August 1649: An Act for the admitting of the Six Counties of North Wales to a General Composition for their Delinquency.

August, 1649

[10 August, 1649.]

Inhabitants of counties of N. Wales admitted to general composition.; £24,000 to be levied on those counties and paid to Treasurers at War.; Commissioners for said counties and island.; Their powers.

Whereas the five Counties of North Wales, viz: Montgomery, Denbigh, Flint, Merioneth, and Carnarven, with the Island and County of Anglesey, have been for many years together, since the beginning of these late Wars, wholly under the Power of the late Kings Army and Forces; by reason whereof, many well-affected persons to the Parliament within the said Counties, have been forced through compulsion or fear, for the avoiding of present ruine to themselves and Families, to comply with the said Forces in unwarrantable acts and Engagements, whereby they are become involved in a general guilt and defection from the Parliament, and the authority thereof: The Commons of England assembled in Parliament (at the humble and earnest Request of divers of the Inhabitants of the said counties) taking the same into serious consideration; and being willing that some distinction may be made between such persons as have been eminently active in the raising and promoting of the said War, and those that were moved by constraint or fear to a compliance with the enemy, being under their power, and are now resolved to adhere to the Interest of this Commonwealth, as it is now established; and being likewise willing that such Money as is by an Ordinance or Order of Parliament charged upon the Estates of new Delinquents in North Wales, and payable to persons well-affected to the Parliament, and to the present Constitution of this Commonwealth should be paid accordingly, Do Declare and Ordain, and be it Ordained and Enacted by this present Parliament, and by authority of the same, That the Inhabitants of the said five counties of North Wales; (viz.) Montgomery, Denbigh, Flint, Carnarvon and Merioneth, and of the said Island and County of Anglesey, and every of them (except such persons as are hereafter in this Act excepted) be and are hereby admitted to a general Composition; and that the sum of Four and twenty thousand pounds be raised upon the said Five counties, and the said Island and County of Anglesey; that is to say, On the county of Montgomery, the sum of Three thousand pounds; On the County of Denbigh, the sum of Three thousand pounds; On the county of Flint, the sum of Two thousand pounds; On the county of Carnarvon, the sum of Four thousand pounds; On the county of Merioneth, the sum of Three thousand pounds; On the Island and county of Anglesey, the sum of Nine thousand pounds, to be paid in maner and form following (that is to say) the first moyety amounting to the sum of twelve thousand pounds, within ten weeks after the passing of this Act, and the other moyety being Twelve thousand pounds, to be paid within ten weeks then next ensuing; which said sum of Four and twenty thousand pounds is to be paid to the Treasurers at Wars for the Army, who are hereby authorized to receive the same, and any two of them, to give receipts or acquittances, under their hands and seals, for the same; which said receipts or acquittances shall be a sufficient discharge, to all intents and purposes, to the said respective counties and Island, and unto such as they shall appoint to pay the same, according to the true intent of this Act. And to the end the said sum of Four and twenty thousand pounds may be equally and indifferently taxed, proportioned and levied upon the respective Inhabitants of the said counties, unto whom the benefit of this Act is to extend; Be it further Enacted by the Authority aforesaid, That Thomas Mitton, John Jones, John Carter, George Twisleton, Thomas Mason, Thomas Madrin, Edmund Glyn Esqs: Robert Soutley Esq. Thomas Ball Esq. John Peck Esq; Richard Basnet Gent., Edward Wyn Esq., Thomas Crichley Gent., Daniel Lloid Gent; Watkin Kyffin Gent. William Wyn Gent. Gerard Barbour Esq., Griffith Glin, Gent.; Richard Anwil Esq. Captain Thomas Pugh, Lewis Lloyd Esq., Peter Meirick Esq., Major Edward Moor, Roger Hanmer Esqs; Sir John Trevor Knight; John Puleston Esq. one of the Justices of the Common Pleas; Thomas Ravenscroft Esq. John Aldersey Esq. Luke Lloid, Humphrey Dymmock Esqs., Andrew Ellice Esq. Thomas Dymmock Esq. Daniel Mathews Gent., Hugh Courtney Gent., Sir John Wittewrong Knight, Evan Lloid, Hugh Price, Richard Price, Richard Griffith, Robert Griffith, Rice Vaughan Esqs. Samuel Big Gent. Edward Owen of Castle-Dail, Owen Salusbury Esq. Griffith Nanney, John Lloyd, Lewis Owen, Robert Vaughan Esqs. Robert Owen Thomas Michael, Gent. William Williams Esquire, be and hereby are constituted and appointed Commissioners for the said several and respective counties and Island; which said Commissioners or any five of them, have hereby full power and authority to do all and every such act and acts as may further the rating and collecting of the said sum of Twenty four thousand pounds upon the said respective counties and Island, in the maner and proportion aforesaid; and to remove all lets and obstructions, and determine all differences that may hinder the effectual prosecution of this work; and to supervise and regulate proceedings to the best of their judgements, according to the true intent and meaning of this Act.

Well-affected persons exempted from payment.

Provided always That no wel affected person in any of the said Counties and Island, be compelled to pay any Rate or Tax towards the raising of the said sums or any of them. Provided also, That this Act shall not extend to discharge or pardon any person excepted from pardon, or from Composition for his Estate, by the Propositions sent to the late King, at Newcastle, nor by any Act, Order or Vote of Parliament not yet repealed.

This Act not to extend to certain persons

2. Nor any Member of Parliament, that hath deserted his Trust, and adhered to the Enemy.

3. Nor any person that hath assisted the Irish Rebellion, or held correspondency or Intelligence with the Rebels in Ireland.

4. Nor any person that having been in Arms against the Parliament, doth reside in France or Ireland, or in any other parts beyond the Seas.

5. Nor any person that hath given Intelligence to, or held correspondency in anything against the Parliament, with Charles Stuart the late Kings son, or his Adherents, in any of the parts beyond the Seas.

6. Nor any Delinquent, or otherwise scandalous Minister or Clergyman (as to Ecclesiastical Promotions onely) that is already duly sequestered or Sequestrable, nor at all to pardon such of them as have plotted or contrived the Revolt of the said Island of Anglesey.

7. Nor any Papists in arms, nor any other Papists for the two Thirds of their Estates Sequestered or Sequestrable, according to former Orders or Ordinances of Parliament for their non-conformity.

8. Nor any persons that are now Prisoners of War.

None to be made capable by this Act of bearing office contrary to for Acts.

9. Nor any person that hath publique Money in his hands, for which he ought to accompt, and shall not discover and pay the same to the Treasurers for the Army, for the use of the Commonwealth, within three moneths after the passing of this Act. Provided further, That this Act shall not extend to discharge any person that hath his Fine set at Goldsmiths Hall, from the payment of the same to the Treasurers there accordingly. Provided also That this Act shall not extend to make any person capable to bear any Office in the Commonwealth, contrary to any former Act on Ordinance of Parliament, without consent of Parliament.

Former delinquents worth less than £4 per annum who adhere to Parl. to be freed from tax.

Provided likewise, and be it further Enacted by the authority aforesaid, That all persons within the said respective counties and Island, that have been engaged against the Parliament (not comprised within the former Exceptions, Qualifications or Crimes, to the discharging or pardoning whereof this Act is not to extend) that are not worth in Lands four pounds per annum, or in personal estate Forty pounds, and shall declare unto the said Commissioners or any five of them, their firm resolutions, faithfully to adhere to the interest of this Commonwealth, shall not be taxed or compelled to pay any part of the said sum of Twenty four thousand pounds, but are hereby freely pardoned and discharged of their Delinquency:

Pardon for all acts of delinquency to persons with estates above such value who shall duly contribute.; Their discharge from sequestration.; Persons refusing to pay to be sequestered.; Sums charged on estates of new delinquents in N. Wales to well-affected persons to be paid out of moneys raised.; Committee for sequestrations.; Powers.; Directions from Committee at Goldsmiths Hall.; Power to hear complaints and give relief.; Necessary charges.; Former suspensions of sequestrations by Sir T. Middleton and others void.; £2,000 raised by sequestration to be towards satisfaction of several well-affected persons.; Debts of late Wm. Lloid, Esq., up to £1,000 to be discharged out of fees.

And be it further Enacted by the authority aforesaid, That all the Inhabitants in the said several and respective counties of Montgomery, Denbigh, Flint, Merioneth, and Carnarvon, and in the said Island of Anglesey (that have estates above the values aforesaid in the said respective Counties) or any of them (except the persons before excepted, and comprised in the said former Qualifications, unto whom the benefit of this Act is not to extend) [as] shall duly, pay their proportions of the said sum of Twenty four thousand pounds, according to the true meaning of this Act, and constantly and faithfully adhere to the present established interest of this Nation, be and are pardoned and acquitted of and for any Act of Delinquency or offence committed or done by them, or any of them, against the Parliament, to the time of the passing of this Act; and are hereby permitted to enjoy all their several and respective estates, without molestation, to all intents and purposes whatsoever, free from any act done or to be done against them, or any of them, by vertue, colour or pretence of any Act, Ordinance or Order of Parliament, for Sequestration of Delinquents estates. Provided moreover, and be it Enacted and Ordained by the authority aforesaid, That if any person or persons that have complyed with the late King Forces, or are lyable to Sequestration within the said several and respective counties, and Island of Anglesey, or any of them, shall refuse to pay his or their proportion, as the same shall be rated or taxed, and approved of by the said Commissioners, or any five of them (towards the raising of the aforesaid Fine) within the time herein limited for the payment of the same, such person or persons so refusing, are not to have any benefit or immunity by this Act, but are left to be effectually proceeded against, according to the several Ordinances of Sequestrations. And be it further Enacted by the authority aforesaid, That such sum and sums of Money as are by any Ordinance or Order of Parliament charged upon the Estates of New Delinquents in North Wales, and payable to persons well-affected to the Parliament, and to the present Constitution of this Commonwealth (not exceeding in the whole the sum of Four thousand pounds) be according to the true intent and meaning of the said several Ordinances and Orders, paid and discharged out of the said sum of Twenty four thousand pounds. And the Treasurersat Warsareauthorized and required to pay and discharge the same accordingly; and to the end this present Act, and the several former Ordinances of Sequestrations may be the better put in execution, Be it further Enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the said Thomas Mitton, John Jones, John Carter, George Twisleton, Thomas Mason, Thomas Madrin, Edmond Glyn, Robert Soutley, Thomas Ball, John Peck, Richard Basnet, Edward Wyn, Thomas Crichley, Daniel Lloyd, Watkin Kyffin, William Wyn, Gerard Barbour, Griffith Glyn, Richard Anwyl, Captain Thomas Pugh, Lewis Lloyd, Peter Meirick, Major Edward Moor, Roger Hanmer, Sir John Trevor, John Puleston, Thomas Ravenscroft, John Aldersey, Luke Lloyd, Humphrey Dymmock, Andrew Ellice, Thomas Dymmock, Daniel Mathews, Hugh Courtney, Sir John Wittewrong, Evan Lloyd, Hugh Price, Richard Price, Richard Griffith, Robert Griffiths, Rice Vaughan, Samuel Big, Edward Owen of Castle-Dail, Owen Salusbury, Griffith Nanney, John Lloyd, Lewis Owen, Robert Vaughan, Robert Owen, Thomas Michael, William Williams, or any three or more of them, shall be and hereby are constituted and appointed to be a Committee, for the putting in Execution all and every the Ordinances of Sequestrations of Delinquents and Papists Estates, according to the true intent and meaning of this Act; and of the said several Ordinances; which said Committee, or any three or more of them, are hereby authorized and required to Sequester, or cause to be Sequestred the estates Real and Personal of all and every person and persons (being Delinquents or Papists) within the said several Counties and Island, whose Estates by the true meaning of this Act ought to be sequestred, and unto whom the benefit of this Act is not extended; and the said estates so sequesteed, to dispose of as by the several Ordinances or Orders of Parliament in that behalf is required; observing in the execution of the premises, such further Orders and Directions as they shall from time to time receive from the Committee of Goldsmiths Hall. And be it further Enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the said Commissioners or any five of them, shall have and hereby have full power and authority to hear and examine complaints, as well touching the inequality of Assessments of former and future Taxes levyed, or to be levyed in the said respective Counties, or any of them for the service of the Parliament: As also touching allowance to be made by Landlords to their Tenants in respect of Taxes, and to order such relief therein as shall be agreeable to Equity and Justice, and to the true intent and meaning of the several Ordinances of Parliament in that behalf made: And be it further Enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the said Commissioners, or any five of them in the said respective counties, shall have power, and are hereby authorized to collect and receive of the persons that are to have benefit by this Act, so much money as shall defray the necessary charge of prosecuting this service: Provided, That the same exceed not the sum of One hundred pounds in each county: And that no one Commissioner be allowed for his charges, in attending the said service, above the rate of five shillings per diem, for every day that he shall be actually imployed in the said service: And be it further Enacted by the authority aforesaid, That all former suspensions of Sequestrations, made by Sir Thomas Middleton, by vertue of an Ordinance of Parliament, authorizing him so to do, or made by any other person or persons imployed in the service of the Parliament in the said counties, not authorized thereunto by any Act, Ordinance, or Order of Parliament, be from henceforth void and of none effect. And be it further Declared and Enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the payment of any part of the said Fine, or of any other sum of money by any of the Inhabitants of the said counties, in pursuance of this Act, shall not be construed, or taken to be a sufficient matter of evidence or confession, for the conviction of such person to have acted any thing against the Parliament: And whereas Col. Thomas Mason, Capt. Richard Price, Capt. Thomas Ball, and Richard Cheadle Esq; have done very good and faithful service to the Commonwealth, some of them having had their houses burnt, and their whole estates kept from them for divers years by the enemy (to theire total ruine) for their affection to the Parliament; by reason whereof they are become incapable of serving the Commonwealth, according to the trust reposed in them, unless they receive some seasonable supply and reparation towards their Arrears, Disbursements and sufferings; Be it therefore Enacted by the authority aforesaid, That the sum of Two thousand pounds out of the first money that shall be raised by Sequestration of, or Composition with any new Delinquents in the said counties, not pardoned by this Act, shall be disposed of towards satisfaction of the Arrears, Disbursements, and Reparation of the losses and sufferings of the said persons, as the Parliament shall hereafter order and appoint: And likewise, That the debts and Engagements of William Lloid Esq; late High Sheriff of the County of Carnarvon, now deceased, not exceeding One thousand pounds, be according to a Vote of the Commons assembled in Parliament, of the tenth of June, One thousand six hundred forty eight, discharged out of the Rents, Fines or Compositions of the said new Delinquents not pardaned by this Act.