December, 1644
[26 December, 1644.]
Power to respective Assessment Committees to fine and imprison all persons appointed by former Ord. to collect, or to pay any sums, and that have not so done
Whereas by an Ordinance of the six and twentieth of March
last, The Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, did
Ordain, That there should be monethly charged, and levied upon
the Cities of London and Westminster, the Hamblets of the
Tower, the Borough of Southwarke, and all other Parishes and
places within the Line of Communication, and weekly Bills of
Mortality, the sum of six thousand nine hundred sixty two
pounds foure shillings, and upon the County of Middlesex without the said limits, the sum of one thousand fourscore and seventeen pounds eleven shillings, for the maintenance and payment
of the Army under the immediate command of the Earle of
Essex, Lord Generall of the Forces raised by the Parliament, and
other things in the said Ordinance mentioned, for the space of
foure moneths, to commence from the twentieth day of March
1643. accounting twenty eight dayes to the moneth to be assessed,
levied, collected, and paid unto Sir Gilbert Gerard Baronet, in
such manner, and by such wayes and meanes, as in and by the
said Ordinance is mentioned and expressed. And whereas by
another Ordinance of the fourth of October last, The said Lords
and Commons did Ordaine, That the greatest part of the sums
due and payable by vertue of the said former Ordinance, which
were then in Arreare, should by the said Sir Gilbert Gerard be
paid over to Sir Walter Earle Knight, Lievtenant of the Ordnance, for the uses therein limited and expressed; enjoyning all
and every such persons, as by the said first recited Ordinance
were appointed to collect and leavy the said Arreares, forthwith
to proceed effectually therein, and to make payment of the same
in such manner as in and by the said first recited Ordinance was
formerly appointed. Notwithstanding which, through the carelessenesse and negligence of many of those persons, who by the
said first recited Ordinance were nominated and appointed to
collect and levy the said sums, very little of the said Arrears hath
since that time been brought in and paid unto the said Sir Gilbert
Gerard, or his Assignes. The Lords and Commons assembled in
Parliament, do therefore now Ordain, That if any person or
persons by vertue of the said first recited Ordinance, nominated
and appointed to collect, levy, or pay any of the sums before
mentioned, shall wilfully neglect or refuse to performe the same:
The Lord Mayor of the Citie of London for the time being, or any
two Aldermen of the said City, within the same, and Liberties
thereof, and the respective Committees without the said City and
the Liberties thereof, for the City of Westminster, the Borough
of Southwark, and County of Middlesex, by vertue of the said
first recited Ordinance respectively nominated and appointed, as
aforesaid, or any five of them, have hereby power to commit such
person or persons so refusing or neglecting, to Prison, there to
remaine without Baile or Mainprize, untill hee shall conforme
himselfe; or otherwise to impose upon such person or persons
for every time so refusing or neglecting to performe the said service or their duties therein, such fine or fines as to them shall be
thought fit, and cause the same to be levyed by Distresse and
sale of Goods, in such manner and forme, as in and by the said
first recited Ordinance, for and concerning such persons as should
refuse or neglect to pay the sums of money, whereat they should
be rated or assessed by vertue of that Ordinance is limited and
appointed: Provided that no fine so imposed, shall for any one
offence exceed the summe of five pounds.
Members of both Houses of Parl. excepted.
Provided, that this Ordinance shall not any wayes extend to
the Members of either of the Houses of Parliament, or to the
Assistants or Attendants to the House of Peeres.