HIS HIGHNES' COMMISSION UNDER The Great Seal OF ENGLAND: Directed to the LORDS COMMISSIONERS of the Treasury, Barons of the Exchequer, and others, For satisfying the FIFTHS of such DISCOVERIES As have or shall be by any person or persons made out before the Commissioners for Discoveries at Worcester-House in the Strand, Of any Manors, Lands, Tenements, Rents, Arrears of Rents, Debts, Duties, Money, Plate, Jewels, Goods, Chattels, and other things, belonging to his Highness the Lord Protector in right of the Commonwealth, and unjustly concealed and detained; and for seizing the same by due Process out of the EXCHEQUER.  
LONDON: Printed by Tho. Newcomb dwelling in Thames-street over against Bainard's Castle. 1657.   

HIS HIGHNES' COMMISSION UNDER The Great Seal of England, DIRECTED To the Lords Commissioners of the Treasury, Barons of the Exchequer, and others.  
OLIVER, Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and the Dominions thereto belonging, To our right trusty and well-beloved, the Commissioners of and for our Treasury, the Barons of our Exchequer, and our Attorney General for the time being; And all other our Officers and Ministers of or in our Exchequer; And all others, to whom these presents shall appertain, and to every of them, Greeting;  
Whereas by our Letters Patents under our Great Seal of England, bearing date at Westminster the Three and twentieth day of May, in the year of our Lord God, One thousand six hundred fifty and six, we have for the Reasons therein expressed, nominated, constituted, and appointed Ralph Hall, Peter Elliston, John Griffith, Edward Carey, John Wilsby, William Bridges, and Nathaniel Stirrup, Esquires, to be our Commissioners, and have thereby empowered and authorized, and appointed them or any four or more of them, to receive for and on our behalf, all such Informations as should by any person or persons be exhibited before them, touching or any way concerning our Manors, Lands, Tenements, Rents, Arrears of Rents, Debts, Duties, Moneys, Plate, jewels, Goods, Chattels, or other things belonging to us in right of the Commonwealth, and not pardoned, but unjustly concealed and detained. And by all such good and lawful ways and means, as to them or any four or more of them, should seem meet to send for any Persons, Parties, Witnesses, Records, Accounts, Books, and Writings whatsoever; And if upon any such Information, Examination, and Inquiry, and full hearing of the parties concerned, and mature consideration had of the whole matter, it should appear unto them our said Commissioners, or any four or more of them, That any such Lands, Tenements, Rents, Arrears of Rents, Debts, Duties, Moneys, Goods, Chattels, Plate, jewels, or other things, so belonging to us in right of the Commonwealth, and not pardoned, be unjustly concealed or detained as aforesaid; then they our said Commissioners, or any four or more of them should forthwith from time to time, under their 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 or Discoveries to you our said Commissioners of our Treasury for the time being, to the end you our said Commissioners of our Treasury, might forthwith cause the premises by Process out of our 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; which said Commissioners for Discoveries or four or more of them, we did in and by our said Letters Patents, command and require to meet upon Monday the Six and twentieth day of May last past, by nine of the clock in the morning at Worcester-House in the Strand, in the County of Middlefex, then and there to enter upon the execution of that our Commission, and to proceed therein for the space of one whole year, from the date of our said Commission, or until we should signify our pleasure to the contrary.  
And whereas for the Reasons in our Letters Patents at large expressed, We have declared our will and pleasure to be, and have thereby with the advice and consent of our Council, granted, That all and every person and persons, who before you our said Commissioners of and for our Treasury had then discovered, or upon any Information or Informations to be afterwards exhibited before them our said Commissioners for Discoveries, or any four or more of them should discover, or upon any Bill or Information then exhibited, or afterwards to be exhibited in our said Court of Exchequer, had then discovered or should after discover any such Manors, Lands, Tenements, Money, Plate, jewels, or any other the premises so belonging to us, and not pardoned, but unjustly concealed or detained as aforesaid; and the respective Heirs, Executors, Administrators and Assigns of all and thery such person and persons so discovering, should from time to time, and at all tiems, have and enjoy to their own use and behoof, one full Fifth part, or so much more as you our Commissioners of our Treasury for the time being, should think fit to allow of all Annual and other sum and sums which should be paid into the Receipt of our Exchequer, upon any such Discovery or Discoveries, and upon the prosecution of any such person or persons so discovering respectively; And that if any persons or persons be seized of any such Manor, Lands, Tenements, Rents, Moneys, Plate, jewels, Goods, or Chattels, or owing any such Arrears of Rents, Debts, and Duties, so belonging to us, and not pardoned, but unjustly concealed or detained as aforesaid, should voluntarily first discover the same unto you our said Commissioners of our Treasury for the time being, before any such discovery thereof made as aforesaid, and should submit unto such Orders and Directions, as should by you our said Commissioners of our Treasury be given, for the more speedy seizing into our hands, and due charging in the great Roil 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 have in and by our said Letters Patents declared our will to be, That such person and persons so voluntarily discovering, and his, her, and their respective Heirs and Assigns, should from time to time, and at all times have and enjoy to their own use one full Fifth part, or so much more as you our Commissioners of our Treasury, should think fit to allow of all Annual, or other sum or sums of Money which should be paid into the Receipt of our Exchequer, upon voluntary discovery or discoveries of any such Manors, Lands, Tenements, Goods, Chattels, or other the premises; and should likewise have Allowance, Deduction, Defalcation, and Retainer, to him, her, or themselves, of one full Fifth part, or of so much more as you our said Commissioners of our Treasury should think fit, to allow of all such Arrears of Reants, Debts, Duties, Plate, jewels, and sums of Money so voluntarily discovered, to be in his, her, or their possession, or by him, her, or them owing, concealed or detained as aforesaid.  
And whereas in and by our said Letters Patents, we have declared our further will and pleasure 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 then under Sequestration for the 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 Lands or Arrears of Rents, Debts, Duties, Goods or Chattels, not sequesrred nor pardoned, but concealed or detained as aforesaid; Do and should before any such discovery thereof made as aforesaid, Petition you our said Commissioners of our Treasury for the time being, to be admitted to compound for the same; Then we have thereby willed and authorised you our said Commissioners of our Treasury, That in such case you 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 have by our said Letters Patents, delared and granted by and with the advice and consent of our Council, That all andevery such person and persons who should compound as aforesaid, and after submit unto such Orders and Directions as by you our said Commissioners of our Treasury should be given, for duly charging such sum or sums of Money as should be due, and owing upon such Composition or Compositions in the Roll of the Pipe, and should duly pay the same into the Receipt of our Exchequer; and the Heirs, Executors, Administrators and Assigns of such person and persons so compounding, submitting, and paying, should and might peaceably hold and enjoy all such Manors, Lands, 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 that our said Commission or otherwise to the contrary notwithstanding; as in and by our said Letters Patents relation, being thereunto had more at large (amongst other things) it doth and may appear.  
And whereas we have received Information, that the said Nathaniel Stirrup, one of our Commissioners beforementioned, is lately dead, Know ye, That we by the advice of our Council, have nominated and assigned, and by these presents, Do nominate and assign our trusty and well-beloved Robert Griffith Esq to be One of our Commissioners as aforesaid, in the stead and place of him the said Nathaniel Stirrup, deceased; to do and execute all and singular, the Powers and Authorities in our said Letters of Commission mentioned, and all and every other thing and things therein contained, together with our said other Commissioners surviving, according to the purport and intent thereof; and that in as full and ample manner and form to all intents and purposes, as if he the said Robert Griffith had been specially and expressly named One of our said Commissioners in that our Commission aforesaid. And our will and pleasure is, That he the said Robert Griffith be reputed and taken as one of our Commissioners aforesaid, by force and virtue of these presents, to do and execute the premises accordingly; And to the intent and purpose, That our will and pleasure in and by our said Letters Patents, so as above declared, may be put in due execution; And all such Fifths, Allowances, Defalcations, and Compositions, may be duly had and made according to the true intent and meaning of our said (in part recited) Letters Patents, Know ye further, That we have authorised and required and by these presents, do authorize and require you our Commissioners of our Treasury for the time being, or any Two or more of you, from time to time, to receive as well all such Certificates of any such Discovery or Discoveries made or to be made before our said Commissioners for Discoveries, or any four of them; as also all such voluntary Discoveries as have been or shall be first made before you our Commissioners of our Treasury, or any two or more of you as aforesaid: And we have authorised and required, and by these presents do authorize and require you our Commissioners of our Treasury, Barons of our Exchequer, and our Attorney General for the time being, and all other our Officers and Ministers of, and in our said Exchequer, whom it may concern, That according to the duties of your several places, you causeall such Manors, Lands, Tenements, Rents, Arrears of Rents, Debts, Duties, Moneys, Plate, jewels, Goods, Chattels and other things, so as above certified to be discovered before our said Commissioners for Discoveries, or any four of them, or so as above voluntarily first discovered before you our said Commissioners of our Treasury for the time being, to be seized into our hands by due Process out of our said Exchequer, or put in charge either in the great Roll of the Pipe, or with the Auditors of our said Exchequer, As to you our Commissioners of our Treasury for the time being, shall be thought most advantageous for the Commonwealth in that behalf.  
And we have authorised and required, and by these presents, do authorize and require you our said Commissioners of our Treasury for the time being, or any two or more of you from time to time, to allow unto all and every such person and persons, who before you our said Commissioners of our Treasury, have, at, or before the day of the date of our said Commission, so as above discovered, or before our said Commissioners for Discoveries, have so as abovesaid discovered, or shall hereafter discover; or upon any Bill or Information exhibited or to be exhibited in our said Court of Exchequer, have so as above discovered, or shall hereafter discover; and to the Heirs, Executors, Administrators, and Assigns, of all and every such person or persons so discovering, one full Fifth part of all such Annual and other sum or sums of Money whatsoever; as by the joint or several Certificate or Certificates of the Clerk of the Bells, of the Receipt of our Exchequer, and other our Officer or Officers, unto whom it shall appertain, shall appear unto you the Commissioners of our Treasury for the time being, or any two or more of you, to be paid into the Receipt of our Exchequer, upon any such Discovery or Discoveries, and upon the prosecution of such person or persons so discovering respectively.  
And we do also by these presents, authorize and require you our Commissioners of our Treasury for the time being, or any two or more of you from time to time, to grant your Warrant or Warrants, for the due payment out of the Receipt of our Exchequer, of such Fifth part, or Fifth parts, unto such person or persons so discovering, and their Heirs, Executors, Administrators, and Assigns, respectively. Nevertheless, if any person or persons being so as above said, seized or possessed of any Manors, Lands, Tenements, Moneys, Plate, jewels, Goods, Chattels, or other things, or owing any Rents, Arrears of Rents, Debts, or other things so as above, belonging unto us, and concealed or detained as aforesaid, have so as above, voluntarily first discovered, or shall voluntarily first discover the same unto you our Commissioners of our Treasury for the time being, before any such discovery thereof, made as aforesaid; and have submitted or shall submit unto such Orders and Directions, as by you our Commissioners of our Treasury for the time being, or any two or more of you have been or shall be given, for the due seizing into our hands, the premises so voluntarily discovered or to be discovered, and putting the same in charge in the great Roll of the Pipe, or with the Auditors of our Exchequer; Then our will and pleasure is, and we do by these presents, authorize and require you our Commissioners of our Treasury for the time being, or any two or more of you from time to time; and at all times to make allowance by way of Deduction, Defalcation, and Retainer, to such person and persons, so voluntarily discovering, and his, her, and their Heirs, Executors, Administrators and Assigns respectively, of one full Fifth part of all such Rents, Arrears of Rents, Moneys, and Debts, so voluntarily first discovered; and also to make allowance unto such person and persons, so voluntarily discovering; and his, her, and their Heirs, Executors, Administrators and Assigns respectively, of one full Fifth part of all such Annual, and other sum and sums of Money, as by such Certificate or Certificates of our said Clerk of the Bells, of the Receipt of our Exchequer, and other our Officers, to whom it shall appertain, shall appear unto you our Commissioners of our Treasury for the time being, to be paid into the Receipt of one Exchequer, upon such voluntary Discovery or Discoveries of any such Manors, Lands, Tenements, Plate, jewels, Goods, and Chattels: And also, we do by these presents authorize and require you our Commissioners of our Treasury for the time being, or any two or more of you, from time to time, to grant your Warrant or Warrants as well for striking of Tallies for such Fifts by way of Deduction, Defalcation and Retainer; as also for the due payment out of the Receipt of our Exchequer of such Fifths, of all such Annual and other sums of Money, unto such person or persons so voluntarily discovering and submitting, and his, her, and their Heirs; Executors, Administrators, and Assigns, respectively. And for the better satisfaction unto all and every such person and persons, any ways entitled unto any such Fifths as aforesaid, We do by these presents authorize and require you our said Commissioners of our Treasury for the time being, or any two or more of you from time to time to contract with any person or persons so entitled unto any such Fifths for any Lease or Leases of any such Manors, Lands, or Tenements so discovered for any term of years, to be made unto such person or persons so entitled, in full satisfaction of such their Fifths as abovesaid: And such Lease and Leases so to be contracted for, and made, shall pass under our Great Seal of England, or the Seal of our Exchequer, by Warrant under the hands of you our Commissioners of our Treasury for the time being, or of any two or more of you: And we do by these presents, further authorize and require you our Commissioners of our Treasury for the time being, or any two or more of you, from time to time to receive the Petition and Petitions of all and every such person and persons, as having compounded, and having any such Manors, Lands, Tenements, Rents, Arrears of Rents, Debts, Duties, Moneys, Plate, jewels, Goods or Chattels, omitted out of his or their Composition or Compositions, and so unjustly concealed or detained, as aforesaid; and being now under Sequestration for Delinquency or Recusancy, and having any such Manors, Lands, Tenements, Rents, Arrears of Rents, Debts, Duties, Moneys, Plate, jewels, Goods, or Chattels not sequestered, but concealed or detained as aforesaid, or being comprised in any Act for Sale, and having any Copyhold or Customary Lands, or Arrears of Rents, Debts, Duties, Goods, or Chattels not sequestered, but concealed or detained as aforesaid, or the Petition and Petitions of the Heirs, Executors, Administrators, or Assigns of such person or persons, having so compounded, or being, or having been so under Sequestration, or being so comprised in any Act for Sale as aforesaid respectively, as shall before any discovery thereof made as aforesaid; and before the expiration of our said Commission, Petition you our Commissioners of our Treasury for the time being, to be admitted to compound for the same respectively; and to compound with all and every such person and 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, Plate, Goods and Chattels, respectively; and also to make and give such Orders and Directions as to you our Commissioners of our Treasury for the time being, or any two or more of you shall be thought fit for the due charging the great Roll of the Pipe; all and every such sum and sums of money so due or owing upon any such Composition or Compositions respectively, and for the speedy payment thereof into the Receipt of our Exchequer accordingly.  
And we do by these presents authorize, will and require you our Commissioners of our Treasury, Barons of our Exchequer, and our Attorney General for the time being, and all other our Officers and Ministers of and in our Exchequer, whom it may concern, To permit and suffer all and every such person and persons, that shall so Petition and Compound, and shall likewise observe and perform such Orders and Directions, and their Heirs, Executors, Administrators and Assigns respectively, from time to time, quietly and peaceably to have hold and occupy, all such Manors, Lands, Tenements, Rents, Arrears of Rents, Debts, Duties, Moneys, Plate, jewels, Goods, and Chattels, so compounded for, free and clear, of and from any Seizure, Sequestration, or other Molestation whatsoever; Any Law, Statute, Act, Ordinance, or any other matter or thing whatsoever to the contrary, in any wise notwithstanding: And for so doing, and for observing and executing our will and pleasure herein expressed, and the several Authorities hereby given, These presents shall be unto you, and every of you respectively, a good, absolute and sufficient discharge. In witness whereof, We have caused these our Letters to be made Patents; witness ourselves at Westminster the Twelfth day of March, One thousand six hundred fifty and six.  
FINIS.