A DECLARATION TO The Kingdom, OF The Armies general Survey of the Income of the Excize, the profits of the Customs, the benefit of Compositions, and other Moneys raised in the Kingdom: And concerning Committees in London and the Country which have received monies for the State.  
Also a particular Letter from his Excellency the Lord Fairfax to the Commissioners of Excize, concerning their proceed in levying and receiving the same, and such sums of money as they have in Cash, and already received.  
Signed by his Excellency, and published for general satisfaction.  
London: Printed for R. B. 1648.   

A Declaration to the Kingdom, of the Armies general survey of the accounts of the Excize, the Customs, the King's Revenue, the Compositions of Goldsmith's Hall, and the Receipts of Committees in London, and several Counties of this Kingdom.  
HAving by God's blessing and the endeavours of this dispersed Army overcome the most visible actors of their own and the Kingdom's ruin, it pleased him to put into their thoughts to use such ways and means as he shall dictate to them in a time of extremity and danger, for settling this long oppressed Nation in their just Rights and Privileges, and upon the approach of some Regiments of the Army into the City of London, his Excellency with the advice of his General Council of the Army, gave Orders for the seizing of certain Treasuries within the said City, (they being as yet much in arreare for the Assessments to the Army) and coming to Weavers-Hall they found a considerable sum of money, which in probability was part of the money collected upon the Assessments to aforesaid, however it might be otherwise pretended, which money by his Exeellencies' Declaration (that not only the Kingdom, but the whole world may judge of the justness of his proceed,) is to be restored again without loss, or to be made good out of that which is yet due to the Army, and was paid in by the middle sort of people, which we hope will satisfy all reasonable men that the intent of this Army is not to take or act any thing by violence, but what is theirs and the Kingdom's due; for however it may be alleged that this act was to make provision to pay the private soldier, yet is it not without special regard to the people's interest, for it is too well known that if the soldier hath not his pay he is unable to discharge his Quarters, which causeth many deep sighs and groans from the poor Farmer in the Country, who (with us) have long had a particular aspect on the City of London in hopes of redress, for that it is notoriously known, that it is the only place of receipt and the public treasury of the Kingdom. And when we examine the income of the Excize only, it amazeth us to think that the Estates of Holland should maintain a far greater Army than this in constant pay (the Excize being no higher there than it is there) by that alone. But when you consider the other vast sums of money, which for several years together have accrued out of this Office, the Custom, House, (and other the King's Revenue) Composition money, the sale of Bishop's Lands, sequesterations in all parts of the Kingdom, etc. and yet all too little either to satisfy public debts, or pay the dear earned wages of the soldiers, it must necessarily follow that a great part of such monies were converted to a contrary use, or not that improvement made thereof as might best advantage the public; which hath caused us and our friends to consider of these particulars following.  

1. That the Assessments for this Army were either not gathered, or detained on purpose to bring the Army into disdain, and render them odious unto the Kingdom.  
2. That the accounts of the Excize are unperfect, or not kept in that form which is requisite for that and other Officers of like nature, the experience of the later too plainly appearing by the delays that have commonly been used, when they have been called on to bring an account which could hardly ever yet be perfected, or brought to just estimate under 6. Months; within which time there commonly happened some extraordinary oceasion for a great sum, and if this upon earnest request were advanced, it must be repaid with 8. l. per centum, which together with the large allowance to the Commissioners, and Sub-Officers, there comes not de claro above one moiety to the State.  
3. That the Customs taken, or Tonnage & Poundage and the revenue of the King's Land, brings a vast profit to the State, and some part thereof is unaccompted for, and the Customs which were heretofore declared to be for the maintenance of the Navy, not sufficient to defray that charge, but large sums of Compositions, and otherwise have been added towards that service.  
4. That before the time of the rising in Kent (and the Earl of Holland's party) there was at least threescore thousand pounds due, from such as had already made their compositions and entered bond to pay it at such a day, which monies not being brought in was made use of as an inablement to those persons in whose hands it remained, the more deeply to engage in the last War, and of that which was brought in, many great sums thereof were given away as a recompense or reward to particular persons which had no need thereof, whilst others which had faithfully served the Parliament were ready to famish with hunger.  
5. That for Bishop's Lands if they have not been sold at an under value, yet hath not that benefit been gained thereby as suited with the necessity to supply the public affairs, for it is a thing which few are unsenfible of, that some men being in equipage and condition to purchase, have made that good to themselves which others have had little cause to esteem any better of then desperate debts.  
6. It is not to be forgotten that as these places before mentioned are chief to be dived into, yet doth it no ways excuse Committees in the Countries' or other Cities, or any person or persons of what sort or degree soever which may justly be charged, neither is it to be understood that every Member or particular person officiating or appertaining to any of the Officers or Committees aforesaid, are faulty or blameworthy for any miscarriages therein, For he that doth well shall be accepted both of God and man.   
These things premised as so many generals, wherein is conceived there might be great redress, nevertheless it is hereby fit likewise to be declared, that the Army do not take on them by force or violence to regulate these or other matters of the same kind, but freely leave it unto the honourable House of Commons, and others in place of trust and judicature; and no sooner shall it please God to settle this Kingdom in peace, the Army secured by good and undoubted ways from those which have and will at all times hereafter (if it I'll in their power) seek their utter ruin, and bring a new disturbance upon the whole Kingdom; and our dearly earned wages satisfied or secured, we shall most readily and willingly disband, and betake ourselves to our former callings.  
And further, forasmuch as a Party of Horse did by mistake march to the grand Excize, although no violence or injury offered, or money by them taken or secured, yet many false reports were raised, whereupon the Lord General, to preserve a right understanding, sent a Letter to the Commissioners of Excize in these words.  
Gentlemen,  
WHereas upon this present eight of December, a party of horse and foot came to the Excize Office in Broadstreet, which perhaps will occasion some to think the Army came thither with a purpose to interrupt any more levying of the Excize. These are to assure them that the said forces came thither by a mistake, and that there was not any intentions to give interruption unto the due levying of the Excize, or to seize upon any money in Cash, and that you may proceed as formerly according to those Ordinances and Orders of Parliament, which you have received concerning the same,  
Decemb. 8. 1648. Your very assured friend, Fairfax.  
For my worthy friends the Commissioners of the Excize and new Impost.   
FINIS.