January, 1647/c8
[29 January, 1647/8.]
Additional Ordinance to enlarge the Power of the Committee for the Western Militia.
Be it Ordained, by the Lords and Commons assembled in
Parliament, That all the Parishes, Liberties, and Places, together
with Dunston's in the West, the Liberty of The Rolles, and
Butolph's Aldersgate, or so much of any of them as are in the
County of Middlesex within the Weekly Bills of Mortality, and late
Lines of Communication (except the Hamlets of The Tower), shall
be in the Jurisdiction and Power of the said Committee, in such
Manner as the Parishes that are particularly mentioned in the
Ordinance of the 9th of September, 1647: And for the Raising
of Monies necessary for the carrying on of that Service, the said
Committee, or any Seven or more of them, are hereby authorized
to cause a Rate and Assessment to be made, upon all Persons
inhabiting within the said Parishes, Liberties, and Places, and
all Landholders within the said Limits, not exceeding the Sum
of Six Hundred Twenty-five Pounds, and to use such Power,
and give such Allowances, for the Collecting and Receiving
thereof, as is given to the respective Commissioners named in the
Ordinance of the 23th of June, 1647, for the Raising of Monies to
be employed towards the Maintenance of the Forces within this
Kingdom under the Command of Sir Thomas Fairefax Knight:
And the said Committee, or any Seven or more of them, shall
have likewise Power to call before them all Collectors, Receivers.
and Treasurers, for the Monies formerly assessed, levied, or
received, for the Service of the Militia, within the said Limits, by
virtue of any Ordinance or Ordinances of Parliament; which
Collectors, Receivers, and Treasurers, are hereby required to
render Accompts thereof to the said Committee, or any Seven
or more of them, and to pay such Monies as shall be found
remaining in their Hands, upon their respective Accompts or
Collections, to the Hands of such Person or Persons as shall be
appointed by the said Committee, or any Seven or more of them,
to receive the same, whose Receipt shall be unto all and every of
the said Collectors, Treasurers, or Receivers, of all or any of the
said Monies, a sufficient Warrant and Discharge in that Behalf.
And it is further Ordained, by Authority aforesaid, That the
said Committee, or any Seven or more of them, shall have Power
to raise all Arrears of former Assessments made by the late Subcommittee of the Militia of Westminster by any Ordinance of
Parliament, to be gathered in; and, for Default of Payment of
such Assessments, to levy the same by Distress of the Goods of
the Persons so assessed, and neglecting to pay the same; and,
after Four Days, to sell the said Distress, restoring the Overplus
to the Owners: And the said Committee, or any Seven or more
of them, shall have likewise Power, from Time to Time, to name
and appoint a Treasurer or Treasurers, and to dispose of the
Monies raised, and to be raised, by the Means aforesaid, by Order
under their Hands, or under the Hands of any Seven or more of
them, at their usual Place of Meeting, for the Payment of such
Debts as the said Sub-committee have contracted for the Public
Service, and for the carrying on of the said Militia as aforesaid,
and not otherwise.
And it is further Ordained, That if any Person or Persons
shall find him or themselves aggrieved, that he or they are overrated, and shall within Six Days (after Demand made) complain
to such of the said Committee who signed or allowed his or their
Assignment; the major Part of such of the said Committee who
signed or allowed his or their Assessment, shall have Power, upon
Examination, within Eight Days after Demand aforesaid, to
relieve such Person or Persons, as they shall see just Cause; and
that the said Committee, or any Seven or more of them as aforesaid, shall have the same Power and Authority, within the said
Parts, as any Committee for the Militia of the City of London
had, the Twentieth Day of July, 1647, by any Order or Ordinance
of Parliament; and that all Persons acting in Pursuance of this
Ordinance shall be for the same saved harmless and indemnified,
by Authority of both Houses of Parliament.
Provided, That this present Ordinance shall be in Force, and
continue, during the Pleasure of both Houses, and that all
Persons acting in Pursuance of this Ordinance shall be for the
same saved harmless and indemnified, by Authority of both
Houses of Parliament: Provided, That this Ordinance, or any
Thing therein contained, shall not extend to the Peers or
Members of either House, or the Assistants of the House of
Peers, or necessary Attendants of either House.