March 1643: An Ordinance and Declaration that the Lord Major and Citizens of the City of London, for the better securing and safety thereof...according to their discretion, to trench, stop, and fortifie all high-waies leading into the said City...

March 1643

[7 March, 1642/3.]

Power to Lord Mayor and Citizens of London to stop and fortify all highways leading to the City.; Tax to be levied on inhabitants for this purpose.;Indemnity.

It is this day ordered by the Lords and Commons in Parliament, That the Lord Maior and Citizens of the City of London, for the better securing and safety of the said City, Suburbs, Parliament, City of Westminster, and Borough of Southwarke shall have power to trench and stop all high-waies, and by-waies leading into the said City, as well within as without the Liberties, as they shall see cause; And shall also have full Power and Authority according to their discretion, to fortifie and intrench the places aforesaid with such outworkes, and in such places as they shall think meet; And for his and their, furtherance and Assistance, to call in all or any Deputy-Lieutenants, Justices of the Peace, Bailiffs, Constables, and other Ministers, Officers and other His Majesty's loving Subjects to be aiding and assisting, as they will answer the contrary at their perill. And it is further ordered that the Deputy-Lieutenants, and Justices of the Peace for the County of Middlesex, and Surrey, City of Westminster, and Borough of Southwarke, or any three or more of them within their severall and respective limits shall have power to impose upon the Inhabitants within the said Trenches and Fortifications, and without the Liberties of the said City, towards the charges of fortifying the said places as aforesaid, upon every house that shall be let for, or may be valued worth five pound per yeare, sixpence: and for every house of greater rent after the proportion of two pence in the pound, that the tenant of the said house, paieth, if he had it at a Racke-rent, or otherwise, after the rate that the said house shall be valued to be worth: which Assessement shall be forthwith made and collected in all the Parishes, Precincts, and Liberties aforesaid, and paid to the Treasurer chosen, or to be chosen, by the Common-Councell of the City of London, to be disbursed as aforesaid. The said money to be paid by the said Tenant or Inhabitant where houses are inhabited, who is to deduct the same out of his next Rent payable to the Landlords, if it be a rack-Rent, and by the Landlords where houses shall stand empty: And it is further ordered, That Whereas the Common-Councell of London, have in this time of imminent danger, passed an Act for the fortifying of the City of London, and other places above mentioned, in pursuance whereof a Committee of Common-Councellmen and others, are appointed and have already proceeded in the said Fortifications before this Ordinance could be effected, It is hereby declared, that their said pursuance of that Act, and executing the same is a good service to the Common-Wealth, and the said parties, and all such Ingeneeres or others that all be employed by them, shal be by power of Parliament saved harmless both for what they have done, and shall do herein for time to come.