SEVERAL ORDINANCES OF THE LORDS & COMMONS Assembled in PARLIAMENT: Concerning the Sale of Bishops-Lands.  
LONDON, Printed by R. Cotes for John Bellamy at the three golden Lions in Cornhill, near the Royal Exchange, 1647.   

30 Novembr. 1646.  
An Ordinance of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament for explanation and better putting in execution the late Ordinance, Entitled, An Ordinance of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, For appointing the sale of Bishop's Lands for the use of the Commonwealth.  
THe Lords and Commons assembled 
Col. Manwaring to ascertain the principal and interest of Monies, Plate, etc. advanced.  in Parliament do hereby Declare and Ordain, That Colonel Robert Manwaring appointed to be Register Accountant by the former Ordinance for the sale of Bishop's Lands, is, and be hereby authorized upon the Receipts or Certificates given by the former Treasurer's Receivers or Collectors of Money, Plate, Horse, furniture or Arms advanced upon the Public Faith, to ascertain the Principal and Interest thereof; and that his Certificate 
And upon his Certificate the Treasurers to receive the Money, and give Receipts.  to the Treasurers appointed by the said former Ordinance, shall be a sufficient Voucher for them to proceed thereupon to the receiving of the Money, and giving their Receipts according to the former 
Twenty shillings per day allowed to the Treasurer's Clerks for a year.  Ordinance: And that Twenty shillings per diem shall be allowed to the Treasurers for their Clerks and Tellers, the said allowance to continue for a year, and to be distributed among them according to the discretion of the said Treasurers. And that all other 
And all other charges incident to the Treasury, to be allowed by the Committee hereafter named,  charges incident to the Treasury, which shall be discharged and paid by the said Treasurers, shall be allowed to them by the Committee hereafter named, or any five of them. And that the controller appointed by the said former Ordinance, shall 
The controller to give acknowledgement thereof.  upon the weekly account given unto him by the said Treasurers, give a receipt or acknowledgement thereof in writing under his, or his Deputies hands to the said Treasurers for their justification therein. And further, that the certificate of the Commissaries and 
Certificate of the Commissaries for Horses shall be accepted.  others authorized for the listing of horses, furniture, or Arms, who have power to give the public Faith for the same, shall be accepted and allowed for as good and sufficient as the Receipts or Certificates of the Treasurers, Collectors or Receivers of Money or Plate. And for the settling and determining of any further doubt which may arise concerning the 
For determining of doubts concerning the validity of any Warrant made to the Treasurers, a Committee of Parliament is appointed.  validity of any warrant made by the trusties of the Bishop's Lands to the said Treasurers for the issuing out of any Money, That the Earl of Northumberland, Earl of Kent, Earl of Rutland, Earl of Pembroke, Earl of Lincoln, Earl of Nottingham, Earl of Suffolk, Earl of Salisbury, Earl of Warwick, Earl of Denbigh, Earl of Middlesex, Earl of Manchester, Earl of Mulgrave, Earl of Stamford, Viscount Hereford, Viscount Say and Seal, Lord Berkley, Lord Dacres, Lord Wharton, Lord Willoughby, Lord North, Lord Hunsdon, Lord Montague, Lord Grace of Work, Lord Roberts, Lord Maynard, Lord Howard, and Lord Bruce. Mr. Hollis, Mr. Francis Allen, Sir Philip Stapleton, Mr. john Ash, Sir john Clotworthy, Sir Symonds D'ewes, Mr. Walter Long, Sir john Temple, Sir William Lewis, Sir William Spring, Sir john Hobart, Col. Harvey, Mr. God, Mr. Recorder, Sir Hen. Vane signior, Mr. Leigh, Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Tate, Sir john Evelin of Surrey, Mr. Roll, Sir Samuel Roll, Mr. Bond, Mr. Ball, Mr. nicol, Mr. Wilson, Mr. Blackiston, Mr. Pierpoint, Sir Peter Wentworth, Sir john Curson, Sir Walter earl, Sir Robert Harley, Mr. Crew, Sir Gregory Norton, Lieutenant General Cromwell, Sir Robert Pie, Sir Edward Hungerford, Mr. Knightly; Sir john Burgoyne, Mr. Rous, Mr. Strode, Sir Anthony Irby, Mr. Humphrey Edward's, Mr. Drake, Mr. Prideaux, Mr. Alderman Atkin, Sir Thomas Soame, Alderman Pennington, Mr. vassal, Colonel Venus, or any five of them shall be, and are hereby constituted a Committee of Parliament for the purposes aforesaid, and shall have power and authority to hear and determine the same in case the said trusties or Treasurers shall desire it. And that a warrant under any Five of the hands of the said Committee shall be a sufficient authority to them, and every of them to proceed accordingly in the execution of the said Ordinance. And it is hereby lastly Declared and 
All persons, as well those who have formerly lent upon the Public Faith, as others shall have the same repaid with Interest.  Ordained by the authority aforesaid, That all persons, aswell those who have lent upon the public Faith, as those who have that shall advance or lend any sum of Money for the purposes in the said Ordinance mentioned, until the 200000 l. intended by the said Ordinance to be raised shall be brought in, shall have the same security for the repayment thereof, together with interest for the same, after the rate of Eight per centum, as those who having formerly lent upon the public Faith as aforesaid, and do now lend upon the said Ordinance are to have.  
H. Elsing, Cler. Parl. D. Com.   

Die Veneris, 15 Martii, 1646.  
An Ordinance of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, For the lessening of the number of the trusties for the sale of the BISHOPS-LANDS.  
WHereas by virtue of an Ordinance of the Lords and Commons in this present Parliament 
Recital of the Ordinance vesting the Bishops-Land in the trusties.  assembled, made the 9 day of October, Anno Dom. 1646. All Counties Palatine, Honours, Manors, Lordships, Scites, Circuits, Precincts, Castles, Granges, Messages, Mills, Lands, Tenements, Meadows, Pastures, Parsonages appropriate, Tithes, Oblations, Obventions, Pensions, Portions of Tithes, Parsonages, Vicarages, Churches, Chapels, Advowsons', Donatives, Nominations, Rights of Patronages and Presentations, Parks, Woods, Rents, Reversions, Services, Annuities, Franchises, Liberties, Privileges, Immunities, Rights of actions and entry, Interest, Titles of entry, Conditions, Commons-Court, Courts-Leete, 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 then were, or at any time within ten years before the beginning of this present Parliament were belonging to any Archbishop or Bishop within this Kingdom of England or Dominion of Wales, or which they or any of them had held and enjoyed in the right of their Archbishoprics or Bishoprics, Dignities, Offices or Places respectively, with all Charters, Deeds, Books of Accounts, Rolls, and other Writings whatsoever concerning the same belonging unto them were vested and settled in the real and actual possession and seisin of Thomas Adam's Alderman, than Lord Major of the City of London, Sir George Clarke Knight, john Langham Alderman, and john jones among others in the said Ordinance named, and also by the said Ordinance, and by other Ordinances since made in pursuance thereof, or for the explaining or executing thereof the said trusties are authorized and required to act and execute divers Acts and things concerning the premises. And whereas the said Thomas adam's, Sir George Clarke, 
Recital of the four trusties which desired to be discharged.  john Langham, and john jones have humbly desired to be discharged of the said Trust, because they cannot constantly attend and execute the same by reason of their other necessary occasions: The said 
It is Ordained that the said Four trusties shall be no longer seized.  Lords and Commons do hereby Ordain, That the said Thomas adam's, Sir George Clarke, john Langham, and john jones, and every of them shall be from henceforth no longer possessed, seized, or interessed of, or in the Premises, or any of them, or any part or parcel of them: But that the seisin, 
But that the seisin shall be out of them.  possession and interest thereof, or thereunto, shall be from henceforth wholly and absolutely out of them and every of them; And that they, and 
And they discharged of the Trusts.  every of them shall be from henceforth wholly discharged of the said Trusts to all intents and purposes whatsoever; and shall not from henceforth act or execute any power or authority, act or thing whatsoever by virtue of the first recited Ordinance, or any other Ordinance or Ordinances aforesaid. And that all and every the premises, and 
And that the Premises shall from henceforth be vested in the remaining trusties.  every part and parcel thereof shall from henceforth be vested and settled, adjudged and deemed to be, and shall be wholly and only in the real and actual possession and seisin of Sir john Wollaston Knight, and the other remaining trusties whose names are expressed in the said first recited Ordinance, and the Surveyors and Survivors of them, their Heirs and Assigns as fully and absolutely to all intents and purposes, as if the said Thomas adam's, Sir George Clarke, john Langham, and john jones had not been at all named in the first recited Ordinance, nor in any other of the said Ordinances, and as if the said Sir john Wollaston, and the other remaining trusties only had been named therein. And the said Sir john Wollaston, and the other remaining 
And the remaining trusties, or any Five of them from henceforth to act in as ample manner as all or any of the trusties might have done.  trusties, or any Five or more of them shall from henceforth act and execute all the powers and authorities, acts and things whatsoever, which by the first recited Ordinance, or any other of the aforesaid Ordinances are appointed to be acted and executed by all the trusties named in the first recited Ordinance, or by any part of them, in as full and ample manner to all intents and purposes whatsoever, as all the trusties named in the first recited Ordinance, or any part of them, might, and aught to have done any thing contained in the first recited Ordinance, or in any other of the aforesaid Ordinances to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding. And it is further hereby Declared and Ordained, That the said Sir john Wollaston and the other remaining 
And the remaining trusties, or any Five of them, or such as they shall appoint, may let for one year or less, any of the Premises (out of Lease) which are by the Ordinance appointed to be sold.  trusties or any five or more of them, or such person or persons as they or any five or more of them under their hands and seals shall thereunto appoint and authorise, shall have full power and authority to let or set for one year or less, and so from year to year, or less, before the sale hereof respectively, any of the premises which are appointed to be sold by any of the said former Ordinances now being, or which shall be at any time before the sale thereof respectively out of Lease, unto such persons and in such manner; whereby the best profits and advantages thereof may be made as they shall think fit, the Rents and Profits hereof to be disposed in such manner as in the said former Ordinances is declared, concerning the other Rents, Profits and Receipts therein mentioned and contained; Provided always, that such of the said Premises as are 
Provided that Copyhold Lands be granted by Copy of Court-Roll, and not otherwise.  grantable by copy of Court-Roll, according to the custom of any Honour or Manor, and which they have power to Demise as is aforesaid, shall be demised by the copy of the Court-Roll respectively, and not by any Lease at the Common Law. And the said Lords and Commons taking into their consideration, the pains and good service of the said Sir john Wollaston, and the other remaining trusties, for their encouragement therein, do hereby Ordain, That the said Sir john 
The remaining trusties (except the three Treasurers and the controller) shall have 2000 l. amongst them.  Wollaston and the other remaining trusties, (except the three Treasurers and the controller, who have a Salary already allowed to them) shall have and receive the Sum of Two thousand Pounds; That is to say, one thousand Pounds thereof at the end of Six Months to be accounted from the aforesaid ninth day of October, and the other one thousand Pounds at the end of Six Months after; Which said Sum of Two thousand Pounds, the aforesaid Treasurers, or any Two of them, are hereby authorized and required to pay accordingly unto them or to such person or persons for them as they or the major part of them under their hand-writing shall appoint out of such moneys as the said Treasurers shall have received by the Profits or sale of the Premises. And that the said Sir john Wollaston and the other remaining trusties (except 
The remaining trusties are to divide the 2000 l amongst them as they think fit.  such as are before excepted) or the major part of them shall distribute and dispose of the said Two thousand Pounds among themselves by such Proportions and in such manner as they or the major part of them shall think fit. Lastly, the printing of this Ordinance is referred to the trusties or the major part of them.  


joh. Browne, Cleric. Parliamentorum.  
H. Elsing Cler. Parl. Dom. Com.     

Die Veneris, 5 Martii, 1647.  
An Ordinance of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, For the bettet Explaining and Executing of the former Ordinances for the sale of Bishops-Lands.  
WHEREAS by Ordinance of the Lords and Commons in this present 
Recital of the Contractors Instructions in the former Ordinance of the 16. of Novemb. 1646.  Parliament Assembled, made the sixteenth day of November, Anno Dom. 1646. Among other instructions for the Contractors in the said Ordinance named, it is Ordained that the Demesne Lands of the late Arch-Bishops and Bishops shall not be sold under ten year's Purchase of the full values they were at in year 1641. The same rule to be observed proportionably in the sale of Reversions expectant upon Estates for lives or years. The said Lords and Commons 
The Contractors to proceed to sale according to such particulars as shall be delivered to them by the Register.  do hereby declare and Ordain that the said full value upon which the said Contractors shall proceed to sale, shall be according to such particulars as shall be made and delivered to the said Contractors under the hand of Henry Elsing Register in the said Ordinance named, and that such particulars so made and delivered to them shall be a sufficient justification for them to proceed to sale accordingly. And further that the said Register shall 
And the Register to appoint a Clerk to attend the Contractors. And to enter all Orders.  cause one faithful, able and sufficient Clerk to be attending on the said Contractors at all their meetings, and to enter all their Orders and proceed, and to observe and obey all such commands and directions concerning the Premises, as they or any six or more of them shall direct and appoint. And that the said Books of Entries shall remain in the custody of the said Contractors or such of them as they or the major part of them shall appoint. Provided that no Copies of the said Entries be made, had or taken out of the said 
No Copies of Entries to be made by any but the Register or his Clerk.  Books by any others than the said Register or his Deputy, or the said Clerk, who are to have the use of them for that purpose. And that the said Register and his Deputy and the said Clerk 
The Oath of the Register & his Deputy and Clerk.  shall severally and respectively take an Oath before the trusties or any three of them, (which they are hereby authorized and required to administer to them accordingly) to execute the said respective Offices and places according to the Ordinances and instructions of both Houses of Parliament in that behalf made, and not for any fear, favour, malice, or reward to violate the said respective trusts in them reposed. And whereas by the afore recited Ordinances, it is Ordained, That the said Contractors shall receive two pence in the Pound for every Sum that shall be paid to the Treasurers upon all and every Contract or Contracts 
The Contractors to have two pence per pound for all such Lands as shall be Contracted for and sold.  by them made▪ The said Lords and Commons do hereby Declare and Ordain, that they shall in stead thereof, receive two pence in tehe Pound, for all such Lands, Tenements, and Hereditaments, of the late Arch-Bishops and Bishops which shall be contracted for, and sold by them, according to the rates for which they shall be sold. And further the said Lords and Commons do hereby Declare and Ordain, That all such who 
All persons which have lent moneys shall have like advantage for all other monies due by the Ordinance as for the monies lent.  have advanced and lent Moneys upon the aforesaid recited Ordinance, shall be allowed and have all the same advantages and benefits for and concerning any Moneys otherwise due unto them by the afore recited Ordinance, as fully and amply to all intents and purposes whatsoever, as for and concerning any ready Moneys lent and advanced upon the said Ordinance.  


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

Diae Lunae 23. August, 1647.  
An Ordinance of the Lords and Commons Assembled in Parliament for regulating the sale of Bishop's Lands, and expediting the Conveyances thereof.  
BE it Ordered and Ordained by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, That whereas in the late Ordinance of Parliament, made the 16. of November, Anno Dom. 1646. it is appointed that the Purchasers of Bishop's Lands shall pay the latter moiety of Purchase money within six months a●ter the sealing of the Assurance; And whereas divers purchasers have before the sealing of the assurance obtained the possession of the said purchased Lands, Tenements, or Hereditaments, in all such cases the said six months wherein the latter moiety of the Purchase money ought to be paid, shall be reckoned from the time of the Contract, and not from the sealing of the Assurance; and that in lieu thereof the Purchaser shall have and enjoy all the mean profits which he hath had, or received in the mean time; And that the Treasurers for Bishop's Lands shall allow, and rebate to any Purchaser, who hath any money due by the said Ordinance, the interest which shall be due unto him, together with the principal, the same to be defaulked at the times of payment of his Purchase money; and that all Assigns of any moneys due by the said Ordinance, may defalk the same upon Purchasers in like manner as the lender's themselves might do. And the Contractors, trusties, Treasurers, and all others employed in the sale of Bishop's Lands, are hereby required, and enjoined to perfect and seal the respective Conveyances or Assurances with all possible expedition.  
Jo. Browne Cler. Parliament.