WHEREAS by the severall Or­dinances for Sequestrations and others, there have beene, within the Cities of London and Westminster, sequestred and taken by distresse (among other goods) diverse Manuscripts or written Bookes, proceedings of Courts, evidences of Lands, Rentals, Accompt Bookes, and other kindes of writings and written papers and parchments, as also some whole Libraries, and choice Collections of printed Bookes of seve­rall Arts and Faculties; the dispersing of which by sale or otherwise, may be much more disad­vantagious and prejudiciall to the publique (both for the present and to posterity) and also to divers particular persons well affected to [Page 2] the Parliament, then the benefit of their Sale can any waies recompence;

The Lords and Commons in Parliament Assembled, taking the premises into considera­tion, doe hereby Ordaine and Command, That no Committees or Committee for Sequestra­tions or Distresses, in or of either of the places aforesaid, or any officers under them imployed, shall or may make sale of, or otherwise disperse or dispose of any such Manuscripts or written Booke, proceedings of Courts, evidences of Lands, Rentals, Accompt Bookes, or other kinde of writings or written papers or parch­ments, heretofore Sequestred or taken by Di­stresse or hereafter to be sequestred or taken by distresse by Authority of any of the said Ordi­nances, but that they and every of them respe­ctively, shall from time to time deliver the same into the hands and care of Algernoun Earle of Northumberland, Theophilus Earle of Lincoln, and William Lord Viscount Say and Seale, Iohn Selden Esquire, Francis Rous Esq; Sir Simonds D'Ewes Knight and Baronet, Samuel Browne Esquire, Edmund Prideaux Esquire, Gilbert Millington Esquire, Roger Hill Esquire, Walter Young Esquire, Members of the house of Com­mons, or any Two of them, who are to Inven­tory [Page 3] the same, and leave, or put and dispose them in some such safe place or places as they shall thinke fit and convenient for their Custody, there to remaine for such publique or other use, as to the houses of Parliament shall seem most meet and reasonable. And that the said Com­mittees and Officers respectively shall Deliver all and every such whole Libraries and choice Collections of printed Bookes (heretofore as aforesaid sequestred or taken by distresse, or here­after to be sequestred or taken by distresse) as the Persons aforenamed or any two of them shall signifie under their hands, and direct to be preserved from sale, and from being otherwise dispersed, and to be kept for publique use, into the hands and care of the said Persons or any Two of them, who are likewise to Inventory the same, and Leave or put and dispose them in such safe place or places, as they shall thinke fit and Convenient: there to remaine likewise for such publique or other use, as to the Houses of Parliament shall seeme most meet, and rea­sonable.

Provided neverthelesse, and it is farther hereby Ordained, that both the Printed Books and Manuscripts and all other writings or written Papers or Parchments sequestred or [Page 4] taken by distresse, or which may hereafter be sequestred or taken by distresse, or shall be sub­ject to sequestration or distresse, in any of the foure Innes of Court (viz.) The Inner and Middle Temple, Greyes Inne, and Lincolnes Inne, or any other society of Law, shall be In­ventoried, and lay▪d up in some Covenient Place, or Places in the said Innes of Court respectively, in such sort and according as by the Fellowes of the said severall Innes of Court, or such other society as aforesaid respectively, being Members of the House of Commons, or by any two of the aforesaid Committee appoin­ted by this Ordinance, shall be directed and Or­dered, there likewise to remaine for such pub­lique or other use as to the Houses of Parlia­ment, shall seeme most meet and reasonable.

Provided also that nothing in this Ordi­nance contained shall be any hinderance, to the Assembly of Divines, or any of that Assembly, but that they or any of them (during the time that Assembly shall usually sit) may use, and be permitted to take with them, for their present use, any of the said Manuscript Bookes, or any Bookes of the said Libraries, or Collections, so that they respectively leave in the place where they take them, a note subscribed by [Page 5] them of what they so take, and of the time of such their taking it, and of their promise safely to returne it.

And be it further also Ordained by the Au­thority aforesaid, That all and every the Com­mittee and Committees of Sequestrations and Distresses or either of them, in all and eve­ry other place whatsoever respectively, and all and every the Officers, under them imployed respectively shall preserve and keepe safe from sale, dispersion, and destruction, all and every the Evidences of Lands, Rentals, Accompt bookes, proceedings of Courts, and all and every other kinde of written Bookes, Papers, or Parchments, by them respectively sequestred or taken by distresse, or to be sequestred or taken by distresse; and the same shall respectively leave or put, and dispose in some place or places of safe Custody for such Publique or further use, as the Houses of Parliament shall direct or Command. And that all and every the Officers of the Army, and of all and every the Forces raysed by the Authority of the Houses of Par­liament, and all and every the Souldiers, un­der them shall respectively upon all occasions and in all places take like care for the preserva­tion [Page 6] of all kindes of Evidences of Lands, Rentals, Accompt Bookes, Proceedings of Courts and all and every other written papers or Parchments that shall or may fall into their Hands or power, that they and every of them may be safely likewise kept as aforesaid, both from sale, or other dispersion of them, as also from Spoile and Destruction.