| Description | Copy of Ordinance of Parliament dated 1st Oct., 1646, made after the reduction of the City by the Parliamentary forces. The City had been, since the beginning of the wars, under the power of the enemy, and many of the Assembly had taken up arms against, or been violent opposers of the Parliament. It was therefore ordered that Charles Walley, Mayor, Nicholas Ince, Randle Holme the younger, Thomas Cooper, Thomas Throppe, Sir Thomas Smith, Francis Gamull and Robert Brerewood, Recorder, Richard Dutton and Robert Sproston, Aldermen and Justices of the Peace; James Earl of Derby, John Earl Rivers, Richard Broster and Thomas Savage, Aldermen, Humphrey Phillippes, Edward Hulton, Thomas Weston, Richard Wright, Humphrey Lloyd, Richard Taylor and Arthur Walley, Sheriff-peers and Common Councilmen, should be removed from their respective offices and from all Assemblies.
(ZA/B/2/76v). Other Aldermen, Sheriff-peers or Councilmen, whom the Committee of Sequestrations should find guilty of taking up arms against the Parliament or of voluntarily adhering to the enemy, should be suspended from all public office, and, if unable to clear themselves of these offences within six months, should be removed from office. It was ordained that William Edwardes, Alderman, should be Mayor for this year. He should call an Assembly, take the usual oaths, and, with the advice of the Assembly, elect two Sheriffs. The Mayor and Assembly should elect Aldermen and Councilmen to make (ZA/B/2/77) up the number of 24 Aldermen and 40 Common Councilmen, and also elect other officials according to the customs or charter of the City. No person might be elected who was guilty of any of the offences here described. Citizens who had been expelled or who had had to leave the City owing to their good affection to Parliament were restored to their former places and privileges. The Irish and others who were made free of the City while it was in hostility to Parliament, and had no right thereto by birth or service, were disfranchised. The Dee Mills (ZA/B/2/77v) and the stone causey erected for the use of the Mills (held by Francis Gamull, Alderman, a delinquent), which constituted a great annoyance and obstruction to the trade of the City, should be demolished witin four months at the expense of the City. In the meantime, the Mayor should receive the profits towards his expenses of office. Within a year new watercourses should be made for other mills to be erected upon the Rood Dee or on some other land belonging to the City. The City should continue to pay the same fee-farm rent into the Exchequer. All tithes and rents payable out of the Dee mills and the over-plus of the profits were to be employed for the use of the City. (ZA/B/2/78). It was further ordained that, out of the revenue of the Dean and Chapter of Chester, £120 a year should be paid to "a godly able preaching Minister" at Oswalds alias Warburge Church, and £150 a year to a like minister at Peeters Church, £100 a year to a like minister at Trinity Church, £100 a year to a like minister at John's Church, and £36 a year to the Head Schoolmaster and £9 a year to the usher of the Freeschool in the City. (ZA/B/2/78v). On the death or removal of any schoolmaster, usher or scholars of the school, their successors should be chosen by the Mayor, Aldermen, Sheriffs and Ministers of the City. It was provided that if Francis Gamull should be admitted by both Houses of Parliament to compound for his delinquency, he should receive satisfaction for the Mills out of his fine. |