limited by this acte: this act or any thing ther­in contayned to the contrary in any wise notwithstandyng.

And furthermore, be it enacted by aucthoritie aforesayd that the te­nauntes and dwellers of euery of the sayd counties in this prouiso re­membred, shall seuerally before the feast of sainct Martyne the bishop next ensuyng, certifie in the kynges sayd Court of Exchequer vnder the seale of two Iustices of peace of euery of the sayd counties, whereof one to be of the Quorum, when and as what day the last payment of the sayd seueral Myses in euery of the sayd counties shal ende and expire.