An Ordinance of the Lords & Com
mons aſſembled in Parliament.
Die Veneris, 31. Martii, 1643.
WHereas the Lords and Commons in Parliament aſſembled, have beene credibly informed that great Forces are now marching from Oxford towards the Counties of Bucks, Bedford, Heris, and Counties adjacent, to the great terrors, affrightment, and amazement of his Majeſties good. Subjects, Inhaviting in the Counties aforeſaid, and having taken the ſame into their ſerious Conſideration, doe for the prevention of all Incurſions of enemies, avoyding of all Rapines and Plundrings, or other miſchievous actions) order and ordaine, that there ſhall be aſpeedy rayſing of large & conſiderable ſums of Money for the levying and paying of Forces, fortifying, of Townes, and buying of Armes, Ammanition, and whatſoever elſe may be requiſite and neceſſary for the defence and ſafety of his Majeſties good Subjects of the Countie of Herts, Which that it may be done with as much eaſe and indifferency to the good Subjects as the Exigency of the time will permit, for the intents and purpoſes aforeſaid, The Lords and Commons doe ordain that there ſhall be rated, taxed, charged, and levied upon the ſeverall Inhabitants of the county of Herts, the ſum of 450 li. every weeke weekly, to be collected and gathered within the ſeverall hundreds of the ſaid county over and above the weekely ſum already layd upon the ſaid County, by Ordinance of both Houſes of Parliament for the Lord Generalls Army, and for the better rayſing of the ſaid weekly ſum of 450 li. for the uſe and uſes of the County of Herts aforeſaid, the ſaid Lords and Commons doe further order and ordaine,
that every perſon and perſons as well Eccleſiaſticall as Temporall, and every Fraternity, Guild, Corporation, miſtery, brotherhood and Commonalty, corporate or not corporate, as well Eccleſiaſticall as Temporall, within the County of Herts, for the valew of every pound which every ſuch perſons, Fraternity, Guild, Corporation, miſtery, brotherhood, or Commonalty, corporate or not corporate, hath of his or their owne, or that any other hath to his or their uſe or uſes, as well in Coyne, in Plate, ſtock of Marchandize, any manner of Corne and graine, houſhold ſtuffe, and of all other goods moveable, within the aforeſaid County, & of al ſuch ſum & ſums of mony as to them is or ſhall be owing, whereof he or they truſt in his or their Conſcience to be payd, except and out of the premiſes deducted ſuch ſums of money as he or they owe and is in his or their conſcience intended truly to pay, And except alſo the Apparell of every ſuch perſon, their Wives and children, belonging to their owne bodies (ſaving Iewels, Gold, Silver, Stones, Pearle) ſhall pay towards the ſaid weekly ſum of 450 li. and every Alien and ſtranger, as well denizens as others, and alſo every Popiſh Recuſant convict or not convict, and all ſuch as have not at all contributed to the Propoſitions of both Houſes of Parliament for Arms, Mony, or Plate, ſhall pay towards the ſum aforeſaid, a proportion double to thoſe of the like eſtates being no Aliens or Recuſants, and hath contributed to the full upon the Propoſitions according to their Eſtates. And that every perſon within the ſaid County, as well Eccleſiaſticall as Temporall, and every corporation, Fraternity, Guild, miſtery, brotherhood and commonalty, corporate or not corporate, as well Eccleſiaſticall as Temporall, for every eſtate that every ſuch perſon or perſons, and every corporation, Fraternity, Guild,
miſtery, brotherhood and commonalty, corporate or not corporate, or any other to his or their uſe in truſt or otherwiſe hath in fee ſimple, fee taile for terme of life, tearme of yeeres, by execution, wardſhip or by Copy of Court Role, of and in any honours, Caſtles, Mannors, Lands, Tenements, Rents, ſervices, tithes, oblations, obventions, annunities, Offices of profit, Fees, corrodies or other yearely profits or hereditaments, as well within Antient demeſne and other places priviledged as elſewhere, ſhall pay to and towards the ſaid weekly ſum, his and their proportionable part and portion of ſum or ſums of money as ſhall be impoſed, charged, and ſet upon every the particulars within the aforeſaid County, according as the ſame ſhall be divided diſtributed, cared, or ſet upon each ſeverall Towne, hamlet, Pariſh, or place where ſuch perſon or perſons is or ſhall be chargeably by this Ordinance and the true intent and meaning thereof, except and alwayes fore-prized from the charge and Aſſeſſement of the ſum aforeſaid, all Goods, Chattels, and Ornaments, belonging to any Churches or Chappels which have been ordained and uſed in any Churches and Chappells for the ſervice of Almighty God, & except yearely wages due to ſervants for their yearely ſervice, and the ſaid ſumme ſo charged ſhall by authority of this Ordinance be taxed, ſeſſed, and rated in every hundred, Citie, Towne Hamlet, Pariſh, and every other place within the ſaid County before the 20. of April in the yeare of our Lord one thouſand ſix hundred forty and three, and the firſt payment of the ſaid weekely ſumme ſo aſſeſſed by this Ordinance, ſhall be made at or before the firſt day of May 1643. And the ſaid weekely payment to continue weekely for three moneths next enſuing from the firſt day of May, unleſſe the Armies pretended to be the Kings, ſhall bee
disbanded in the meane time, and for the better expediting of the ſaid ſervice, in leavying, aſſeſſing, and collecting the ſaid weekely ſum of foure humdred and fifty Pounds; bee it further Ordained by the ſaid Lords and Commons, That the Lord Viſcount Cramborne, Robert Cicill Eſqu
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re, Sir John Gerrard, Sir John Read Knights and Baronets, Sir Thomas Dacres, Sir William Litton, Sir John Wittew
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ong, Kts. Richard Jennings, William Le
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man, William Pievſtley, Cravely Norton, Eſquires, Edward Atkins, Sergeant at Law, John King Doctor in Phyſick, Henry Meau
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is ſenior, Ralph Fteeman, Iohn Heydon, Alexander Wilde, Richard Porter, Adam Waſhington, Gabriel Barber, Iohn Robotham, Toby Combes, Iohn Pemberton, William Beaman, of▪ Redborne, Litton Fairclough, Iohn Scrogs, Thomas Sadler, of St. Albanes, for the time being, the Maior of Hertford for the time being, Iohn Marſh, Iſaac Puller, Thomas Meade, Ralph Pemberton, Iohn Thewer, William Catter of Offeley, Gentleman, or any two or more of them ſhall bee appointed and Ordained Committees for the Leavying, Aſſeſſing, and Collecting of the aforeſaid ſum of 450 li. to the uſes and purpoſes already expreſt in this Ordinance. And for the better rayſing of the foreſaid weekely ſum, the ſaid Committees ſhall agree to divide and ſever themſelves into ſuch hundreds, places, and diviſions, within the ſaid County as to them ſhall ſeeme meet and expedient▪ and afterwards the ſaid Committees orany two of them reſpectively ſhall direct their Warrants to ſuch number of perſons as they ſhall thinke fit within their ſevecall and reſpective Diviſions, to appeare before them or before any two of them, and upon their appearance the ſaid reſpective Committees
or any two of them ſhall nominate and appoint ſuch perſons as they ſhall thinke fit, within their reſpective diviſions; which ſaid perſons ſo nominated, or any two of them, ſhall have power to aſſeſſe any perſon or perſons, fraternity, Guild, Corporation, miſtery, brotherhood, Commonalty Corporate, or not Corporate, chargeable by this Ordinance; to the weekely rate and proportion in this Ordinance mentioned: and the ſaid Committees or any two of them ſhall have full power and authority within the ſaid County in their ſeverall diviſions, to nominate collectors for the money ſo aſſeſſed and rated as aforeſaid, accorduig to this Ordinance, which ſaid collectors ſhall collect the ſaid Money ſo aſſeſſed▪ and pay the ſame to ſuch Treaſurers, as ſhall be appointed by the ſaid Committee, or any five of them; and if any perſon or perſons, fraternity, Guild, Corporation, Miſtery, Brotherhood, Commonalty, corporate or not corporate chargeable by this Ordinance, ſhall refuſe to pay the ſum or ſummes upon him or them aſſeſſed by
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Ordinance, or ſhall not pay the ſame uppon
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the place of
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, or where, ſuch aſſeſſement ſhall be made, it ſhall be lawfull to and for the reſpective Collectors, or any of them, to leavy all or any ſuch ſumme of ſummes ſo aſſeſſed by way of
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, and ſale of the goods of the Perſon or Perſons ſo aſſeſſed, where ever the ſame ſhall be found, and to breake open any houſe, cheſt, trunke, bote,
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any other thing where any ſuch goods are, and if any perſon ſo
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; or other ſhall make reſiſtance, it ſhall be lawful to and for the ſaid reſpective Collectors or any of them, as they ſee tauſe, to ca
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to their aſſiſtance, by the power of the ſuperiour Officers of the Forces of the ſaid County, any of the Trained Bands or Companies of
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eetes or other Forces of, or
within the ſaid County, place, or places where ſuch reſiſtance ſhall be made, or any other Perſon or Perſons whatſoever, dwelling in or neere the place, and the ſeverall Officers, Commanders, and Soutdiers of the ſame, or other the Perſons ſo to be called, are hereby required to be aiding and aſſiſting to the ſaid reſpective Collectors in the premiſes, as they will anſwer the contrary therof, and be it further Ordained that every perſon to be rated and taxed as aforeſaid, if he have an eſtate either in Lands, Tenements, Hereditaments, rents, annunities, Fees, offices, goods or chattelis, in ſeverall places in the ſaid County, then to be rated in the ſaid ſeverall places, according to ſuch his ſaid eſtate in the ſaid places, and the ſumme on him ſet to be there levyed accordingly; And be it alſo Ordained that al Lands, Tenements, and Hereditaments of all and every perſon and perſons whatſoever, of what degree or quality ſoever, or in whoſe poſſeſſion ſoever the ſame are, ſhall be rated, charged, and chargeable for and to wards the rayſing and payment of the ſaid weekely ſumme of money ſet and charged by this Ordinance, Yet nevertheleſſe with this Limitation and proviſion that if the Land be ſet or let to or neere the yearely valew thereof in the poſſeſſion of any Tenant for life, lives, or yeares, or at will, ſuch perſon or perſons to whom the rent thereof belongeth to be ſolely chargeable therewith, but if the ſame be let at any eaſie or ſmall rent or undervalue then the ſumme taxed to be apportioned betweene the party or parties to whom the rent belongeth, and the Tenant or occupier of the lands, Tenements & herediſtaments as the taxers ſhall thinke meete, and if they or any of them ſhall doe any Injury the ſame to be rectified by the ſaid Committees or any two of them within their ſeverall limits and diviſions according to their diſcretion
And if any ſuch Tenant or Occupier of Lands, Tenements or hereditaments, ſhall, or may be charged with any ſum of money, contrary to the true mient and meaning of this Ordinance, That it ſhall and may be lawfull to and for ſuch Tenant or Occupier to ſtop and detaine the ſame from and out of his Rent due for the ſame Land, or to take his lawfull remedy (againſt ſuch) perſon or perſons to whom the ſaid Rent is or ſhall be due or belonging, who ought by the true meaning of this Ordinance to be charged with) by action of debt, wherein no Wager of Law, protection or eſ
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ome ſhall be allowed, and for all manner of debts whatſoever, or ſum or ſums of money due or owing to any perſon or perſons, by any perſon or perſons within the ſaid County, the perſon or perſons to w
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om ſuch debts ſhall be due, to be charged for the ſame, during his abode, and reſidence in the ſaid County.
And be it Ordained that no perſon, being or calling himſelfe houſehold ſervant, or waiting ſervant to the Kings Majeſty, or other Lord or Lady, Maſter or Miſtris be excuſed from the Taxed of the ſaid payment when he ſhall be ſet and taxed in the hundreds, Hamlets, Pari
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es, and other places of the ſaid County. And if any perſon that ought to be ſet and Taxed to the ſaid payment, by his crime or craft, or any words or ſayings, or otherw
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ſe, happen to eſcape from the ſaid payments to ben
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ſet, and Taxed according to the true meaning of this Ordinance, and that procced by preſentment, examination, information, or other wayes before the ſaid Committées or any two of them, then every ſuch perſon ſhall be charged upon the knowledge and proofe thereof; At the treble value of ſo much as he ſhould might, or ought to have beene ſet or taxed at, by vertue of this Ordinance, and the ſame to be levied, gathered, and paid out of his Goods and Chattells, Lands and Tenements, towards
the ſaid payment, in ſuch manner as is herein limited for others, which refuſe to pay: and if no diſtreſſe bée found of the goods, or other things of ſuch perſon or perſons, bodies corporate, or other chargable by this Ordinance, as ſhall not pay the wéekly rate as aforeſaid; then the ſaid Collectors ſhall have power to enquire of any ſum or ſums of money due, or to be due to the perſons ſo aſſeſſed as aforeſaid, from any perſon or perſons, for any Rents, Tythes, Goods or Debts, or other thing or cauſe whatſoever, and to compound for any of the ſaid Rents, Tythes, Goods, Debts, due to the perſō ſo aſſeſſed reſpectively as aforeſaid, with any perſon or perſons, by whom the ſaid Rents, Tithes, Goods, Debts, or other things due unto the ſaid perſon reſpectively as aforeſaid; As alſo to give full diſcharge for the money, by them ſo received upon compoſition or otherwiſe, which diſcharge ſhall be good and effectuall to all intents and purpoſes. And be it further Ordained that if any perſon, or perſons ſhal finde
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, themſelves aggrieved, that he or they, is, or are over-rated; ſuch perſon or perſons at any time before diſtreſſe taken, of his, or their Goods, except it be ſuch perſons as have not at all contributed to the propoſitions of both Houſes of Parliament, and theſe ſhall pay their tax or rate, ſo that it doth not exceed the twentieth part of their Eſtates, yet never the leſſe no man ſhall be taxed, or leavied, at, or above the ſum of ten pounds by the week) may complain to the Committée, who have executed this Ordinance, which ſaid Committée or any two of them ſhall have power upon examination to relieve ſuch perſon or perſons as they ſhall ſee cauſe; And for the better encouragement of the Collectors in this ſaid Service, It is Ordained that three pence in the pound ſhall be allowed for every ſum of money which ſhall be collected, and paid to ſuch Treaſurers and Receivers as ſhall be nominated by the Committee or any
five of them; Two pence whereof ſhall be allowed to the Collectors, and the reſidue to ſuch other perſons as ſhallbe imployed in the ſaid ſervice, according to the diſcretion of the Committee, or any two of them. And to the end that all the moneys may be duely collected. Be it ordayned that the ſeverall aſſeſſors within the ſaid County ſhall within one weeke next after their aſſeſſements made, returne their ſaid ſeverall Aſſeſſements unto the Committees aforeſaid, who, or any two of them are hereby required within ten dayes after the returne of ſuch ſeverall Aſſeſſements, to deliver a Copy thereof, ſubſcribed with their or any two of their hands, to the ſeverall Collectors within their ſaid diviſions or limits, and alſo within the like ten dayes to ſend an other Copy thereof to the Treaſurers appointed, to the end, the ſaid Treaſurers may thereby know what they are to receive of every Pariſh, or place within the ſaid County. And if any aſſeſſors or collectors ſhal refuſe the ſaid Service, or prove negligent or faulty therein, the ſaid Committee, or any two of them, ſhall have power to commit ſuch Aſſeſſors, or Collectors to priſon, or to ſet ſuch a fine upon him or them as they ſhall thinke fit, not exceeding the ſum of twenty pounds upon the Aſſeſſors, or the ſum of five pounds upon the Collectors, The ſame to be levied by diſtreſſe, and ſale of ſuch Offenders Goods, to the uſes herein mentioned in ſuch ſort as is herein before appointed for ſuch as refuſe to pay the rates aſſeſſed upon him and them. And ſhall alſo certifie the ſaid Offence to the Lords and Commons in Parliament, and ſhall have power to nominate other Aſſeſſors and Collectors: And if any perſon or perſons ſo Aſſeſſed, and Rated, as aforeſaid ſhall conceale, or convey away his ur their Goods, ſo that no diſtreſſe can be taken, or that the ſaid ſum or ſums, ſo Aſſeſſed upon him or them, cannot be had, or levied by any of the wayes, or mean
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s in the Ordinance mentioned,
Then the ſaid Collectors ſhall reſpectively certifie the ſame, in caſe bee he under the degrée of a Peere of the Realme, to the Committee of the Commons Houſe of Parliament for examinations, which ſaid Committée ſhall hereby have power to ſend for ſuch perſon and perſons as Delinquents, and to commit him or them to ſuch place, or places within this Kingdome, and for ſo long time, as the Committée for examinations ſhal think fit.
And it is Ordained that all and every the Aſſeſſors, and Collectors, aforeſaid and all that ſhall aſſiſt them in the premiſles, ſhall be protected by both Houſes of Parliament from all damage that may come to them, or any of them by this Service; and ſhall further receive ſuch Allowances for their charges, and obedience in execution of this Ordinance, as ſhall be thought fit upon examination by the Committée of the ſaid County, or any three of them.
And further, it is Ordered that the Treaſurers appointted by the ſaid Committee for the County in the manner aforeſaid, ſhall keepe a Regiſter Booke of the ſeverall ſums re
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erved and paid out by them, that ſo they may give a good account (of the receipts and diſburſements of all the ſums of money collected in the ſaid County, by vertue of this Ordinance) unto the Committée of the County, when thereunto they ſhall be required by the Parliament.
And laſtly it is Ordained, that the Treaſurers of the County, as before appointed ſhall iſſue out no ſum or ſums of Money, which by vertue of this Ordinance is brought into their hands, to any perſon or perſons, or for any the foreſaid uſe or uſes, but as they ſhall receive Order under the Committées hands appointed by this Ordidance for the County of Hereford or any thrée of them.
FINIS