Volume II 1603-1660 - The Honourable Society of the Inner Temple

372 APPENDIX NO. XI.
State Papers, Domestic,1654, Commonwealth, vol. lxvi., No. 5".
AT THE COMITTEE OF THE COUNCELL TO WHOM THE PETICION OF THE
SOCIETYES OF BOTH THE TEMPLES WAS REFERRED.
The Comittee for the reasons set forth in the peticion and for
that there is nothing of Revenue belonging to either of the said
Societies, but the expence and support therof is defrayed by a colleccion
and contribucion amongst themselves.
That the other Innes of Court which lye in Middlesex are not
taxed or assessed uppon this last Act nor have any of the said Innes
of Court or Temples been taxed or charged with any payment imposed
by parliamentary or other authority in any time past either by
way of assessment subsidy or otherwise.
That a great advantage doth redound to the City by these
Societyes, not only in that all there provision are bought in the City,
but diverse gentlemen of those Societyes have Chambers abroad in
the City and Suburbs.
That these Societys were never subordinate to the City or their
Jurisdiction or Government nor have any vote or ever claymed right
to any vote in election of the Members of Parliament for the City and
so not lyable to beare any charge imposed on them by parliament.
That the City never pretended these Societyes to be within any
of their Wards nor are they now assessed as being within any of their
Wards, but as a place distinct by itself and over and besides all
London, and yet part of the Middle Temple is not within the bounds
of London but in Middlesex.
[Endorsed:]— Report of the Societies of the Temple.
State Papers, Domestic,1654, Commonwealth, vol. lxvi., No. 5"r.
Upon consideracion had of the humble peticion of the Societyes
of both the Temples complaining that some few men named in the
last Acte to be Comissioners of the present assessment for the Army
within the City of London, had imposed the some of One hundred
poundes a month upon the said Societyes Wee finding the said
imposicion to be without presedent or example of any former tymes
or practized by any other Comissioners in other places where other
Societyes of Innes of Court have their residence, and conceaving the
same to be unduly imposed do (as well for the reasons in the said
peticion alleaged as for divers other reasons us moving) declare that
the said Societies ought not to be taxed by the said Comissioners,
and do therefore order that the said imposicion shalbe discharged.