AN ORDINANCE For the Continuance and Maintenance of the ALMS-HOUSES ALMS-MEN CALLED POOR KNIGHTS AND OTHER Charitable and Pious Uses Whereof the late DEAN and CANONS of Windsor were Feoffees in Trust Thursday the Fifteenth of February 1654. ORdered by His Highness the Lord Protector and the Council That the Ordinance Entituled An Ordinance for the Continuance and Maintenance of the Alms-Houses and Alms-Men called Poor Knights and other Charitable and Pious Vses whereof the late Dean and Canons of Windsor were Feoffees in Trust being passed by His Highness the Lord Protector with the Consent of His Council on Saturday the Second of September 1654. be Printed and Published Hen Scobell Clerk of the Council London Printed by Henry Hills and John Field Printers to His Highness MDCLV AN ORDINANCE FOR THE Continuance and Maintenance of the Alms-Houses and Alms-Men called POOR KNIGHTS And other Charitable and Pious Uses Whereof the late Dean and Canons of Windsor were Feoffees in Trust HIs Highness the Lord Protector being zealous to continue and establish all Works and Foundations tending to the Advancement of Learning or any other Charitable and Pious Vse or Vses whatsoever and more particularly the Charitable and Pious Work and Foundation of the Alms-Houses and Alms-Men called Poor Knights and of certain necessary Officers to wit a Minister a Weekly Lecturer a Register a Chappel-clerk a Sexton a Clock-keeper and Bell-ringer a Porter belonging to Windsor Castle and also of Four Scholars whereof two in the Vniversity of Oxford and two in the Vniversity of Cambridge and of preaching in the said Castle and Town of Windsor and Relief of the poor there in relation whereunto the late Dean and Canons of Windsor were Feoffees in Trust of the Lands Tenements and Hereditamens hereafter expressed for the Vses aforesaid And His Highness taking notice That the Commons of England in Parliament assembled did by the late Act for Abolishing of Deans Deans and Chapters c. and setling their Honors Manors Lands and Here ditaments in the actual Seisin and Possession of Sir John Wollaston and other Trustees in the said Act named and their Heirs Provide That all and singular the Revenues Rents Issues Fees Profits Sums of Money and Allowances whatsoever which before the First of December One thousand six hundred forty one had been and then ought to have been paid disposed and alowed unto and for the Maintenance of any Grammar-School or Scholars or for or towards the Reparation of any Alms-house or for any other charitable Vse payable out of any of the said Premises should be and continue to be paid and alowed as they were before the said First day of December One thousand six hundred forty one Any thing in that Act to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding as in and by the said Act amongst other things more at large it doth and may appear Since which Act His Highness being informed and fully satisfied That the Lands and Tenements hereafter expressed so by the said Act vested in the said Trustees are yet still charged and chargeable with the said charitable and pious Vses with which the same were formerly chargeable And His Highness resolving to continue settle and establish for ever the said charitable and pious Work and Foundation and likewise Governors for the better ordering managing and disposing of the said Revenues to those charitable and pious Ends and Purposes Hath by and with the consent of His Council Ordained and it is Ordained by the Authority aforesaid That the Lord Commissioner Whitlock Lord President of the Council for the time being Lord Wharton Colonel Sydenham Colonel Mountague Colonel Mackworth Colonel Jones Francis Rous Esq Provost of Eaton Colledge Major General Skippon Colonel George Fleetwood Cornelius Holland Symon Mayn Esqs sir William Roberts Knight Christopher Whitchcot Esquire sir John Thorowgood of Kensington Edward Cresset William Trumbel Thomas Wood Esqs Doctor Thomas Cox Nicholas Lockier Nathaniel Ingelo Fellows of Eaton Colledge The Major of Windsor for the time being Matthew Day William Mills Thomas Chapman Alderman of the said Town of Windsor Richard Winch Alexander Hays Gentlemen or any Five or more of them and such others whose usual places of habitation shall be at New-Windsor or Eaton or within Thirty Miles of the same which shall from time to time for ever hereafter be nominated and chosen in and to the places and steads of such of them as shall decease or for just cause be removed by the most part of them which then shall be Governors to be and succeed in the place and places of him or them deceasing or so being removed shall and may be Governor of the said Alms-Houses and of the Members Goods Lands Tenements Revenues and Hereditaments of the same at all times for ever hereafter And the said Governors and Alms-Houses shall for ever hereafter stand and be incorporated established and founded in Name and in Deed of a Body Politique and Corporate to have Continuance for ever by the Name of The Governors of the Alms-Houses of WINDSOR Castle and that the said Governors may have a perpetual Succession for ever And that they and their Successors may for ever hereafter have hold and enjoy and to all intents and purposes and shall from heneceforth and for ever stand and be actually seized and possessed of the Structures Messuages Lands Rents Revenues Profits Tenements and Hereditaments hereafter mentioned The said Act for abolishing of Deans Deans and Chapters c. or any other Law or Statute to the contrary notwithstanding That is to say The Structures or Alms-Houses called The Poor Knights Lodgings in Windsor Castle with all Rooms Out-yards Gardens or any other the Appurtenances thereunto belonging in as large and ample maner to all intents and purposes whatsoever as the said late Dean and Canons or any person or persons claiming by from or under them did or might enjoy the same and also of and in the several Rectories and Parsonages with all and singular their and every of their Rights Members and Appurtenances Lands Tenements and Hereditaments whatsoever hereafter expressed that is to say All those the Parsonages or Rectories impropriate of St. Jermans Upwimborn All Saints Wimborn Franckfaln Shaw Plimpton S. Maries Plimstock Sampford Spyny Plympton Mary Brigston Broadwinch Ottrey S. Mary Northam Ipplepen South-Mowlton and Ilsington lying and being in the several Counties of Cornwal Dorset and Devon some or one of them and all that the Rectory or Parsonage impropriate of Aberguilly in the County oâ— Carmarthen all that Rectory or Parsonage impropriate of Mara alias Llangarth in the County of Brecon and all that the Rectory of Icorn in the County of Glocester and all that the Rectory of East-Beachworth in the County of Surrey and all that the Rectory or Parsonage impropriate of Istleworth cum Twickenham in the County of Middlesex and all that the Rectory of Ikleton in the County of Cambridge and all that the Rectory of Shiplake in the County of Oxon and all those
the several Prebends of Alcamings and Urshfont together with the Parsonage of Urshfont in the County of Wilts and certain Tythes belonging to the Prebend of Bedwyn in the same County and also all those the several Rectories or Parsonages impropriate of Ambroshbury Titcomb Froxfield and Staleford in the said County of Wilts or by what other Name or Names soever the said Rectories or Parsonages and Premises respectively are called or known together with all and every the Gleab-Lands Tythes Portions of Tythes Fruits Profits Emoluments and Appurtenances whatsoever to the said several Rectories Parsonages and Premises respectively belonging or in any wise appertaining or accepted reputed or taken as part parcel or member of them or any of them late parcel of the possessions of the late Dean and Canons of the late Kings Free-Chappel of S. George in New-Windsor as Feoffees in Trust for the Vses aforesaid Except all such respective parts and parcels of any the said Rectories Parsonages Lands Tenements and Hereditaments as have been heretofore sold by the Contractors for Sale of Deans and Chapters Lands and for which any the Purchasers have paid in the respective first Moyeties of their Purchase-Moneys To be held for ever hereafter by the said Governors and their Successors of His Highness the Lord Protector and His Successors in free and perpetual Alms absolutely acquitted and for ever hereafter discharged of from all Assessments and Taxes whatsoever ordinary and extraordinary heretofore granted by Parliament or otherwise or by or upon any other pretence demanded or claimed And that the said Governors their Successors by the same name shall and may have power and are hereby authorized to Demise and Grant any of the before-mentioned Rectories Lands or Premises the said Alms-Houses and places of habitation heretofore designed and used for the said Poor Knights or any of the Officers or Servants to the said Alms-Houses belonging within the Castle of New-Windsor aforesaid excepted to any person or persons whatsoever not being a Governor or Governors thereof for or under or not above or exceeding the Term of the Twenty and one years in Possession and not in Reversion whereupon shall be Yearly reserved at least Three fourth parts of the true Yearly value of the same to be rated by a just Survey to be taken thereof within Ten years before every such Demise and Grant and to take require and purchase and to sue and be sued and to do perform and execute all and every other lawful act and acts thing and things good necessary or profitable for the said Incorporation and the Charitable and Pious Vses aforesaid in as full and ample maner and form to all intents constructions and purposes as any other Incorporation or Body Politique or Corporate fully and perfectly founded and incorporated may do And that the same Governors and their Successors for the time being or any Five or more of them may make have and use one Common Seal such as they shall think fit for the doing and confirming all and every thing and things touching or in any wise concerning the said Incorporation or the Charitable or Pious Vses aforesaid other then such acts and things as are hereafter appointed to be done and performed by a greater number of the Governors And be it Ordained by the Authority aforesaid That all and every Tenant and Tenants of the said Rectories Parsonages Messuages Lands Tenements and Hereditaments herein before-mentioned or any of them and every person and persons claiming by from or under them or any of them shall henceforth pay the several Yearly Rents Sums of Money and other Annual Revenues and Profits arising out of the Premises respectively unto the said Governors and their Successors or unto such person or persons as they shall appoint in the House called The Governors House or Lodgings in Windsor Castle belonging to the Poor Knights or such other place as shall be appointed by the said Governors or any Nine or more of them at such days and times as the same shall respectively become due and payable and in default thereof to suffer all such Forfeitures for Non-payment as either heretofore they were or hereafter they shall be subject to by any Covenants Proviso's or Agreements made between them the said Tenants and the said late Dean and Canons or the said Governors and their Successors And be it further Ordained by the Authority aforesaid That the Governors and their Successors shall have receive and take all such of the said Yearly Rents and Sums of Money and other Annual Revenues and Profits as became due and payable at any time since the last Payments thereof made either to the said late Dean and Canons or to the Parliament or any authorized by them to receive the same testified by their lawful Acquittances respectively And shall and may call to accompt all and every the Tenant and Tenants of the said Lands and Premises concerning any such Arrerages as aforesaid And if any the said Tenants refuse to pay such Arrerages unto the said Governors and their Successors or unto such person or persons as they shall appoint Then the said Governors and their Successors shall and may at their Election either take the aforesaid Forfeitures or bring an Action of Debt against every such Tenant or Tenants person and persons his and their Heirs Executors and Administrators in any of the Courts at Westminster or elswhere and recover the same with Costs and Damages In which said last mentioned Action or Actions of Debt no Defendant or Defendants shall be admitted to plead any Statute or Statutes of limitations of Actions Any Law Statute or Statutes to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding And be it Ordained by the Authority aforesaid That the said Governors and their Successors shall for ever hereafter out of the Lands Tenements Rents and Revenues hereby established maintain the said Alms-houses and the Members of every of them and shall order rule and govern the same according to such Statutes as are to be found amongst the Statutes of the late Dean and Canons of Windsor touching or concerning the said Alms-Houses and other the said Charitable and Pious Vses or by such other Statutes Rules and Orders as shall at any time be conceived and made by the said Governors or any Five or more of them under their common seal for the better rule government of the same not being superstitious nor derogatory to the Government now established nor repugnant to any the standing Laws of this Nation And the said Governors and their Successors or any Nine or more of them are authorized and hereby enabled from time to time to place such person or persons as have faithfully served the Commonwealth as Commission'd Officers in the Army and are now out of Commission and uncapable of doing Service either by reason of Age or for want of some Limb lost in their Service provided that since their said service done for the Commonwealth they have not acted any thing prejudicial
to the Commonwealth nor are dissatisfied with the present Government in the said Alms-Houses in any place which now is or hereafter shall be void as they shall think most deserving Provided always That the Recommendation Approbation or Consent of His Highness the now Lord Protector during his natural Life and his Successors for the placing of such person or persons respectively be first had and obtained And be it Ordained by the Authority aforesaid That the said Governors and their Successors or any Nine or more of them shall have Power to remove any that now are or hereafter shall be Preachers in the Town and Castle of New-Windsor for Scandal or other just cause and within Three moneths next after any of them so removed or after the decease of any of them to elect in the place of him or them so removed or deceased such able learned and godly Preachers as they shall think most deserving And shall from time to time choose such fit person or persons into the place or places of Register Chappel-Clerk Sexton Clock-keeper and Bell-ringer and Porter as they shall finde able and honest when they come to make an Establishment under their Common Seal And the said Governors and their Successors or any Nine or more of them are hereby further authorized and enabled to make choice of Four Scholars from time to time as they shall think fit to be sent to the Vniversities aforesaid And are hereby further authorized to make such Alowance to the said Preachers the said Four Scholars the said necessary Officers and the said Alms-men and so far to relieve and imploy the poor at work and repair the Church or Chappel in Windsor Castle and the said Alms-Houses as the Rents Revenues and Profits any way arising from the Premises can any ways bear or be charged with And whereas His Highness is likewise informed That Sir Peter Lemeir and Sir Francis Crane Knights deceased intended a further Addition of Five poor Knights or Alms-men to those formerly in Windsor Castle did by their several last Wills and Testaments devise and give a certain Proportion of Land and Money for the Erecting of Five Houses and competent maintenance for such additional Alms-men or Poor Knights so to be established as aforesaid Be it therefore Ordained by the Authority aforesaid That the said Five Alms-men or Poor Knights so to be added shall be of the Foundation and under the Government and Rule aforesaid And the said Governors or any Five or more of them are hereby authorized to call before them the Executors or Administrators and all and every person and persons any way concerned in the execution of the Wills of Sir Peter Lemeir and Sir Francis Crane touching the Premises and to require the same to be done and settled accordingly And to make such Laws Orders and Decrees for the Settlement thereof not derogatory to the Government hereby established as are agreeable to the Wills and Intentions of the said Sir Peter Lemeir and Sir Francis Crane and most convenient and necessary for the Establishment and Maintenance of the said Additional Alms-Men or Poor Knights and the same to certifie and return under the Hands and Seals of the said Governors or any Five or more of them into the Court of Chancery And it is hereby Ordained That the Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal of England for the time being shall require and inforce the due execution and performance of the said Orders and Decrees as in other Cases of Charitable Vses is usually done and performed And forasmuch as His Highness is informed and fully satisfied That the Rectories Parsonages Lands Tenements and Hereditaments and Premises before specified after the expiration and determination of the several Estates and Terms of Years now in being may be improved over and above the present Rents and Sums of Money reserved due or payable upon any Demise Lease or Grant now in being of the Premises which do in the whole amount unto the Sum of Eleven hundred eighty six pounds thirteen shillings and five pence by the year And for that also it is the true intent and meaning of His Highness that the said Charitable and Pious Vses shall be fully satisfied and performed from henceforth and for ever out of the Rents Issues Revenues and Profits of the Premises His Highness hath by and with the Consent of His Council Ordained and it is Ordained by the Authority aforesaid That all and singular the Rents Sum and Sums of Money Issues Revenues and Profits of all and every the Rectories Parsonages Lands Tenements Hereditaments and Premises before-mentioned over and above the Sum of Eleven hundred eighty six pounds thirteen shillings and five pence wherewith the same Premises stand charged to the charitable and pious Ends and Purposes aforesaid shall be and remain from henceforth and for ever at the onely Disposition and Appointment of His Highness and His Successors to such Vses Intents and Purposes as His Highness with the Assent of His Council shall from time to time limit and appoint Any thing in this present Ordinance contained to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding Passed 2 September 1654. Thursday the Fifteenth of February 1654. ORdered by His Highness the Lord Protector and the Council That the Ordinance Entituled An Ordinance for the Continuance and Maintenance of the Alms-Houses and Alms-Men called Poor Knights and other Charitable and Pious Vses whereof the late Dean and Canons of Windsor were Feoffees in Trust being passed by His Highness the Lord Protector with the Consent of His Council on Saturday the Second of September 1654. be Printed and Published Hen Scobell Clerk of the Council London Printed by Henry Hills and John Field Printers to His Highness MDCLV