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A.D. 1697

IV. And be it further enacted, That every person under the degree of a baron, being worth one hundred pounds in goods, chattels, or other personal estate, shall pay five shillings; and that every person as aforesaid, worth in personal estate, of any kind two hundred pounds sterl. shall pay ten shillings; and every person worth three hundred pounds in personal estate as aforesaid shall pay fifteen shillings; and every person worth four hundred pounds in personal estate as aforesaid shall pay one pound sterl. and every person worth five hundred pounds in personal estate as aforesaid shall pay one pound five shillings; every person, having in personal estate as aforesaid to the value of one thousand pounds or upwards, shall pay the sum of five pounds sterl. every tenant or farmer of this kingdom, who payeth not a greater rent then ten pounds sterl. per annum, and every shop-keeper, tradesman, or artificer, not worth ten pounds in substance, shall pay for no more children under the age of sixteen years, then two; every tenant or farmer, paying above ten pounds per annum rent, shall pay the sum of two shillings and six pence; every tenant or farmer, paying above twenty pounds per annum rent, shall pay the sum of five shillings; every tenant or farmer, paying above forty pounds rent per annum, shall pay the sum of ten shillings; every tenant or farmer, paying above sixty pounds per annum rent, shall pay the sum of fifteen shillings; every farmer or tenant, paying above one hundred pounds per annum rent or upward, shall pay the sum of one pound; every tradesman or shop-keeper, that is worth twenty pounds or upward in personal estate, shall pay the sum of two shillings and six pence; every tradesman or shop-keeper worth fifty pounds or upwards in personal estate shall pay five shillings; every shop-keeper or tradesman worth one hundred pounds or upwards in personal estate shall pay ten shillings; every tradesman or shop-keeper worth two hundred pounds in personal estate shall pay fifteen shillings; every tradesman or shop-keeper worth three hundred pounds shall pay one pound; every tradesman or shop-keeper worth four hundred pounds in personal estate shall pay one pound five shillings; every gray-merchant, merchant-traveller, or pedler,

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who usually travels with an horse, shall pay one pound; every gray-merchant, merchant-traveller, or pedlar, who usually travels without an horse, shall pay ten shillings; every person in orders of the Romish religion shall pay twelve shillings and six pence; and that all and every person, except women, children under the age of sixteen, and such as pay two shillings and no more, who have not already taken the oaths, and subscribed the declaration herein after mentioned, to his Majesty, and who shall not voluntarily appear before the commissioners, or any two or more of them, and take the said oath, and make and subscribe the declaration hereinaftermentioned, which oath any two or more of the commissioners in this act named are hereby impowered and required to administer, and make an entry or memorandum thereof, and of making and subscribing the said declaration in some book to be kept for that purpose, every such person who shall neglect to appear, or shall not take the oath, and make and subscribe the declaration as aforesaid, shall be charged with, and shall pay to his Majesty double the sums, which by force or virtue of any clause in this act he should or ought to pay, or be charged with; to be levyed, collected, answered, recovered, and paid in such manner, and by such ways and means as are in this act expressed and appointed for and concerning the rates and sums hereby intended to be doubled as aforesaid.

XXVII. Provided always, That no person shall be capable of acting as a commissioner in the execution of this act, before he shall take the oaths, and subscribe the declaration appointed by this act: viz.

You shall swear, that you will duly execute the act, intituled, An act for granting a supply to his Majesty, by raising money by way of a poll, as a commissioner according to your best skill and knowledge, without favour or affection.

So help you God.

I A.B. do sincerely promise and swear, that I will be faithful and bear true allegiance to his Majesty King William.

So help me God.

I A.B. do swear, that I do from my heart, abhor, detest, and abjure, as impious and heretical, that damnable doctrine and position, that Princes excommunicated, or deprived by the Pope, or any authority of the see of Rome, may be deposed or murdered by their subjects, or any other whatsoever. And I do declare that no foreign prince, person, prelate, state or potentate hath or ought to have any jurisdiction, power, superiority, preheminence, or authority ecclesiastical or spiritual within this realm.

So help me God.

I A.B. so solemnly and sincerely in the presence of God profess, testify, and declare that I do believe that in the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper there is not any transubstantiation of the elements of bread and wine into the body and blood of Christ, at or after the concecration thereof, by any person whatsoever; and that the invocation and adoration of the Virgin Mary, or any other saint, and the sacrifice of the mass, as they are now used in the church of Rome, are superstitious and idolatrous; and I do solemnly in the presence of God profess, testify, and declare, that I do make this declaration, and every part thereof, in the plain and ordinary sense of the words read unto me, as they are commonly understood by protestants, without any evasion, equivocation, or mental reservation whatsoever, and without any dispensation already granted me for this purpose by the Pope, or any other authority or person whatsoever, or without dispensation from any person or authority whatsoever, or without believing that I am or can be acquitted before God or man, or absolved of this declaration, or any part thereof, although the Pope, or any other person or persons or power whatsoever, should dispence with or annul the same, or declare that it was null and void from the beginning.

Which said two last oaths and declaration are the same oaths and declaration intended also to be administered to, and be made and subscribed by, such, not being Quakers, as already have not taken the said oaths, and subscribed the said declaration, to excuse them from paying double as aforesaid; which oaths and declarations it shall and may be lawful for any two or more of the commissioners to administer and take; and they are hereby authorized and required to administer and take the same, to and from any other commissioner: and in case any person named a commissioner for putting in execution this act shall presume to act as a commissioner before he shall have taken the said oaths, and made and subscribed the said declaration, he shall forfeit to this Majesty the sum of two hundred pounds.

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