MIP   blazon or coat of arms of the City of London An Act of common-council concerning the Collecting and gathering of the fifteens Granted for the necessary Defence of the City of London.  
Commune Concilium tentum in Camera Guildhall Civitatis London, septimo die Aprilis 1643 post meridiem, Annoque Regni Domini nostri Caroli, nunc Regis Angliae, &c. decimo nono, coram Isaac Pennington Majore secundo tempore Civitatis London, Jacobo Garrad Milite, Thoma Atkin, Johan. Wollaston Milite, Thoma adam's, Johan. Warner, Johan. Towse, Abraha. Reynardson, Georgio Garret Milite, Johan. Fowke, Jacobo Bunce, Willi. Gibbs, & Richardo Chambers, Aldermannis Civitatis praedictae, ac Johan. Langham, & Thoma Andrews, Aldermannis ac dicte Civitatis Vicecomit' Necnon majore parte Communariorum de Communi Concilio ejusdem Civitatis tunc & ibidem Assemblat'.  
WHEREAS at a Common council here holden, the three and twentyeth day of February last past, eight fifteens (after the new rate) were granted for the necessary defence of this City, and thereby Collectors are to be made, and directions given, in what manner, and to whom, and to what purpose the said moneys Collected shall be paid and issued out, as by the said Act it doth more at large appear. And forasmuch as this Court is informed by some Members thereof, that the Collecting of the said moneys is much detarded and hindered, by reason that divers Collectors conceive that they have not power to distrain for the same, in case the same be refused to be paid; For clearing of which doubt, and furthering the Collecting of the same;  
It is declared granted, and enacted by the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor, the Right worshipful the Aldermen his Brethren, and Commons in this Common council assembled, and by authority of the same: That it shall and may be lawful to and for all and every of the Collectors of the said fifteens, respectively within his and their respective divisions or collections, to distrain any person or persons refusing to pay the said fifteens, by his, her, and their goods and Chattels, and the same to take, carry away and retain, until such person or persons so refusing, shall pay his or her part or portion of the said fifteens. And for his assistance shall (if he or they require the same) take unto him or them any Constable or Constables within the Parish or Ward, where any person or persons refusing shall dwell. And that all the Constables within the City of London and Liberties thereof, as well within privileged places as without, shall and are hereby required (upon request of any Collector or Collectors of the said fifteens) to aid and assist such Collector or Collectors to take Distresses for default of payment of the said fifteens. And that it shall be lawful to and for the Right Honourable the Lord Mayor to make a Warrant or Precept unto any Collector (requiring the same) to distrain the Goods and Chattels of every person or persons refusing to pay the said fifteens. And for the better encouragement of the said Collectors in the due executing of their duties and speedy collecting of the several sums of Money in their several and respective Collections; It is granted, agreed and enacted by authority aforesaid, That if the said Collectors or any of them shall distrain the Goods and chattels of any person or persons refusing to pay the said fifteens, for the said moneys or any part thereof by a reasonable distress; And that for the same, he, they, or any person or persons that doth or shall aid or assist him, them, or any of them, in taking such reasonable distress, shall be sued or put to charges, that then such Collectors and every one of them, and all Constables and others, persons aiding and assisting them or any of them therein, shall be defended and saved harmless by this Court.   

Printed by Richard Cotes, Printer to the Honourable City of London.