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
Hospitalls
of
Saint
Bartholomew
,
Bridewell
,
Saint
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
Major
,
and
Comminalty
,
and
Citizens
of
London
,
Governour
of
the
Possessions
,
Revenues
and
Goods
of
the
Hospitalls
of
Saint
Bartholomew
,
Bridewell
,
Saint
Thomas
,
and
Bethlem
;
That
the
Rents
and
Revenues
belonging
to
the
said
Hospitalls
respectively
,
are
not
sufficient
to
keep
and
maintain
the
poor
People
,
properly
appointed
to
be
kept
in
the
said
Hospitalls
,
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
neer
London
,
alledge
that
they
are
so
far
impoverished
,
that
they
are
not
able
to
pay
their
Rents
in
these
dead
and
troublesome
Times
,
neither
do
pay
any
Rent
at
all
to
the
said
Hospitalls
;
And
that
the
Rents
of
divers
Houses
belonging
to
the
said
Hospitalls
being
out
of
Lease
,
and
standing
empty
,
are
wholly
lost
;
And
that
many
Tenants
of
the
Lands
belonging
to
the
said
Hospitalls
,
withhold
and
deduct
severall
sums
of
Money
out
of
their
Rents
,
for
severall
Taxes
and
Rates
upon
divers
Ordinances
of
Parliament
;
Whereby
the
said
Hospitalls
are
become
much
indebted
,
and
want
Moneys
to
buy
necessary
provision
for
the
Poor
therein
:
And
that
neverthelesse
,
great
numbers
of
sick
,
wounded
,
and
other
Souldiers
have
for
the
time
of
above
Twenty
moneths
past
,
been
constantly
kept
in
the
said
Hospitalls
,
at
very
great
and
extraordinary
Charges
,
especially
for
their
Cure
and
Dyet
:
The
said
Lords
and
Commons
taking
the
Premisses
into
their
consideration
,
think
fit
,
and
Ordain
,
and
be
it
Ordained
,
That
all
the
Rents
and
Revenues
belonging
to
the
said
Hospitalls
respectively
(
being
to
be
received
and
disbursed
for
the
immediate
use
,
and
relief
of
the
Poor
in
the
same
Hospitalls
)
shall
be
freed
and
discharged
of
and
from
all
Assessments
,
Taxes
and
Charges
whatsoever
,
aswell
already
made
or
charged
,
and
not
paid
,
as
hereafter
to
be
made
or
charged
by
vertue
of
any
Ordinance
of
Parliament
.
And
it
is
hereby
further
Ordained
,
That
it
shall
not
be
lawfull
for
any
of
the
said
Tenants
to
withhold
and
deduct
out
of
their
Rents
any
sum
of
Money
,
which
is
or
shall
be
rated
by
vertue
of
any
Ordinance
of
Parliament
,
upon
his
and
their
Houses
and
Lands
,
belonging
to
the
said
Hospitalls
respectively
,
which
in
respect
of
the
Rents
of
every
such
House
and
Lands
,
the
Landlords
ought
to
pay
;
And
every
such
Tenant
is
hereby
required
to
make
payment
of
his
full
Rent
,
that
is
or
shall
hereafter
be
due
unto
the
said
severall
Hospitalls
,
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
Hospitalls
respectively
,
do
claim
and
enjoy
no
freedom
,
exemption
or
advantage
by
this
Ordinance
.
-
Joh
:
Brown
,
Cleric
.
Parliamentorum
.
-
H
:
Elsynge
,
Cler
.
Parl
.
D.
Com
.