WHereas His Majesties Revenue arising by Fire-hearths and Stoves ( notwithstanding His great care in appointing Collectors , Surveyors , and other Officers for the Collecting , Surveying , and Managing thereof ) hath beén of late impaired and lessened , and much thereof remains in arrear in several parts of this Kingdom , which is occasioned by concealing of many Fire-hearths and Stoves which by Law are chargeable with the said Duty , and refusing to permit His Majesties Officers to make their Views and take Distresses , contrary to the Statutes made concerning the said Revenue : And whereas His Majesty hath by Letters Patents under His Great Seal of England , bearing date the Thirteénth day of June now last past , Constituted and Appointed Abraham Anselme , John Pery , and Edward Buckley of London Esquires , their Deputies , Agents , Substitutes and Assigns , to be His Majesties Officer , and Officers for the Receiving , Collecting , and Answering the Duty arising by the said Fire-hearths and Stoves , by vertue of the several Acts of Parliament in that behalf , or any of them , which shall grow due upon , and after the Feast of Sa●nt Michael the Archangel next ensuing , for and during the term of Five years , to be computed from the 26th day of March last past before the date of these Presents , And for the present Viewing , Surveying and Numbring of the several Chimney-hearths and Steves mentioned in the said Acts of Parliament , and for the inspecting and examining the several Rolls , Certificates , and Returns thereof made and to be made , from time to time into His Majesties Court of Exchequer , in pursuance of the said Act , or Acts , or any other thing belonging to the same , and to do and execute all and every other the matters and things directed and authorized to be done by a late Act , ( Intituled , An Act for Collecting the Duty arising by Hearth-money by Officers to be appointed by His Majesty ) which by the said Letters Patents they are enabled to do forthwith , and as often during the said term as to them shall seém expedient for His Majesties service ; But they are not by vertue thereof to Receive or Collect any Arrears of the said Duties incurred or grown due before the 10th day of April last past . His Majesty , to the intent that all His Loving Subjects may have due notice of the same , and that Iustices of the Peace , and Chief Magistrates , and all inferiour Officers in their respective Places and Offices may give due and effectual Assistance to the said Abraham Anselme , John Pery , and Edward Buckley , and their Deputies , Substitutes and Agents , hath thought fit ( with the Advice of His Privy Council ) to Declare , And His Majesty doth hereby Publish and Declare His Royal Will and Pleasure to be , That all Arrears of the said Revenue , as well those that were incurred at or before the Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary now last past , as also all future growing Duties , shall with all possible speéd and diligence be Collected , Levied by , and Paid unto His Majesties Officers , and their Deputies appointed for that purpose ; That is to say , What was due on or before the said Feast of the Annunciation of the Blessed Virgin Mary last past , to such Receivers , or Collectors , as before the said Letters Patents were , and now continue , or shall at any time hereafter be Commissioned by His Majesty in pursuance of the said Act of Parliament in that behalf , and none other ; And what shall grow due on the Feast of Saint Michael the Archangel next , and so forwards during the said term of Five years , to the said Abraham Anselme , John Pery , and Edward Buckley , their Deputies , Agents , Substitutes and Assigns . And His Majesty doth hereby strictly charge and command all Iustices of the Peace , Chief Magistrates , Headboroughs , Constables , Tythingmen , and all other Officers whom it doth or may concern , That they , and every of them in their respective Office and Places , be aiding and assisting to the said Abraham Anselme , John Pery , and Edward Buckley , their Deputies , Agents , Substitutes and Assigns , in the Collecting and Levying the said Duty , whereof they are appointed Collectors in manner aforesaid : And His Majesty doth hereby strictly charge and command all His Loving Subjects whatsoever , to permit and suffer them from time to time to enter , and make perfect Views and Surveys for the numbring all Fire-hearths and Stoves within each County , City , and Place within the Kingdom of England , Dominion of Wales , and Town of Berwick upon Tweed ; And in case of any resistance or refusal , His Majesty doth hereby command all Iustices of the Peace , Chief Magistrates , Headboroughs , Constables , Tythingmen , and all other Officers , that they be aiding and assisting to the utmost of their respective powers , that such Views and Surveys may be duly and thoroughly made . And His Majesty doth further require , That all illegal and undue Certificates be forthwith discharged , to the end that no person may thereby pretend to be exempted from the said Duty , which he ought to pay by Law : And herein His Majesty doth expect and require from all His Loving Subjects such effectual care and diligence , That all concealed Fire-hearths and Stoves may be speédily detected , all illegal and undue Certificates for exempting of any persons from payment of the said Duty discharged , and all Obstructions in the Collecting and Levying of the said Revenue removed , and that all persons that shall oppose or injure the said Officers , or any of their Deputies in the due execution of the said Acts , be punished according to Law , upon pain of His Majesties high displeasure , and of being proceéded against as Contemners of His Royal Authority . And to the end this His Majesties Will and Pleasure may be made known , His Majesty doth hereby Will and Require all Sheriffs , Mayors , and Bayliffs , in their several and respective Counties , Cities , and Towns Corporate of this Kingdom , to cause this His Royal Proclamation to be Published in all and every the Market-places within their respective limits , upon some Market-day within fourteén days after their receipt thereof , as they will answer the contrary at their perils .