December 1642
[8 December, 1642.]
Whereas an Army, consisting of Papists, Delinquents, and
others, ill-affected Persons to the Protestant Religion, and the
Laws and Liberties of this Kingdom, have possessed themselves
of his Majesty's Person, and, by Colour of His Authority, have
marched through divers Counties of this Kingdom, and have
plundered, spoiled, and wasted the same, in a barbarous and inhuman Manner, have wounded and plundered many of His
Majesty's most faithful Subjects, and are still going on to commit
the like Spoil, Waste, and Rapine, in all other Parts, which, if
not timely prevented, must necessarily bring a speedy Famine,
Death, and Desolation, upon the whole Kingdom; and whereas
divers well-affected Persons, out of several Counties, have drawn
themselves into a Body to join with the Earl of Essex's Forces,
for the suppressing of the said Army (an Act well becoming all
true-hearted Englishmen, and Lovers of their Country and
Religion, and necessary to be imitated by all other Counties,
that would prevent the Ruin of both): Now, forasmuch as those
Persons that are, or hereafter shall assemble themselves for that
Purpose, cannot bear the Charge thereof, or continue together
without the Aid and Assistance of the several Counties out of
which they come, and that it is agreeable with all Equity
and Justice, that, as the Benefit doth redound to all,
so all should bear the Burthen and Charge thereof,
it is therefore Ordained and Ordered, by the Lords and Commons
in Parliament, That the Deputy Lieutenants of the said several
Counties, nominated and appointed by Parliament, or any Two
of them respectively, shall have Power, and are hereby
authorized, within their several Counties, from Time to Time, as
the Occasion shall require, to charge the said several Counties
with such Sums of Money as shall be requisite for that
Service, and to apportion the same upon the several Hundreds
and Corporations within the said Counties, according to the
usual Proportions in other Public Rates; and shall likewise
have Power to nominate Assessors, to tax the Inhabitants of the
said Hundreds and Corporations, and to appoint Collectors to
levy and collect the same.
And, in case any Person so rated shall refuse to pay the
Sum or Sums of Money which he is taxed to pay, that then
the said Deputy Lieutenants, or any Two of them, within
their several and respective Counties, shall have Power, and
are hereby authorized, to issue out their Warrants to the said
Collectors, to levy the same by Distress, and to sell the Goods
so distrained, returning to the Owner the Overplus; and, in case
no Distress can be had or taken, to commit the Party so refusing
to the Common Gaol of the County, there to remain, without
Bail or Mainprise, until he shall pay the Sum and Sums so
assessed as aforesaid.