August 1643: Ordinance for disposing of the Houses of Persons gone away who have not paid the Weekly Assessments.

August 1643

[26 August, 1643.]

Whereas divers Persons have been assessed, upon the Ordinances of Parliament for the Twentieth Part, and Weekly Assessment, Subsidies, and other Payments, many of which have refractorily and wilfully suffered the Days for Payment of the Sums assessed to be elapsed, and covertly conveyed away their Goods from their Houses, and absented their Persons, to avoid Payment of their Assessments, or else have suffered Imprisonment, and their Houses to stand empty, whereby they might be freed from bearing Part of those common Taxes and Charges, which the Necessities of these troubleous Times require: For Remedy whereof, and better Satisfaction of the Sums assessed on such Persons, it is this Day Ordered, by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, That such Persons as shall be appointed, by the Committee of Lords and Commons for Advance of Money and other Necessaries for the Army, shall have Power to let, set, or rent forth, to such Persons, and for such Time, Fine and Rent, as they shall think fit, the Houses of any Person or Persons who are already imprisoned for their Assessments, or absent themselves for Non-payment of their Assessments; and the Monies raised by the Rents of the said Houses to convert and employ towards Satisfaction for the same Assessments and Payments; and that such Persons as shall take the same Houses shall discharge the Head Rents due to be paid for such Houses, as also the Duties to the Parish, during their Abode in the same; and the Persons so taking and leasing the said Houses shall be saved harmless and indemnified, against the Persons imprisoned, or absenting themselves, as aforesaid, by the Power and Authority of both Houses of Parliament.