May 1643: An Ordinance concerning Debts, and Rents of Houses to be gathered and paid to Collectors.

May 1643

[6, May, 1643.]

Persons paying Rents, Tythes, Debts, etc., belonging to persons assessed shall be discharged.; Such as refuse to pay may be distrained or sued.

Whereas in and by the Ordinance of both Houses of Parliament of the 29. of November last, for Assessments, it is provided, That if no sufficient distress be found to satisfie the sums assessed, then the Collectors shall have power to enquire of any sum or sums of Money, due, or to be due unto them respectively so assessed, from any Person or Persons, for any Rents, Tythes, Goods, or Debts, or for any other thing or cause whatsoever, and should have power to receive the same, and to compound therefore, and give discharges, which should be good and effectual to all intents and purposes; and forasmuch as divers Persons in regard of Provisional clauses in their Leases of Forfeiture for notpayment of their Rents; and other Persons who have given Bonds, Bills, or Specialties, or stand charged by Book for payment of such Debts as they owe to Persons assessed, have desired Explanation of the said Ordinance for their indempnity in the cases aforesaid. Be it therefore Ordained and Declared by the Lords and Commons, That all and every such person and persons as in obedience to the said Ordinance shall pay any Rents, Tythes, Goods, or Debts, (by them owing to any Person or Persons assessed) unto the Collectors appointed or to be appointed to receive the same, shall be discharged against his Creditor, Landlord, or Rector, and their Assigns, to whom any such Rents, Tythes, or Debts shall be due as aforesaid, and shall be protected and saved harmless from any Forfeiture, Penalty, or Damage which he or they may incur by not payment of his or their said Rent, Tythes, Sums of Moneys, or other things according to his or their Lease, Bond, Bill, Book, Specialty, or other agreement, by the Power and Authority of both Houses of Parliament, And if any such Tenant or Tenants, Parishioners, Debtors, or Person or Persons, who are indebted, or from whom any Rent, Tythes, or Debts, shall be due to any Person or Persons, assessed, as aforesaid, shall refuse to pay his or their Rent, or Rents, Tythes, or Debts, to the said Collectors, at such times and places as the same shall become due and payable, the said Collectors shall have power to distrain, sue for and recover the said Rents, Tythes and Debts, and to take all other advantages for non-payment thereof, as the Landlord, Rectors, or Creditors, might have done in every respect for and towards satisfaction of the sums of Money at which such persons are assessed as aforesaid.