September, 1647
[24 September, 1647.]
Purchasers may have the Kings Letter Patents.; To be holden as of East Greenwich.
The Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, for the
better security and encouragement of all and every such person
and persons, Bodies Politique and Corporate, as already have, or
hereafter shall become Purchaser or Purchasers from the Trustees
(appointed by Ordinance of Parliament for the sale of Bishops
Lands) of any Mannors, Lands, Tenements, Franchises, Annuities,
Fees, Liberties, Royalties, and Hereditaments whatsoever, late
belonging to any Arch-bishop, or Bishop, within the Realm of
England or Dominion of Wales; Do order and Ordain, and
be it hereby ordered and ordained by the authority aforesaid,
that it shall and may be lawfull for all and every such Purchaser or Purchasers to have, and pass one or more Letters
Patents under the Great Seal of England, of all or any part
of the Mannors, Lands, Tenements, Franchises, Annuities, Fees,
Liberties, Royalties, and Hereditaments, with their appurtenances so by him or them Purchased from the said Trustees as
aforesaid, to be holden of the King as of his Mannor of East
Greenwich by fealty onely, and not in Capite nor Knights service.
Bodies Politique may purchase any Bishops Lands without licence in Mortmain.
And be it further ordained and declared by the authority
aforesaid, that all and every Bodies and Body Politique and
Corporate within the Kingdome of England and Dominion of
Wales, shall have power and capacity, and are hereby enabled to
receive, take and purchase to themselves, and their Successors
for ever, any of the said Mannors, Lands, Tenements, Franchises,
Annuities, Fees, Liberties, Royalties, and Hereditaments whatso
ever belonging to the said Arch-bishop and Bishops, without any
Licence or Licences of Alienation in Mortmain first sued forth,
or obtained for that purpose, any Law, Statute, Ordinance, or
Charter to the contrary hereof in any wise notwithstanding.
A bill containing the Kings Grant to the Purchaser, is to be passed under the great Seal of England.; No Fine or Fee to be paid into the Hanaper to the Kings use.; A fourth part of the Fine onely to be paid.; Counterparts of Leases and Writings which concerns onely the things purchased to be delivered to the Purchaser.; No person which maketh title &c., shall be compelled to deliver his Writings.
And be it further Ordered and Ordained by the authority
aforesaid, that the Attourney General, or Solicitor General for
the time being, upon shewing forth of any such deed or purchase
under the hands and Seals of the said Trustees or any five or
more of them, is hereby authorized and required to prepare a bill
in usual form, containing the Kings grant to such Purchaser and
Purchasers, their Heirs, and Successors, of the Lands, and Premisses so Purchased by him or them, according to the tenor and
effect of such deed of Purchase; which bill so prepared, the Lord
Chancellor, Lord Keeper, or Commissioners for the great Seal of
England, for the time being, are hereby authorized and required
to pass under the said great Seal in usual form accordingly.
And it is further Ordained, that no Fine or Fee be demanded, or
paid into the Hanaper for or in the Kings name, or to his use
upon the passing of any such Grant, or of any other Grant where
Lands have been or shall be sold by Ordinance of Parliament, to
any person or persons in satisfaction of the debts of the Kingdome,
but all and every such Fines except as afore excepted, save onely
a fourth part of what hath been formerly demanded and paid, are
hereby pardoned and discharged. And it is further Ordained,
That the Register for the sale of Bishops Lands for the time
being, the Surveyors of the said Lands, the Stewards of all or any
of the said Courts belonging to any of the said Bishops, and all
other Officers and persons who have in their hands, or in the
hands of others for them, any Counterparts of Leases, ancient
Surveys, Copies of Court-Rolls, Rentals, Terrars, or other Deeds,
Records, or Writings which concern onely any of the Mannors, or
Premisses so already purchased, or hereafter to be purchased as
aforesaid, are hereby authorized and required upon sight of any
such deed of purchase from the said Trustees as aforesaid, to
deliver forthwith all the Counterparts of Leases and all other the
Records and Writings before mentioned, which concern onely the
Mannors, Lands, and Premisses comprised within any such deed
of purchase unto the respective Purchaser and no other: Provided
that no person which maketh title to any of the said Lands or
Premisses, (other then the Arch-bishops and Bishops themselves)
be compelled by this Ordinance to deliver out of his hands any
such Lease or Writing as aforesaid, concerning those Lands to
which he maketh his claim.
Those who have contracted, or shall contract, shall procure their Conveyances within 8. weeks. Unless they shew cause to the contrary to be allowed by the Contractors.; Upon default thereof to forfeit one third part of the value of their purchase money to be defalked &c. or levied as the Parliament shall appoint.
And it is further Ordained, and declared by the authority
aforesaid, that all and every Person, and Persons, Bodies Politique
and Corporate, who have already contracted for, or hereafter shall
contract for any of the said Mannors, Lands, and Premisses with
the Contractors appointed for the sale of Bishops Lands, shall
prosecute and procure their respective conveyances from the
Trustees appointed to pass such conveyances within eight Weeks
after the passing of this Ordinance; that is to say, all such
persons as have already contracted shall prosecute and procure
their respective conveyances from the Trustees within eight
Weeks next after the date of this Ordinance; and such persons
as shall hereafter contract within eight Weeks next after the date
of their respective Contracts, unless they shew such good cause
for such their delay as the said Contractors shall under their
hands approve of and allow; And in default hereof, all and every
such Person and Persons, Bodies Politique and Corporate, so
contracting and making default as aforesaid, shall forfeit a third
part of the value of the moneys agreed to be paid upon their
respective Contracts, to be defalked out of the monies any wayes
due to them from the Commonwealth, or to be levied upon their
lands and goods in such manner as both Houses of Parliament
shall hereafter ordain and appoint. And it is lastly ordained,
that this Ordinance be forthwith printed and published, and sent
down to the Sheriffs of all the Counties of England and Dominion
of Wales, by the care of the said Trustees, which said Sheriffs are
hereby required to publish the same in all their next respective
County Courts, after the receipt hereof as aforesaid.