Augmentation Order Books

In these volumes were registered the orders issued by the Committee for Plundered Ministers, the Committee for the Reform of the Universities, and the Trustees for the Maintenance of Preaching Ministers, directing the receivers to pay, to continue paying, or to renew augmentations. The orders are the result of decisions made at the meetings recorded in the minute books. Volumes 1-6 are orders, or confirmations of orders, made before the Trustees were empowered to initiate augmentations as well as to pay them. Between 1650 and 1654 each successive committee had to authorise anew the augmentations of its predecessors. After 1654 the Trustees alone, with reference to the Protector and Council (COMM. VIII), directed the whole process. The arrangement of the volumes up to 1654 shows that they were to be used for reference, that of the later volumes that they were the registrations of orders as they were issued, while proper tabulated lists were made for checking (see COMM. VIb). Augmentations paid out of sequestrations and first fruits and tenths were registered in separate volumes (see vols 12-13).

<p>A further augmentation order book 1650-51 is amongst the Sion College manuscripts (Arc L40.2/E16)</p>