Section X of An Act for laying further Duties on Low Wines, and for preventing the Damage to her Majesty’s Revenue by Importation of foreign cut Whalebone, and for making some Provisions as to the Stamp Duties, and the Duties on Births, Burials, and Marriages, and the Salt Duties, and touching Million Lottery Tickets, and for enabling her Majesty to dispose the Effects of William Kidd, a notorious Pirate, to the Use of Greenwich Hospital, and for appropriating the publick Monies granted in this Session of Parliament. (1705)

X. And Whereas by several Acts of Parliament, relating to the Duties on Marriages, Births, and Burials, all Parsons, Vicars, Curates, and other Ecclesiastical Persons, are required to take an exact and true Account, and keep a Register in Writing of all and every Person or Persons, married, buried, christened, or born, in his or their respective Parishes or Precincts ; and likewise in the same Registers, together with the Name of every Person so married, buried, christened, or born, to set down and express in Writing the respective Degree, Condition and Quality, according to which the Duty to the Crown ought to be paid : and in Case of Burials, the Heirs, Executors, Administrators, Fathers, Mothers, Guardians, Church-wardens or others, who by the said Acts ought to pay for the same, and where they dwell respectively : And in case of Births, the Names of the Fathers, Mothers, or those that take on them the Guardianship, or Care of such Children so born, and where they live respectively And in case of Marriages, the Place of Abode of the several Husbands, under the Penalty of one hundred Pounds for some of the said Omissions, and other great Penalties for the rest: And whereas several Persons, Vicars, and Curates, and other Ecclesiastical Persons, not being sufficiently apprized of the full Import of the said Acts of Parliament, have not exactly observed the Directions therein, as aforesaid, given, and thereby incurred the Penalties in the said Acts respectively mentioned, and they and their Families remain therefore exposed to Ruin, although the said Duties have been duly answered to her Majesty ;‘ Be it therefore enacted by the Authority aforesaid. That all and every Person and Persons in Holy Orders, Parson, Vicar, and Curate, and his and their Substitute, having neglected to keep a Register in Writing, as aforesaid, of all and every, or any Person or Persons so married, buried, christened, or born, as aforesaid, or to set down and express, together with the Name of such Person so married, buried, christened, or born, the respective Degree, Condition, or Quality, according to which the said late King’s or her present Majesty’s Duties ought to be paid, or the Name or Place of Abode of any Person or Persons, who ought to pay the same, in Case the said Duty for such Marriage, Birth, or Burial, be really answered and paid, or notified and brought in Charge to the Collector of the said Duties, shall be indemnified against, and discharged from all the Penalties and Forfeitures in the said Acts or any of them contained, for or upon Account of such Neglects only