AN ORDINANCE Of the LORDS and COMMONS Assembled in Parliament: For the speedy raising of four hundred and fifty pounds weekly in the County of Hertfordshire, over and above their former Assessment, for the fortification and defence of the said County, against all incursions of Enemies, and for the prevention of all rapines, Plunderings, and other mischievous actions, both Houses being credibly informed, that great forces are now marching from Oxford, to wards Buckingham, Bedford, and the Counties adjacent, to the great terror and amazement of his Majesty's good subjects in those parts.  

Die Veneris, 31 Martii, 1643.  
ORdered by the Lords and Commons Assembled in Parliament, that this Ordinance shall be forthwith Printed and published.  
John Browne Cler. Parliamentor.   
LONDON: April 1. Printed for John Wright, in the Old-Bailey. 1643.   

An Ordinance of the Lords & Commons assembled in Parliament.  
Die Veneris, 31. Martii, 1643.  
WHereas the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, have been credibly informed that great Forces are now marching from Oxford towards the Counties of Bucks, Bedford, Heris, and Counties adjacent, to the great terrors, affrightment, and amazement of his Majesty's good. Subjects, Inhaviting in the Counties aforesaid, and having taken the same into their serious Consideration, do for the prevention of all Incursions of enemies, avoiding of all Rapines and Plundring, or other mischievous actions) order and ordain, that there shall be aspeedy raising of large & considerable sums of Money for the levying and paying of Forces, fortifying, of Towns, and buying of Arms, Ammanition, and whatsoever else may be requisite and necessary for the defence and safety of his Majesty's good Subjects of the County of Hearts, Which that it may be done with as much ease and indifferency to the good Subjects as the Exigency of the time will permit, for the intents and purposes aforesaid, The Lords and Commons do ordain that there shall be rated, taxed, charged, and levied upon the several Inhabitants of the county of Hearts, the sum of 450 li. every week weekly, to be collected and gathered within the several hundreds of the said county over and above the weekly sum already laid upon the said County, by Ordinance of both Houses of Parliament for the Lord General's Army, and for the better raising of the said weekly sum of 450 li. for the use and uses of the County of Hearts aforesaid, the said Lords and Commons do further order and ordain, that every person and persons as well Ecclesiastical as Temporal, and every Fraternity, Guild, Corporation, mystery, brotherhood and Commonalty, corporate or not corporate, as well Ecclesiastical as Temporal, within the County of Hearts, for the value of every pound which every such persons, Fraternity, Guild, Corporation, mystery, brotherhood, or Commonalty, corporate or not corporate, hath of his or their own, or that any other hath to his or their use or uses, as well in Coin, in Plate, stock of Merchandise, any manner of Corn and grain, household stuff, and of all other goods movable, within the aforesaid County, & of all such sum & sums of money as to them is or shall be owing, whereof he or they trust in his or their Conscience to be paid, except and out of the premises deducted such sums of money as he or they own and is in his or their conscience intended truly to pay, And except also the Apparel of every such person, their Wives and children, belonging to their own bodies (saving jewels, Gold, Silver, Stones, Pearl) shall pay towards the said weekly sum of 450 li. and every Alien and stranger, as well denizens as others, and also every Popish Recusant convict or not convict, and all such as have not at all contributed to the Propositions of both Houses of Parliament for Arms, Money, or Plate, shall pay towards the sum aforesaid, a proportion double to those of the like estates being no Aliens or Recusants, and hath contributed to the full upon the Propositions according to their Estates. And that every person within the said County, as well Ecclesiastical as Temporal, and every corporation, Fraternity, Guild, mystery, brotherhood and commonalty, corporate or not corporate, as well Ecclesiastical as Temporal, for every estate that every such person or persons, and every corporation, Fraternity, Guild, mystery, brotherhood and commonalty, corporate or not corporate, or any other to his or their use in trust or otherwise hath in fee simple, fee tail for term of life, term of years, by execution, wardship or by Copy of Court Role, of and in any honours, Castles, Manors, Lands, Tenements, Rents, services, tithes, oblations, obventions, annunities, Offices of profit, Fees, corrodies or other yearly profits or hereditaments, as well within Ancient demesne and other places privileged as elsewhere, shall pay to and towards the said weekly sum, his and their proportionable part and portion of sum or sums of money as shall be imposed, charged, and set upon every the particulars within the aforesaid County, according as the same shall be divided distributed, cared, or set upon each several Town, hamlet, Parish, or place where such person or persons is or shall be chargeably by this Ordinance and the true intent and meaning thereof, except and always foreprized from the charge and Assessment of the sum aforesaid, all Goods, Chattels, and Ornaments, belonging to any Churches or Chapels which have been ordained and used in any Churches and Chappells for the service of Almighty God, & except yearly wages due to servants for their yearly service, and the said sum so charged shall by authority of this Ordinance be taxed, sessed, and rated in every hundred, City, Town Hamlet, Parish, and every other place within the said County before the 20. of April in the year of our Lord one thousand six hundred forty and three, and the first payment of the said weekly sum so assessed by this Ordinance, shall be made at or before the first day of May 1643. And the said weekly payment to continue weekly for three month's next ensuing from the first day of May, unless the Armies pretended to be the Kings, shall be disbanded in the mean time, and for the better expediting of the said service, in levying, assessing, and collecting the said weekly sum of four humdred and fifty Pounds; be it further Ordained by the said Lords and Commons, That the Lord Viscount Cramborne, Robert Cicill Esquire, Sir John Gerrard, Sir John Read Knights and Baronet's, Sir Thomas Dacres, Sir William Litton, Sir John Wittew●ong, K 'tis. Richard Jennings, William Le●man, William Pieustley, Cravely Norton, Esquires, Edward Atkins, Sergeant at Law, John King Doctor in Physic, Henry Meau●is senior, Ralph Fteeman, john Heydon, Alexander wild, Richard Porter, Adam Washington, Gabriel Barber, john Robotham, Toby Combs, john Pemberton, William Beaman, of▪ Redborne, Litton Fairclough, john Scrogs, Thomas Sadler, of St. Albans, for the time being, the Mayor of Hertford for the time being, john Marsh, Isaac Puller, Thomas Meade, Ralph Pemberton, john Thewer, William Catter of Offeley, Gentleman, or any two or more of them shall be appointed and Ordained Committees for the Levying, Assessing, and Collecting of the aforesaid sum of 450 li. to the uses and purposes already expressed in this Ordinance. And for the better raising of the foresaid weekly sum, the said Committees shall agree to divide and sever themselves into such hundreds, places, and divisions, within the said County as to them shall seem meet and expedient▪ and afterwards the said Committees orany two of them respectively shall direct their Warrants to such number of persons as they shall think fit within their sevecall and respective Divisions, to appear before them or before any two of them, and upon their appearance the said respective Committees or any two of them shall nominate and appoint such persons as they shall think fit, within their respective divisions; which said persons so nominated, or any two of them, shall have power to assess any person or persons, fraternity, Guild, Corporation, mystery, brotherhood, Commonalty Corporate, or not Corporate, chargeable by this Ordinance; to the weekly rate and proportion in this Ordinance mentioned: and the said Committees or any two of them shall have full power and authority within the said County in their several divisions, to nominate collectors for the money so assessed and rated as aforesaid, accorduig to this Ordinance, which said collectors shall collect the said Money so assessed▪ and pay the same to such Treasurers, as shall be appointed by the said Committee, or any five of them; and if any person or persons, fraternity, Guild, Corporation, Mystery, Brotherhood, Commonalty, corporate or not corporate chargeable by this Ordinance, shall refuse to pay the sum or sums upon him or them assessed by 〈…〉 Ordinance, or shall not pay the same upon 〈…〉 the place of 〈…〉, or where, such assessment shall be made, it shall be lawful to and for the respective Collectors, or any of them, to leavy all or any such sum of sums so assessed by way of 〈◊〉, and sale of the goods of the Person or Persons so assessed, where ever the same shall be found, and to break open any house, chest, trunk, boat, 〈◊〉 any other thing where any such goods are, and if any person so 〈◊〉; or other shall make resistance, it shall be lawful to and for the said respective Collectors or any of them, as they see tause, to ca●● to their assistance, by the power of the superior Officers of the Forces of the said County, any of the Trained Bands or Companies of 〈…〉 eetes or other Forces of, or within the said County, place, or places where such resistance shall be made, or any other Person or Persons whatsoever, dwelling in or near the place, and the several Officers, Commanders, and Soutdiers of the same, or other the Persons so to be called, are hereby required to be aiding and assisting to the said respective Collectors in the premises, as they will answer the contrary thereof, and be it further Ordained that every person to be rated and taxed as aforesaid, if he have an estate either in Lands, Tenements, Hereditaments, rents, annunities, Fees, offices, goods or chattelis, in several places in the said County, then to be rated in the said several places, according to such his said estate in the said places, and the sum on him set to be there levied accordingly; And be it also Ordained that all Lands, Tenements, and Hereditaments of all and every person and persons whatsoever, of what degree or quality soever, or in whose possession soever the same are, shall be rated, charged, and chargeable for and to wards the raising and payment of the said weekly sum of money set and charged by this Ordinance, Yet nevertheless with this Limitation and provision that if the Land be set or let to or near the yearly value thereof in the possession of any Tenant for life, lives, or years, or at will, such person or persons to whom the rent thereof belongeth to be solely chargeable therewith, but if the same be let at any easy or small rent or undervalue then the sum taxed to be apportioned between the party or parties to whom the rent belongeth, and the Tenant or occupier of the lands, Tenements & heredistaments as the taxers shall think meet, and if they or any of them shall do any Injury the same to be rectified by the said Committees or any two of them within their several limits and divisions according to their discretion  
And if any such Tenant or Occupier of Lands, Tenements or hereditaments, shall, or may be charged with any sum of money, contrary to the true mient and meaning of this Ordinance, That it shall and may be lawful to and for such Tenant or Occupier to stop and detain the same from and out of his Rent due for the same Land, or to take his lawful remedy (against such) person or persons to whom the said Rent is or shall be due or belonging, who ought by the true meaning of this Ordinance to be charged with) by action of debt, wherein no Wager of Law, protection or es●ome shall be allowed, and for all manner of debts whatsoever, or sum or sums of money due or owing to any person or persons, by any person or persons within the said County, the person or persons to w●om such debts shall be due, to be charged for the same, during his abode, and residence in the said County.  
And be it Ordained that no person, being or calling himself household servant, or waiting servant to the King's Majesty, or other Lord or Lady, Master or Mistress be excused from the Taxed of the said payment when he shall be set and taxed in the hundreds, Hamlets, Parieses, and other places of the said County. And if any person that ought to be set and Taxed to the said payment, by his crime or craft, or any words or say, or otherwise, happen to escape from the said payments to ben● set, and Taxed according to the true meaning of this Ordinance, and that proceed by presentment, examination, information, or other ways before the said Committées or any two of them, than every such person shall be charged upon the knowledge and proof thereof; At the triple value of so much as he should might, or aught to have been set or taxed at, by virtue of this Ordinance, and the same to be levied, gathered, and paid out of his Goods and Chattels, Lands and Tenements, towards the said payment, in such manner as is herein limited for others, which refuse to pay: and if no distress been found of the goods, or other things of such person or persons, bodies corporate, or other chargeable by this Ordinance, as shall not pay the wéekly rate as aforesaid; then the said Collectors shall have power to inquire of any sum or sums of money due, or to be due to the persons so assessed as aforesaid, from any person or persons, for any Rents, Tithes, Goods or Debts, or other thing or cause whatsoever, and to compound for any of the said Rents, Tithes, Goods, Debts, due to the person so assessed respectively as aforesaid, with any person or persons, by whom the said Rents, Tithes, Goods, Debts, or other things due unto the said person respectively as aforesaid; As also to give full discharge for the money, by them so received upon composition or otherwise, which discharge shall be good and effectual to all intents and purposes. And be it further Ordained that if any person, or persons shall find 〈◊〉, themselves aggrieved, that he or they, is, or are overrated; such person or persons at any time before distress taken, of his, or their Goods, except it be such persons as have not at all contributed to the propositions of both Houses of Parliament, and these shall pay their tax or rate, so that it doth not exceed the twentieth part of their Estates, yet never the less no man shall be taxed, or levied, at, or above the sum of ten pounds by the week) may complain to the Committée, who have executed this Ordinance, which said Committée or any two of them shall have power upon examination to relieve such person or persons as they shall see cause; And for the better encouragement of the Collectors in this said Service, It is Ordained that three pence in the pound shall be allowed for every sum of money which shall be collected, and paid to such Treasurers and Receivers as shall be nominated by the Committee or any five of them; Two pence whereof shall be allowed to the Collectors, and the residue to such other persons as shallbe employed in the said service, according to the discretion of the Committee, or any two of them. And to the end that all the moneys may be duly collected. Be it ordained that the several assessors within the said County shall within one week next after their assessments made, return their said several Assessments unto the Committees aforesaid, who, or any two of them are hereby required within ten days after the return of such several Assessments, to deliver a Copy thereof, subscribed with their or any two of their hands, to the several Collectors within their said divisions or limits, and also within the like ten days to send an other Copy thereof to the Treasurers appointed, to the end, the said Treasurers may thereby know what they are to receive of every Parish, or place within the said County. And if any assessors or collectors shall refuse the said Service, or prove negligent or faulty therein, the said Committee, or any two of them, shall have power to commit such Assessors, or Collectors to prison, or to set such a fine upon him or them as they shall think fit, not exceeding the sum of twenty pounds upon the Assessors, or the sum of five pounds upon the Collectors, The same to be levied by distress, and sale of such Offenders Goods, to the uses herein mentioned in such sort as is herein before appointed for such as refuse to pay the rates assessed upon him and them. And shall also certify the said Offence to the Lords and Commons in Parliament, and shall have power to nominate other Assessors and Collectors: And if any person or persons so Assessed, and Rated, as aforesaid shall conceal, or convey away his ur their Goods, so that no distress can be taken, or that the said sum or sums, so Assessed upon him or them, cannot be had, or levied by any of the ways, or meanus in the Ordinance mentioned, Then the said Collectors shall respectively certify the same, in case be he under the degree of a Peer of the Realm, to the Committee of the Commons House of Parliament for examinations, which said Committée shall hereby have power to send for such person and persons as Delinquents, and to commit him or them to such place, or places within this Kingdom, and for so long time, as the Committée for examinations shall think fit.  
And it is Ordained that all and every the Assessors, and Collectors, aforesaid and all that shall assist them in the premisles, shall be protected by both Houses of Parliament from all damage that may come to them, or any of them by this Service; and shall further receive such Allowances for their charges, and obedience in execution of this Ordinance, as shall be thought fit upon examination by the Committée of the said County, or any three of them.  
And further, it is Ordered that the Treasurers appointted by the said Committee for the County in the manner aforesaid, shall keep a Register Book of the several sums re●erved and paid out by them, that so they may give a good account (of the receipts and disbursements of all the sums of money collected in the said County, by virtue of this Ordinance) unto the Committée of the County, when thereunto they shall be required by the Parliament.  
And lastly it is Ordained, that the Treasurers of the County, as before appointed shall issue out no sum or sums of Money, which by virtue of this Ordinance is brought into their hands, to any person or persons, or for any the foresaid use or uses, but as they shall receive Order under the Committées hands appointed by this Ordidance for the County of Hereford or any three of them.  
FINIS