An ordinance of explanation of a former ordinance, entitled, An ordinance for better amending and keeping in repair the common high-waies within this nation.

[illustration] depiction of the state arms of the Commonwealth (1649-60) consisting of the cross of St. George (patron saint of England) and the Irish harp

AN ORDINANCE OF EXPLANATION Of a former Ordinance, Entituled, An Ordinance for better Amending and Keep∣ping in Repair the Common High-Waies within this Nation.

WHereas by an Ordinance, Entituled, An Ordinance for better amending and keeping in repair the Common High-waies within this Nation, amongst o∣ther things, It is Ordained, That if any Wagons, Carts or Carriages wherein any bur∣dens of dead commodities or wares shall at any

time from and after the first daie of May then next, be drawn upon any such High-waies, Roads, or Streets, with above five Horses or Mares, or six Oxen and one Horse or Mare, in any one Cart or Wagon, That then it shall be lawfull to or for any Constable or Surveyor of High-waies, or other Inhabitant in any Pa∣rish where such Loaden Wagon, Cart or Car∣riage shall pass and be drawn as aforesaid, to distrain and seize all such supernumerary Hor∣ses, Mares or Oxen as he shall find in any such Wagon, Cart or Carriage over and above the number of five Horses or Mares, or six Oxen and one Horse or Mare respectively, and the same supernumerary Horses, Oxen and Mares respectively, to detein and keep until such Own∣er or Driver have paid and answered into the hands of the Surveyors of High-waies within the Parish where such Distress and seisure shall be made, or one of them, the summe of twenty shillings for every such supernumerary Horse, Mare or Ox; Be it now Ordained by His Highness the Lord Protector of the Common∣wealth of England, Scotland and Ireland, &c. by and with the consent of His Council, That the said Ordinance or any Clause therein con∣teined, shall not extend to any Carts or Carri∣ages at any time used in the conveying, draught or carriage of any Ordnance, Timber or Artil∣lery, of any sort or kind whatsoever, for the use of the Army or Navy, But that such Carts, Draughts or Carriages may be drawn with any number of Horses or Oxen necessary for the Drawing thereof, without incurring any of the Penalties in the said Ordinance mentioned, or without any stop, molestation or disturbance

of any Constable, Officer or other person what∣soever, any thing in the said Ordinance to the contrary notwithstanding.

Provided that such persons that atten•• the said Draughts, Carts or Carriages for the use of the said Army or Navy, have some Order or Pass under the hands of His Highness the Lord Protector, or the Lord President of His Council, or of the Commissioners of the Ad∣miralty and Navy, or Generals of the Fleet, or other Field Offices of the Army, Commis∣sioners of the Navy, or some Governour of a Garrison, or under the hands of some of them, signifying that such Carriages and Draughts are for the use of the said Army or Navy as is aforesaid.