June 1649: An Act for Encouragement of Purchasers of Deans and Chapters Lands.

June, 1649

[25 June, 1649.]

A former Act recited.

Whereas by an Act of this present Parliament, Entituled, An Act of the Commons of England in Parliament assembled, for the Abolishing of Deans, Deans and Chapters, Canons, Prebends, and other Offices and Titles, of or belonging to any Cathedral or Collegiate Church or Chappel within England or Wales, it is among other things Enacted, That the Contractors (in that Act named) shall not sell any of the Lands, Possessions or Hereditaments of the said Deans, Deans and Chapters, and other the persons in that Act mentioned, in possession under Twelve years Purchase, and so in proportion the Reversion or Reversions of the premises expectant upon Estates for Life, Lives or Years, as in and by the said Act more at large appeareth;

Rules for Contracting.; Ten years Purchase.; An Ordinance of 17 March, 1647.

And whereas by the said Act it is further Enacted and Ordained, That no person or persons, who hath or have any Debt transferred by the said Act from the Securities or Receipts of the Grand Excize, or the Receipts for the Composition of Delinquents at GoldsmithsHall, his or their Assignee or Assignees, being a Purchaser within the said Act, shall have allowance of such Debt by the Trustees, Register-Accomptant or Treasurers in that Act named, in part of the moneys to be paid for the Purchase of the premises, under the rate of Fifteen years Purchase of Lands in Possession, and for Reversions in proportion thereunto, unless such person or persons, his or their Assignee or Assignees, shall first advance the like sum in ready money by way of doubling, in such sort as other persons by that Act have liberty to do: The Parliament of England taking into consideration how expedient it is for this Commonwealth, that speedy Sale be made of the premises, for the present raising of moneys, for and towards (amongst other things) the speedy transporting the Forces now in readiness for the Relief of Ireland, and thereby easing this Nation of the Free-quarter, and other burthens of those Soldiers, as also for the payment of the Debts so transferred, or otherwise fixed upon the premises, by Act or Order of this present Parliament, have for the encouragement of Purchasers Enacted and Ordained, and be it by Authority of this present Parliament Enacted and Ordained, and the said Contractors, or any five or more of them are hereby Authorized and Impowered to Treat, Contract and Agree with any person or persons, Bodies Politique or Corporate, for the Sale of the said premises, or any part thereof for ready money, or upon doubling in possession at Ten years Purchase, and not under, and so in proportion for an Reversion or Reversions of the premises expectant upon any Estate for Life, Lives or Years, and not under, according to the Rules and Proportions set down in an Ordinance of the Seventeenth of March One thousand six hundred forty seven Entituled, An Ordinance of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, for removing Obstructions in the Sale of Reversions of Bishops Lands

Thirteen years Purchase.

And be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That the Contractors or any five or more of them, are hereby Authorized and Impowered, to Treat, Contract and Agree with any person or persons, Bodies Politique or Corporate, their Assignee or Assignees, whose Debts are transferred, or otherwise fixed upon the premises as aforesaid, for the Sale of the premises or any part thereof in possession, to be paid for by the Debts so transferred or fixed (without doubling as aforesaid) at Thirteen years Purchase, and not under; and so in proportion for any Reversion or Reversions expectant upon Estates for Life, Lives or Years, and not under, unless such person or persons, his or their Assignee or Assignees, shall first advance the like sum in ready money or by way of doubling, in such sort as other persons by that Act have liberty to do; and the Trustees, Treasurers and Register-accomptant, and all other persons in the said Act named, imployed or intrusted in the Sale of the premises, are hereby Authorized and enjoyned to allow of the said Contracts, and the said Trustees to convey the premises accordingly, Any Act, Ordinance or Law to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding.

Ten days after return of the Survey.

And for the better encouragement or such as shall desire to become Purchasers of the premises, or any part thereof for ready money, or money advanced by way of doubling as aforesaid, Be it further Enacted and Ordained, That the said Contractors shall not Treat or Contract for the sale of the premises, or any part thereof in possession to be paid for, otherwise then with ready money, or money advanced by way of doubling as aforesaid, until ten days after the return of the Survey of the same, nor for the sale of the Reversion of any of the premises to be paid for, otherwise then with ready money, or money advanced by way of doubling as aforesaid, until ten days after the time allowed by the said former Act to the immediate Tenant or Tenants for Contracting and Subscribing their Contracts; and after the said ten days respectively, the said Contractors may proceed to the sale of the premises, or any part thereof not contracted for within the said two days as aforesaid, to any person or persons, Bodies Politique or Corporate, to be paid for by the debts so transferred or fixed as aforesaid, Any thing in this Act to the contrary notwithstanding.