Section V Clerk of the Crown to enter single and double Returns of Members, and Alterations made therein in a Book.

All Persons may have free Access thereto; Fee; Book or true Copy thereof Evidence; Clerk of the Crown not making Entry, or altering or unduly giving Certificate or neglecting Duty; Penalty £500, and Loss of Office, and Incapacity.

And for the more easie and better proof of any such false or double Returne Bee it enacted by the Authority aforesaid That the Clerk of the Crowne for the time being shall from time to time enter or cause to bee entered in a Book for that purpose to bee kept in his Office every Single and Double Returne of any Member or Members to serve in Parliament which shall bee returned or come into his Office or to his Hands and alsoe every Alteration and Amendment as shall bee made by him or his Deputy in every such Returne to which Book all Persons shall have feee Accesse at all seasonable times to search and take true Copies of soe much thereof as shall bee desired paying a reasonable Fee or Reward for the same And that the Partie or Parties prosecuting such Suit shall and may att any Tryal give in Evidence such Book soe kept or a true Copy thereof relateing to such False or Double Returne and shall have the like Advantage of such proof as hee or they should or might have had by produceing the Record it selfe Any Law Custome or Usage to the contrary notwithstanding And in case the said Clerke of the Crown shall not within Six Days after any Returne shall come into his Office or to his Hands duely and fairely make such Entry or Entries as aforesaid or shall make any Alteration in any Returne unlesse by Order of the House of Commons or give any Certificate of any Person not returned or shall willfully neglect or omitt to performe his Duty in the Premisses hee shall for every such Offence forfeit to the Party and Parties aggrieved the Su[m]m of Five hundred Pounds to bee recovered as aforesaid and shall alsoe forfeit and lose his said Office and bee for ever incapable of having or holding the same.