WHEREAS the ſeveral and reſpepective Farmers of the Revenue of this Kingdom, ſince the Reſtauration of His late Majeſty King Charles the Second; and the ſeveral Commiſſioners appointed ſince, for the management of the ſaid Revenue, have thought fit for ſeveral weighty Conſiderations, to Collect and Levy the Quit-Rent, Crown-Rent, Compoſition, and all other Rents due to the Crown, by Collectors, by them appointed, in the ſeveral Diſtricts of this Kingdom, which was principally intended for the Eaſe of the Subject, by ſaving them the Trouble, Danger, and Expence, of ſending their Money to Dublin, to be there paid into the Treaſury.

And whereas ſeveral Scruples have Ariſen, amongſt His Majeſty's good Subjects, which have made them doubt, whether the Acquittances given by ſuch Collectors, were, or ought to be ſufficient Diſcharges to the Perſons who have paid the ſaid Rents, againſt His Majeſty, in any Proſecution made in His Name, in the Court of Exchequer, or elſewhere; for Levying and Recovering thereof, in caſe the ſaid Collectors who have Received the ſame, have not duly Accounted for ſuch Receipts with His Majeſty, as in Duty they ought: For Remedy whereof.

Be it Enacted by the King's Moſt Excellent Majeſty, by, and with the Advice and Conſent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons in this preſent Parliament Aſſembled, and by the Authority of the ſame; that the ſeveral Acquittances already given by the Collectors, or Receivers, duly Authorized and Appointed to Collect, and Receive the ſaid Quit-Rent, Crown-Rent, Compoſition-Rent, and other Rents: As alſo all Acquittances that hereafter ſhall be given by any ſuch Collector, or Receiver, during the time the ſaid Collectors were, are, or ſhall be ſo Employed, ſhall be Good, and Valid in Law, to all Intents and Purpoſes, againſt His Majeſty, His Heirs and Succeſſors. And that all ſuch Acquittances ſo given, or hereafter to be given, ſhall be as Good and Effectual, to all Intents and Purpoſes, as an Exchequer Acquittance duly Paſſed and Entred in the ſeveral Offices of the Exchequer.

And be it further Enacted, That all and every the Collector, and Collectors of the aforeſaid Rents, ſhall upon Payment of the ſame, or any part thereof, give and perfect to the perſon ſo paying the ſame, a full and Clear Receipt, or Acquittance, for what he ſhall receive, in Parchment, under his Hand; wherein he ſhall mention the Summ ſo by him Received, and for what Gales Rent, and for what Land, and on what Account the ſame is paid to him. And for the Encouragement of the ſaid Collectors to do their Duty therein, with all due Regard and Indulgence to the Country. And to prevent the Extortions and Oppreſſions which may be committed by their Bailiffs, or Drivers, on the Tenants Liable to pay ſuch Quit-Rent, Crown-Rent, Compoſition-Rent, or other Rent.

Be it further Enacted by the Authority aforeſaid, That the ſaid Collectors, and every of them, may demand and receive the reſpective Feés hereafter mentioned, and no more, or other Feé: That is to ſay, For every Acquittance they ſhall give for any of the ſaid Rents, for any Summ above Five ſhillings, and not exceéding Twenty ſhillings, the Summ of Six pence, and no more, and for every Summ above Twenty ſhillings, and not exceéding Five pounds, the Summ of One ſhilling and no more, and for every Summ above Five pounds, and not exceéding Fifteén pounds, the Summ of One ſhilling Six pence, and no more, and for every Summ above Fifteén pounds, the Summ or Feé of Two ſhillings, and in no caſe to receive any more for any one Acquittance then Two ſhillings.

And whereas ſeveral perſons ſtand Charged with, or are Oblidged to pay ſeveral Rents, for ſeveral Parcels of their Lands and Tenements, the ſame being Granted under ſeveral and diſtinct Rents, to themſelves, or others, under whom they Claim, for which formerly, ſeveral Acquittances uſed to be given, tho' paid at the ſame times, and by the ſame perſon, for which ſaid ſeveral Acquittances, diſtinct Feés have beén paid, to the great Charge of the Subject; for Remedy whereof.

Be it further Enacted by the Authority aforeſaid, That where one perſon ſtands Charged with the Payment of ſeveral and diſtinct Summs, in reſpect of ſeveral Parcels of their Lands and Tenements, or where the ſame is in Charge, in the name of other perſons, not in poſſeſſion of ſuch Lands, the ſeveral Collectors of this Kingdom, within their reſpective Diſtricts, ſhall on Receipt of the ſaid Rents, or any part thereof, give to the perſon ſo in poſſeſſion, as aforeſaid, and ſo paying the ſame, One Acquittance for what he ſhall ſo pay, which Acquittance ſhall diſtinctly mention, as well the Lands and Tenements, as the Rent ſo paid, and for what Gale the ſame is ſo paid, and by whom, for which One Acquittance the ſaid Collectors ſhall receive no other or greater Feé then as aforeſaid, And wheras, the ſeveral Acquittances to be made and given purſuant to this Act, may be loſt or miſlaid, to the prejudice of the perſon therein concerned: For prevention whereof.

Be it further Enacted by the Authority aforeſaid, That all and every the Collector and Collectors of this Kingdom, ſhall every Year, prepare a Book, wherein they ſhall Enter all the Receipts or Acquittances by them given, for all and every the aforeſaid Rents, under their Hands, and in the preſence of the party paying the ſame, which Receipt the ſaid parties, or any other on his behalf, may ſet their Names; for every which Entry, the ſaid Collectors may demand and receive Two pence over and above the Feés aforeſaid; which Book, the ſaid Collectors, and every of them reſpectively, ſhall Yearly, before the Stating of their Accounts, return under their Hands, and on their Oaths, into the Office of the Auditor-General, where the ſame ſhall remain and be kept, not only as a Charge on ſuch Collectors reſpectively, but alſo as a Diſcharge to the Subject, for all Summs thereby appearing to be paid as aforeſaid.