February 1643: Order for assessing divers Persons in London, according to the Ordinance of 29 November.

February 1642/3

[8 February, 1642/3.]

Whereas Information is given, That divers Collectors nominated for the collecting, levying, and receiving of the Sums of Money assessed by virtue of the late Ordinance of both Houses of Parliament, of 29th of November last, for Assessments, by reason of their other Employments in the Public Affairs of the State, have been taken off from the due Execution of the same Ordinance, whereby well-affected Persons are still occasionally pressed to further Contributions, whilst those that have not contributed, or not in Proportion to their Estates, do not make a proportionable Supply: Be it therefore Ordained and required, by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, That the Collectors nominated or to be nominated, by virtue of the said Ordinance, shall, from and after the 11th day of this Instant Month of February, only give Notice to the Persons assessed, or to be assessed, of the several Sums of Money at which they are or shall be assessed; and, after the Days limited by the said Ordinance for Payment shall be elapsed, shall repair to the Houses of the Persons assessed, or to be assessed, and demand the several Sums of Money at which they are or shall be assessed: and, if the same be un-paid, then to take Notice whether sufficient Distress may be had, to satisfy the Sums assessed or no, and accordingly to certify the same, under their Hands, to the Committee of Lords and Commons for Advance of Money and other Necessaries for the Army; and the said Collectors are hereby required and authorized to enquire of any Sum or Sums of Money due, or to be due, unto the Persons respectively assessed, or to be assessed, from any Person or Persons, for any Rents, Tithes, Goods, or Debts, or for any other Thing or Cause whatsoever, and to compound and receive the same, and give Discharges therefor, according to the Power to them formerly given by the said Ordinance: And it is hereby further Ordained, That where the said Collectors shall certify that a sufficient Distress may be had for the Sums of Money assessed, or to be assessed, that Colonel Randall Manwaring, Colonel Browne, Captain Edmond Harvey, Captain Robert Manwareing, Captain Herriott Washbourne, and such Captains, Lieutenants, Officers, and Soldiers, under their several and respective Commands, as they or any of them shall appoint, upon Notice thereof given, shall immediately repair unto the several Houses of the Person assessed or to be assessed, and certified as aforesaid, and levy the Sums of Money so assessed, by Distress, in as ample Manner as, by the said Ordinance of 29 Novemb. and an Order of both Houses of Parliament of the 3d of this Instant Month of February, the Collectors nominated upon the said Ordinance are authorized and appointed to do and perform; and the Distress and Distresses, so had and taken, to carry into Guildhall, London, or Crosby House, in B'ppgatestreete, London, or to such other Place or Places as the said Committee shall appoint, to be sold and disposed of, for or towards Satisfaction of the Sums assessed, at such Times, and by such Persons, and in such Manner, as by the said Committee shall be directed; and, in case Certificate be made by the said Collectors, that no sufficient Distress can be had or found, and the sums assessed cannot be levied by any of the Ways or Means in the said Ordinance mentioned, then the said Colonel Randall Manwareing, Colonel Browne, Captain Edmond Harvey, Captain Robert Manwareing, Captain Herriott Washbourne, and such Captains, Lieutenants, Officers, and Soldiers, under their command, as they or any of them shall command and appoint, shall repair unto the Dwelling Houses of such Person or Persons as are or shall be assessed and certified as aforesaid; and there, or within any other Place within this Kingdom where such Person or Persons shall be suspected to be, to make diligent search, and him, her, or them, to apprehend, and bring in safe Custody before the Committee of the House of Commons for Examinations, who have Power to imprison them in such Places of this Kingdom, and for so long Time, as the same Committee shall appoint and Order; and the said Colonels and Captains, and other the Captains, Lieutenants. Officers, and Soldiers, under the Command of them, or any of them, shall have Power to break open any of the Locks and Doors of any Room, or other Place, in or belonging to the said Houses or Places, where Search shall be made for the Parties assessed, or to be assessed respectively; and the Goods, Debts, Money, and Estate, of such Persons as already are imprisoned, or to be imprisoned, shall still be liable, and shall and may be seized on, sold, received, and disposed of, for Satisfaction of the Sums assessed; wheresoever, or in whose Hands soever, the same shall be found; and the Families of such Persons assessed, or to be assessed, who have or shall absent themselves from their Dwelling Houses, or Places of Abode, within the Cities of London and Westm. the Suburbs of the same, and the Borough of Southwarke, shall be further proceeded against, as in the Ordinance of 29 Novemb. is provided: And the said Collectors, and all Colonels, Captains, Lieutenants, Officers, Soldiers, and other Person or Persons, as shall be appointed or employed in and for the better Execution of the said Ordinance as aforesaid, shall have the Protection of both Houses of Parliament, for their Indemnity in this Service; and if any Thing, not mentioned in the said Ordinance, of 29 Novemb. or this present Ordinance, may conduce to the more effectual Levying and Receiving of Monies to be assessed upon the said Ordinance, of 29 Novemb. the same is hereby referred to the Wisdom and Care of the said Committee of Lords and Commons for Advance of Money and other Necessaries for the Army: Lastly it is Ordered, That this Ordinance shall be printed and published.