A DECLARATION AND ORDER Of his EXCELLENCY the LORD GENERAL Cromwell, AND HIS COUNCIL OF OFFICERS: For the continuance of the Assessment for six months, from the 24 th'. of June 1653. to the 25 th'. of December following; at the rate of one hundred and twenty thousand pounds by the month, towards the maintenance of the Armies and Navies of this Common wealth.   seal of the Commonwealth 
June 9 1653.  
Ordered by his Excellency the Lord General CROMWELL with the advice of his Council of Officers, That this Declaration be forthwith printed and published.  
WILLIAM MALYN Secret.  
LONDON. Printed by and for H. Hills, G. Calvert and T. Brewster, and are to be sold at the Black Spread-Eagle, and at the Three Bibles near the West end of Paul's, 1653.   

A DECLARATION AND ORDER Of his EXCELLENCY the LORD GENERAL CROMWELL, AND HIS COUNCIL of OFFICERS: For the continuance of the Assessment towards the maintenance of the Armies and Navies of this Commonwealth for six months, from the 24 th'. of June 1653. to the 25th. of December following; at the rate of one hundred and twenty thousand pounds by the month  
ALthough we are very sensible of the great and heavy Taxes, & other public burdens, which for the present are lying upon this Nation, and that nothing is to be more wished & endeavoured, next after the glory of God, and securing of this great Cause, than the ease of the People in this particular: Yet considering the great and important occasions and engagements of this Commonwealth at this time, both at Land and at Sea, requiring greater sums of money, than can be answered out of other public receipts, which through the former improvident management of affairs, are either exhausted, or clogged with  anticipations; and that without a supply of money by continuing of the monthly Assessment for some time longer, the Armies in England, Scotland & Ireland, would be necessitated to burden the People with free quarter, the War with the united Provinces of the Netherlands, of so much concernment to the welfaire of this Nation, be put in danger of miscarrying; and the other affairs of this Commonwealth, fall into disorder and confusion.  
And because the Persons to whom the Supreme Authority, according to our former Declaration is to be committed, cannot assemble time enough to take care therein, the Act of Assessment expiring the 24. of this present June.  
In this exegency, and upon this extraordinary occasion, it is thought necessary to Declare and Order, and it is hereby Declared and Ordered by the Lord General, with the advice of his Council of Officers; That the last Act of Assessment beginning the 25 of December, and ending the 24 of june: whereby one hundred & twenty thousand pounds by the month is laid upon the several Counties, Cities, Towns, and places therein mentioned, and every Clause therein contained, the several Taxes and Payments therein expressed, and the Powers and Authorities thereby given to all and every the Commissioners, Committees, or Persons, or any of them named or mentioned in the said Act, shall endure and have continuance for six months longer, from the said four and twentieth day of june 1653, unto the five and twentieth of DECEMBER next following, to all intents and purposes, as if the said Act had been at first made to have continuance for twelve months from the said five and twentieth day of December 1652.  
And all persons impoured by, or by virtue of the said Act as Commissioners or otherwise, are hereby required and enjoined, to rate, assess, levy and collect the said six month's Assessment, and to execute and do all matters whatsoever relating thereto as fully and amply to all intents and purposes, as they are enabled by the said Act, to levy and Collect the last six month's Assessment.  
And further, that the said Commissioners for the several and respective Counties, Cities and Towns, do meet at the most common and usual place of meeting in each of the said Counties, Cities and Towns, for which they are Commissioners, respectively on or before the four and twentyeth day of this instant june; and the said Commissioners, or so many of them as shall then and there attend, and be present, shall cause this declaration to be put in execution, and shall thereupon send out their Warrants for the Assessing, collecting, and paying, the said six month's Tax, so as the first three of the said six month's Assessment, be paid into the Receivers General, upon or before the 30 day of july next ensuing, and the last three months be paid, as aforesaid, upon or before the first day of November following.  
And for that it is intended that an exact account shall be given of all moneys which shall be Assessed, Levied, & Collected throughout this Nation by virtue hereof, It is hereby required, That the several Receivers General of this Assessment in the respective Counties and places, do within fourteen days after the end of the said six months, return a perfect account of all the moneys they shall receive thereupon, to the Committee for the Army.  
And seeing the said Assessment is continued upon no other grounds than are before expressed, It is not doubted, but the good and well-affected people of this Nation, who still retain sound and honest Principles, will cheerfully act in their several places and stations, to promote and further this service.  
And if any, upon what pretence soever, shall refuse to pay the said Assessments or discourage or weaken the hands of others therein: Although we doubt not, but all their endeavours in this kind will prove ineffectual, yet they are to be looked upon, and proceeded against as those who from a Spirit of Malignity and opposition to the Cause of God in this Land (though upon other pretences) have endeavoured, as far as in them lies, to subject the People of England, Ireland, and Scotland, to free quarter, and to bring the Navy into discontent for want of pay at this time, when this Nation is engaged in so great a War at Sea: hoping thereby to plunge these Nations again into troubles, and give new advantages to the Common Enemy.  
And in case any of those who have formerly been Instrumental and Helpers in this great Cause, shall be found in their number, although it will be matter of great trouble & grief to us to see men thus by degrees fall short, divide, and withdraw themselves from public ends; Yet as the Apostasy, & turning away of many amongst us formerly, who at first seemed to be zealous promoters of this work, hath not been able to keep it at a stand, so our trust and confidence is, that now through the grace and goodness of God; neither the neutrality and indifferency of some, nor the defection and opposition of others, no, though so gross and open, as to close with the Enemies of the power and life of godliness, shall be any hindrance or prejudice thereunto: But that the same Spirit and presence which hath hitherto helped us in our greatest difficulties, and most eminent dangers; will still own us and the rest of his People in this Land, and enable us to persevere unto the end against all discouragements whatsoever.  
And it is hereby further declared, That all and every the Commissioners, Committees, and other persons whatsoever which shall act, do or execute any thing by virtue of, and in pursuance of this Declaration and Order, shall be saved harmless and indemnified.  
Signed by the appointment of his Excellency the Lord General, with the advice of his Council of Officers. Will. Malyn.   

I Do hereby appoint, that the Declaration of the Army, for the continuance of the Assessment for six months, be printed by and for Henry Hills, Giles Calvert, and Thomas Brewster, and that no other Printer do presume to print the same, or any part thereof, without my special Order, as they will answer the contrary. Given under my hand the 9th of June, 1653.  
O. CROMWELL.