October, 1647
[12 October, 1647.]
Ord. 15 Feb. 1644/5.; Ord. 13 August, 1645.; Ord. 16 April, 1646.; All arrears of former Ords. to be forthwith collected and paid.; Army Committee may exercise; all powers given by former Ord. of June 23.; Further powers.
Whereas by an Ordinance of Parliament bearing date the
15 February, 1644, severall summes of Money were to be taxed,
leavied and payed for the maintenance of the Army under
Sir Thomas Fairfax, by a Monethly assessment, to continue for
Ten Moneths upon the City of London, the Liberties thereof, and
the severall Counties therein mentioned, from the said 15 of
Febr. unto the first of December, 1645. And whereas by another
Ordinance of the 13 of August, 1645. the said recited Ordinance
of 15 Febr. and the severall taxes, and payments therein
expressed, were Ordained to endure, and have continuance for
six Moneths longer, from the said first day of December, 1645.
untill the first day of June next following, 1646. unto all intents
and purposes therein mentioned. And whereas by an Ordinance
of the 16 April 1646. the said Ordinance of 15 Febr. 1644. with
all the severall taxes and payments therein expressed, were
Ordained to continue for foure Moneths longer, from the said
first day of June 1646. untill the first day of October following:
And whereas very great and considerable summes of Money
remaine in Arrear, and yet unpaid, upon those severall
Ordinances, within the Citie of London, and Liberties, and
other Cities and Counties, especially through the default and
wilfull neglect of Assessors, Collectors, and others appointed for
that service, to the discouragement of those that have willingly
payed, very evil example of all others, and great hinderance of
the payment of the Army. The Lords and Commons in
Parliament assembled, doe therefore hereby Ordaine and Declare,
and be it Ordained and Declared, That all the said severall
summs of Money being Arrear, and unpaid upon any of the said
recited Ordinances, be forthwith assessed, collected, and payed
according to the said Ordinances, And to the end that there may
be no longer delay in a matter of so great concernment, for the
present service of the Kingdome; The said Lords and Commons
doe further Declare and Ordaine, That all persons nominated
and appointed by the said severall recited Ordinances to assesse,
collect, or pay, or authorize to cause to be assessed, collected, or
payed the said summes of Money in those Ordinances mentioned,
doe forthwith take care for the full and speedy assessing,
collecting, and paying in thereof. And it is further Ordained,
That the Committee of the Army, appointed by an Ordinance of
the 23 of September last, or any five of them, for the more speedy
and effectuall bringing in of the Money so in Arrear shall, and
may exercise and use all such Powers and Authorities as are
thereby given, mentioned, expressed, and declared for the
bringing in of the said Assessments upon the Ordinance of the
23 June last past; and shall have further power and authority
to take and set downe such Order and Orders as they shall think
fit, for the full assessing, and due collecting of the severall
summes in Arrear as aforesaid, and for the leavying of the same,
with the Charges and expences thereof by Distresse, and sale of
the Goods of any person, or persons, and Bodies Politique or
Corporate, refusing or neglecting to make payment according to
the said Ordinance.
Persons obliging distress to pay double.
And if any person or persons and Bodies Politique and
Corporate that are, or shall be assessed, and are in Arreare upon
the said Ordinances, doe refuse to pay or satisfie such summe or
summes of money as he or they shall be, or are assessed unto,
and are in arreare, doe not within ten dayes after publication of
this Ordinance, or demand made by the Collector, pay unto the
respective Collectors the severall summe and summes of money
assessed and taxed upon them, so as the said moneys must of
necessity be leavied by distresse, that in such case every person
or persons, and Bodies Politique and Corporate, that thereupon
shall be distrained, shall forfeit and pay double the proportion
whereat he first was assessed, with charges incident thereunto,
the same penaltie and charges to be leavied by distresse.
Penalty for defaulting Assessors, collectors, etc.
And it is further Ordained, That the said Committee, or any
five of them, shall have power, and are hereby authorized by
their agents or persons imployed by them, to seize and secure to
the use of the State all money, goods, chattels, and personal
estate of every Assessor, Collector, or other person or persons
making default or refusing to distraine, or otherwise to doe their
duty concerning the assessing, collecting, and leavying of the
said money by distresse or otherwise; and if for the space of ten
dayes after the said seizing and securing of the said personall
estate of the parties aforesaid, they or any of them shall continue
in their neglect or refusall to do their duties, the said Committee,
or any five of them, shall have power and are hereby authorized,
to sell, sequester; and dispose of the personall estate of such
person or persons so seized and secured for the payment of the
Army and Forces under the command of Sir Thomas Fairfax.
Assistance.
And be it lastly Ordained, that the Forces under the command
of Sir Thomas Fairfax, Committee of the Militia of London, and
the Trained Bands within the said City, and other Cities and
Counties, and all Mayors, Sheriffes, Justices of the Peace and
Committees, and all other officers and persons whatsoever are to
be aiding and assisting, and are hereby required to be aiding and
assisting unto the said Committee, and such as shall be
imployed by them in the service above-said.