February 1642/3
[8 February, 1642/3.]
Whereas Information is given, That divers Collectors nominated
for the collecting, levying, and receiving of the Sums of Money
assessed by virtue of the late Ordinance of both Houses of Parliament, of 29th of November last, for Assessments, by reason of
their other Employments in the Public Affairs of the State, have
been taken off from the due Execution of the same Ordinance,
whereby well-affected Persons are still occasionally pressed to
further Contributions, whilst those that have not contributed, or
not in Proportion to their Estates, do not make a proportionable
Supply: Be it therefore Ordained and required, by the Lords and
Commons assembled in Parliament, That the Collectors nominated
or to be nominated, by virtue of the said Ordinance, shall, from
and after the 11th day of this Instant Month of February, only
give Notice to the Persons assessed, or to be assessed, of the several
Sums of Money at which they are or shall be assessed; and, after
the Days limited by the said Ordinance for Payment shall be
elapsed, shall repair to the Houses of the Persons assessed, or
to be assessed, and demand the several Sums of Money at which
they are or shall be assessed: and, if the same be un-paid, then
to take Notice whether sufficient Distress may be had, to satisfy
the Sums assessed or no, and accordingly to certify the same,
under their Hands, to the Committee of Lords and Commons
for Advance of Money and other Necessaries for the Army; and the
said Collectors are hereby required and authorized to enquire of
any Sum or Sums of Money due, or to be due, unto the Persons
respectively assessed, or to be assessed, from any Person or
Persons, for any Rents, Tithes, Goods, or Debts, or for any other
Thing or Cause whatsoever, and to compound and receive the
same, and give Discharges therefor, according to the Power to
them formerly given by the said Ordinance: And it is hereby
further Ordained, That where the said Collectors shall certify
that a sufficient Distress may be had for the Sums of Money
assessed, or to be assessed, that Colonel Randall Manwaring,
Colonel Browne, Captain Edmond Harvey,
Captain Robert Manwareing, Captain Herriott Washbourne, and
such Captains, Lieutenants, Officers, and Soldiers, under their
several and respective Commands, as they or any of them shall
appoint, upon Notice thereof given, shall immediately repair
unto the several Houses of the Person assessed or to be assessed,
and certified as aforesaid, and levy the Sums of Money so assessed,
by Distress, in as ample Manner as, by the said Ordinance of
29 Novemb. and an Order of both Houses of Parliament of the
3d of this Instant Month of February, the Collectors nominated
upon the said Ordinance are authorized and appointed to do and
perform; and the Distress and Distresses, so had and taken, to
carry into Guildhall, London, or Crosby House, in B'ppgatestreete, London, or to such other Place or Places as the said
Committee shall appoint, to be sold and disposed of, for or towards
Satisfaction of the Sums assessed, at such Times, and by such
Persons, and in such Manner, as by the said Committee shall be
directed; and, in case Certificate be made by the said Collectors,
that no sufficient Distress can be had or found, and the sums
assessed cannot be levied by any of the Ways or Means in the
said Ordinance mentioned, then the said Colonel Randall
Manwareing, Colonel Browne, Captain Edmond Harvey,
Captain Robert Manwareing, Captain Herriott Washbourne,
and such Captains, Lieutenants, Officers, and Soldiers,
under their command, as they or any of them shall
command and appoint, shall repair unto the Dwelling Houses of
such Person or Persons as are or shall be assessed and certified
as aforesaid; and there, or within any other Place within this
Kingdom where such Person or Persons shall be suspected to be,
to make diligent search, and him, her, or them, to apprehend,
and bring in safe Custody before the Committee of the House
of Commons for Examinations, who have Power to imprison
them in such Places of this Kingdom, and for so long Time, as
the same Committee shall appoint and Order; and the said
Colonels and Captains, and other the Captains, Lieutenants.
Officers, and Soldiers, under the Command of them, or any of
them, shall have Power to break open any of the Locks and
Doors of any Room, or other Place, in or belonging to the said
Houses or Places, where Search shall be made for the Parties
assessed, or to be assessed respectively; and the Goods, Debts,
Money, and Estate, of such Persons as already are imprisoned, or
to be imprisoned, shall still be liable, and shall and may be
seized on, sold, received, and disposed of, for Satisfaction
of the Sums assessed; wheresoever, or in whose Hands
soever, the same shall be found; and the Families of
such Persons assessed, or to be assessed, who have or shall
absent themselves from their Dwelling Houses, or Places of
Abode, within the Cities of London and Westm. the Suburbs of
the same, and the Borough of Southwarke, shall be further proceeded against, as in the Ordinance of 29 Novemb. is provided:
And the said Collectors, and all Colonels, Captains, Lieutenants,
Officers, Soldiers, and other Person or Persons, as shall be
appointed or employed in and for the better Execution of the
said Ordinance as aforesaid, shall have the Protection of both
Houses of Parliament, for their Indemnity in this Service; and
if any Thing, not mentioned in the said Ordinance, of 29 Novemb.
or this present Ordinance, may conduce to the more effectual
Levying and Receiving of Monies to be assessed upon the said
Ordinance, of 29 Novemb. the same is hereby referred to the
Wisdom and Care of the said Committee of Lords and Commons
for Advance of Money and other Necessaries for the Army:
Lastly it is Ordered, That this Ordinance shall be printed and
published.