September 1643
[19 September, 1643.]
Whereas the Inhabitants of the Town of Watford having
shewed themselves forward and zealous to expresse their affections for defence of Parliament and Kingdom, were authorized
by Ordinance of the 11 of November last to make Assessements,
and tax themselves and the rest of the Parish, according to the
quantity of their estates and abilities, for provision of competent
men, Arms and Ammunition, for defence of the same Town
and Parish, and to associate with such other Towns and Parishes
in the County of Hertford, & in the neighbour Counties of
Middlesex, Essex, and Buckingham, as would confederate and
joyn their strength with them, for the mutuall safety such of
other; and to Trayn, Exercise, and draw forth their forces
joyntly or severally for their best defence & preservation, as by
the said Ordinance appeareth: And whereas in pursuance of that
Ordinance, by the care and industry of divers well-affected persons
of the said Town of Watford and the Neighbourhood thereof,
one Regiment of Foot is already raised, and good hopes given
of raising more, if a convenient supply of power may be had
for doing of the same, in such a way and manner as may
probably bring the same to a speedy and good effect:
Names of Committee for Volunteers.; Instructions for Committee; To take subscriptions.; To enlist and train persons.; Persons enlisted may be used to suppress rebellions.; Power to tax County of Hertford.; To grant Warrants for distress of goods of those that refuse to pay; Sequestration.
The Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, taking the
Premises into their serious consideration, do hereby Order and
Ordain, That Sir John Garret Knight, Sir John Wittewrong
Knight, William Leman Esquire, Richard Porter Esquire,
Captain John Marsh, Captain Nathaniel Haws, Mr. Gabriel
Barber, Mr. Adam Washington, William Carter, Captain Daniel
Field, Thomas Mitchell, William Finch, Nathaniel Manisty,
Christopher Looffees, Zachary King, Henry King, John Gates,
Francis Clerk, John Gale, William Baylie, Randall Nicholl,
Daniel Nicholl, John Grub, Henry Marsh, William Smith,
Robert Warren, William Aileward, Nicholas Coleborn, and
William Hickman; All of them Inhabitants of the said County
of Hertford, shall be, and are hereby appointed to be a Committee for Voluntiers for the said County; And that the said
Committee, or any seven or more of them shall and may with
all convenient speed Summon to appear in some convenient
places within the said County, the Freeholders, and other the
Inhabitants of the Towns, Parishes, and Townships within the
said County of Hertford who are able to bear or finde Arms, or
to contribute towards the same, and there propound unto them
what present and imminent danger and necessity the whole
Kingdom is now reduced unto by the wicked and traiterous
Advice and Councell, Attempts and Conspiracies of Papists, and
other persons about His Majesty; And to take the Voluntary
Subscriptions for Men, Arms, Horse, and Monies, of such wellaffected persons as please to contribute, and come into this
imployment, and convert such contributions of Money and
Arms for the use of the same; And to List, Train, Exercise, and
put into readinesse aswell without the Liberties as within the
County aforesaid, such persons as shall be so subscribed for;
And them after their abilities and faculties well and sufficiently
from time to time to cause to be arrayed and armed, and to take
the Musters of them in places most fit for that purpose; And to
have Commissions granted in usuall form to such Commanders,
Collonels, Captains, and other Officers and Ministers for the
said Forces, as they shall present to the Right Honorable the
Earl of Manchester, appointed Sergeant Major Generall of the
said County of Hertford, and other associated Counties; And
shall have power by their Commanders and Officers, to Lead,
Conduct, and Imploy the persons aforesaid, arrayed and
weaponed, for suppression of all rebellious Insurrections and
Invasions that may happen within the said County, and for
doing all things else needfull thereto for the preservation, safety,
and peace of the said County of Hertford, and Counties
adjacent. And for the better raising of Monies for the maintenance of the great charges incident to a work of this nature,
It is further Ordained and Declared, That the said Committee,
or any seven or more of them shall have power to assesse and
Tax, or cause to be assessed and taxed upon the said County of
Hertford, according to the most usuall proportion of Rates in the
late weekly Assessments there, such summe or summes as shall
by them be judged convenient and necessary for the Arming,
Trayning, and Disciplining of the said Forces, so that it exceed
not the summe of 2001. by the week, and so as especially respect
be had of easing such as according to their ability do voluntarily
list men & Arms, or otherwise voluntarily contribute to the
employment aforesaid: And to grant Warrants under their
Hands and Seals in writing, to any Constables, or other Officers
whatsoever, to raise and leavie the said Summe and Summes to
be assessed and taxed as aforesaid, upon all such persons upon
whom any Summe shall be so assessed and set, who do refuse or
neglect to pay the same, by way of distresse, and sale of the
goods of the person so refusing and neglecting to pay the same;
And in case no distresse is or may be found, then to sequester
the Rents and other estates of such person and persons so
neglecting and refusing to pay the same, taking an exact
Inventory thereof and selling so much as may satisfie the
Assessement, and restoring the remainder and over-plus of the
said estate to the owner and owners respectively. And further,
the said Committee are required to certifie the names in writing
to the Committee of Lords and Commons for the safety of the
Kingdome, of all such inconformable and wilfull persons who
refuse to comply or contribute as aforesaid, that such further
course may be taken, as shall be thought fit; and that their
Arms may be taken and seized by the said Committee and their
agents, for the use and furtherance of the said service.
To appoint Sub-Committees.
And the said Committee for Voluntiers, & the major part of
them, are hereby authorised to adde to themselves such other
trusty persōs to be of their Cōmittee, as shal be approved of by
both Houses of Parliament; and to make such sub-Committee,
or sub-Committees as to them shall seeme expedient; every of
which sub-Committees shall and may exercise and execute such
power and authority as shall be delegated by the said Committee,
or the major part of them, for the better execution of the
premises.
Power to Inhabitants of Hertford to associate themselves with London, etc.
And it is lastly Ordained and Declared, That the Inhabitants
of the said County of Hertford, shall and may associate themselves with the City of London, or with any other Hundreds,
Towns, Parishes, or places in the Neighbour-hood, in the County
of Middlesex, Buckingham, and Essex, as will associate with
them, for the mutuall defence and preservation of themselves,
and of the said associated places, against Papists, Malignants
and others the common enemies of the Parliament and Kingdom:
And to admit into their Committee aforesaid, such persons of
the said City, Hundreds, or Towns, as shall desire to associate,
with the approbation of both Houses of Parliament.
Lord Cranborne to command Forces in Hertfordshire.
Provided alwayes, That so long as the said Forces which by
vertue of this Ordinance are to be raised, shall be or remain
in the County of Hertford, they shall be Ordered, Governed, and
Exercised by the aforesaid Committee, under the Command of
the Lord Viscount Cranborne, immediately by himselfe.