An ORDINANCE OF THE LORDS and COMMONS Assembled in PARLIAMENT For making the Covent-Garden Church Parochial.  
And for dividing the same from the Parish of martin's in the Fields, upon several Articles and Conditions.  
Also for giving power to 34. persons who are made Governors of the said Parish to assess and levy Maneys for the payment of two Ministers, and for other Parochial uses, and to nominate Constables and all other Officers of the said Parish.  
LONDON, Printed for William Beesley, and are to be sold at his shop in Covent-Garden, near the Piazza. 1646.   

Die Mercurii, 7. januarii, 1645.  
An Ordinance of the Lords and Commons Assembled in Parliament, for the making of the Precinct of Covent-Garden Perochiall.  
Wwhereas' the right Honourable Francis, late Earl of Bedford deceased, did erect a Fabric of a Church for the use of the Inhabitants within the Precinct of Covent-Garden, and did intent to settle a certain yearly Stipend of 100 l. per annum: And the House hereafter mentioned, to be in the tenure of William Russell, towards the maintenance, and for the habitation of a Minister, to officiate in the said Church; And whereas it is found necessary, for the better accommodation and Government of the Precinct hereafter mentioned, That the same be made Parochial, and divided from the Parish of Saint martin's in the Fields, And that a further increase of maintenance may be provided for an able Minister, as is hereafter expressed. It is therefore Ordained by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, That all that Precinct included within the Bounds and Limits hereafter expressed, that is to say, beginning in the Strand, at the East end of the Message, called Bedford House, and including the said House, with all the out Houses, Gardens, Yards, Buildings, and Backsides thereunto belonging; And all those Houses within the narrow Bounds, that is to say, forty Foot without the Brick Wall, And all Houses, Edifices, and Buildings, and Lands within the said Bounds and Precinct, be from henceforth for ever a distinct Parish of itself: And that the said Precinct be divided and exempted from the said Parish of Saint martin's, and from all Dependence, Offices, Charges, and Contributions, for, or in respect thereof, and from the cure of the Rector and Vicar of the Parish of Saint martin's, and their respective successors; And also discharged of all Tithes, Oblations, Obventions, Mortuaries, Easter Books, and all other Parochial duties whatsoever. And it is further Ordained by the Authority aforesaid, That the said new erected Church, within the said Precinct of the said new intended Parish, shall be the Parish Church for the said Precinct: And that the Right Honourable William Earl of Bedford, Son and Heir of the said Francis, late Earl of Bedford, and his Heirs and Assigns for ever, shall have the Patronage of the said Church; And shall and may from time to time nominate some fit person to be Rector of the said Church now, and as often as the same shall become void: And that the Rector of the said Church, and his Successors, shall be incorporate, and shall have capacity and succession by the name of the Rector of the Parish Church of Covent-Garden, and shall have the cure of souls of the Inhabitants within the said new intended Parish; and shall hold and enjoy all that house in Covent-Garden, late in the occupation of Maurice Obert, next adjoining to the Piazza, for and during all the term of twenty seven years, from the twenty five day of June, Anno 1644. subject nevertheless to the same yearly Rent, Conditions, Reservations, and Agreements, under which the same were demized to the said Maurice Obert, by the said Francis, late Earl of Bedford, and from and after the determination of that term, than all that House in Covent-Garden, aforesaid, late in the occupation of William Russel. And it is further Ordained, That the said Rector and his Successors, shall have one yearly Rent of 100 l. to be issuing out of the several Houses situate in Covent-Garden, aforesaid, late in the occupation of Sir Edm. Varney, Knight, Sir Charles Gawdy, Knight, and Sir Edward Sydenham, Knight, payable upon every sixteenth day of January, sixteenth day of April, sixteenth day of July, and twentieth day of Octob. yearly by equal portions, with power to distrain for the same Rent of 100.l. or any part or parcel thereof, in or upon the said Houses; charged with the said Rent. And it is further Ordained, That the Governors hereafter named, and their Successors, or the greater number of them, shall and may from time to time nominate some able Divine to be assistant to the said Rector, and his Successors; And the said Assistant and his Successors shall have for their habitation that Message in Covent-Garden, late in the occupation of Matthew Ploughman, for and during the Sequestration thereof, subject to the yearly Rent, Conditions, Reservations, and Agreements, contained in the Demize thereof, made to the said Matthew Ploughman, by the said Francis, late Earl of Bedford: And for the better regulating of the said affairs of the said Parish, and provision of further maintenance for the said Rector and Assistant, It is Further Ordained, That there shall be thirty four persons, Inhabitants of the said Precinct, who shall be called the Governors of the said new erected Parish; And that the Right Honourable William, Earl of Bedford, Denzill Hollis, Esq Sir William Uvedale, Knight, Sir John Evelin, Knight, Sir John Seaton, Knight, Robert Wallop, Zouch Tate, John Trenchard, Robert Scawen, Matthew Hale, Anthony Wither, Edw. Carter, Will. Martin, James Davenport, and John Austee, Esquires, Minian Cunningham, John Hover, Thomas Constable, Richard Harris, Richard Brigham, Josias Fendall, Duncan Manro, Richard Reete, Samuel Smith, William Clifton, Richard Lazenby, Thomas Man, Humphrey Groves, Robert Pattison, Gilbert Meese, Peter Nichols, James Mickle, Christopher Jackson, and James Moor, Gentlemen, shallbe the first Governors of the said Precinct; And that as often as any of the said Governors shall die, or be removed, the Householders, Inhabitants within the said new erected Parish, or the major part of them, within the space of two Months after such death, or removal, and in default thereof, the remaining Governors, or the greater number of them, may choose another in the place of him or them dying, or removed: which said Governors and their Successors, or the greater number of such of them, as shallbe assembled together upon public warning, shall from henceforth have power from time to time to nominate a Clerk, Sextons, Constables, Scavingers, & all other Officers for the said Precinct. And it is further Ordained, That the yearly sum of 400 li. shall from henceforth be charged upon the Inhabitants of the said new erected Parish, according to their respective abilities, except Bedfordhouse, with the appurtenances, the same to be Assessed by the said Governors, or the greater number of such of them, as shall be Assembled together upon public notice, and paid unto them at such time or times, as to them shall seem fit: Provided always, That no Inhabitants be assessed by virtue of this Ordinance, or any thing therein contained, above the yearly rate of eighteen pence in the pound, according to the true value of the yearly Rent of the House, wherein such Inhabitant shall dwell within the said Parish, at the time of making of this Assessment: which rate shall not be charged on the Rent of any Inhabitants, Person, or Landlord of any house, but shall be Assessed on the several Inhabitants, according to their abilities, not exceeding the said Sum of eighteen pence per pound, in proportion to their several Rents, as aforesaid, for any one year, and so proportionable for a greater or lesser time. And it is further Ordained by the Authority aforesaid, That in case the said Sums be not paid in manner aforesaid, That then the said Governors, or any three of them, shall or may from time to time authorise any person or persons to Leavie the same by distress, and sale of the goods of such person as shall be so in arreare, returning the overplus to the Owner, or else recover the same in Action of Debt, to be brought in the name of the Rector for the time being, wherein no Wager of Law to be allowed to the defendants. And it is further Ordained, That the said Governors and their Successors, shall out of the Monies so by them received, pay unto the said Rector and his Successors, the yearly Sum of 150 pounds: To the said Assistant and his Successors, the yearly Sum of 150 pounds; the same payments to be made at the days aforesaid, or within twenty one days after; And that the said Governors, and their Successors, shall hold and enjoy the said house, late in the occupation of the said William Russell, during the Term of the aforesaid twenty seven years, and shall convert and employ, as well the profits of the said house, during the said Term of twenty seven years, as also all other monies remaining in their hands, over and above the said three hundred pounds, for the wages of the said Church-Officers, and such other public uses, as shall seem fit to the said Governors, or the greater number of such of them, as upon a public warning shall assemble together; so as the number so assembled, exceed the number of seven persons. And it is further Ordained, That in case any default of payment happen of any the Sums aforesaid, the Lord Keeper, or Commissioners of the great Seal for the time being, shall and may upon the complaint of the party grieved in this behalf, give relief, according to the true intent of this Ordinance; And for as much as there is several demands made by the Parish of S. Martin's, against the said new erected Parish, touching Contribution to the Debts, Poor, and Highways of the Parish of Saint martin's, and also there are several demands made by the said new erected Parish, of contribution to the Debts of the said new erected Parish, and touching a proportionable part of the public Revenues of the said Parish of Saint martin's, and what proportion each Precinct should bear in public Charges and Assessments. It is therefore further Ordained by the Authority aforesaid, That the said new Parish of Covent-Garden shall pay one Fifth part of the Public Debts of the Parish of Saint martin's, the said Debts being audited, and then allowed by the Commissioners of the great Seal; and shall also pay one Fifth part towards the mending of the Highways of the Parish of Saint Martin's; And shall also pay the Sum of one Hundred Seventeen Pounds, One shilling, Four pence farthing, half farthing, and the Fifth part of an half farthing, Quarterly to be paid unto the Parish of Saint martin's, for the maintenance of their poor: which said Sum shall be paid by the Parish of Covent-Garden to the Parish of Saint martin's for ever. And the said Parish of Covent-Garden shall receive one Fifth part of the Public Revenue of the Parish of Saint Martin's forever, towards the payment aforesaid; And if the said Sums aforesaid shall not be paid, it shall be lawful for the Parish of Saint martin's to Leavie the aforesaid Rate for the poor, and the proportion for the Highways, by all such lawful means as they may do in their own Parish, by the Laws and Statutes of this Realm: Provided, that for the neglect of their payment of the Rate of the Poor, the same shall not extend to the making liable Bedfordhouse, to distress for the same: Provided always, And it is nevertheless Declared, That this present Ordinance, and the matters therein Ordained, shall be subject to such Regulation as the Lords and Commons in Parliament shall hereafter Ordain.  


John Browne, Cler. Parl.  
Hen. Elsing, Cler. Parl. Dom. Com.     

Die Sabbati, 31. Jan. 1645.  
WHereas in an Ordinance of the Lords and Commons in Parliament, touching the making of the Precinct of Covent-Garden Parochial, there is a Clause, touching Allowance to be made by the said Parish of Covent-Garden to the Poor of the Parish of S. Martin's, in these words following, (That is to say) And shall also pay the sum of one Hundred seventeen Pounds, one Shilling, four Pence Farthing, half Farthing, and the fifth part of a half Farthing, Quarterly to be paid unto the Parish of S. Martin's, for the maintenance of their Poor: Which said sum shall be paid by the Parish of Covent-Garden to the Parish of S. Martin's for ever; As by the said Ordinance, amongst other things contained, it doth appear.  
For Explanation of the said Clause, it is hereby declared and Ordained by the Lords and Commons in Parliament, That the true meaning of the said Clause was, and is, and shall be taken to be, that the yearly sum of one Hundred seventeen Pounds, one Shilling, four Pence Farthing, half Farthing, and the fifth part of a half Farthing, shall be every Year for ever paid by the said Parish of Covent-Garden, to the said Parish of S. Martin's, at four Terms in the Year, viz. Upon every five and twentieth day of March, four and twentieth day of June, three and twentieth day of September, and three and twentieth day of December, by equal Portions, for and towards the maintenance of the Poor of the said Parish of S. Martin's, and in full discharge of the said Parish of Covent-Garden from all further Contributions thereunto.  
john Browne, Cler. Parliament.