August 1643
[26 August, 1643.]
Whereas divers Persons have been assessed, upon the
Ordinances of Parliament for the Twentieth Part, and Weekly
Assessment, Subsidies, and other Payments, many of which have
refractorily and wilfully suffered the Days for Payment of the
Sums assessed to be elapsed, and covertly conveyed away their
Goods from their Houses, and absented their Persons, to avoid
Payment of their Assessments, or else have suffered Imprisonment, and their Houses to stand empty, whereby they might be
freed from bearing Part of those common Taxes and Charges,
which the Necessities of these troubleous Times require: For
Remedy whereof, and better Satisfaction of the Sums assessed
on such Persons, it is this Day Ordered, by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, That such Persons as shall be
appointed, by the Committee of Lords and Commons for Advance
of Money and other Necessaries for the Army, shall have Power
to let, set, or rent forth, to such Persons, and for such Time, Fine
and Rent, as they shall think fit, the Houses of any Person or
Persons who are already imprisoned for their Assessments, or
absent themselves for Non-payment of their Assessments; and
the Monies raised by the Rents of the said Houses to convert and
employ towards Satisfaction for the same Assessments and Payments; and that such Persons as shall take the same Houses
shall discharge the Head Rents due to be paid for such Houses,
as also the Duties to the Parish, during their Abode in the same;
and the Persons so taking and leasing the said Houses shall be
saved harmless and indemnified, against the Persons imprisoned,
or absenting themselves, as aforesaid, by the Power and Authority
of both Houses of Parliament.