February 1644

[13 February, 1643/4.]

The Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, taking into their serious consideration the present condition of the Counties of Salop and Cheshire, and the dammage which may accrue to this Kingdome by the frequent landing of Irish Forces in the Counties of North-Wales, and joyning themselves with such Delinquents and Papists, as are now in Arms in those parts against the Parliament, and his Majesties Sovereign Power and Authority therein residing, which tends to the subversion of the fundamental constitution, Government and Tranquillity of this Realm, the Liberty and Priviledges of the Subjects and the Protestant Religion, witihin his Majesties Dominions, have thought fit that a timely course may be taken for prevention of the access of any Irish Forces into those parts for the future, by the speedy reducing of the six Counties of North-Wales, to their due obedience to the Parliament.

For the effecting and compleating of their work, it is necessary that fifteen hundred Foot, and three hundred Horse be speedily raised and levyed, with sufficient Arms, Ammunition, and Money to pay them for six moneths next ensuing.

Power to take subscriptions,; And to give Acquittances.; To put in execution several Ordinances.; To set Delinquents Lands to satisfie the Lenders.; Publique Faith in case it be not satisfied as before.

To which end and purpose, the said Lords and Commons (being well assured of the fidelity and resolution of Sir Thomas Middleton Knight, one of the Members of the House of Commons, and Serjeant Major General of the Parliaments Forces for the said six Counties of North-Wales, have ordained, and be it ordained by the said Lords and Commons, that the said Sir Thomas Middleton shall have, and hereby hath full power and authority, to take the subscriptions of all such persons as will voluntarily lend or contribute any sum or sums of money towards the raising and maintaining of the said Forces, buying of Arms and Ammunition, and for other necessaries for the advancement of the said service, upon such terms and conditions as the several Lenders shall agree, which sums of money so to be subscribed or lent as aforesaid, the said Sir Thomas Middleton and his Assignes are hereby authorized to receive and imploy for the service aforesaid, and to give notes or acquittances for the several sums so received; which said notes or acquittances shall be a sufficient specialty and evidence for the several persons, that shall lend or contribute any money as aforesaid, to demand repayment thereof, with such increase as shall be agreed upon, so as the same shall not exceed eight pounds per centum. And for the better inabling of the said Sir Thomas Middleton to make repayment of such moneys as shall be lent for the purposes aforesaid, and to perform such conditions and agreements as the several subscribers shall agree unto, and for the maintenance of the said Forces and advancement of the said service, be it further ordained by the said Lords and Commons, That the said Sir Thomas Middleton shall have, and hereby hath full power and authority to put into execution, within the several Counties of Flint, Denbigh, Montgomery, Merioneth, Carnarvan, and Anglesey, the several Ordinances of this present Parliament hereafter mentioned, that is to say, the Ordinances for sequestration of Delinquents and Papists Estates, the Ordinances for the levying of moneys by way of Excise or new Impost, the Ordinance for the raising of money by taxing such as have not at all contributed, or not according to their Estates, the Ordinance for the weekly Assessments, and all other Ordinances made this present Parliament for advance of money through the whole Kingdome and Dominion of Wales, for the service of the King and Parliament. And for the more speedy raising of money for the repayment of such sums as shall be raised by subscriptions as aforesaid: Be it also Ordained by the said Lords and Commons, That the said Sir Thomas Middleton shall have, and hereby hath full power and authority to set, and let the Lands, Tenements, and Hereditaments, of Delinquents, which shall be seized and sequestred within the said six Counties of North-Wales, or any of them from year to year, or by Lease or Leases, untill the said moneys so subscribed and payed, be satisfied and discharged, and the conditions and agreements with the several Lenders fully performed; And in case the said Lenders shall not receive full satisfaction of their principal money to be lent as aforesaid with the interest thereof, out of the Delinquents Estates, or otherwise beforesaid expressed, that then the said Lenders and every of them shall have the Publique Faith of the Kingdome for the payment of such sums of money as shall be due unto them. And whereas the said Counties of North-Wales are wholly subjected to the Power and Tyranny of the Commissioners of Array, by reason whereof no Commissioners have been named in any of the said Counties, for the putting in execution of any of the said Ordinances of Parliament;

Power to name Commissioners and other Officers.

Be it also Ordained by the said Lords and Commons, That the said Sir Thomas Middleton shall have, and hereby hath full Power and Authority to name and appoint Commissioners, Treasurers, Receivers, Collectors and Agents within the said Counties of North-Wales, for the putting in execution of all and every the Ordinances of Parliament before mentioned, and of all other Ordinances of Parliament, wherein no Commissioners are named for the said Counties, which said Commissioners and other persons so to be named and appointed by the said Sir Thomas Middleton, shall by vertue of this present Ordinance have as full Power and Authority to put the said respective Ordinances in execution, as if they were named by the two Houses of Parliament, and their names inserted in the said respective Ordinances.

How the money lent on this Ordinance shall be paid.; Accompts.; Allowances to Persons imployed.; Rents of the Water-works.; Delinquents personal Estates in London and Westminster not yet sequestred.; Power to administer Oath.

And be it also ordained by the said Lords and Commons, That the several sums of money which shall be lent for advancement of the said service, and such increase as shall be due for every respective sum so lent, according to the true intent and meaning of this Ordinance, shall be satisfied and paid out of the first money that shall be raised within the said Counties of NorthWales by vertue of the forementioned Ordinances, and of this present Ordinance. And the said Sir Thomas Middleton is hereby enabled and authorized to require and take Accompts from time to time of the said Commissioners, Treasurers, and other persons, of their doings and proceedings therein, and to give such fitting and reasonable allowance unto such persons as shall be employed in the execution of the Ordinances aforesaid, and of this present Ordinance, or any of them, for their pains and charges therein, as the said Sir Thomas Middleton shall think fit; provided, that such allowance shall not exceed the respective rates allowed in the City of London, and other parts of the Kingdome, for the putting of the said Ordinances in execution. And be it further ordained, That the Rents and Profits of the Water-work brought to London by Sir Hugh Middleton Baronet deceased, belonging to his Majesty, or to any Delinquent, shall from time to time be paid unto the said Sir Thomas Middleton, to be employed in the said service: and that Delinquents personal Estates within the Cities of London and Westminster, and the Suburbs thereof, not yet sequestred nor discovered, and which shall be discovered by the said Sir Thomas Middleton, within one moneth next after the publishing of this Ordinance in Print, shall be allowed unto the said Sir Thomas Middleton for the advancement of the said service: provided always, that the said concealed Estates do not exceed the sum of 3,000 pounds; and that the said Sir Thomas Middleton do not possess himself thereof before he acquaint the Committee of Lords and Commons for Sequestrations therewith to the end they may judge of the Delinquency of the person before his Estate be sequestred and taken away. And the said Sir Thomas Middleton is hereby authorized to administer the several Oathes specified in the foresaid Ordinances unto such Commissioners and persons, as by the true meaning of the said Ordinances, of these presents or any of them ought to take the same.

Indempnity.

And be it further ordained, That whatsoever the said Sir Thomas Middleton, or any other person shall do or cause to be done in pursuance to this or any other the said Ordinances of Parliament, within the said Counties of North-Wales, the same is ratified and confirmed by the Power and Authority of Parliament: And that the said Sir Thomas Middleton shall render an accompt of all his doings and proceedings in the said service, to the two Houses of Parliament: And that he, the said Sir Thomas Middleton, and all other persons whatsoever imployed in the execution of the said Ordinances, or any of them, shall be saved and kept harmless in their Persons and Estates for their doings and proceedings in the premises by the Power and Authority of Parliament.