Three ORDINANCES OF THE Lords and Commons Assembled in PARLIAMENT, VIZ. 

I. An Ordinance for freeing and discharging of all Rents and Revenues( belonging to the Hospitals of St. Bartholomew, Bridewell, St. Thomas and Bethlem) from any Assessments, Taxes and charges whatsoever.  
II. An Ordinance for establishing a new Seal for the County Palatine of Lancaster.  
III. An Ordinance for Ordaining Ministers in the County of Lancaster.    
H: elsing, clear. Parl. D. come.  
Printed at London for Edw. Husbands Febr. 11. 1644.   

Die Sabbathi, 16. Novemb. 1644.  
An Ordinance of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, for the freeing and discharging of all Rents and Revenues( belonging to the hospitals of St. Bartholomew, Bridewell, St. Thomas and Bethlem) from any Assessments, Taxes and charges whatsoever.  
Whereas the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, have been given to understand, from the mayor, and Commonalty, and Citizens of London, Governor of the possessions, Revenues and Goods of the Hospitals of St. Bartholomew, bridewell, St. Thomas & Bethlem; That the Rents & Revenues belonging to the said hospitals respectively, are not sufficient to keep and maintain the poor people, properly appointed to be kept in the said hospitals, in ordinary times, without the help and supply of Legacies and Gifts of charitable persons, which since these present troubles are much decreased, and very small; and that the Rents of divers of the said Lands in remote Countries where the Armies are, or have been, are lost, and divers Tenants of other of the said Lands, in and near London, allege that they are so far impoverished, that they are not able to pay their Rents in these dead and troublesone times, neither do pay any Rent at al to the said hospitals; And that the Rents of divers houses belonging to the said Hospitals being out of Lease, and standing empty, are wholly lost; And that many Tenants of the Lands belonging to the said Hospitals, withhold and deduct several sums of Money out of their Rents, for several Taxes and Rates upon divers Ordinances of Parliament; Whereby the said Hospitals are become much indebted, and want moneys to buy necessary provision for the Poor therein: And that nevertheless great numbers of sick, wounded, and other Souldiers have for the time of above twenty months past, been constantly kept in the said hospitals, at very great and extraordinary charges, especially for their Cure and diet.  
The said Lords and Commons taking the premises into their consideration, think fit, and Ordain, and be it Ordained, That all the Rents and Revenues belonging to the said Hospitals respectively( being to be received and disbursed for the immediate use, and relief of the Poor in the same Hospitals) shall be freed and discharged of and from all Assessments, Taxes and Charges whatsoever, as well ready made or charged, and not paid as hereafter to be made or charged by virtue of any Ordinance of Parliament.  
And it is hereby further Ordained, That it shall not be lawful for any of the said Tenants to withhold and deduct out of their Rents any sum of money, which is or shall be ranted by virtue of any Ordinance of Parliament, upon his and their houses & Lands, belonging to the said hospitals respectively, which in respect of the Rents of every such house & lands, the Landlords ought to pay; And every such Tenant is hereby required to make payment of his full Rent, that is or shal hereafter be due unto the said several Hospitals, Any Ordinance to the contrary notwithstanding.  
And all Assessors, Collectors, and others whom this may concern, are hereby required to take notice of this Ordinance; Provided that the Tenants who enjoy good and considerable Bargains in their Leases from the said Hospitals respectively, do claim and enjoy no freedom, exemption or advantage by this Ordinance.  
H. elsing, clear. Parl. D. come.   

Die Martis 17. December. 1644.  
An Ordinance of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament for establishing a new seal for the County Palatine of Lancaster.  
WHereas the duchy Seal belonging to the County Palatine of Lancaster, hath been forcibly taken from Christopher Banister Esquire, Vice-Chancellor of the said County, by the forces raised against the Parliament: In the want whereof, neither Sheriff nor Iustice of Peace, could be made for that County, nor common Iustice administered unto the Inhabitants thereof, unto their unsufferable prejudice and detriment.  
Be it therefore Declared and Ordained by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, That a duchy Seal already by them provided and made, shall be forthwith put in use, and shall be and is hereby authorised and established to be of like force, power and validity, to all intents and purposes, as any duchy Seal of the County Palatine of Lancaster heretofore hath been or ought to be: And the said Seal shall be forthwith sent by a Messenger, to be appointed by the Speaker of the House of Commons, to the said Christopher Banister, who is hereby authorised and ordered, during the pleasure of both Houses of Parliament, to put the same Seal in use, and to do and perform all Acts and things, as fully and amply as he or any other Vice-Chancellor hath formerly done or performed; and to do and perform such other Acts and things therewith, as he shall receive directions for, from both Houses of Parliament. And it is further Ordered and Ordained, That all Acts whatsoever, that have been done by the said former duchy Seal for the County Palatine of Lancaster, since the same was taken away from the said Christopher Banister as aforesaid, or any Act or thing that hereafter shall be done, by that or any other duchy Seal, for the County Palatine of Lancaster( other then what is hereby appointed and established) shall be utterly voided, frustrate, and of no effect; And what the said Christopher Banister shal do in pursuance of this Ordinance, he shall be protected by authority of both Houses of Parliament.  
H. elsing, clear. Parl. D. come.   

Die Veneris 13. December. 1644.  
An Ordinance of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, for Ordaining Ministers in the County of Lancaster.  
THe Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament do hereby Order and Ordain, That Mr. Charles Herle, Mr. Richard Herick, Mr. james Hyet Mr. William Ashton, Mr. William Ward; Mr. Alexander Horrocks, Mr. johnson of Ellenborough, Mr. John Anger, Mr. William Bell, Mr. Edward Gee, Mr. Paul Lathom, Mr. John Harper, Mr. Richard Whitfield, Mr. James Wood, Mr. Johnson of Rochdale, Mr. John Tildesly, Mr. Richard Hollinworth, Mr. John Harrison, Mr. Isaac Ambrose, Mr. James Bradshaw, Mr. Robert Bath, or any seven of them, shall have full power according to the Ordinance of the second of October, for the Ordination of Ministers pro tempore, to Ordain Ministers within the County of Lancaster: And if any person do publicly preach or otherwise exercise any ministerial Office that shall not be Ordained, or thereunto allowed by seven of the said Ministers, then their names shall be returned to both Houses of Parliament, to be dealt with as they in their wisdoms shall think fit.  
H. elsing, clear. Parl. D. come.