Die Martis, 3 Decemb. 1644.  
AN ORDINANCE OF THE LORDS and COMMONS ASSEMBLED IN PARLIAMENT: FOR THE Raising of Money to pay the Charge of the Fortifications and Guards, and for other Necessary USES: For the safety of the City, and parts adjacent, within the Lines of Communication, and Weekly Bills of Mortality.  
London, Printed by Richard Cotes, 1651.   

 royal blazon or coat of arms  
AN ORDINANCE OF THE LORDS and COMMONS IN PARLIAMENT ASSEMBLED.  
FOrasmuch as the Fortifications and Guards within the Cities of London and Westminster, and parts adjacent, within the Lines of Communication and weekly Bills of Mortality, are very necessary for the safety and defence of the said Cities and places, and preservation of the Parliament in these times of distraction and danger, and for that the Citizens and Inhabitants within the said Cities and places have been and are daily at great charges in maintaining the same, For raising of money to pay the charge of the Fortifications and Guards aforesaid, and for satisfying the great debts thereby already incurred, and other necessary uses: The Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, have Ordained, And be it Ordained by the said Lords and Commons, That there shall be monthly charged and levied upon the Cities of London and Westminster, The Hamblets of the Tower, and Burrough of Southwark, and all other Parishes and places within the Line of Communication, and weekly Bills of Mortality, the sum of six thousand nine hundred sixty two pounds four shillings: that is to say, upon the City of London, five thousand four hundred eighty two pounds ten shillings three pence. Upon the City and Liberty of Westminster, six hundred sixteen pounds ten shillings eight pence half penny. Upon the Hamblets, four hundred ninty three pounds four shillings seven pence. Upon the Burrow of Southwark; three hundred sixty nine pounds eighteen shillings five pence farthing, for the purposes aforesaid, for six months, To commence from the first day of November last passed, And to the end the several sums of money, may be duly raised, levied and paid; as hereafter is directed.  
Be it further Ordained, by the said Lords and Commons, That the Lord Major and Aldermen of London, shall be Committees for the City of London and Liberties thereof, And the Lord Major and Aldermen of London, and six such persons of every of the Sub-committees for the Militia, within the Lines of Communication, and weekly Bills of Mortality, as the said several and respective Committees shall nominate and appoint, for this service, and the former Committees named in the Ordinance for the two last months assessments for the City of Westminster, Burrough of Southwark, Hamblets of the Tower, and other places within the Line of Communication, and Weekly Bills of Mortality, without the City of London, and Liberties thereof, shall be Committees for the said City of Westminster, Burrough of Southwark, Hamblets of the Tower, and places aforesaid without the City of London, and Liberties thereof, within their several and respective divisions: which said Committees in their several and respective divisions or any two or more of them respectively are hereby authorized and required to direct their warrants to such number of persons as they shall think fit, within their several and respective divisions to be Assessors for the said Rates, which said persons are hereby authorized and required to assess all and every person and persons wheresoever they shall live and inhabit, either within the said Limits, or without, having any real or personal Estate within the Limits, Circuits, and Bounds of their respective Divisions, according to the rate and proportion in this Ordinance mentioned.  
And be it further Ordained by the Lords and Commons, That the several sums which shall be hereafter assessed or taken upon the several Cities and Places aforesaid, shall be assessed and taken both for Lands and Goods, upon such Persons and Estates, and in such manner and form, as is directed for the Weekly Assessments in an Ordinance of Parliament of the fourth day of March, 1642. Entitled, An Ordinance of both Houses of Parliament, For the speedy raising and levying of Money for the maintenance of the Army raised by the Parliament, and other great Affairs of the Commonwealth by a Weekly Assessment: and to the end that the said Rates be equally and indifferently assessed, and the Moneys duly Collected, and true account thereof made; the said Assessors are hereby required, within six days after such assessment made, to deliver two Copies of their respective assessments fairly written and subscribed by them unto the said Respective Committees, or to any of them; whereof one to remain with the said Committee, and the other to be delivered to the Collectors, with Warrants to levy the said Moneys. And the said several Committees, or any three of them are hereby respectively authorized from time to time to nominate one or more sufficient and honest Persons in every division or allotment, to be Collectors of the said Moneys so assessed and Rated; which said Collectors are hereby authorized and required to collect the said Moneys so assessed, and the said respective Committees, or any six of them, are hereby authorized to allow and pay unto the said respective Collectors two pence in the pound for their pains in collecting the said Moneys, and one penny in the pound to their Clerks for their pains in fair writing the said Assessments: And if any Person or Persons whatsoever, shall refuse or neglect to pay any Sum or Sums of Money, whereat he, or they shall be Rated and assessed, That then it shall and may be lawful to, and for the said Collectors, or any of them, to leavy the sum so assessed by Distress, and the Sale of the Goods of such person or persons so refusing or neglecting to pay; deducting the sum assessed, and the reasonable charges of Distraining, and restore the overplus to the owner thereof. And likewise to break open any House, Chest, Trunks, Box, or other thing wherein any such Goods are, and to call to their assistance any of the Trained Bands, Constables, Headboroughs or any other Forces within the Cities and Places where any resistance shall be made, or any other person or persons whatsoever; which said Forces and persons, are hereby required to be aiding and assisting in the premises, as they shall answer the contrary at their perils. And if any Question or difference shall happen to arise upon the taking such Distress, between the parties distrained and distraining, the same shall be ended and determined by the said Committees, or any two of them: and the said several Committees or any two or more of them are hereby authorized and required to use such other ways or means for the speedy levying of the said Assessments as to them shall be thought fit. And if any person or persons shall purposely convey away his or their Goods, or any other personal Estate whereby the sum of money so assessed, cannot be levied according to this Ordinance; Then the said respective Committees or any two of them are hereby authorized by themselves, or such other persons as they shall appoint, to imprison the persons; and the Sequestrators to sequester the Estates of every such person, for the advancement of the said service. And the Tenants of all Houses and Lands, which shall be rated by virtue of this Ordinance, are hereby required and authorized to pay such sums of money, as shall be rated upon every such House and Lands, and to deduct out of their Rents so much of the said Rates, as in respect of the Rents of every such House and Lands, the Landlords should or ought to pay, or bear; and the Landlords both mediate and immediate, according to their respective Interests, are hereby required to allow such deductions and payments upon the receipt of the residue of their Rents, and to give Acquittances for their whole Rents, as if no deductions had been made. And if any Landlord refuse to make any such deduction or allowance, or to give such acquittances, than the respective Committees for the sequestrations in the Cities and places aforesaid upon proof thereof made before them, are hereby authorized for every time they shall so refuse to seize and sequester for the service aforesaid, one full half years rend payable to such persons so refusing, allowing out of the same the sum of money so paid by that Tenant as aforesaid. And if any difference shall arise between Landlord and Tenant or any other concerning the said Rates, the said several Committees or any two of them in their several divisions have hereby power to settle the same as they shall think fit. And the said Collectors, and every of them are hereby required from time to time to pay such sum and sums of money as shall be by them collected by virtue of this Ordinance, to such Treasurer or Treasurers for the City of London and Liberties thereof, as the Common-council of the said City shall appoint. And for the Lines of Communication, and within the Weekly Bills of Mortality without the City and Liberties to such Treasurer or Treasurers as the respective Sub-Committees in their several Divisions shall appoint. And the said several Committees are hereby required to take special care, that the said Monthly Assessments be constantly levied, collected and paid to the said Treasurer or Treasurers once in every Month, during the continuance of the term mentioned in this Ordinance.  
And be it further Ordained by the said Lords and Commons that if any person or persons shall wilfully neglect or refuse to take upon him any Office or place herein mentioned incident to this service, 
For lecting.  or having taken upon him such Office or place shall refuse or neglect to execute or perform the same, or if any other person or persons shall neglect or refuse to perform his duty in the due and speedy execution of this present Ordinance, the Lord Major of the said City for the time being, or any two of the Aldermen of the same City, for the City of London, and the Liberties thereof, and the said respective Committees without the Liberties of the said City, and within the Lines of Communication and weekly Bills of Mortality, or any five of them, have hereby power to commit such person or persons so refusing or neglecting this service, as aforesaid, to prison, there to remain without Bail, until he shall conform himself; or otherwise to impose upon such person or persons so refusing or neglecting the said service or their duties therein, such Fine or Fines as to them shall be thought fit; and cause the same to be levied by distress, and sale of goods in manner and form aforesaid.  
Provided, That no fine to be imposed upon any of the said Committees shall for any one offence exceed the sum of five pounds, and that no fine to be imposed upon any Assessor, Collector or any other person to be employed by the said Committees in the said service, or refusing to be employed therein, shall for any offence exceed the sum of five pounds: And that no privileged place or person, within the Cities and places aforesaid, shall be exempted from the said Assessments and Taxes.  
And be it further Ordained, That the said several and respective Committees, and every of them shall from time to time give a true and perfect account of all their do and proceed in the execution of this Ordinance, (viz.) The Treasurer or Treasurers for London, and the Liberties, to the Major, Aldermen, and Common-council of the said City of London, or to such persons as they shall appoint; And the said Sub-Committees and their Treasurers to the Committee for the Militia of the said City.  
And be it further Ordained, that the Treasurers appointed to receive the money by virtue of this Ordinance, are appointed & hereby authorized to issue out the said moneys so gathered and received for the purpose aforesaid, and not otherwise, within the City and Liberties, as the Lord Major, Aldermen, and Commons in Common-council assembled, or such persons as they from time to time shall appoint for that purpose; and without the said City and Liberties, and within the Line of Communication, and weekly Bills of Mortality; as the said Sub-Committees within their several divisions shall appoint for the uses aforesaid, and not otherwise.  
And be it lastly by the said Lords and Commons further Ordained, that all and every the respective Committees, Assessors, Treasurers, and Collectors, of the respective Divisions aforesaid, and all that shall assist them in the premises shall be by the power of Parliament Protected and saved harmless, both for what according to the true meaning of the Premises, they have or shall do therein.  
Provided always, that such Rates and Assessments as shall be made by virtue of this Ordinance upon any Peers of this Kingdom, or Members, Assistants, or Attendants upon either the Houses of Parliament, shall before the same be levied, be presented to the respective Houses, whose Members, Assistants, or Attendants, shall be concerned therein respectively, and by such respective House allowed and approved of, any thing in this present Ordinance to the contrary notwithstanding.  


Jo. Brown Cleric. Parliamentorum.  
H. Elsing Cler. Parl. Dom. Com.    
FINIS.