October 1644

[12 October, 1644.]

£22,000 to be raised for maintenance of Forces to be sent forth from London.; Committee for Assessment within London and Liberties thereof.; Committee for Assessment in Tower Hamlets, Westminster, etc.; Distress on refusal to pay.; Persons refusing to pay till distress charged for distress and removal.; Assistance.

The Lords and Commons taking into their consideration the necessity of sending forth some Forces from the City of London, and Liberties thereof, and other places mentioned in the weekly Bills of Mortality: And that for the better effecting thereof, the speedy raysing of a competent summe of Money within the City and places aforesaid, is requisite, Have therefore Ordained, and be it Ordained by the said Lords and Commons for the Intents and Purposes aforesaid, and to such further purposes as are hereafter expressed, That there be forthwith raised the summe of two and twenty thousands pounds, whereof the summe of seventeen thousand two hundred and fifty pounds within the said City and Liberties thereof, and upon such persons and Goods wheresoever they are to be found, as are herein after expressed: and foure thousand seven hundred and fifty pounds within the Hamblets of the Tower, City of Westminster, Borough of Southwarke, and other places mentioned in the weekly Bils of Mortality, and upon such Persons and Goods wheresoever they are to be found, as are herein also after expressed. And for the more speedy and orderly raising thereof, It is Ordained by the said Lords and Commons, that the Committee appointed by severall Acts of Common-Councell for the gathering in of the Arreares, and the foure Aldermen appointed by Act of Common Councell, dated the twenty seven of September last, or any nine of them, whereof three to be Aldermen, shall be a Committee to assesse the said summe of 17250. pounds upon any such person or persons, being of ability, as either now inhabit within the said City of London and Liberties, or that at any time since the beginning of this Parliament (being free men of London) did inhabit, or had since the time aforesaid, whether free, or not free of the City of London, or now have any Trade or Stock going within the same: And that the Sub-Committees of the Militia heretofore appointed within the Hamlets of the Tower, City of Westminster, Borough of Southwarke, and places mentioned in the weekly Bils of Mortality, or any seven of them respectively, shall be a Committee to assesse the said summe of 4750. pounds, within their severall limits and precincts, upon any such person or persons being of ability, as either now inhabit within the severall places aforesaid, or that at any time since the beginning of this Parliament, did inhabit, or had any Trade or Stock going within the limits and places aforesaid. And it is Ordained by the said Lords and Commons, That all and every such person and persons (being assessed by vertue hereof) and neglecting or refusing to pay the said severall summes so assessed within ten dayes after notice given, or left in writing at his usuall habitation, or place of abode, or at the dwelling house, or place of abode of any Partner, or Factor, of any persons assessed, unto the severall Committees, or the Treasurer, or Treasurers by them appointed to receive the same, shall by vertue of a Warrant from the Committee of Lords and Commons for advance of Moneys and other necessaries for the Army, usually sitting at Haberdashers-Hall, (who are hereby authorized to make and give such Warrants unto such person or persons, as shall be by the Committees nominated for that purpose) be compelled to pay the said summes so assessed, by distresse of the goods and chattels of such person and persons so neglecting or refusing to pay the same, which said Goods so distrained shall be sold by the said severall and respective Committees, appointed by this Ordinance for the service aforesaid; And if any person or persons shall neglect, or refuse to make payment of the summe or summes so assessed and demanded as aforesaid, untill a distresse shall bee taken for the same, That then every person and persons so neglecting or refusing, as aforesaid, shall pay such reasonable charge for every such Distresse, Removall, and sale of his, or their goods, as the said severall Committees shall respectively allow, or appoint, to be imployed for the better execution of this Ordinance, and if no sufficient Distresse can be found, That then every such person and persons, shall by vertue of such Warrant from the said Committee of Lords and Commons to be made as aforesaid, be committed to safe custody, there to remain until such person or persons shall satisfie the said several sums assessed upon them by vertue of this Ordinance. And the said several Committees appointed by vertue of this Ordinance for the service aforesaid, are hereby further authorized and enabled, to call to their assistance (for the better execution and performance of this Ordinance) any person or persons, as they shall think fit.

Moneys how to be paid in and issued.; Persons that advance money to be repaid out of Excise.; Assistance.

And it is further Ordained by the said Lords and Commons, That the several sums of Money assessed as aforesaid, shall be brought unto the said several Committees, or to such Treasurer, or Treasurers as shall be by them appointed to receive the same; Which Money so paid to the said several Committees, Treasurer or Treasurers as aforesaid, shall be delivered to such Treasurer or Treasurers as the Court of Common-Council shall appoint, and by him or them issued and paid out by vertue of Warrants from the Committee of the Militia of the City of London, for the satisfaction and maintenance of the said Forces to be sent forth in the present Expedition, as aforesaid, according to their Musters, and the late establishment of the Lord Generals Army, and the surplusage shall be paid and disposed as both Houses of Parliament shall direct, and not otherwise, ex cepting only what shall be issued out for such necessary charges for the collecting and gathering in of the said Moneys, as the said several Committees shall think fit, not exceeding six pence in the pound: And the said Lords and Commons do Ordain, for the encouragement and security of such persons as shall advance any sum of Money by vertue thereof, that they shall be repaid with Interest out of the receipt of the Excize, and that no Ordinance nor Assignment which is not already passed upon the receipt of the Excize, shall proceed this Ordinance, and do therefore hereby Authorize the said Commissioners of the Excize and New Impost (for the time being) to pay at the end of six Moneths the Interest of so much Moneys as shall be advanced by vertue hereof after the rate of eight 1. per Cent. per Annum, and the principal Money, and the rest of the Interest after the rate aforesaid, shall be paid in due course, into the hands of such Treasurer or Treasurers as shall be appointed by CommonCouncel, whose Receipt shall be their sufficient Discharge, and by the said Treasurer or Treasurers, issued out to such persons as did advance the same. And it is Ordained, that all Mayors, Sheriffs, Captains, Lieutenants, Bailiffs, Constables, and all other Officers and Soldiers, shall be ayding and assisting to the said Committees, and all such Officers as shall be imployed by them, for the better execution and performance of the said service.

Committee for Militia to account to Parliament.

And the said Lords and Commons do further Ordain, That the said Committee for the Militia shall from time to time give accompt to both or either Houses of Parliament, or to whom they shall direct, how they have caused the said Moneys to be issued out.

Indemnity.

And it is lastly Ordained, That whatsoever any person or persons shall do in pursuance of this Ordinance, he and they shall be saved harmless for the same, by Authority of both Houses of Parliament.

Proviso.; Further proviso.

Provided, That no person or persons shall be Assessed by vertue of this Ordinance, that-shall take his Corporal oath before the said Committee of Lords and Commons at Haberdashers-Hall, or such as they shall appoint, who are hereby Authorized to take and administer the same: That he is not worth in Personal and Real Estates, and good Debts, the Sum of 1000. Marks. Provided always, That no Member, nor Assistant of either House of Parliament, shall be liable to this Assessment