February 1644
[27 February, 1643/4.]
The Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament being
credibly informed that many ministers in the County of Yorke,
are not onely of scandalous life and conversation, but leaving
their Churches and Cures, have withdrawne themselves wilfully
from the same, and have joyned with such forces as are raised
against the Parliament and Kingdome (thereby giving evill
example to the people under their charge) and have ayded and
assisted the said forces, with Men, Money, Horses or Armes.
Power to Ferdinando Lord Fair fax to appoint learned and godly Ministers to all vacant Benefices in County of York.
The said Lords and Commons taking the premises into consideration have ordained and authorized, and doe hereby ordaine
and authorize the right Honourable Ferdinando Lord Fairfax
to nominate appoint and place such able learned and Godly
Divines as he shall thinke fit, unto all such Churches and places
in the said County of Yorke, as are or shall be voyde or destitute
of Ministers by their withdrawing themselves to the forces raised
against the Parliament, or are, or shall be sequestred by vertue
of any Ordinance or order of Parliament, and shall and may
cause the said Ministers so nominated appointed and placed, to
be put into possession accordingly, which said Ministers respectively shall and may receive, perceive, and take to their owne
use the profits and revennues belonging to their severall Churches
and Cures, in as large and ample manner as the Ministers
therof have formerly used to doe.