WHEREAS the Lords Spirituall and Temporall, now aſſembled in Parliament vpon the ſixt day of this inſtant moneth of Auguſt, entring into a due and Chriſtian conſideration of the Wants and Extremities, which many poore people inhabiting in or neere the Cities and Suburbs of London, and Westminſter doe vndergoe by reaſon of the grieuous viſitation of the Plague, and the want of neceſſarie reliefe; made an order, the tenor whereof followeth in theſe words, viz. In Parliament, Oxon. 6. of Auguſt, Anno primo Regis Caroli. The Lords hauing this day taken into their charitable conſideration the lamentable diſtreſſe of the poore people, Inhabiting in the Cities and Suburbs of London, and Weſtminſter, and in the Out pariſhes adjoyning, and in the Pariſh of Stepney, who in this time of the great contagion of the Plague now rageing in thoſe parts, are leſſe ſubject to good orders, being left deſtiture of conuenient reliefe, in reſpect that the rich and able Citizens, and other Inhabitants of all ſorts, being departed thence for auoiding the infection, haue not taken ſufficient order, for reliefe of the poore people remaining behinde, haue thought fit, and doe now order, aduiſe, and direct, that ouer and beſides all prouiſion already made, there be this further added for their better reliefe, viz. That all perſons taxed or taxable in the limits and places aforeſaid, either for houſes, lands, goods, or otherwiſe towards the reliefe of the poore, • eing not to impoueriſhed themſelues by this viſitation as they ſhall be forborne to be taxed, ſhall by the proper Officers be taxed to beare a double proportion of taxe 〈◊〉 the leaſt, during the times of this Viſitation, and more if it ſhall be found requiſite by the Magiſtrates, Iuſtices of Peace, or other Officers there abiding for the time: • nd after notice giuen to any perſon ſo taxed, or left at his houſe, whereſoeuer he ſhall be remaining, he is hereby ordered to make due paiment, weekely, or monethly • s ſhall be required: And becauſe it is conceiued, thay very many are remooved ſo farre from London, as that notice cannot be conueniently giuen with ſuch ſpeed as 〈◊〉 preſently ſupply the neceſſitie of the poore; Their Lordſhips doe deſire the Chamber, or Bridge-houſe of London, to lend and disburſe a thouſand pounds at the 〈◊〉 for this purpoſe. And it is ordered that they, or any charitable and able Inhabitants, laying out that ſumme, or any farther ſummes which ſhall be wanting, ſhall • e … ly repayed whatſoeuer they ſhall disburſe, out of the ſumme ſo taxed, ſo ſoone as they may be leuied, and out of a generall Collection which His Majeſtie at 〈◊〉 Lordſhips humble ſuite, hath to recommend throughout the whole Kindome for the reliefe of the ſaid Poore: Wherein their Lordſhips now aſſembled, will •••• ſelues ſet an example for incouragement of others. And to the intent, that the Moneys to be raiſed by way of taxation (as is firſt aboue-mentioned) may be the 〈◊〉 truely and ſpeedily leuied, their Lordſhips during the time while they ſhall ſit, will be pleaſed to take knowledge of all Complaints againſt ſuch as ſhall refuſe to 〈◊〉 the ſaid Taxation, and puniſh them ſo exemplarily, as ſhall be a terrour to others. And they doe further order, that after the ſitting ſhall end, the Lords of His ••• eſties Priuie Councell vpon complaint to them, and the Lord Keeper of the Great Seale of England vpon complaint to him, ſhall doe the like. And their Lordſhips ••• ing been informed of the good and charitable courſe helde by ſome Companies and others within the City, in forbearing the Companies and Hall-dinners, and tur ••• g them vnto the reliefe of the poore, doe highly commend thoſe that haue ſo done; and doe with their example may be followed by the Lord Major, Sheriffes, and 〈◊〉 •• e reſt 〈◊〉 a thing much pleaſing to God, and agreeable to the time. Exam. H. Elſing: Cler. Pa • liament. AND WHEREAS the ſaid Lords haue freely of them ••••• s payed downe preſently euery of them aboue the ſtate of a Baron, ſorty ſhillings apiece, and euery other of the ſtate of a Baron, being Spirituall or Temporall Lords, twentie ſhillings into the hands of the right Reuerend Father in God, George Lord Biſhop of London, to be diſpoſed of as the reſt of the Moneys to be collected • or the vſe aboue-mentioned:

KNOWYE therefore that We alſo aboue all other, moſt grieued at the pitifull and wofull eſtate of our ſaid poore Subiects, and much commiſerating the ſame, 〈◊〉 much reioycing in the forwardneſſe of our ſaid Lords, towards the performance of ſo Chriſtian and charitable an action, whoſe good example wee earneſtly deſire 〈◊〉 all other our louing Subjects of qualitie would follow in this behalfe, according to their degrees; Of our Princely Grace, doe ratifie and much approoue their 〈◊〉 Order ſo ſet downe: And in confirmation, and for the execution thereof, ſo grant, that according to the ſaid Order, Collection may be made of the charitable de … on and liberalitie of all our louing Subjects, throughout our Realme of England, & Dominion of Wales, in all places whatſoeuer, towards the reliefe of our ſaid poore •••• ects, to be executed in maner and forme following. That is to ſay, We will, grant, appoint, and require, That. Arthur Ducke Doctour of Law, Chancellour, and 〈◊〉 Chriſtian Eſquire, Principall Regiſter to the ſaid Biſhop of London, or his, or their Deputy or Deputies, named and appointed by him or them, in writing vnder or their hands and ſeales, ſhall and may procure to be printed ſo many Briefes of theſe our Letters Patents, as may ſuffiſe for the accompliſhing and performance 〈◊◊〉 good Worke: And ſhall cary and ſhew theſe our Letters Patents to the ſaid Lord Biſhop of London, and ſhall alſo leaue with his Lordſhip ſo many of theſe … ed Briefes, as there are Churches or Chappels wherein diuine Seruice is vſually ſaid, within his Dioceſſe of London, And ſhall ſend to euery other Archbiſhop 〈◊〉 Biſhop, ſo many of the ſaid Briefes, as may ſerue to be diſperſed within their ſeuerall Dioceſſes

AND We alſo require the Lords Archbiſhops of Canterbury and Yorke, and all and euery Lord Biſhop within this our Realme of England, and Dominion of Wales, 〈◊〉 receiue ſo many of the ſaid Briefes, as may ſerue to be diſperſed within their ſeuerall Dioceſſes, the ſaid Briefes to be ſent by the Archbiſhops and Biſhops to the Mi ••• ter and Curate of euery Pariſh Church or •• appell within their ſeuerall Dioceſſes. And Wee alſo will and require euery Miniſter and Curate of any Church or Chappell, to whom ſuch printed Briefes ſhall be deliuered, that without any long delay vpon ſome Sunday or Holy-day, when the Pariſhioners be fully aſſembled to 〈◊〉 diuine Seruice, they publikely declare in their ſeuerall Church or Chappell, vnto the Congregation there aſſembled, the tenure of theſe Briefes, with an eſpeciall •••• tation to them, to yeeld their liberall and extraordinarie contribution to ſo charitable a worke. And wee alſo will and require, you the Churchwardens and ouer … of the poore, to make diligent collection of the charitable deuotion of the people in the ſai Church or Chappell ſo aſſembled: And that after collection ſo made, 〈◊〉 doe publikely declare in the Church, the whole ſumme of money ſo by them collected; and then procure the ſame ſumme to be ſet downe vpon the backeſide of 〈◊〉 Briefe vnder their owne hand, and the hand of the Miniſter of the ſaid Church or Chappell: And then the ſaid Churchwardens or Ouerſeers, or one of them, af ••• the receipt of the ſaid money collected, ſhall deliuer the ſumme collected, with the ſaid Briefe, vnto ſuch Miniſter of the Deanery where the ſaid collection ſhall be • ade, as the Lord Biſhop of the Dioceſſe ſhall aſſigne and appoint to receiue the ſame: And the Biſhop of euery Dioceſſe is hereby authorized, to name and appoint a • iniſter in euery Deanery to receiue the ſaid collections accordingly. And Wee alſo require the ſaid Miniſter which ſhall be ſo appointed, to receiue the ſaid money •• om the ſaid Ouerſeers, that he receiue the ſame, with the aforeſaid Briefe: And that within ten dayes after the receipt thereof, he pay and deliuer the ſame, with the ••• efe whereby the ſame hath beene collected, vnto the Lord Biſhop to the Dioceſſe, where ſuch collection is made. And wee alſo require, the Archbiſhops and Bi •• ops of euery Dioceſſe reſpectiuely, that they require of the ſaid Miniſter the ſaid money, with the Briefe whereby the ſame hath beene collected, and deliuer ouer 〈◊〉 the ſaid collections, made within their ſeuerall and reſpectiue Dioceſſes, with the aforeſaid Briefes, to the ſaid Biſhop of London or his Deputies, all the ſaid money 〈◊〉 be diſpoſed of, by the ſaid Lord Biſhop of London, with the aduice of any two or more Lords of Parliament, to the ſatisfaction of the money to be depoſited, and … de out, according to the ſaid order, and to the reliefe of the poore and diſtreſſed people in the ſaid Cities of London and Weſtminſter, and in the Pariſhes and places •• jacent and neere thereunto, in the Counties of Middleſex and Surrey, where it is and ſhall be moſt needfull: And therein Wee will the Out-pariſhes, as being moſt • biect to pouertie, infection, and neceſſitie, be ſpecially regarded: Any Statute, Law, Ordinance or Prouiſion, heretofore made to the contrary, in any wiſe not •• thſtanding.

IN WITNES whereof, Wee haue cauſed theſe Our Letters to be made Patents for the ſpace of one whole yeere, next after the date hereof to endure,