Charles II, 1666: An Act for Burying in Woollen onely.

Statutes of the Realm: Volume 5, 1625-80. Originally published by Great Britain Record Commission, s.l, 1819.

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'Charles II, 1666: An Act for Burying in Woollen onely.', in Statutes of the Realm: Volume 5, 1625-80, (s.l, 1819) pp. 598. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/statutes-realm/vol5/p598a [accessed 24 March 2024]

In this section

Reasons for passing this Act.

Burying in Shirt, &c. made other than of Wool; Penalty £5.; Distress on Goods of the Party interred, or of Persons offending.

For the Encouragement of the Woollen Manufactures of this Kingdome and prevention of the Exportation of the Moneyes thereof for the buying and importing of Linnen Bee it enacted by the Kings most Excellent Majestie by and with the Advice and Consent of the Lords Spirituall and Temporall and Commons in this present Parlyament assembled and by ( (fn. 1) ) Authoritie thereof That from and Acter the Five and twentyeth day of March in the yeare of our Lord One thousand six hundred sixty seaven Noe person or persons whatsoever shall be buryed in any Shirt Shift or Sheete made of or mingled with Flax Hempe, Silke, Haire, Gold or Silver or other then what shall be made of Wooll onely, or be putt into any Coffin lined or faced with any thing made of or mingled with Flax Hempe Silke or Haire upon paine of the forfeiture of the summe of Five pounds to be imployed to the use of the Poore of the Parish where such person shall be buryed for and towards the provideing a Stocke or Worke house for the setting them at worke to be levyed by the Church wardens and Overseers of the Poore of such Parish or one of them by Warrant from any Justice of the Peace or Maior Alderman or Head Officer of Citty Towne or Place Corporate respectively within their severall Limitts by Distresse and Sale of the Goods of the partie interred contrary to this Act rendering the overplus, or in defaulte thereof by Distresse and Sale of the Goods of any that had a hand in the putting such person into such Shift Sheete or Coffin contrary to this Act, or did order or dispose the doeing thereof to be levyed and imployed as abovesaid.

II. Proviso respecting Persons dying of the Plague.

Provided that noe penaltie appointed by this Act shall be incurred for or by the reason of any person that shall dye of the Plague though such person be buryed in Linnen.

Footnotes

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