January 1643: Order for assessing Persons in the County of Devon, to defray the Expences of the Army there.

January 1642/3

[17 January 1642/3.]

Whereas Sir Ralph Hopton, combined with divers other Malignants, hath levied War against the Parliament, and hath in a Warlike Manner entered into the County of Devon, besieged the City of Exeter, and committed divers Murders and Robberies; for the resisting and suppressing of whom, many well-affected Persons in the County of Devon and City of Exeter have raised Forces, and contributed to the Maintenance of the same; But, the Charge being too great for them alone to bear, and it being equal that others who have Part of the Benefit should bear Part of the Charge, it is therefore Ordained, by the Lords and Commons in Parliament, and by the Authority of the same, That it shall be lawful for Mr. Christopher Clarke Mayor of Exon, Sir George Chudleigh, Sir John Bampfeild, Baronets, Sir Nicholas Martin Knight, Captain William Gold, Charles Vaughan, Thomas Boone, Walter White, Tristram Arscott, Captain Richard Evans, Captain John Lovering, Samuel Clarke, and Arthur Upton, Esquires, or any Three or more of them, to assess and charge such Person or Persons, Inhabitants of the City and County of Exon, and of the County of Devon, as are of Ability, and have not contributed to the Propositions: and also such as have contributed, yet not according to their Ability, to pay such Sum or Sums of Money, according to their Estates, as the said Assessors, or any Three or more of them, shall think fit and reasonable, so as the same exceeds not the Twentieth Part of their Estates; and if any Person so assessed shall refuse to pay the Money assessed upon him, it shall be lawful to and for the said Assessors, or any three of them, to grant Warrants to any Person or Persons to levy the said sum so assessed, by Way of Distress and Sale of the Goods of the Person so assessed and refusing; and if any Person so distrained shall make Resistance, it shall be lawful to and for the said Assessors, or any Three of them, by their Warrant, to require the Parliament's Forces in these Parts, and all other His Majesty's Officers and good Subjects, to be aiding and assisting in the Premises; the said sums, so assessed and levied, to be paid in to Charles Vaughan, Esquire, Treasurer, appointed to receive the said Subscriptions; and that the Money so raised shall not be issued out but by Warrant to the said Treasurer, under the Hands of Three or more of the said Assessors; and such Person or Persons as shall be notoriously refractory and disobedient in the Premises, it shall be lawful for the said Assessors, or any Two of them, by their Warrant, to commit them to Prison, or to send them up to the Parliament, by Ship or otherwise, and for any Act done or to be done according to the nor (fn. 1) of this Ordina[n]ce, they and every of them herein named shall be saved harmless, by Authority of both Houses of Parliament.