CoÌ„missioners of that CoÌ„mission wherevpon suche writynges shal be there than to be certified with diuisions of the hundredes wapentakes wardes tithynges or other places to and among suche Commissioners of thesame CoÌ„mission with the names of thesame CoÌ„missioners where suche seperacions deuisions shal be with the grosse suÌ„mes of money aswell of for the sayd Relief taxed or set of or within the sayd hundredes wardes wapeÌ„takes 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 shal be certified And after suche writyng indented which as is aforesayd shal be 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 wapeÌ„takes 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 lettâ—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 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 preseÌ„ted certified takyng a corporal other before the Barons of the kynges Exchequier or before any two of theÌ„ or before any person or persones beyng aucthorised by coÌ„mission to be directed from the sayd Barons or any of theim whiche commission or coÌ„missions the sayd Barons or ii of them shal be 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 shal be 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 shal be 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 grauÌ„ted 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 shal be a CoÌ„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 couÌ„tie 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 shal be 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 taxacioÌ„ of the value of euery persons goodes and substaunce in the same shire or other place or to as many of them as shal be 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 coÌ„mission wherof the Constable Tithyngman or Borsolder shal be 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 coÌ„uenient 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 coÌ„mons or grouÌ„des 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 shal
AN ACTE OF THE RELIEF GRAVNTED TO THE KINGES MAIESTIE by the Lordes and cōmons WHylest we the kynges maiesties faythfull louing and obedient subiectes the lordes cōmons assembled in this present parliament do cōsyder 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 shal be partaker therof and that no hurt or aduersytie can happen to the one where with the 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 belōgyng fynally rather then any forien powre should do vs or our coūtrie 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 the 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 that is to say aswel of al euery person as is or hereafter shal be 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 shal be 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 with in this realme or any other the 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 shal be 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 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 shal be owing wherof he trusteth in his cōscience to be suerly paid yerely twelf pence of euery pound Except out of the 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 the apparel of such parsons their wifes childrē belongīg to their awne bodies sauīg iewels gold syluer stone perle Excepted also alwayes from the charge assessement payment of the said relief all money goodes cattalles of orphanes bequethed or lefte vnto them by their parentes or other their frendes deceassyd And that all plate coyne Iewels goodes debtes cattals personalles being in the 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 shal be rated set charged by reason of this acte at the value certefied
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 shal be 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 shal be directed and deliuered to the sayd commissioners or to one of them yerely duryng the saye thre 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 shal be affyled by the whyche commission the commissyoners in euery suche commission named according vnto this acte or as many of them as shal be appoincted by the kinges cōmission shall haue full power aucthoritie to put the effect of the 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 the execucion of their cōmissyon in hūdredes 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 shal be commissioner shal be assygned in the hundreth where he dwelleth PROVIDED alwaies that no persone be or shal be 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 the 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 the aucthorytie of this present parliament that the commissioners and euery of them whiche shal be 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 shal be 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 shal be requysyte of the most substanciall discrete and honest persones inhabytauntes to be named by the said cōmissioners or by as many of them as shal be appoincted by the said cōmission of in hundredes lathes rapes wapētakes wardes parishes tounes other places aswel wtin liberties fraūchises aūciēt demeanes places exempted and sanctuaryes as without within the lymytes of the shires ridinges lathes wapentakes rapes cities tounes boroghes or Isle aforesaid other places within the limites of there commission and to the constables subconstables batlliffes other like officers or mynisters of euery of the said hundredes tounes wardes lathes wapētakes parishes other places before said as to the sayd commissioners euery nomber of them vnto thre or two of them by there discrecion in diuisiō shal seme expedient as by the maner and vse of the parties shal be requisite straitly by the same precept charging commaūding the same inhabitaūtes constables other officers aforsaid to whom such precept shal be so directed to appere in their proper persones before the said cōmissioners or such nomber of them as they shall deuide them selfes according to the tenour of the sayd commission at certain dayes places by the 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 shal be limited therunto to do accomplishe all that to them on the part of our soueraigne lord the king shal be enioyned touching this acte cōmaunding further by the same precept that he to whose handes such precept shall come shall shewe or delyuer the same to the other inhabitaūtes or officers named in the same precept that none of thē faile to accōplishe the same vpō paine of fortie shillinges to be forfaited to the king AND it is further ordeined by the said aucthoritie of this parliamēt that the said daye place prefyxed limited in the said preceptes euery of the cōmissioners then beyng in the shyre hauing no sufficient excuse for his absence shall at the sayd day place prefixed for that parte wherunto he was limited appere in his proper person there the same commissioners being present or as many as shal be appoincted by the kinges commissiō shal cal or cause to be called before them the sayd inhabitaūtes officers to whō thei haue directed ther said preceptes which had in cōmaundemēt ther to apere by the said precept of the said cōmissioners And if any person so warned make default onlesse he thē be letted by sycknesse or lawful excuses that 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 the sayd thre yeres prefixed for the 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 the king fortie shillinges vpō the same apparaunce had one of the most substāciall inhabitauntes
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 shal bee appoyncted by the kynges Commission whiche certificat so made shal be 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 shal be 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 shal be 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 shal be 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 shal be 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 shal be sessed taxed valued and rated yerely duryng thesaied three yeres by the examinacion and sessyng of the rest of the Commissioners named in thesame 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 shal be 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 shal be 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 paie suche somme of money as shal be 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