September 1643
[18 September, 1643.]
Whereas it appeareth by an humble Petition this day read
that the distressed Clergy of the Kingdom of Ireland, were at
the beginning of that Rebellion there, dispoyled of there Personall
Estates, and have beene ever since deprived of their respective
livings, By the Barbarous Rebells, and are now ready to perish,
with their wives and Children, for want of present livelyhood.
The Lords and Commons now Assembled in Parliament, having
taken the same into their Charitable Considerations, doe thinke
fit, that there shall be a Collection made in, and throughout
the Cities of London, and Westminster, and the severall Counties
of Midlesex, Essex, Kent, Surrey, and Hertford for their reliefe.
Collection to be made.; in all Parishes in London, and within the adjoining Counties or distressed Clergy in Ireland.; Moneys collected within 10 miles of London to be paid to Receivers.
Be it therefore Ordained by the Lords and Commons in this
present Parliament Assembled, That all and every the Church
Wardens and Over-Seers of the Poore within all and every the
Severall Places, and Parishes of the Cities of London, and
Westminster and Bourough of Southwarke, and of the Severall
Counties of Midlesex, Essex, Kent, Surrey, and Hertford, aforesaid, shall and may forthwith, and before the twenty-sixth day
of November next, within their respective Parishes and Places
aforesaid, aske, take, receive, and gather the severall Gifts, and
Charitable Benevolences of all and every person, and persons to,
and for the Reliefe of the said distressed Clergy, their Wives,
and Children; And the same so received, and gathered in each
severall Place, or Parish which shall be within the distance or
Tenn Miles of the City of London, to set downe in a note in
writing, in words at large, and not in figures, The same to be
subscribed by the Minister, Parson, Viccar, or Curate of the said
Place or Parish; And by the said Church-Wardens, or one of
them; And to be paid, and delivered unto Doctor William
Goudge Minister of Black-friars London, Doctor Josua Hoyle,
Minister of Stepeny, Doctor Thomas Temple, Minister of
Battersey, Mr. Joseph Carrell Preacher at Lincolns Inne, Master
William Price Minister of Mildreds Bredstreet, Mr. Herle, Mr.
Cheynell, Mr. Wilkinson junior; or any three of them, who by
this Ordinance are appointed Receivers, and Treasurers of the
same, Or to such deputy Receivers as they shall appoint at
Doctor Goudges House in Black-friers, aforesaid: at or before
the thirtieth day of November aforesaid.
Receivers to give Acquittances.; Money collected in places above 10 miles distant.
Which said Receivers or one of them, or their Deputy Receivers, are to give severall Acquittances for the same, And the
summes so received and gathered in each severall Place, and
Parish, which shall be above Tenne Miles distant from the City
of London, to be kept in the hands of the Church-Wardens, till
they be demanded of them by such a person as shall be designed
by the aforesaid Ministers, and that designation made knowne
under the hands of the Knights and Burgesses which serve for
the said Counties, or any seven of them, from whom they shall
receive Acquittances for their discharge.
Moneys how to be disposed of.
Be it further Ordained by the Authority aforesaid, that the
said Receivers or any two of them Imediatly after the Receipt of
the severall sumes of mony from the Church-Wardens of the
Respective Places or Parishes within the severall Cities and
Counties aforesaid, shall call to their Assistance William Newman
and Griffith Peirce, Ministers and agents for the said distressed
Clergy, or one of them who are to advise concerning the sending
over the said Moneys (the necessary Charges of the said Agents
and of such others as shall bee necessarily Imployed in the
execution of this Ordinance, being first discharged unto faithfull
and trusty Persons in Dublin, and other places of Ireland; to
bee by them disposed of to such of the Clergy there as are in
distresse, according to their Merrit, and proportionable to the
exigencies of them and their families.
Ministers to publish this; Ord. in their Churches and Chapels.; Ministers or others neglecting their duty accountable to Parliament.
Be it further Ordained by the Authority aforesaid, That the
Ministers, Parsons, Viccars, and Curates, of all, and every the
Cities of London, and Westminster, and Counties aforesaid, shall
Publish this Ordinance in their severall Parish-Churches and
Chappells respectively, upon any Lords day after the same shall
come to their hands within the aforesaid time Limited, And shall
use their best endeavours to move and perswade their Parishioners
liberally to Contribute to so good a worke; And that if any
Minister, Parson, Viccar, Curate, Church-Warden, or Over-Seer
of the Poore within the severall Places or Parishes of the Cities,
Boroughs, and Counties aforesaid, or any of them, shall neglect
his or their duty in the due execution of the Premises, that he
or they shall be accomptable in Parliament for such his or their
neglect.
No Collections to be made after Nov. 30.
Provided alwayes that this Ordinance shall not be put in
execution touching any such Collections as aforesaid, longer
then or from or after the thirtieth day of November next.