[1643/6/74]*[print] [email] [cite] [preceding] [following]
The estates of this kingdom presently convened, having taken into their consideration that by their act dated 5 August, for the reasons and causes at length contained, they have statute and ordained the sum of 1,200,000 merks Scots money, together with the sum of 100,000 merks money aforesaid as allowance for charges of collecting of the same to collectors, clerks and other necessary members and officers to be employed, and for the exemptions mentioned in the said act, to be uplifted and raised by way of loan out of the several sheriffdoms and burghs of this kingdom, in form and manner and at the terms at length mentioned in the aforesaid act of convention; and which sum it is by the aforesaid act appointed to be employed for relief and payment of the great sums and other provision already advanced and undertaken and to be advanced and undertaken for the maintenance and supply of the Scottish army now in Ireland in manner also specified in the said act. Likewise by the same act, the said estates have granted, statute and ordained a tax of £120,000 Scots to be uplifted out of the said several shires and burghs of the kingdom in manner also specified in the said act for maintenance of the horse troops and foot companies ordained and appointed by the said convention of estates, to be presently levied for preventing of any divisions, factions and insurrections which may occasion or arise to the disturbance of the peace of the kingdom, as the aforesaid act of convention in itself more fully purports. And seeing it is necessary that there be a general collector appointed and nominated by the said estates for collecting and receiving of the aforesaid loan and tax respectively, and the said estates having good proof and experience of the trust and fidelity of Sir Adam Hepburn of Humbie, knight, one of the senators of the college of justice, and of his ability for discharging of the said place, therefore the said estates of this kingdom now presently convened have nominated and appointed, and by this commission nominate and appoint, the said Sir Adam Hepburn to be general collector of the aforesaid sum and loan of 1,200,000 merks and 100,000 merks allowed for expenses and exemptions as said is, and in the same manner nominate and appoint the said Sir Adam to be general collector of the aforesaid tax of £120,000 Scots, to be raised and uplifted in manner and for the use above-mentioned; with power to the said Sir Adam, by himself, his deputes, under-receivers, subcollectors and others in his name, to crave, exact, receive, intromit with and uplift the aforesaid sums appointed and ordained to be raised by way of loan and tax respectively out of every shire, burgh, parish and lands within this kingdom, and from the several commissioners and collectors for shires and subcollectors for parishes and from all others liable and indebted in payment of the same or of either of them respectively, according to the tenor of the aforesaid act of convention; and to raise and direct letters and all manner of execution necessary and requisite for collecting and payment thereof in his own name, or in the names of his deputes and subcollectors for shires and parishes respectively, and others to be entrusted with the collecting and gathering in thereof, and to cause put the aforesaid letter to due execution, according to the tenor of the said act of convention; and with power to the said Sir Adam and his deputes, under-receivers, subcollectors and other officers to be constituted and substituted for that effect to give and subscribe acquittances and discharges upon the receipt of the said loan and tax respectively to the persons, payers of the same, which shall be valid and sufficient to the receivers thereof. And generally with power to the said Sir Adam Hepburn, by himself and his deputes and under-receivers, collectors and other officers to be appointed, to do, use and exercise everything necessary and expedient anent the premises in the same manner and as freely in all respects as any other collectors general of any preceding taxation, their deputes, subcollectors, under-receivers and other officers have done at any time formerly. With power also to the said Sir Adam Hepburn to nominate and appoint the said deputes and under-receivers under him, for whom he shall be answerable, for receiving of the said loan and tax respectively from the several commissioners and subcollectors for shires and parishes and other intromitters thereupon and indebted in payment thereof. As also to nominate and appoint subcollectors for the whole shires of the kingdom where the same are not already nominated by the said act of convention for receiving, collecting and bringing in of the same; and in the same manner with power to the said Sir Adam Hepburn to nominate and appoint clerks to the aforesaid loan and tax, and to authorise them with all privileges due and appertaining to the said office or which has been due to the clerks of any preceding taxation formerly. Likewise the said estates give and grant to the said collector general and his deputes, subcollectors and under-receivers, and to the clerks to be appointed by him and their deputes, the fees and allowances partly mentioned in a list and roll of the same set down and appointed by the said estates and registered in the books of the said convention. It is hereby provided and ordained that the said Sir Adam and his deputes shall be accountable to the said estates of this kingdom, or to the committees to be appointed by them and having their power and warrant for that effect, for accounting and reckoning of their intromission with the aforesaid loan and tax respectively, and shall be obliged to disburse, pay and give out the said sums for the uses aforesaid according to the aforesaid act of convention; and as he and his said deputes shall receive warrant and order from the said estates or committees to be appointed by them for that effect, whose orders and warrants relating thereto the said collector general and his deputes are hereby warranted to answer and obey. Likewise the said estates hereby require and command all commissioners and collectors for shires and their clerks and other subcollectors and persons liable in accounting and payment for the aforesaid loan and tax respectively that they and every one of them, according to their several charges and employments, readily set down, perfect and report the stent rolls of the said collection and tax within the several bounds committed to them, and make timely payment thereof; and that they and all others within this kingdom give ready obedience to all letters and executorials to be directed in name and at the instance of the said collector general, his deputes, subcollectors or under-receivers for that effect, according to the aforesaid act of convention; for all which letters and orders to be directed for that effect, the aforesaid act of convention with this commission shall be a sufficient warrant. And this present commission the said estates appoint and ordain to continue and endure until the aforesaid loan and tax respectively and either of them be fully and completely uplifted and paid and the accounts of the same perfected and cleared.