August 1649: An Act touching the second Four hundred thousand pounds charged on the Receipts of the Excise and Goldsmiths-hall.

August, 1649

[28 August, 1649.]

Ord. of 13 May, 1647, recited; Moneys satisfied out of proceeds of sale of bishops' lands to be charged on the excise.

Whereas the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament intending by their Ordinance of the Thirteenth of May, One thousand six hundred forty seven, to raise the sum of two hundred thousand pounds for the Service of England and Ireland, by way of doubling, in such maner as in the said Ordinance is exprest; and did by the said Ordinance charge a second sum of Four hundred thousand pounds, to be paid out of the Grand Excize in course, and out of the moyety of all Compositions, made or to be made with Delinquents at Goldsmiths-Hall, and out of the remainder of the proceeds of the Bishops Lands, and out of the proceeds of the Estates, and sale of the Lands of Papists (which should first happen) together with all Interest growing due thereupon, after the rate of Eight pounds per centum, per annum, to be paid every six moneths out of the Receipt of the Excize, till Principal and interest be fully discharged; and did thereby also further Ordain, That every Lender upon the said Ordinance should have all benefits and advantages whatesoever, for and concerning any moneys due by the said Ordinance (in course after the former engagement satisfied and discharged) as fully and amply, to all intents and purposes, as they who formerly lent any Moneys upon a former Ordinance for sale of Bishops Lands, made November the Sixteenth, One thousand six hundred forty six, ought to have by vertue thereof. And whereas by the Sales and Contracts already made of and for the said Bishops Lands, the sum of One hundred and seventy thousand pounds, or thereabouts is already paid and to be paid towards the discharge of the said second Four hundred thousand pounds charged upon the Receipts of the Excise and Goldsmiths-hall (together with the Interest thereupon due) which therefore ought not to stand charged on the Receipts of the Excise and Goldsmiths-hall for the Service of the Commonwealth: The Parliament taking the same into consideration, together with the pressing Necessities of the Forces now in actual service for the Relief of Ireland, Do Enact and Ordain; and be it Enacted and Ordained by the Authority of this present Parliament, That so much of the second Four hundred thousand pounds as is already satisfied, or shall be satisfied hereafter to the Lenders thereof, or to their Assigns, by the sale of the said Bishops Lands, shall nevertheless stand charged upon the said Receipts of Excize and Goldsmiths-hall for the service of the Commonwealth, to be paid by the Commissioners of Excize and Treasurers at Goldsmiths-hall in course, in such maner as it ought to have been paid to the said Lenders, had they not been satisfied by the sale of the said Lands.

And be it further Enacted and Ordained by the Authority aforesaid, That the said Commissioners and Treasurers respectively, do issue out the said sums hereby declared to stand charged as aforesaid for the service of the Commonwealth, according to such Orders and Directions as they shall from time to time receive from the Councel of State; and the receipt of the person or persons so authorized to receive the same, shall be a good discharge to the said Commissioners and Treasurers respectively.