House of Lords Journal Volume 6: 19 September 1643

DIE Martis, 19 die Septembris.

PRAYERS.

Lord Grey de Warke, Speaker.

Answer from the H. C. about the Hertfordshire Ordinance.

The Messengers sent Yesterday to the House of Commons return with this Answer:

That they agree to the Proviso in the Ordinance concerning the County of Hertford. (Here enter it.)

Petition of the Seamen belonging to The Mayslower.

The Petition of the Seamen which served in The Mayflower, desiring "their Wages may be paid them."

Ordered, To send this Petition to the House of Commons, with a Recommendation that they would take some Course to satisfy these poor Men; and (fn. 1) accordingly the said Petition was (fn. 2) sent down by Sir Rob't Rich and Mr. Page:

Ordinance concerning the County of Hertford.

"Whereas the Inhabitants of the Town of Watford, having shewed themselves forward and zealous to express their Affections for Defence of Parliament and Kingdom, were authorized, by Ordinance of the Eleventh of November last, to make Assessments, and tax themselves, and the rest of the Parish, according to the Quantity of their Estates and Abilities, for Provision of competent Men, Arms, and Ammunition, for Defence of the same Town and Parish, and to associate with such other Towns and Parishes in the County of Hert. and in the Neighbour Counties of Midd. Essex, and Bucks, as would confederate and join their Strength with them, for the mutual Safety each of other; and to train, exercise, and draw forth their Forces, jointly or severally, for their best Defence and Preservation, as by the said Ordinance appeareth; and whereas, in Pursuance of that Ordinance, by the Care and Industry of divers well-affected Persons of the said Town of Watford and the Neighbourhood thereof, One Regiment of Foot is already raised, and good Hopes given of raising more, if a convenient Supply of Power may be had for doing of the same, in such a Way and Manner as may probably bring the same to a speedy and good Effect: The Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, taking the Premises into their serious Consideration, do hereby Order and Ordain, That Sir John Garrett Knight, Sir John Wittewrong Knight, William Leman Esquire, Richard Porter Esquire, Captain John Marsh, Captain Nathaniell Hawes, Mr. Gabriell Barber, Mr. Adam Washington, William Carter, Captain Daniell Feild, Thomas Mitchell, William Finch, Nathaniell Mannisty, Christopher Looffees, Zachary King, Henry King, John Gates, Franeis Clerke, John Gale, William Baily, Randall Nicholl, Daniell Nicholl, John Grubb, Henry Marsh, William Smith, Robert Warren, William Aileward, Nicholas Colborne, and William Hickman, all of them Inhabitants of the said County of Hert. shall be, and are hereby appointed to be, a Committee for Voluntiers for the said County; and that the said Committee, or any Seven or more of them, shall and may, with all convenient Speed, summon to appear, in some convenient Places within the said County, the Freeholders and other the Inhabitants of the Towns, Parishes, and Townships, within the said County of Hert. who are able to bear or find Arms, or to contribute towards the same, and there propound unto them what present and imminent Danger and Necessity the whole Kingdom is now reduced unto, by the wicked and traiterous Advice and Counsel, Attempts and Conspiracies, of Papists, and other Persons about His Majesty; and to take the voluntary Subscriptions, for Men, Arms, Horse, and Monies, of such Well-affected Persons as please to contribute and come into this Employment; and convert such Contributions of Monies and Arms for the Use of the same; and to list, train, exercise, and put into Readiness, as well within the Liberties as without the County aforesaid, such Persons as shall be so subscribed for; and them, after their Abilities and Faculties, well and sufficiently from Time to Time to cause to be arrayed and armed; and to take the Musters of them, in Places most fit for that Purpose; and to have Commissions granted, in usual Form, to such Commanders, Colonels, Captains, and other Officers and Ministers for the said Forces, as they shall present to the Right Honourable the Earl of Maunchester, appointed Serjeant Major General of the said County of Hert. and other associated Counties; and shall have Power, by their Commanders and Officers, to lead, conduct, and employ the Persons aforesaid, arrayed and weaponed, for Suppression of all Rebellions, Insurrections, and Invasions, that may happen within the said County, and for doing all Things else needful thereto, for the Preservation, Safety, and Peace, of the said County of Hert. and Counties adjacent: And, for the better raising of Monies for Maintenance of the great Charges incident to a Work of this Nature, it is further Ordained and Declared, That the said Committee, or any Seven or more of them, shall have Power to assess and tax, or cause to be assessed and taxed, upon the said County of Hert. according to the most usual Proportion of Rates in the late Weekly Assessments there, such Sum or Sums as shall by them be judged convenient and necessary for the arming, training, and disciplining of the said Forces, so that it exceed not the Sum of Two Hundred Pounds by the Week, and so as especial Respect be had of easing such as, according to their Ability, do voluntarily list Men and Arms, or otherwise voluntarily contribute to the Employment aforesaid; and to grant Warrants, under their Hands and Seals, in Writing, to any Constables or other Officers whatsoever, to raise and levy the said Sum and Sums, to be assessed and taxed as aforesaid, upon all such Persons, upon whom any Sum shall be so assessed and set, who do refuse or neglect to pay the same, by Way of Distresses and Sale of the Goods of the Person so refusing and neglecting to pay the same; and, in Case no Distress is or may be found, then to sequester the Rents and other Estates of such Person and Persons so refusing and neglecting to pay the same, taking an exact Inventory thereof, and selling so much as may satisfy the Assessment, and restoring the Remainder and Overplus of the said Estate to the Owner and Owners respectively; and further the said Committee are required, to certify the Names in Writing, to the Committee of Lords and Commons for the Safety of the Kingdom, of all such unconformable and wilful Persons, who refuse to comply or contribute as aforesaid, that such further Course may be taken as shall be thought fit; and that their Arms may be taken and seized, by the said Committee and their Agents, for the Use and Furtherance of the said Service.

"And the said Committee for Voluntiers, and the major Part of them, are hereby authorized to add to themselves such other trusty Persons, to be of their Committee, as shall be approved of by both Houses of Parliament; and to make such Sub-Committee, or Committees, as to them shall seem expedient; every of which Sub-Committees shall and may exercise and execute such Power and Authority as shall be delegated by the said Committee, or the major Part of them, for the better Execution of the Premises: And it is lastly Ordained and Declared, That the Inhabitants of the said County of Hert. shall and may associate themselves with the City of London, or with any other Hundreds, Towns, Parishes, or Places, in the Neighbourhood, in the Counties of Midd. Bucks, and Essex, as will associate with them, for the mutual Defence and Preservation of themselves, and of the said associated Places, against Papists, Malignants, and others, the common Enemies of the Parliament and Kingdom; and to admit into their Committee aforesaid such Persons of the said City, Hundreds, or Towns, as shall desire to associate, with the Approbation of both Houses of Parliament.

"Provided always, That, so long as the said Forces, which by virtue of this Ordinance are to be raised, shall be or remain in the County of Hert. they shall be ordered, governed, and exercised, by the aforesaid Committee, under the Command of the Lord Viscount Cranborne, immediately by himself."

Pettus and Bancroft.

Upon reading the Petition of the Widow Pettus: It is Ordered, That the Cause shall be heard, between her and Bancroft and others, on the 20th Day of November next; and the Defendants are to have a Copy of the Petitition.

Adjourn.

House adjourned till 10^a cras.