April, 1648
[22 April, 1648.]
Ords. 24 Dec., 1647, recited.
Whereas by several Ordinances of Parliament of the four and
twentieth December last past, for security of the Arrears of the
Souldiery, It was and is Ordained and Provided, That the
monies arising out of the remaining part of Bishops Lands
(after such engagements as are charged thereupon should be first
satisfied, shall be imployed for the payment of the Arrears due
to the Souldiery that have faithfully served the Parliament, and
that two third parts of the Lands of all the Delinquents
comprehended in the three first qualifications of the Proposition
for Delinquents sent to the King into the Isle of Wight not then
pre-disposed of, or the Fines to be set upon those Delinquents
should be imployed to the same use. And further by another
Ordinance of Parliament of the same date, the sum of six
hundred thousand pounds is charged upon the moyety of the
Receipts of Excise, in course towards payment of the Arrears of
the Army that is to be kept up, and of the supernumeraries then
appointed to be disbanded. And by another Ordinance of the
same date, That the sum of Six hundred thousand pounds, was,
and is charged upon all and every the securities above mentioned,
for the uses aforesaid to be in the first place satisfied.
And whereas by several other Ordinances of Parliament of the
same date, the Committee of Lords and Commons for the Army,
as also Commissioners of the several Counties, are appointed and
authorized to state and audit the Accompts and give Debenters
for the Arrears of the Souldiery (as well those to be kept up, as
those then to be disbanded) And the Registry of such Debenters
is appointed to be kept by such person or persons, as the
Committee of Lords and Commons for the Army should
nominate and appoint; And that for such Debenters as should
be thereupon given out, and signed by the said Committee of the
Army, and Commissioners, or any three of them, and Registered
as aforesaid, the State should be lyable to the payment thereof,
and that the same shall be paid and satisfied respectively out of
the moneys and securities assigned, or Ordained as aforesaid by
the Parliament, or further to be Ordained for those uses, as in
and by the said several Ordinances may appear.
How Debentures shall be satisfied.; A List shall be made of all the Souldiery to whom Debenters are due.; As any are satisfiedit shall be entered.; Purchasers of Assignees of Debenters shall receive the money in Course.
Now the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, do
hereby further Declare and Ordain, and it is Ordained by the
said Lords and Commons, that for such Debenters as are or shall
be given out, Signed and Registred as aforesaid, according to the
said Ordinances, the sums thereby charged (as moneys shall
arise out of the said securities, and some into the hands of the
Treasurers at War towards the discharge thereof) shall be
satisfied and discharged by the said Treasurers upon the
Warant of the said Committee for the Army to the several and
respective persons to whom the same by the said Debenters
is due, or to their respective Assignees in course, according to
such order, method, and proportions, as by the said Committee
of Lords and Commons for the Army (upon advice with the
Lord General concerning the same) shall be prescribed, and set
down to the said Treasurers, and the said Committee of Lords
and Commons are to take order that a perfect List of all the
Souldiery, to whom such Debenters are or shall be given
(expressing the sum of Arrears to them severally due) shall be
made up and kept in such order and course as they shall be set
down and appointed to be paid in as aforesaid, and that the
same be kept in a publique and open Registry, and that as any
of the said Souldiery shall be satisfied any proportion of their
said Arrears, it shall be entred and expressed in the same
Registry upon the aforesaid general List, so as any person in the
said List, to whom any such Arrears are due, or any other in
his behalf, may at any time see and finde in the said Registry,
in what Order, Method, or Course, and by what proportions he
is to be satisfied, and who was last paid, and when his own turn
or course will come, and if any Person to whom any Arrears
upon such Debenters are or shall be due, shall sell or assign the
same to any other, It is hereby declared, that the Purchasor, or
Assignee shall duely receive the moneys thereupon due in the
same order and course, and by the same Proportions, as the
party himself expressed in the Debenter should or ought to
receive the same, and the Acquittance or Acquittances of the
party to whom such Debenters shall be assigned as aforesaid,
shall be a sufficient discharge for such sum and sums of money
they shall receive thereupon from the Treasurers at War
according to the intent of this present Ordinance.
No stop of payment in course.
And it is hereby further Ordained and Declared, that as to the
whole Arrear of any private Souldier, or non-Commissioned
Officer, or to any part thereof, or to the first moyety of the
Arrears of any Commission Officer due upon such Debenter as
aforesaid, there shall not (in relation to any Surcharge expected,
and not brought in, and made to appear before the monies
become payable according to such course as aforesaid) be any
stop or delay made to the payment hereof in course as moneys
shall come for the discharge thereof, any thing in any former
Ordinance contained to the contrary notwithstanding.