AN aditional ORDINANCE OF THE Lords & Commons ASSEMBLED IN PARLIAMENT, FOR The better taking and expediting the Accounts of the whole Kingdom.  

ORdered by the Commons assembled, in Parliament that this Ordinance be forthwith printed and published.  
Hen. Elsing. Cler. Parl. Dom. Com.   
LONDON. Printed by T.W. for ED. HUSBAND, Printer for the Honourable House of Commons 1645.   

AN ADDITIONALL Ordinance for the better taking and expediting the Accounts of the whole Kingdom.  
FOr the better taking the Accounts of the whole Kingdom, and the more speedy levying of such sums of Money as are, or shall be due unto the Commonwealth upon such Accounts as are, or shall be determined.  
It is Ordered and Ordained by the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, That the Committee for taking the Accounts of the whole Kingdom, and the several sub-Committees of Accounts within their respective limits, shall have full Power and Authority, and are hereby Authorized to issue forth Warrants to the High Constables, Constables, Petty-constables, and Headboroughs of every Hundred, Lath, Rape, Wapentake, Ward, and to the Churchwardens of every Parish, or any of them, or to any other Person or persons under the degree of a Peer of this Realm, nor to any Member of the House of Commons within the Limits aforesaid, whom they shall think meet, thereby requiring the Persons to whom the said Warrants shall be directed, to make strict and diligent enquiry in every Parish of this Kingdom within their several Precincts, what sum or sums of Money, Plate, Horse, Arms, Ammunition,  stuff, Goods of all sorts, Rents and profits of Lands, Wood, Provisions of all kind, and Free quarter have been received, taken, collected, raised, seized, or sequestered within the said Hundred, Lath, Rape, Wapentake, Ward and Parish, by way of voluntary Contribution, Tax, or otherwise, and by whom the same hath been received, taken, collected, raised, seized, sequestered, and to whom paid or delivered. And the said persons unto whom the said Warrants shall be directed, shall give notice thereof in writing, and leave, or cause the same to be left, at every house within every respective Parish, to inform them of all such sum or sums of Money, Plate, Horse, Arms, Ammunition, Householdstuff, Goods, Rents, and profits of Lands, Wood, Provisions of all sorts, and free Quarter, that have been received, taken, collected, raised, seized, or sequestered by any person or persons, and by whom paid, given, or contributed to any person or persons whatsoever, for the use of the Commonwealth by way of Assessment or otherwise, within fifty days after personal notice left or given, under pain that every person or persons, who shall wilfully or negligently fail to give in such Information within the time aforesaid, without rendering a just and reasonable Cause of his or their fayler herein, shall from thenceforth be disabled to demand the Benefit of the public Faith for all such Moneys, Plate, Horse, Arms, Ammunition, Provisions, Contributions, free Quarter, as he or they shall omit to inform of; And after such information taken by the persons to whom the said Warrants shall be directed, the same shall be returned in writing to the said Committee, for taking the Accounts of the whole Kingdom, or unto the sub-Committee of Accounts respectively for the better enabling them to charge the said Accomptants.  
And whereas several sequestrations have been unwarrantably, fraudulently and deceitfully discharged or let or sold at under values by the several Committees or Officers for sequestrations in the several Counties, Cities and other places of this Kingdom.  
Be it Ordained that the Committee for the taking of the accounts of the whole Kingdom and the several sub-Committees for the said accounts respectively, shall have power and are hereby authorised to inquire thereof by Oath, and if they shall find the same to be unwarrantably, fraudulently, and deceitfully discharged, undersold or underlet, they shall further inquire by what ways and means, and by whom the said discharge, undersale, or underletting, was procured, and such person or persons as shallbe found faulty in the premises, shall make such satisfaction to the Commonwealth proportionable to their offence, as the Committee of accounts for the Kingdom, or any five of them, shall adjudge and determine, so as the said persons be not Peers of this Realm, or Members of the House of Commons.  
And be it further Ordained that the said Committee for taking of the accounts of the whole Kingdom, and the sub-Committees for the said accounts respectively, shall have authority and they are hereby authorized to inquire of all persons whatsoever, that have or shall any way conceal and detain the Estates, Goods, and Chattels of any person or persons sequestered or sequestrable, and shall charge them for the same as accomptants to all intents and purposes, so as the said persons be not Peers, of this Realm or Members of the House of Commons.  
And whereas several accomptants to whom there is no allowance given by act, Ordinance, or order of one or both Houses of Parliament, demand upon their accounts several allowances: Be it Ordained that the said Committee for taking the accounts of the whole Kingdom shall have power and authority, and they or any five of them are hereby authorised to make such reasonable allowances unto the said accomptants for their charges and pains as they shall think meet, the said allowances not exceeding a penny in the pound, for every pound received by such accountant.  
And be it further Ordered and Ordained, that every person or persons found in Arreare upon any Account to be determined by the said Committee, or any five or more of them, shall immediately upon determination of the said Account and signification, or notice thereof given to the several person and persons aforesaid, or left in writing at his or their House, or usual place of abode by the said Committee, or any five or more of them, pay in, or cause to be paid unto the Chamberlain of the City of London for the time being, or unto such particular Treasurers, as by any former Act or Ordinance are appointed to receive the same, and in case no Treasurers are already appointed, then unto such Treasurer as shall by virtue of this Ordinance be made in every County in this Kingdom, all such sum and sums of money as shall be found and certified to be Arreare, and by him or them due and owing upon their said Accounts, or otherwise give such sufficient security for the payment thereof, in manner and form aforesaid, within the space of forty days next after the said Certificate, as by the said Committee for taking the accounts of the whole Kingdom, or any five or more of them shall be approved of. And for default thereof, the said person or persons neglecting or refusing to pay, or secure the said sums and arreeres, as aforesaid (not being a Peer or Assistant, or Officer of the house of Peers, or Member or Officer of the house of Commons) shall be committed by the said Committee, or any five or more of them, unto such prison as they shall think fit, there to remain without Bail or mainprize, until he or they shall pay in the several sums of money, or give such security for payment thereof, as aforesaid. And if any such person or persons be Peers, or Assistants, or Officers of either House of Parliament, than their names to be certified to such House as they shall belong unto respectively, that such further course may be taken therein as shall seem meet.  
And be it further Ordained, That if it shall appear to the said Committee, or said Sub-Committees, by the acknowledgement of the Accountant, or otherwise, that there remains any Sum of Money or Goods in the hands or possession of any Accountant (not being a Peer, or Assistant or Officer of the House of Peers, or Member or Officer of the House of Commons) or any other person or persons to his use; that the said Committee, or any five or more of them, or any of the said Sub-committee, or any five or more of them, shall, before the said Account determined, have hereby power to order the payment of the same Moneys, and to make sale of all such goods to the use and benefit of the Commonwealth, within such time as shall be by them limited, or, in default thereof, to proceed against the said Accomptants as in the precedent Clause is directed, against such persons whose Accounts are determined.  
And be it further Ordained, That if it shall appear by proof to the said Committee of Accounts, or any Sub-Committee of Accounts, that any person or persons who is accountable by virtue of the Ordinances for taking of the Accounts of the whole Kingdom, or any of them, shall go about or endeavour to departed the Kingdom, or convey away, hid, or obscure his or their Estates, to prevent the payment of what shall be found justly due from him or them unto the Commonwealth; that then the said Committee of Accounts, or Sub-Committee in every County, or any five or more of them respectively, shall and may, by Warrant under their hands to be made to such person or persons as they shall think fit, cause the person, and estate of such person or persons (not being a Peer, or Assistant or Officer of the House of Peers, or Member or Officer of the House of Commons) to be seized and secured, until such time as he or they shall put in good and sufficient Security to be taken by the said Committee, or Sub-committee, or any five or more of them respectively, that he or they shall and will truly pay and satisfy all such sum or sums of Money as shall be found due from him or them unto the Commonwealth, upon the determining of his or their Accounts.  
And be it further Ordained, That if any person or persons (not being a Peer, or Assistant or Officer of the House of Peers, or Member or Officer of the House of Commons) shall be found indebted and arrear upon the foot of his or their Account, and shall be imprisoned, or otherwise absent himself from the place of his usual abode or dwelling, by the space of one month after notice of his or their Arrear given according to this Ordinance; that then the Committee for taking the Accounts of the whole Kingdom, or Sub-committees respectively, shall and may send for any person or persons in whose hands, power, or knowledge the Estate real or personal of such person so found in arrear shall be, and examine the said person or persons upon Oath (which, by virtue of the said Ordinances, the said Committee or Sub-committee respectively shall have power to administer) for the discovery of the Estate real or personal of such person or persons so indebted: and having discovered the same, the said Committee of Accounts, or any five or more of them, shall have power to nominate some fit persons who shall hereby have power, and are authorized to seize and make sale of the Estate real and personal, Rights and Credits of such person so found in arrear, in as ample manner as is usual in the case of Bankrupts, the said sale to be by Deed enrolled in the Court of Chancery, and to be good and effectual in Law, to all Intents and Purposes, against the said party so found in arrear, and all claiming by, from, and under him, without good and valuable consideration; and to cause such Moneys so raised to be paid to the respective Treasurers in this Ordinance named.  
And be it further Ordained, That the Sub-committee of every County of this Kingdom, or the major part of them, shall from time to time have power and authority to name one fit and able person in every County, to be Treasurer of that County; and the said person so named being approved of and allowed by the Committee for taking the Accounts of the whole Kingdom, shall receive the several sums of Money that shall be found arrear from any person or persons within the said County, and shall disburse the same as the same is or shall be Ordered by the Houses of Parliament: And the said Treasurer shall exhibit upon his Oath unto the said Sub-committee a Bill of such necessary charges as he shall be at in the receiving, paying, carrying of the Money received by him according to direction of such Order or Orders; which charges so by him disbursed, he shall and may lawfully retain, upon his allowance of the said Bill.  
And be it further Ordered and Ordained by the Authority aforesaid, That if any person or persons shall find him or themselves aggrieved with the determination of any such Account as aforesaid, than every such person and persons so aggrieved, after he or they have deposited, or sufficiently secured, in such sort as the Court of Chancery shall think fit, such sum and sums of Money as are found in arrear, and by him or them due and owing upon his or their said Account, unto the Chamberlain; of the City of London for the time being, shall and may, within thirty days after such Account shall be determined, and notice thereof to him or them given or left, and such payment or securing of the said Money as aforesaid, exhibit his or their Appeal into the Court of Chancery, for redress therein; and that upon the said Appeal, the said Court of Chancery may, by such ways and means as to the Lord Keeper or Commissioners of the Great Seal for the time being shall seem meet (the circumstances of the case considered) within six months after the delivery of the said Appeal, in a Summary way, without formality of proceed, proceed to the examination, hearing and determining thereof, and, upon hearing thereof, shall and may add or diminish, altar or enlarge the said determining of the said Account, as to them shall be thought to stand with equity and good conscience; and shall and may tax and award such person and persons as they shall find to complain or appeal without any just or reasonable cause, to pay such costs and sums of Money as they in their discretions shall think fit, to the use of the Commonwealth, unto the Chamberlain of the City of London aforesaid; and for neglect or refusal thereof, to commit the said person or persons to prison, until they shall pay the same: And that the said sums of Money so paid unto the Chamberlain of the City of London upon the said, Appeal, shall not be disposed of until the said Appeal be determined, and so much shall be adjudged against the Appellant, to be paid unto such particular Treasurers as are appointed to receive the same as aforesaid, or to be disposed as by Order of the said Houses of Parliament shall be appointed and directed: And the party that shall prosecute the Suit for the Commonwealth, shall have full costs allowed unto him, in case he that shall appeal shall not prevail upon his Appeal.  
And further it is hereby Ordered and Ordained by the said Lords and Commons, That all persons employed or to be employed in taking of the said Accounts by virtue of the aforesaid Ordinances, their and every of their Officers and necessary Attendants, and their and every of their horses, shall be free from pressing, and shall not be seized or taken by virtue of any Order or Ordinance, for the service of the State, so long as they or ahy of them are employed in or about the taking of the said Accounts.  
And be it further Ordained, That the Officers and other persons employed by the several sub-committees in each County and City, shall have such reasonable and fitting Allowances as shall be thought fit by the said sub-committees, or the major number of them, and shall be approved of by the Committee for taking the Accounts of the whole Kingdom, or any five of them.  
And be it further ordained, That if any person or persons (not being a Peer of this Realm, Assistant or Officer of the House of Peers, or Member or Officer of the House of Commons) that shall be summoned to appear before the Committee for taking the Accounts of the whole Kingdom, or the said Sub-committees respectively, shall wilfully neglect or refuse to appear before the said Committee or sub-committee, and shall afterwards, for such his neglect or refusal, be sent for, and attached by their Messenger or Messengers, That in such case it shall and may be lawful for the said Messenger so attaching the said person or persons, to take of every such person the sum of two pence for every mile he shall go or ride for the said person or persons so offending, and Twelve pence for the Attachment of the said person offending.  
And be it further Ordained, That it shall and may be lawful for the Register, Accountant, or Clerk to the said Committee for the taking of the Accounts of the whole Kingdom, and their Sub-committees respectively, to take from every person that shall be found in arrear Three pence for every Sheet that shall be written of every Examination or Account, and Twelve pence for every Order which the said person so found in arrear shall desire to have written or copied out for his benefit.  
And be it further Ordained, That the said Committee for the taking of the Accounts of the whole Kingdom, and the said Sub-committees respectively, or any two of them, shall have power and authority to administer to every Register, Accountant, Messenger, or other Officer or person employed, an Oath for their and every of their faithful demeanour, the Tenor whereof followeth.  

I A. B. do swear, That, according to my best Skill and Judgement, I shall faithfully, diligently, and truly demean myself in the Office of _____ or other Employment wherein I shall be employed by the Committee for the taking of the Accounts of the whole Kingdom, or by any Sub-Committee for taking the said Accounts.   
And it is further Ordained, That the Sub-committee of Accounts of each respective County and City, or any five or more of them, shall have full power and authority to send into any other County or City, and to cause all persons accountable for any Moneys or Goods received or taken in the County of which they are Sub-committees (not being a Peer, Assistant or Officer of the House of Peers, or Member or Officer of the House of Commons) to appear before them, for the examination of their former Accounts, according to this and the several Ordinances, unless the Committee for taking the Accounts of the whole Kingdom shall give order to the contrary.  
And be it further Ordained, That if any person or persons, named or to be named, of any Sub-committee of Accounts, according to the said several Ordinances of Accounts, or which shall be named Treasurers according to this Ordinance, shall refuse to take upon them the said respective Employments, or to take the Nationall-Covenant, upon certificate of the several names to the House of Commons, by the Committee for taking the Accounts of the whole Kingdom, they shall receive such punishment as the high Court of Parliament shall think fit.  
FINIS.