THE COMMISSION FOR DISCOVERIES: As it passed under THE GREAT SEAL OF ENGLAND.   seal or coat of arms showing the cross of St George on one side and a harp on the other 
LONDON, Printed by Tho. Newcomb dwelling in Thames-street, over against Baynard's Castle, 1656.   

OLIVER, Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and the Dominions thereto belonging, To Our Trusty and Well-beloved Ralph Hall, Peter Elliston of Gray's Inn, in our County of Middlesex, John Griffith, Edward Carey, John Wilsby, William Bridges, and Nathanael Stirrup, Esquires; Greeting.  
Whereas, We have been informed, That several Manors, Lands, Tenements, Rents, Arrears of Rents, Debts, Duties, Goods, Chattels, Moneys, Plate, and Jewels, and other things to a very great value, belonging unto Us, in Right of the Common wealth, are by Fraud, Collusion, or otherwise, unjustly concealed or detained, to the prejudice of the State, and great Diminution of the Public Revenue;  
Whereupon several persons well-affected to the Commonwealth, and to Our Sevice, are able, ready, and willing, to discover divers and sundry Manors, Lands, Tenements, Rents, Arrears of Rents, Debts, Duties, Goods, and Chattels, Moneys, Plate, and Jewels, and other things so belonging unto Us (not pardoned) and unjustly concealed, or detained as aforesaid; if some more speedy and less chargeable way, and course, then by Bills or Informations in Our Court of Exchequer, were found out and directed, for proving and making good such the r Discoveries, and they assured to receive some competent Reward and Recompense, for their service, pains, and charges therein.  
And We being willing, that such Persons may receive all due, and fitting encouragement in a work and service, so advantageous to the Commonwealth, and that they or others, whom it may concern (except only such persons as shall prove very obstinate and refractory) may not be troubled with long and chargeable Suits, upon Bills or Informations to be exhibited in Our said Court of Exchequer, for discovering such Manors, Lands, Tenements, Rents and other the premises belonging unto us (not pardoned) unjustly concealed or detained as aforesaid: But that the same may more speedily be seized into Our Hands, and duly charged in the great Roll of of the Pipe, in Our said Exchequer; Know ye therefore, That We for the better effecting of this Our Service, have nominated, constituted and appointed, and by these presents do nominate, constitute, and appoint you the said Ralph Hall, Peter Elliston, John Griffith, Edward Carey, John Wilsby, William Bridges, and Nath. Stirrup, to be our Commissioners.  
And We do by these presents, empower, authorize, and appoint you, or any four or more of you, to receive for, and on Our behalf, all such Informations as shall by any person or persons, be exhibited before you, touching or any way concerning any Manors, Lands, Tenements, Rents, Arrears of Rents, Debts, Duties, Moneys, Plate, Jewels, Goods, Chattels, or other things so belonging unto Us (and not pardoned) which are unjustly concealed or detained as aforesaid; and by all such good and lawful ways and means as to you, or any four or more of you shall seem meet; to send for any Persons, Parties, Witnesses, Records, Accounts, Books and Writings whatsoever.  
Provided always, and Our Will and Pleasure is, That before any person or persons shall be molested or summoned upon any such Information or Informations, the person or persons so informing, shall give such good Security with Sureties, as by you, Our said Commissioners, or any four or more of you, shall be allowed and approved of, to prove and make good such, his or their Information or Informations, or else to pay such reasonable Costs and Damages unto the party or parties, so molested or summoned, as you Our said Commissioners, or any four or more of you, shall award.  
And if upon any such Information, Examination and Enquiry, and full hearing of the Parties concerned, and mature consideration had of the whole matter, it shall appear unto you, Our said Commissioners, or any four or more of you, That any such Lands, Tenements, Rents, Arrears of Rents, Debts, Duties, Moneys, Goods, Chattels, Pla●e, Jewels, or other things, so belonging unto Us, in Right of the Commonwealth, (and not heretofore pardoned) are unjustly concealed or detained as aforesaid; then Our Will and Pleasure is, That you Our said Commissioners, or any four or more of you, shall forthwith from time to time, under your Hands and Seals, certify all such Manors, Lands, Tenements, Rents, Arrears of Rents, Debts, Duties, Moneys, Goods, Chattels, Plate, Jewels, and other things so discovered, together with the whole matter touching such Discovery o● Discoveries, unto Our Commissioners of Our Treasury, for the time being; to the end. The said Commissioners of Our Treasury, may forthwith cause the premises by Process out of Our said Court of Exchequer, to be duly seized into Our Hands, and to that purpose put in charge in the great Roll, of the Pipe there.  
And that this Our present Commission may be the better, and more effectually executed, and with less charge and expense unto the persons so discovering, without delay, Our further Will and Pleasure is, That there be a Register attending you Our said Commissioners in this Our Service: And We conceiving Our well-beloved Ferdinando Parkhu●st Gentleman, to be a fit person for that purpose, have nominated, constituted, and appointed; and by these presents do nominate, con tute, and appoint him the said Fe dinando Parkhurst, to be Register to you Our said Commissioners for this Service.  
And We do likewise by these presents, constitute, and appoint, Our well-beloved Richard Hatter, Gentleman, to be Assistant unto the said Ferdinando Parkhurst, in the said business and employment; who shall have and receive such competent yearly Salaries and Allowances, as We shall think fit to allow and appoint unto them, the same to be paid unto them, and either of them respectively at the Receipt of Our Exchequer quarterly, by even portions; so long as they, and either of them shall continue in the employment aforesaid And therefore We Will, and do hereby Declare Our Pleasure to be, That they the said Ferdinando Parkhurst and Richard Hatter, or either of them, shall not take any other Fee or Fees, of any person or persons, so informing as aforesaid, or of any other person or persons whatsoever, Except only such small Fees for writing, as by you, Our said Commissioners, or any four or more of you, shall be limited and appointed.  
And We Will, and by these presents do require you Our said Commissioners, That you or any four or more of you shall meet upon Monday, the Six and twentieth day of May instant, next ensuing the date hereof, by nine of the Clock in the Morning, at Worcesterhouse in the Strand, in Our County of Middlesex in some convenient Room there, to be appointed for that purpose, then and there, to enter upon the Execution of this Our Commission; and so to proceed therein, and to sit from day to day, or at least three days in every week, for the space of one whole year, from the date of this Our present Commission, or till We shall signify Our Pleasure to the contrary.  
And to the end, that ample Encouragement, Reward, and Recompense maybe given unto all such persons, as have made or shall hereafter make any Discovery of any such Manors, L●nds, Tenements, Rents, Moneys, Plate, Jewels, or other the premises so belonging to Us, and not pardoned, but concealed, or detained as aforesaid. We do by these presents Declare Our further Will and Pleasure to be, and do hereby with the Advice and Consent of Our Council, Grant, That all and every person and persons, who before the Commissioners of, and for Our Treasury, have already discovered, or upon any Information or Informations to be exhibited before you Our said Commissioners herein before named, or any four or more of you, shall discover, or upon any Bill or Information, exhibited or to be exh bited in Our said Court of Exchequer, ●ath or have discovered, or shall hereafter discover any such M●nors, Lands, Tenements, Moneys, Plate, Jewels, or other the premises so belonging to Us, and not pardoned, but unjustly concealed or detained as aforesaid: And the respective Heirs, Executory, Administrators, and Assigns, of all and every such person and persons so discovering, shall from time to time, and at all times, have and enjoy to their own use and behoof, one full fifth part, or so much more as the said Commissioners of Our Treasury, for the time being, shall think fi● to allow, of all annual and other sum and sums of Money, which shall be paid into the Receipt of Our Exchequer, upon any such Dis● 〈…〉  
And if any person or persons being seized or possessed of any such Manors, Lands, Rents, Moneys, Plate, Jewels, Goods or Chattels, or owing any such Arrears of Rents, Debts and Duties, so belonging unto Us, and not pardoned, but unjustly concealed or detained as aforesaid, shall voluntarily first discover the same unto the said Commissioners of Our Treasury, for the time being, before any such Discovery thereof made as aforesaid, and shall submit unto such Orders and Directions as shall by the Commissioners of Our Treasury be given; for the more speedy seizing into Our Hands, and due charging in the great Roll of the Pipe aforesaid, all such Manors, Lands, Tenements, Rents, Arrears of Rents, Debts, Duties, Goods and Chattels, so voluntarily discovered as aforesaid, then, and in such case only, We Will, That such person or persons so voluntarily discovering, and his, her, and their respective Heirs, Executors, Adminstrators and Assigns, shall from time to time, and at all times, have and enjoy to their own use and behoof, one full fift part, or so much more as the Commissioners of Our Treasury shall think fit to allow, of all annual or other sum or sums of money, which shall be paid into the Receipt of Our Exchequer, upon such voluntary Discovery or Discoveries of any such Manors, Lands, Tenements, Goods, Chattels, or other the premises; and shall likewise have allowance, deduction, defalcation, and retainer to him, her, or themselves, of one full fift part, or of so much more, as the Commissioners of Our Treasury shall think fit to allow of all such Arrears of Rents; Debts, Duties, sums of Money, Plate and Jewels, so voluntarily discovered, to be in his, her, or their possession, or by him, her, or them, owing, concealed, or detained as aforesaid: And such person and persons so voluntarily discovering as aforesaid, shall likewise have Our Free and Gracious Pardon, for such his, her, and their former concealments thereof.  
And Our further Will and Pleasure is, and We do hereby Declare the same to be, That if any person or persons, having compounded, and having any Manors, Lands, Tenements, Rents, Arrears of Rents, Debts, Duties, Moneys, Plate, Jewels, Goods or Chattels, omitted out of his, her, or their Composition or Compositions, not pardoned, but unjustly concealed or detained as aforesaid, or being now under Sequestration for Delinquency or Recusancy, and having any Manors Lands, Tenements, Rents, Arrears of Rents, Debts, Duties, Moneys Plate, Jewels Goods or Chattels, not sequestered, nor pardoned, but concealed or detained as aforesaid, or being comprised in any Act for sale; and having any Copyhold or Customary Land, or Arrears of Rents; Debts; Duties, Goods or Chattels, not sequestered nor pardoned, but concealed, or detained as aforesaid; do and shall, before any such Discovery thereof made as aforesaid, Petition the Commissioners of Our Treasury, for the time being; to be admitted to compound for the same; then We do hereby Will and Authorize the said Commissioners of our Treasury, that in such case, They compound with such person or persons so Petitioning, after the rate of one fourth part of the value of such Manors, Lands, Tenements, Rents, Arrears of Rents, Debts, Duties, Moneys, Goods and Chattels, respectively. And further, We do by these presents, Declare and Grant, by and with the Advice and Consent of Our Council, That all and every person and persons who shall so Compound as aforesaid, and after submit unto such Orders and Directions, as by the said Commissioners of Our Treasury shall be given for duly charging such sum or sums of money, as shall be due and owing upon such Composition or Compositions in the great Roll of the Pipe, and shall duly pay the same into the Receipt of Our said Exchequer; and the Heirs, Executors, Administrators and Assigns of such person and persons, so compounding, submitting, and paying, shall and may peaceably hold and enjoy all such Manors, Land, Tenements, Rents, Arrears of Rents, Debts, Duties, Goods and Chattels, so compounded for, free and clear of, and from any Seizure, Sequestration, or Molestation whatsoever, any thing in this our present Commission, or otherwise to the contrary notwithstanding.  
And to the end, that such competent Salaries as aforesaid, to be allowed to the Register, and his Assistant, before in these presents named; as also the fifths and other sums of Money before mentioned, may be duly paid, and the Allowances, Defalcations and Compositions aforesaid made, according to the tenor and true meaning of this Our Commission, We have by Our Letters of Privy Seal, bearing even date with these presents, given full Warrant and Authority in that behalf, to the said Commissioners of, and for Our Treasury to allow and pay the same accordingly.  
And the better to enable you Our said Commissioners, to carry on the Service aforesaid with effect, We do by these presents Empower and Authorize you, or any four or more of you, in all Cases, Matters, and things touching and concerning the Premises, to examine Witnesses upon Oath, or otherwise: Which Oath, We do hereby Authorize you, or any four or more of you to administer.  
And lastly, We Will and Require you, Our said Commissioners to observe and pursue such Rules and Instructions concerning the Management of our said Service, as you shall from time to time, and at all times hereafter, receive from U●, by and with the Advice of Our Council.  
In Witness whereof &c