The several ORDINANCES and DECLARATIONS OF THE LORDS and COMMONS Assembled in PARLIAMENT.  

1 For the abolishing of Archbishops and Bishops within the Kingdom of England and Dominion of Wales, and for settling of their Lands and Possessions upon trusties for the use of the Commonwealth.  
2 For securing of all those that shall advance the Two Hundred Thousand Pound for the service of the State.  
3 For the Payment of the said Two hundred thousand Pound to our Brethren of Scotland.  
4 For the selling of the Lands of all the Bishops in the Kingdom of England, and Dominion of Wales, for the service of the Commonwealth.   
With Instructions for the controller, the Contractors, the Surveyors, and the Register: As also, the Names of all the trusties and Contractors, for the speedy execution of the same.  

Die Lunae 23 Novemb. 1646.  
IT is this day Ordered by the Lords in Parliament assembled, That the several Ordinances Printed for the sale of the Bishop's Lands, shall be called in; And that the trusties therein mentioned, or the major part of them shall take care for the true Printing thereof, according to the said Ordinance, any Order whatsoever notwithstanding.  
Joh. Brown Cleric. Parliamentorum.   
London, Printed for John Bellamy, 1646.   

Die Veneris, 9 Octob. 1646.  
An Ordinance of Parliament, for the abolishing of Archbishops and Bishops, within the Kingdom of England, and Dominion of Wales, and for settling of their Lands and Possessions upon trusties for the use of the Commonwealth.  
FOr the abolishing of Archbishops and Bishops, and providing for the payment of the just and necessary debts of the Kingdom, into which the same hath been drawn by a War, mainly promoted by and in favour of the said Archbishops, and Bishops, and other their Adherents, and Dependants; Be it Ordained, and it is Ordained by the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, and by the Authority of the same; That the Name, Title, Style and Dignity of Archbishop of Canterbury, Archbishop of York, Bishop of Winchester, Bishop of Duresme, and of all other Bishops of any Bishoprics within the Kingdom of England, and Dominion of Wales, be from and after the fifth day of September, in the year of our Lord God 1646. wholly abolished and taken away, and are hereby abolished and taken away. And all and every person and persons are and be thenceforth disabled to hold the place, function or stile of Archbishop or Bishop of any Church, Sea, or Diocese now established or erected, or hereafter to be established or erected within the Kingdom of England, Dominion of Wales, or Town of Berwick, or to use or put in ure any archiepiscopal or Episcopal Jurisdiction, or authority, by force of any Letters Patents from the Crown, made, or to be made, or by any other Authority whatsoever, any Law, Statute, Usage or Custom to the contrary notwithstanding. And be it further Ordained, and it is hereby Ordained, That all Counties Palatine, Honours, Manors, Lordships, Styles, Circuits, Precincts, Castles, Granges, Messages, Mills, Lands, Tenements, Meadows, Pastures, Parsonages, appropriate Tithes, Oblations, Obventions, Pensions, Portions of Tithes, Parsonages, Vicarages, Churches, Chappells, Advowsons', Donatives, Nominations, Rights of Patronage and Presentation, Parkes, Woods, Rents, Reversions, Services, Annuities, Franchises, Liberties, Privileges, Immunities, Rights of Action and of Entry, Interests, Titles of Entry, Conditions, Commons, Courts Leet, and Courts Baron; and all other Possessions and Hereditaments whatsoever, with all and every of their appurtenances of what nature or quality soever they be, which now are, or at any time within ten years before the beginning of this present Parliament, were belonging to the said Archbishops, or Bishops, Archbishoprics, or Bishoprics, or any of them, which they, or any of them had held and enjoyed in the Right of their Archbishoprics, or Bishoprics, Dignities, Offices, or Places respectively; Together with all Charters, Deeds, Books, Accounts, Rolls, and other Writings and Evidences whatsoever, concerning the Premises, or any of them, which do belong to any the said Archbishops, or Bishops, Archbishoprics, and Bishoprics, are vested and settled, adjudged and deemed to be, and are hereby in the real and actual possession and seisin of Thomas Adam's Alderman, now Lord Major of the City of London, Sir John Wollaston Knight, Sir George Clarke, Knight, John Langham Alderman, John Fewke Alderman, James Bunce Alderman, William Gibbes Alderman, Samuel Avery Alderman, Thomas noel, Christopher Pack, John Bellamy, Edward Hooker, Thomas Arnold, Richard Glide, William Hobson, Francis Ash, John Babington, Laurence Bromfield, Alexander Jones, John Jones, Richard Venner, Stephen Estwick, Robert Mead, and James Story; their Heirs and Assigns; And that they the said Thomas adam's, now Lord Major of the City of London, Sir John Wollaston Knight, Sir George Clerk Knight, John Langham Alderman, John Fowke Alderman, James Bunce Alderman, William Gibbes Alderman, Samuel Avery, Alderman, Thomas noel, Christopher Pack, John Bellamy, Edward Hooker, Thomas Arnold, Richard Glide, William Hobson, Francis Ash, John Babington, Laurence Bromfield, Alexander Jones, John Jones, Richard Venner, Stephen Estwick, Robert Mead, and James Story, and the Survivor and Survivers of them and their Heirs, and Assigns, shall hold all such the premises as are now held of the King, of the King his Heirs and Successors, as of his Manor of East Greenwich in Fee and Common soccage by fealty, and the Annual Rents therefore respectively due, and payable within ten years last passed, before the beginning of this present Parliament, and not in Capite nor by other Tenors or services; and shall hold all and every the premises which the said Archbishops, and Bishops held of any other, then of the King, by the Rents, and other services therefore due, and of right accustomed; And the said trusties, their heirs, assigns, Farmers, and Tenants, shall also have, hold, and enjoy the premises, and every of them freed, acquitted and discharged of, and from the payment of Tithes, as fully as the said Archbishops, and Bishops did hold and enjoy, or aught to hold and enjoy the same, at any time, during the space of ten Years aforementioned, or any time since. And it is further by the same Authority ordained, that the said trusties shall have power and are authorized, to make, nominate and appoint from time to time, fit and able persons, such as they shall think fit, to survey the premises in any County or Counties of England and Wales, and to hold Court of surveys, and to demand, receive, and in safe custody to put all the said Charters, deeds, books, accounts, rolls, writings, and evidences, that they may be put in such place in the City of London, as the said persons before named or the major part of them shall order and appoint; And the said trusties or any three or more of them as aforesaid are hereby authorized and required to administer an Oath unto all and every the Surveyors, who shall take the same before he shall execute the said place, in these words, viz.  
I A. B. do swear, that I will faithfully and truly, according to my best skill and knowledge, execute the place of a Surveyor, according to the purport of an Ordinance, entitled, An ordinance of Parliament for the abolishing of Archbishops and Bishops within the Kingdom of Enland and dominion of Wales, and for settling of their Lands and possessions upon trusties, for the use of the Commonwealth. I shall use my best endeavour and skill to discover the Estates therein mentioned, and every part thereof, which shall be given me in charge, and to find out the true values and improvements thereof, and thereof sh●ll make true particulars, according to my best skill and cunning; and the same from time to time deliver in writing close sealed up, unto the said trusties, or any two of them, according to the true intent and meaning of the said Ordinance; and this I shall justly and faithfully execute, without any gift or reward, directly or indirectly, from any person or persons whatsoever.  
Nevertheless it is declared and ordained, that the said persons before named, their Heirs and Assigns shall have and hold the premises and every of them subject to such trusts and confidence as both Houses of Parliament shall appoint, and declare and dispose of the same and the Rents and Profits thereof as the said Houses shall order and appoint; wherein the Lords and Commons do declare, that due respect shall be had towards such persons and their Assigns as are interessed in the premises by virtue of any demise heretofore made; Provided that the said trusties, their Heirs or Assigns shall not avoid any leases made for any Term or estate, not exceeding three lives, or one and twenty years in possession, or in such manner as that together with the lease in being shall not exceed three lives or one and twenty years, so as the old and accustomed rent and rents, or so much rend and rents, as the ancient and accustomed rent amounteth unto, be reserved payable during the said voidable Term and Terms or estates, and so as the said leases have not been procured or purchased of any Bishop, since the first day of December, Anno Domini 1641. And be it further Ordained by the Authority aforesaid, that if any Arch bishop or Bishop have at any time since the first day of December Anno Domini 1641. made any grant or lease to any person or persons, body Politic or Corporate, of any the Honours, Manors, Lordships, Messages, Lands, Tenements, and Hereditaments, or any other the premises aforesaid, or any of them in right of their Archbishoprics or Bishoprics, the same grant or lease shall be utterly void and of none effect; and the person or persons, body politic or Corporate, unto whom the same was made, shall have no benefit thereby; provided and be it ordained, and it is hereby ordained, that if any person or persons, body politic or Corporate, at any ny time or times since the first day of December, in the year of our Lord God, 1641. who had any grant or lease for one or more life or lives, or any number of years of the premises or any part thereof as is aforesaid and surrendered the same; to the end that he or they might have a new grant or lease granted or made unto him or them, which by this present Ordinance is made void, and the same was accordingly granted or made unto him or them; That the said person or persons, body politic or Corporate, who hath so surrendered any such former grant or lease, his and their heirs, successors, Executors, Administrators and Assigns, shall have, hold, possess and enjoy such time and term as he or they had in any part of the said premises by virtue of any such former grant or lease, in such sort and manner as he or they should have had, held, and enjoyed the same, if no such surrender had been made, subject nevertheless to such payments of rent and other services, and such covenants, conditions and agreements as in the said former Grants or Leases were expressed and contained, saving unto all and every person and persons, their heirs, executors and administrators, bodies politic and corporate, and their successors, other than the King his heirs, and successors, all Archbishops, and Bishops, and other than the founders and donors as founders and donors of and to the said Archbishoprics and Bishoprics, and their heirs, all such right, title, interest, possession, rights in Law, or equity, entries, annuities, commodities, fees, and other profits which they or any of them before the said first day of December, 1641. aught lawfully to have had in, or to the Premises, or any part or parcel thereof, as if this Ordinance had never been had or made; also saving to all such person or persons as have adhered to the Parliament, all such estate as he or they since the first day of May, An. Dom. 1641. have forfeited or made forfeitable for nonpayment of Rent, or not performing of services to any Bishop or Bishops, except it be in the case of a Lease made utterly void by this Ordinance, by reason the same hath been procured or purchased of any Bishop since the aforesaid first day of December, Anno Dom. 1641. and likewise saving to Philip Earl of Pembroke and Montgomery, and his Heirs, all such right as he and they have to the Message called Duresme House, and certain Stables, late of the possessions of Thomas Bishop of Duresme, situate in the Parish of S. Martin's in the Fields, in the County of Middlesex, lately granted by Act of this present Parliament; this present Ordinance, or any thing therein contained in any wise notwithstanding. Provided also, and it is hereby further ordained by the authority aforesaid, that all and singular Revenues, Rents, Issues, Fees, Profits, sums of Money, and allowances whatsoever, as have heretofore been, and now aught to be paid, disposed and allowed unto and for the maintenance of any Grammar-schoole, or Scholars, or for or toward the reparation of any Church, Chappel, Highway, Causeway, Bridges, Schoole-house, Almshouse, or any other charitable or pious use, or for maintaining of any Lecture, or Preachers payable out of any the Premises, or which are chargeable, or aught to issue out of, or to be paid for, or in respect of the said Premises, or any of them, shall be and continue to be paid and allowed as they were, and have been heretofore, any thing in this present Ordinance to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding. And it is further Ordained, that the Sheriff of every County & place who is to attend the respective Courts where any Felony is to be tried and determined, shall provide and present to the Judge or Judges of such Courts, some able and fit person to do such things as by the office of the Ordinary have been used to be done; which person and persons shall have Authority, and are hereby enjoined to perform that service in such manner as the respective Ordinaries heretofore have used to do. Provided also, that all Commissions upon the Statute of charitable uses, shall be valid, though the Bishop be therein omitted, and the other Commissioners shall proceed therein as fully, as they might have heretofore done, when the Bishop was therein named; and that all Issues tryable by the Ordinary or Bishop, shall be tried by Jury in usual course.  


John Browne, Cler. Parliamentorum.  
H. Elsing Cler. Parl. D. Com.     

Die Martis, 13 October, 1646.  
THe Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, intending to raise the sum of Two hundred thousand Pounds, for the present service of the State, for the encouragement of such as shall advance any sum for, and towards the same, and to the intent they may have notice thereof, do Declare, That every person who hath advanced any Moneys, Plate, or Horses, with their Furniture and Arms, upon the Public Faith, may for every sum of Money he shall further lend, for the advancement of the said sum, be secured a like sum more out of the Receipt of the Grand Excise in course, and the sale of the Bishop's Lands, (except Advowsons' and Impropriations) which shall first happen, together with the Interest, after the rate of Eight l. per centum, per annum, to be paid every six months out of the Receipts of the Excise, till Principal and Interest be fully discharged. As for example, If there be owing to any person 100 l. Principal, which, with Interest due thereupon for three years past, will make 124 l. he adventuring 124 l. more, may be secured for the whole 248 l. as aforesaid, and so proportionably for a greater or lesser sum, and according to the Interest due thereupon. And for the more speedy re-imbursing of the said Money secured and lent for the purpose aforesaid, That the said Lands of the Bishops; (except before excepted) are estated and made over to such Feoffees for the speedy sale thereof, and such Treasurers for the Receipt of the Moneys, as may give satisfaction to the Lender's. And the said Lords and Commons do Declare, That it shall and may be lawful for any person or persons to assign his Right and Interest in any sum or sums of Money owing to him upon the Public Faith, as aforesaid, to any person or persons that will advance the like sum, in manner as is before expressed.  


Joh. Brown Cler. Parliamentorum.  
H. Elsing Cler. Parl. D. Com.     

Die Sabbathi, 14 Novemb. 1646.  
BE it Declared by the Lords and Commons in Parliament Assembled, That the first Hundred thousand Pounds which shall be raised, either by the sale of Bishop's Lands, or by the Credit of the Ordinances which are passed for that purpose, shall be paid to our Brethren of Scotland, upon the Marching of their Army and Forces out of this Kingdom, at such time and place as shall be agreed upon: And the next fifty thousand pounds so raised at the end of three Months after the former payment; and Fifty thousand Pounds more raised as aforesaid, at the end of nine Months after the first payment: But in case the latter Hundred thousand Pounds shall be with more speed procured, the same shall be sooner paid unto them, although there be no engagement for a more speedy payment, then at the times formerly expressed.  
H. Elsing Cler. Parl. Dom. Com.   
FINIS.