August, 1647
[28 August, 1647.]
Order for collection in London and Westminster for distressed Protestants from Ireland.; Treasurers.; Like collection to be made throughout England and Wales.; Moneys, how to be paid out.; Printed copy of this Ord. to be sent to all churches and chapels.; Ministers to publish it, and exhort people to contribute.
The Lords and Commons Assembled in Parliament taking into
consideration the sad and miserable condition of divers distressed
Protestants, who have beene stripped of their Estates, and forced
to fly from the Kingdom of Ireland (by those barbarous and
bloudy Rebels) and doe now remaine about the Cities of London
and Westminster, and places adjacent mentioned in the Weekely
Bills of Mortality. Doe order, and ordaine, And be it hereby
ordered and ordained that there be upon Tuesday the last of
this present August, being the Day of publique thanksgiving
for Gods great Goodnesse in giving so glorious a Victory over
the bloudy Rebels by the forces under the Command of Colonell
Michael Jones in the Province of Lynester in the Kingdome of
Ireland, a Collection for the reliefe of the said distressed
Protestants in all Churches and Chappells within the Cities of
London and Westminster, and places adjacent mentioned in the
weekly Bills of mortality, and the moneyes so collected are to be
paid in by the severall Church-Wardens, or Collectors unto Mr.
John Pocock, William Greenhill, John Randall, and —
Hutchinson, Treasurers at Christchurch, London. And it is
further ordered and ordained by the authority aforesaid, That
there be a Collection in all other Churches and Chappels within
the Kingdome of England and Dominion of Wales upon Tuesday
seven-night next following being the day of publique thanksgiving
for the blessing aforesaid, And the moneys so colected are
to be paid in to the Sheriffes of every County respectively,
who are speedily to pay in the same unto the Treasurers above
mentioned, and are to receive an Acquittance from the said
Treasurers signed under their hands, or the hands of any two of
them, And the said Treasurers are to issue out the money to
such distressed Protestants, and in such summes as they shall
receive warrant for, from such Committee as shall be appointed
by both Houses of Parliament. And especial care is to be taken
that such onely have warrants granted who are reall Protestants,
and have constantly opposed the horrid Rebellion, who are to
have Certificate or Certificates of their quality and Losses under
the hands of three Persons, of good quality, at the least, who
have had publique employment under the Parliament within
the Kingdome of Ireland. And it is likewise ordered and
ordained, That such Warrant with an Acquittance under the
hand of the party, or his or her assigns that receive any summe;
shall be a sufficient discharge to the Treasurers for any such
summe so paid and received. And lastly it is ordained that the
Lord Maior of the Citie of London, and the Sheriffes of London
and Middlesex doe send to each Church and Chappell within
the Cities of London and Westminster, and parts adjacent,
expressed in the Weekly Bills of Mortality, one printed Coppy
of this Ordinance, and the Knights and Burgesses serving in
Parliament shall send in to their respective Counties within the
Kingdom of England and Dominion of Wales, such number of
printed Coppies to the Sherriffes of their Counties, as shall be
sufficient for every Church and Chappell, who is to dispose them
to every Church and Chappell, and the Ministers of every
church and chappell, are to publish or cause to be published
this Ordinance in the Church or Chappell on the said dayes, and
are to exhort the people to contribute hereunto. And in case
this Ordinance be not timely brought to any Minister so that it
may be published as above-said, then shall the Minister the
next Lords day after the receipt of it, publish or cause to be
published the same in the Church or Chappell, and exhort the
people to contribute to this so pious and charitable worke.