8. Septembr . 1645. An Ordinance of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament , For taking away the Fifth part of Delinquents Estates , formerly granted by an Ordinance of Parliament for maintaining of the Wives and Children of Delinquents .

WHereas by a late Ordinance of Sequestration it is amongst other things Declared and Ordained , That the Committees of the severall counties shall have power to assign maintenance out of the Lands of Delinquents , to their severall Wives and Children , so as the same exceed not the Fifth part of the Lands or Goods so Sequestred : And whereas by occasion hereof , divers Wives and Children of Delinquents may resort hither , onely to obtain the said Fifth part , and may be ready to do ill offices to the Parliament ; The Lords and Commons , to prevent the said mischief , and other of like nature , Do Ordain , That no Wife , Childe or Children of any Delinquent , who shall come from their own habitation into the Parliament Quarters , with or without their Fathers or Husbands , from the Kings Quarters , shall have , hold and injoy any Fifth part by the said Ordinance : And therefore they do Ordain , That all such Allowances hereafter to be made to such Wife or Children , shall be utterly void . And if any such Wife , Childe or Children shall return from the Kings Quarters , without leave of both Houses : The Deputy-Lieutenants and Committees of Parliament in the severall counties , or any two of them , or any of them , are hereby authorised and required to take care , that they be commanded to return back into the Kings Quarters ; And if they shall not return , upon command given to them by the Deputy-Lieutenants or Committee , or any two of them , they shall hereby have power to commit them , untill they shall give security for to return . And be it further Ordained , That no Children of any Delinquents shall have any Fifth part , but such as shall be educated and brought up in the Protestant Religion .

H : Elsynge , Cler. Parl. D. Com.