An Ordinance of Parliament, for the aboliſhing of Archbiſhops, and Biſhops, within the King­dome of England, and Dominion of Wales, and for ſetling of their Lands and Poſſeſſions, upon Tru­ſtees for the uſe of the Common-wealth.

FOr the aboliſhing of Archbiſhops, and Bi­ſhops and providing for the payment of the juſt and neceſſary debts of the King­dome, into which the ſame hath bin drawn by a War, mainely promoted by and in favour of the ſaid Archbiſhops, and Biſhops, and other their Adherents, and Dependents. Be it Ordained, and it is Ordained by the Lords and Commons in Par­liament aſſembled, and by the authority of the ſame; That the Name, Title, Stile and Dignity of Archbiſhop of Canterbury, Archbiſhop of York, Biſhop of Win­cheſter, Biſhop of Dureſme, and of all other Biſhops of any Biſhopricks within the Kingdome of England, and Dominion of Wales, be from and after the fifth day of September, in the yeere of our Lord God 1646. wholly aboliſhed and taken away, and are hereby aboliſhed and taken away, And all and every perſon and perſons are and be thenceforth diſabled to hold the place, function or ſtile of Archbiſhop or Biſhop of any Church, Sea, or Dioceſſe now eſtabliſhed or erected, or hereafter to be eſtabliſhed or erected with­in the Kingdome of England, Dominion of Wales or Towne of Barwick, or to uſe or put in ure any Ar­chiepiſcopall or Epiſcopall Juriſdiction, or authority, by2 force of any Letters Patents from the Crowne, made or to be made, or by any other authority whatſoever, any Law Statute, Uſage or Cuſtome to the contrary notwithſtanding. And be it further Ordained; and it is hereby Ordained, That all Counties Palatine, Honors, Mannors, Lordſhips, Stiles, Circuits, Precincts, Caſtles, Granges, Meſſuages, Mils, Lands, Tenemen•s, Meadowes, Paſtures, Parſonage, appropriate Titles, Oblations, Obventions, Pentions, Portions of Tithes, Parſonages, Vicarages, Churches, Chappells, Advowſons, Dona­tives, Nominations, Rights of Patronage and Preſen­tation, Parkes, Woods, Rents, Reverſions, Services, Annuities, Franchiſes, Liberties, Priviledges, Imuni­ties, Rights of Action and of entry, Intereſts, Titles of Entry, Conditions, Commons Court Leet, and Courts Baron; and all other Poſſeſſions and Heredita­ments whatſoever, with all and every of their appur­tenances of what nature or quality ſoever they bee, which now are, or at any time within ten years before the beginning of this preſent Parliament, were be­longing to the ſaid Archbiſhops or Biſhops. Archbiſhop­ricks, or Biſhopricks or any of them, which they or any of them had held and enjoyed in the Right of their Archbiſhopricks, or Biſhopricks dignities, Offices or Places reſpectively; Together with all Charters, Deeds, Books, Accounts, Rolls, and other Writings and Evi­dences whatſoever, concerning the Premiſes or any of them; which do belong to any the ſaid Archbiſhops, or Biſhops, Archbiſhopricks, and Biſhopricks, are veſted and ſetled, adjudged and deemed to bee and are hereby in the reall and actuall poſſeſſion, and ſeiſing of Thomas Adams Alderman, now Lord Major of the City of London, Sir Iohn Wollaſton Knight, Sir George Clarke3 Knight, Iohn Langham Alderman, Iohn Fowke Alder­man, J•me•B•nce Alderman, VVilliam Gibbs Alderman, Samuel Avery Alderman, Thomas Noell, Chriſtopher Packe, Iohn Bellamy, Edward Hooker, Thomas Arnold, Richard Glide, VVilliam Hobſon, Francis Aſh, Iohn Babington, Lau­rence Bromſeild, Alexander Jones, Iohn Iones, Richard Venner, Stephen Eſtwick, Robert Mead, and Iames Story; Their Heires and Aſſignes; And that they the ſaid, Thomas Adams, now Lord Major of the City of London, Sir Iohn Wollaſton Knight, Sir George Clerke Knight, John Langham Alderman, Iohn Fowke Alderman, Iames Bunce Alderman, William Gibbs Alderman, Samuel Avery Al­derman, Thomas Noell, Chriſtopher, Pack, Iohn Bellamy, Ed­ward Hooker, Thomas Arnold, Richard Glyde, William Hob­ſon, Franois Aſh, Iohn Babington, Laurence Bromfield, Alex­ander Iones, Iohn Iones Richard Vennor, Stephen Eſtwick, Robert Mead, and Iames Story and the Surviver and Sur­vivers of them and their Heires, and Aſſignes, ſhall hold all ſuch the premiſſes as are now held of the King, of the King his Heires and Succeſſors, as of His Mannor of Eaſt Greenewich in Fee and Common ſoccage by fealty, and the Annuall Rents thereof reſpectively due, and paya­ble within ten yeers laſt paſt, before the beginning of this preſent Parliament, and not in capite, nor by other Ten­ures or ſervices; and ſhall hold all and every the pre­miſſes, which the ſaid Archbiſhops, and Biſhops held of any other, then of the King, by the Rents, and other ſer­vices therefore due, and of right accuſtomed; And the ſaid Truſtees, their heires, aſſignes, Formers, & Tenants, ſhall alſo have, hold, and enjoy the premiſes, and every of them; freed, acquitted and diſcharged of, and from the payment of Tithes, as fully as the ſaid Archbiſhops, and Biſhops did hold and injoy, or ought to hold4 and enjoy the ſame, at any time, during the ſpace of ten Yeares aforementioned, or any time ſince. And it is further by the ſame authority ordained, that the ſaid Truſtees ſhall have power and are authorized, to make, nominate and appoint from time to time, fit and able perſons, ſuch as they ſhall think fit, to ſervey the premiſes in any County or Counties of England and Wales, and to hold Court of ſerveys, and to demand, re­ceive, and in ſafe cuſtody to put all the ſaid Charters, deeds, bookes, accompts rolls, writings, and evidences, that they may be put in ſuch place in the City of London, as the ſaid perſons before named or the Major part of them ſhall order and appoint; And the ſaid Truſtees or any three or more of them as aforeſaid are hereby au­thorized and required to adminiſter an Oath unto all and every the Serveyors who ſhall take the ſame before he ſhall execute the ſaid place, in theſe words, viz.

Nevertheleſſe it is declared and ordained, that the ſaid perſons before named, their Heires and Aſſignes ſhall have and hold the premiſes and every of them ſubject to ſuch truſts and confidence as both Houſes of Parlia­ment ſhall appoint, and declare and diſpoſe of the ſame, and the Rents and Profits thereof as the ſaid Houſes ſhall order and appoint; wherein the Lords and Com­mons doe declare, that due reſpect ſhall be had towards ſuch perſons and their Aſſignes as are interreſſed in the premiſſes by vertue of any demiſe heretofore made, provided that the ſaid Truſtees their Heires or Aſſignes ſhall not avoid any leaſes made for any Terme or eſtate, not exceeding three lives, or one and twenty yeares in poſſeſſion, or in ſuch manner as that together with the leaſe in being ſhall not exceed three lives or one and twenty yeares, ſo as the old and accuſtomed rent and rents or ſo much rent and rents, as the ancient and ac­cuſtomed rent amounteth unto, be reſerved payable during the ſaid voidable Terme and Termes or eſtates, and ſo as the ſaid leaſes have not been procured or pur­chaſed of any Biſhop, ſince the firſt day of December, Anno Domine. 1641. And be it further Ordained by the authority aforeſaid, that if any Arch-Biſhop or Bi­ſhop have at any time ſince the firſt day of December, An­no Domine. 1641. made any grant or leaſe to any per­ſon or perſons, body politique or Corporate of any the Houſes, Mannors, Lordſhips, Meſſuages, Lands, Tene­ments, and Hereditaments, or any other the premiſſes a­foreſaid, or any of them in right of their Arch-Biſhop­ricks or Biſhopricks, the ſame grant or leaſe ſhall be utterly void and of none effect; and the perſon or per­ſons,6 body politique or Corporate, unto whom the ſame was made ſhall have no benefit thereby; provided, and be it ordeined, and it is hereby ordained, that if any perſon or perſons, body politique or Corporate, at a­ny time or times ſince the firſt day of December, in the yeare of our Lord God, 1641. who had any grant or leaſe for one or more life or lives, or any number of yeares of the premiſſes or any part thereof as is aforeſaid and ſurrendred the ſame; To the end that he or they might have a new grant or leaſe granted or made unto him or them, which by this preſent Ordinance is made voide, and the ſame was accordingly granted or made unto him or them; That the ſaid perſon or perſons, bo­dy politique or Corporate, who hath ſo ſurrendred any ſuch former grant or leaſe, his and their heires, ſuc­ceſſors, Executors, Adminiſtrators and Aſſignes, ſhall have, hold, poſſeſſe and enjoy ſuch time and terme as he or they had in any part of the ſaid premiſes by vertue of any ſuch former grant or leaſe, in ſuch ſort and man­ner as he or they ſhould have had, held, and enjoyed the ſame, if no ſuch ſurrender had been made, ſubject never­theleſſe to ſuch payments of rent and other ſervices, and ſuch covenants, conditions and agreements as in the ſaid former Leaſes were expreſſed and contained, ſaving unto all and every perſon and perſons, their heires, exe­cutors and adminiſtrators, bodies politique and corpo­rate, and their ſucceſſors, other then the King, his heires, and ſucceſſors, all Archbiſhops, Biſhops, and other them the founders and donors as founders and donors of and to the ſaid Archbiſhopricks and Biſhopricks, and their heires, all ſuch right and title, intereſt, poſſeſſion, rights in Law, or equity, entries, annuities, com­modities, fees, and other profits which they or any of7 them before the ſaid firſt day of December, 1641. ought lawfully to have had in, or to the Premiſſes, or any part or parcell thereof, as if this Ordinance had never been had or made; alſo ſaving to all ſuch perſon or perſons as have adheared to the Parliament, all ſuch eſtate as he or they ſince the firſt day of May, An. Dom. 1641. have forfeited or made forfitable for non payment of Rent, or not perfor­ming of ſervices to any Biſhop or Biſhops, except it be in the caſe of a Leaſe made utterly void by this Ordinance, by reaſon the ſame hath been procured or purchaſed of any Biſhop ſince the aforeſaid firſt day of December, Anno Dom. 1641. and likewiſe ſaving to Philip Earle of Pem­brook and Montgomery, and his Heires, all ſuch right as he and they have to the Meſſuage called Duriſme Houſe, and certaine Stables, late of the poſſeſſion of Thomas Bi­ſhop of Duriſme, ſcituate in the Pariſh of S. Martins in the Fields, in the County of Middlefex, lately granted by Act of this preſent Parliament; this preſent Ordinance or any thing therein contained in any wiſe notwithſtanding. Pro­vided alſo, and it is hereby further Ordained by the autho­rity aforeſaid, that all and ſingular Revenues, Rents, Iſſues, Fees, Profits, ſummes of Money, and allowances whatſo­ever as have heretofore been, and now ought to be paid, diſpoſed, and allowed unto and for the maintenance of any Grammer Schoole, or Schollers, or for or toward the reparation of any Church, Chappell, High-way, Cauſeway, Bridges, Schoole-houſe, Almeſ-houſe, or any other cha­ritable or pious uſe, or for maintaining of any Lecture, or Preachers payable out of any the Premiſſes, or which are chargeable, or ought to iſſue out of, or to be paid for, or in reſpect of the ſaid Premiſſes, or any of them ſhall8 be and continue to be paid and allowed as they were, and have been heretofore, any thing in this preſent Ordinance to the contrary in any wiſe notwithſtanding. And it is fur­ther Ordained, that the Sheriffe of every County & place, who is to attend the reſpective Courts where any Felony is to betried and determined, ſhall provide and preſent to the Judge or Judges of ſuch Courts, ſome able and fit per­ſon to doe ſuch things as by the Office of the Ordinary have been uſed to be done; which perſon and perſons ſhall have Authority, and are hereby enjoyned to per­forme that ſervice in ſuch manner as the reſpective Ordi­naries heretofore have uſed to doe. Provided alſo, that all Commiſſions upon the Statute of charitable uſes ſhall be valid, though the Biſhop be therein omitted, and the other Commiſſioners ſhall proceed therein as fully as they might have heretofore done, when the Biſhop was therein named; and that all Iſſues triable by the Ordina­ry or Biſhop, ſhall be tried by Jury in uſuall courſe.

THe Lords and Commons Aſſembled in Parlia­ment intending to raiſe the ſumme of two hun­dred thouſand pounds, for the preſent ſervice of the State, for the encouragement of ſuch as ſhall advance any ſumme for and towards the ſame, and to the in­tent they may have notice thereof do declare, That every perſon who hath advanced any Monies, Plate, or Horſes, with their Furniture and Armes, upon the Publique Faith, may for every ſumme of money he ſhall further lend, for the advancement of the ſaid ſumme, be ſecured a like ſumme more out of the Receipt of the Grand Exciſe in courſe, and the ſale of the Biſhops Lands, (except Advowſans and Impropriations) which ſhall firſt happen, together with the intereſt after the rate of eight per centum, per annum, to be paid every ſixe moneths, out of the Receipts of the Exciſe, till Princi­pall and Intereſt be fully diſcharged. As for example, If there be owing to any perſon 100 l. Principall, which, with Intereſt due thereupon, for three yeeres paſt, will make 124. l. he adventuring 124. l. more, may be ſecu­red for the whole 248. l. as aforeſaid, and ſo proporti­onably for a greater or leſſer ſumme, and according to the10 Intereſt due thereupon; And for the more ſpeedy re-im­burſing of the ſaid money ſecured and lent for the pur­poſe aforeſaid, That the ſaid Lands of the Biſhops, (ex­cept before excepted) are Eſtated and made over to ſuch Feoffees for the ſpeedy ſale thereof, and ſuch Treaſurers for the Receipt of the Monies, as may give ſatisfaction to the Lenders. And the ſaid Lords and Commons do de­clare, That it ſhall and may be lawfull for any perſon or perſons, to aſſigne his Right and Intereſt in any ſumme or ſummes of money owing to him upon the Publique Faith, as aforeſaid, to any perſon or perſons that will ad­vance the like ſumme, in manner as is before expreſſed.