July 1645: An Ordinance for Relief of the Counties of Oxon, Bucks, Berks and Southampton, &c.

July, 1645

[18 July, 1645.]

Power to Common Council of London, etc. to levy Men, Horses, and Arms for relief of Oxon, Bucks, etc.; Penalty for refusal to contribute.

The Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, duly considering the miserable condition of the Counties of Oxon, Bucks, Berks and Southampton, and other the neighboring Counties, by reason of continual Plundrings and Alarums from the Garisons of Oxon, Basing, Winchester, Wallingford, Banbury, Newark, and other places adjacent in the Enemies power, and well weighing the great advantage which would redound not only to the said Counties in particular, but to the City of London, and all the Associated Counties, and to the whole Kingdom in general, if some competent Force might be speedily raised for the Blocking up, or streightning of the said Garisons and places in order to a further Design. Do Order and Ordain, and be it Ordered and Ordained by the Lords and Commons in Parliament, That the Common-Councel of the City of London, or such as they shall appoint, and the Committees for the Militia of Middlesex, within the Lines of Communication, and the several Committees nominated in the Ordinance for raising of Moneys for maintenance of the Forces under the command of Sir Thomas Fairfax. in the several Counties and Cities hereafter mentioned, or any three of them, shall have power respectively, and are hereby authorized to raise and leavy for the relief of the foresaid Counties, and the keeping in of the Garisons and Places in the Counties aforesaid, the several proportions of Men, Horses and Arms hereafter likewise particularly expressed; And if any person shall refuse or neglect to send in his Horse or Arms, as he shall be Assessed and proportioned according to the true intent of this Ordinance, that then it shall be lawful for the said Committees as aforementioned, or any three of them respectively, to leavy so much Money by Distress and sale of the Goods of the party so refusing or neglecting, as he shall be so set at.

None to be charged above one Horse and Arms, or value thereof.; Persons exempted.; Rendezvous.

Provided, That no particular person in any of the said Counties or Cities be charged for the finding or providing of more then one Horse and Arms, or the value thereof, after the Rate of twelve pounds for a Light Horse and Arms, and six pounds for a Dragoon Horse and Arms; And that no person be charged by vertue of this Ordinance, who hath not an Estate in Lands or yeerly Revenue to the value of Forty pounds per annum, or above, or personal Estate of the value of Four hundred pounds or above; And the several proportions of Horse and Dragoons hereafter mentioned, are to meet within ten days after the passing of this Ordinance, at such Rendezvous as shall be appointed by both Houses of Parliament, or by the Committee of the two Kingdoms for the services aforesaid, and to be taken into pay the next day after they shall come to such Rendezvouz to be appointed as aforesaid. And for the better encouragement of all those who shall be Rated towards the raising and paying of the said Men, Horse and Dragoons as aforesaid, to contribute cheerfully to this present and necessary supply.

Moneys to be repaid out of Delinquents Estates.

It is Ordained and Declared, That the Moneys which shall be Leavyed for the purposes aforesaid, shall be duly repaid to all and every person and persons disbursing the same respectively, out of the Moneys to be raised by the sale of Delinquents Estates, next and immediately after the Two hundred thousand pounds already charged thereon shall be paid.

Provided always, That the proportions now set by vertue of this Ordinance shall be no president for the future.

Members etc. of both Houses excepted.

Provided, That this Ordinance, nor any thing therein contained, shall extend to any Peer of this Realm under the protection of the Parliament, or any Member of the House of Commons, Assistant, Officer or Attendant of the House of Peers, or Officer or Attendant of the House of Commons.