ACT For Pole-Money, May 29. 1693.  
THE ESTATES OF PARLIAMENT taking to their Consideration, that the Arrears due to the Country and Army, preceding the first day of February one thousand six hundred and ninety one, are not as yet paid, by the Fonds appointed in the former Session of this Parliament, And that it is most Just, that the same be duly and truly paid. THEREFORE, in Order to the said payment, viz. That the foresaid Arrears due to the Country, may be paid in the first place; and then the Arrears due to the Forces, in such manner, as that all Officers, Regiments and Troops, may be first brought up to an equal Foot, and thereafter Completed: and that what remains thereof, may be disposed of, as their MAJESTIES shall think fit, do freely and cheerfully offer the Pole-money following: And for making the same effectual, Their MAJESTIES, with Advice and Consent of the said's Estates, STATUTE and ORDAIN, that all Persons of whatsomever Age, Sex, or Quality, shall be subject and liable, to the Pole of six shilling Scots per Head, except poor Persons, who live upon Charity, and the Children under the Age of sixteen years, and In familia of all these Persons, whose Pole is one pound ten shilling Scots, or under the same. That, beside the said six shilling Scots imposed upon all the Persons that are not excepted, a Cotter having a Trade, shall pay six shilling Scots more, making in the whole, twelve shilling Scots for every such Cotter. That all Servants, that receives more than six pound Scots of yearly Fee, in money, or otherways, shall pay the twentieth part of the said Fee, including the six shilling. Scots of general Pole, which is to be imposed upon all Persons that are not above excepted. That all Tenants pay in name of Pole to the King, a Mark, for each hundreth Marks of the Masters valued Rend, effeiring to their respective Rents, including the foresaid six shilling, of general Pole; and appoints the Master of the Ground, to Adjust the Proportions of the Pole-money amongst the several Tenants, according to their respective Duties, payable by them in Money, or Victual, effeiring to his valued Rent. For which Pole, all Pole-money heretofore appointed to be paid by Tenants to their Masters, is hereby expressly discharged, and the Act or Acts thereanent rescinded. That Tradesmen inhabiting within any Burgh, whether of Royalty, Regality, or Barony, whose free Stock and Means is above an hundred Marks, and does not extend to five hundreth Marks, be subject to a Mark Scots, including the foresaid six shilling of general Pole. That all Tradesmen living within any of the said's burgh's, whose free Stock and Means extends to five hundreth Marks shall be subject and liable to one pound ten shilling, including the foresaid six shilling of general Pole. That all Merchants or Shopkeepers, and Tradesmen Inhabitants within any of the said burgh's, whose free Stock and Means is above five hundreth Marks, and does not extend to five thousand Marks, shall be subject and liable to two pound ten shilling of Pole-money, including ut supra. And that those whose free Stock and Means is above five thousand Marks and does not extend to ten thousand Marks, shall be liable in four pound, including ut supra. That all Merchants, Shopkeepers, Chapmen and Tradesmen Inhabitants within any of the said's burgh's, or else where, whose free Estate and Stock does extend to, or is above ten thousand Marks in worth and value, shall be subject and liable to ten pounds of Pole-money, including ut supra. That all Gentlemen so Holden and Repute, and owning themselves to be such, and who will not renounce any pretence they have to be such, shall be subject and liable in three pounds of Pole-money, if they be not otherways classed, and upon another consideration made subject to a greater Pole, the said three pounds always including the general Pole of six shilling, ut supra. That all Heretors above fifty pounds, and under two hundred pounds of valued Rent, be subject and liable to four pound of Pole-money, including ut supra. That all Heretors above two hundred pounds Scots, and under five hundreth pound of valued Rent, be liable to nine pound of Pole-money, including ut supra. That all Heretors of five hundred pounds of valued Rent, or above the same, and under one thousand pounds of valued Rent be subject and liable to twelve pound Scots of Pole money, including ut supra. That all Heretors of one thousand pounds of valued Rent, or above the same, and all Knight Baronet's, and Knights, be subject and liable to twentyfour pounds of Pole-money, including ut supra. That all Lords pay forty pounds of Pole-money including ut supra. That all Viscounts pay fifty pounds of Pole-money, including ut supra. That all Earls pay sixty pounds of Pole-money, including ut supra. That all Marquesses pay fourscore pounds of Pole-money, including ut supra. That all Dukes pay one hundreth pounds, including ut supra. That the Sons of Noblemen pay according to their Rank, viz. All Duke's eldest Sons as Marquesses, and their younger Sons as Earls. All Marquis' eldest Sons as Earls, and their younger Sons as Viscounts. All Earls eldest Sons as Viscounts, and the younger Sons, shall be liable in twenty four pounds of Pole. All Viscounts and Lords Sons in twenty four pounds. And that all Nobleman's Daughters unmarried, and forisfamiliat, shall be liable in the third of the Pole of their eldest Brothers▪ That all Widows, whose Husbands would have been liable to one pound ten shilling of Pole money, or above, are to be subject and liable to the third part of their Husband's Pole, except Heiresses, who shall be subject to the same Pole their Predecessor would have been. That all Gentlewomen never married, and forisfamiliat, or provided, and in possession of their Estate, shall be subject and liable in the third part of their eldest Brothers Pole. That all Notars and Procurators before inseriour Courts, and Messengers at Arms, are to be subject and liable to four pounds of Pole-money, including ut supra. Thall all Writters not to the Signet, Agents and Clerks of inferior Courts, and Macets, shall pay six pounds of Pole-money, including ut supra. That all Writters to the Signet, Clerks of Sovereign Courts, all Advocats, Sheriffs and their Deputs, Commissars and their Deputs, and Doctors of Physic, shall pay twentyfour pounds of Pole-money, including ut supra. That all Ministers having Benefices, or Stipends, and Parish Kirks not planted, shall pay twelve pounds of Pole. That all Officers of the Army, shall be liable in a days pay for their Pole. That all persons who are to pay the said respective Poles, though they be Poled in different Capacities, are only to pay once at the greatest rate. And for the better stating, ordering and uplifting the said Pole-money, Their MAJESTIES, with consent foresaid, STATUTE and ORDAIN, that the Commissioners of Assessment, or their Quorum, shall Meet and Conveen at the ordinar place of their Meeting, upon the second Tuesday of August, one thousand six hundreth and ninety four, and their shall divide the whole Commissioners, whether present or absent, into such Divisions as they shall think fit: appointing Parishes, one or more; for Commissioners one or more is they shall see convenient, to meet the last Tuesday of the said month of August, at the respective places to be appointed, impowering the said's Commissioners; to take up Rolls and Lists, of all the poleable persons within the respective Bounds appointed to them, containing the Names, Qualities and Degrees of the several persons, and of the value of the Estates belonging to them, conform to the said Act: and ordains the Magistrates of Burghs-Royal, to meet the third Tuesday of the said month of August, and to take up Rolls and Lists, of all the poleable persons within their respective burgh's, containing their Names, Qualities and Degrees, and the value of their Estates, and which Commissioners and Magistrates of burgh's, are to give Intimation at the Kirk door, upon a Sunday upon three days Warning, at least to the persons to be polled, to Compear before them at the Parish-Kirk, to give up their Names, Qualities, Degrees and values of their Estate, to the Effect the respective Poles may be stated, and set down by the said Commissioner or Commissioners of Assessment, or Magistrates of burgh's respective. And which Rolls, the said's Persons are to give up, or send under their Hand if they can write: otherways if they cannot write their Name, Quality, Degree and Estate, shall be marked by the Clerk, as they give it up, excepting sennents, whose Names, and the Pole-money payable by them, shall be given up, or sent by their Masters under their Hands, with Certification, that such as do not Compear, or send under their Hands their Names, Qualities, and value of their Estate, or do give up their Quality, Degree or value of their Estate, otherways than it should be, they shall be liable in the quadruple of their Pole; the equal half whereof shall belong to the Informer, who shall make the same appear. And which Lists and Rolls being so made up within the respective Sub-divisions, shall be Recorded and Booked in a Register of the Shire, or Burgh, for that purpose: whereof there shall be an Abstract sent to the Lords of the Thesaury, betwixt and the first of October, one thousand six hundred and ninety four, containing the number of the persons in the several Classes and Ranks above specified, with the extent of their Pole. And their Majesties, with Advice and Consent of the said Estates, do Ordain the foresaid Pole-money to be paid at, or before the Term of Martinmass, one thousand six hundred and ninety four: and Requires the Commissioners of Assessment, and Magistrates of burgh's, to cause Intimation to be made for the payment thereof, at the Kirk-doors of the several Parish-Kirks, upon the first Sunday of October, one thousand six hundred and ninety four: Certifying: such as shall not make punctual payment at the said Term of Martinmass one thousand six hundred and ninety four, they shall be liable in the quadruple of their Pole, and Ordains Execution to be used against them for the same, by poinding of their readiest Goods, or imprisoning their persons. Likeas, Their Majesties, with Advice and Consent foresaid, hereby empowers the Lords of Privy Council, to Order and Appoint such further Methods and Courses, as they shall judge fit, for Stating and Inbringing of the Pole-money aforesaid; and to allow out of the said Pole-money, such Charges and Expenses, as shall be necessary for Execution of this Act. And their Majesties and Estates foresaid, do hereby strictly Appropriate, destiny and appoints the Sums to be raised by this Act, for the ends and uses above specified, viz. for payment of the foresaid Arrears due to the Country and the Army, in Manner and in the Order above mentioned, and the Remainder to be disposed of by Their Majesties. And hereby Prohibits and Discharges, the applying thereof to any other use whatsoever; Certifying such, as shall either give Orders for misapplying thereof, or Intromet with the same. The Misapplyers and Receivers thereof, shall be liable, Conjunctly and Severally in the double thereof, at the Instance of any Party concerned, and their private Estates subject and liable, for the double of that which shall be so misapplyed. And further, it is hereby Declared, that where the Arrears due to the Country by the Forces, shall be first duly stated, for any Burgh or Shire, conform to the Orders and Rules set down thereanent. The Burgh or Shire to whom the said Arrears shall be found due, shall have Retention, and get a Discharge of their Pole-money, in satisfaction of their said's Arrears: and the Declaration of the said Burgh or Shire, getting the said Retention, shall be sufficient for the Collectors Exoneration: and the Commissioners of Supply, and Magistrates of the foresaid Shires and burgh's respective, are hereby impowered, to distribute and proportion the said Pole-money, Retained to the persons there Inhabitants, conform to their Interest in the said Arrears. And where the Arrears due to any Shire or burgh's exceeds the Pole-money, due by the said Burgh or Shire; Then, and in that Case, the superplus shall be ordered to be paid by the Lords of the Thesaury, out of the Pole due, and brought in from other places, with regard always to the total of these Arrears, and the total of the said Pole. money; so that if the total of the Arrears shall exceed the total of the Pole, the foresaid superplus shall only be payable, and paid proportionably: and the Lords of Privy Council, are hereby fully impowered, to Decide and Determine finally, all Questions and Difficulties hereby undetermined; that may arise anent the premises. And lastly, it is hereby declared, that no Persons liable in payment of this Pole, shall be holden to produce their Discharges, or Receipts of the same, after the Term of Martinmass, one thousand six hundreth and ninety seven years.