January 1648: An additional Ordinance for enlarging the Power of the Committee for the Militia of Westminster, and Parts adjacent, and for necessary Supply of Monies for that Service.

January, 1647/c8

[29 January, 1647/8.]

Additional Ordinance to enlarge the Power of the Committee for the Western Militia.

Be it Ordained, by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, That all the Parishes, Liberties, and Places, together with Dunston's in the West, the Liberty of The Rolles, and Butolph's Aldersgate, or so much of any of them as are in the County of Middlesex within the Weekly Bills of Mortality, and late Lines of Communication (except the Hamlets of The Tower), shall be in the Jurisdiction and Power of the said Committee, in such Manner as the Parishes that are particularly mentioned in the Ordinance of the 9th of September, 1647: And for the Raising of Monies necessary for the carrying on of that Service, the said Committee, or any Seven or more of them, are hereby authorized to cause a Rate and Assessment to be made, upon all Persons inhabiting within the said Parishes, Liberties, and Places, and all Landholders within the said Limits, not exceeding the Sum of Six Hundred Twenty-five Pounds, and to use such Power, and give such Allowances, for the Collecting and Receiving thereof, as is given to the respective Commissioners named in the Ordinance of the 23th of June, 1647, for the Raising of Monies to be employed towards the Maintenance of the Forces within this Kingdom under the Command of Sir Thomas Fairefax Knight: And the said Committee, or any Seven or more of them, shall have likewise Power to call before them all Collectors, Receivers. and Treasurers, for the Monies formerly assessed, levied, or received, for the Service of the Militia, within the said Limits, by virtue of any Ordinance or Ordinances of Parliament; which Collectors, Receivers, and Treasurers, are hereby required to render Accompts thereof to the said Committee, or any Seven or more of them, and to pay such Monies as shall be found remaining in their Hands, upon their respective Accompts or Collections, to the Hands of such Person or Persons as shall be appointed by the said Committee, or any Seven or more of them, to receive the same, whose Receipt shall be unto all and every of the said Collectors, Treasurers, or Receivers, of all or any of the said Monies, a sufficient Warrant and Discharge in that Behalf.

And it is further Ordained, by Authority aforesaid, That the said Committee, or any Seven or more of them, shall have Power to raise all Arrears of former Assessments made by the late Subcommittee of the Militia of Westminster by any Ordinance of Parliament, to be gathered in; and, for Default of Payment of such Assessments, to levy the same by Distress of the Goods of the Persons so assessed, and neglecting to pay the same; and, after Four Days, to sell the said Distress, restoring the Overplus to the Owners: And the said Committee, or any Seven or more of them, shall have likewise Power, from Time to Time, to name and appoint a Treasurer or Treasurers, and to dispose of the Monies raised, and to be raised, by the Means aforesaid, by Order under their Hands, or under the Hands of any Seven or more of them, at their usual Place of Meeting, for the Payment of such Debts as the said Sub-committee have contracted for the Public Service, and for the carrying on of the said Militia as aforesaid, and not otherwise.

And it is further Ordained, That if any Person or Persons shall find him or themselves aggrieved, that he or they are overrated, and shall within Six Days (after Demand made) complain to such of the said Committee who signed or allowed his or their Assignment; the major Part of such of the said Committee who signed or allowed his or their Assessment, shall have Power, upon Examination, within Eight Days after Demand aforesaid, to relieve such Person or Persons, as they shall see just Cause; and that the said Committee, or any Seven or more of them as aforesaid, shall have the same Power and Authority, within the said Parts, as any Committee for the Militia of the City of London had, the Twentieth Day of July, 1647, by any Order or Ordinance of Parliament; and that all Persons acting in Pursuance of this Ordinance shall be for the same saved harmless and indemnified, by Authority of both Houses of Parliament.

Provided, That this present Ordinance shall be in Force, and continue, during the Pleasure of both Houses, and that all Persons acting in Pursuance of this Ordinance shall be for the same saved harmless and indemnified, by Authority of both Houses of Parliament: Provided, That this Ordinance, or any Thing therein contained, shall not extend to the Peers or Members of either House, or the Assistants of the House of Peers, or necessary Attendants of either House.