July 1644
[10 July, 1644.]
Whereas upon the former Ordinance of both Houses of
Parliament, for taking the Accompts of the Kingdome, some
doubt doth arise, whether there be sufficient power given the
Committee named in that Ordinance, by the express words thereof
to determine any Accompts by them taken, and to receive and
keep the Vouchers which concern the same Accompts; And
whereas the sub-Committees to be appointed by them by vertue
of the said Ordinance, in any County, City, or place where they
shall think meet, have the self-same power given them within
their several limits as the said Committee hath, and are not
appointed to receive any directions from, or to return any
Accompts unto them, which will prove inconvenient, and hinder
the Orderly taking of the said Accompts by the said
Committee.
Committee for accounts have power to determine accompts and give discharges.; Committees shall once a month take particular musters and keep muster Rolles.; Horses & Arms shall be made good unless lost in actual service.; Muster Rolls shall be returned to the Committee for Accompts.; Fines imposed and moneys due shal be paid into the Chamber of London.; Salaries of Clerks, and incident charges of the Committees to be paid out.
Be it therefore Ordained by the Lords and Commons in
Parliament, That the said Committee or any five or more of them,
shall have power and authority to determine the Accompts by
them taken, to give discharges in writings under the hands of any
five or more of them, and to receive and keep all Vouchers which
concern the same; And that all and every sub-Committees,
appointed or to be appointed by vertue of the said Ordinance,
shall pursue such directions as they shall from time to time
receive from the said Committee of Accompts, for the better ordering
and expediting of their Accompts, and likewise to return unto
them all and singular Accompts which shall be taken by them
before the same shall be finally determined. And because a true
Accompt cannot be taken of such moneys as are payed unto the
Armies Officers, and Souldiers in the several Garrisons, Cities and
Counties of the Kingdom, except exact Musters be duly made
and kept of the said Forces, and accompts taken of the Arms
and Horse in the several Counties aforesaid; It is hereby further
Ordained, That the several Committees of Parliament, or such or
so many of them as have power to execute the several Ordinances
in the said Counties, Cities and Garrisons, shall from time to
time hereafter, every Moneth at the least, or oftner if they shall
see cause, take particular Musters, and keep true Muster Rolls, of
all the Officers and Souldiers by name now being, or hereafter
to be raised within the said several Counties, Cities, and Garrisons
where they are authorized as Committees of Parliament; and
that all Colonels, Captains, and Officers within the said Armies,
Counties, Cities, and Garisons raised or to be raised, shall from
time to time make good all Horses and Arms under their several
Commands, unto the said several Committees of Parliament, in
the said several Counties, Cities, and Garisons aforesaid, unless
the same were lost in actual service; and the said several Committees of Parliament shall return the said Muster Rolls, or true
notes of all the Musters aforesaid, and certifie all the defects
therein, and of Arms and Horse aforesaid unto the Committee
for the Accompts of the Kingdom, or unto the several sub-Committees of Accompts in the several Counties of the Kingdom,
which the same sub-Committees shall return up unto the said
Committee of Accompts in manner and form aforesaid, to the
end that satisfaction may be made unto the Commonwealth for
such loss of Horse and Arms out of the said Officers pay. And
that all Fines to be imposed by vertue of the said Ordinance of
Accompts, and all such sums of money as the said Committee of
Accompts, or any two of them shall certifie to be due, and owing
by any Person or Persons upon their said Accompts determined
by them, shall be payed into the Chamber of London, and shall
not be issued out but by Orders of both Houses; which Orders
shall be first entred with the said Committee of Accompts before
any money be payed upon the same, other then arreres of such
moneys as by particular Acts of Parliament, and Ordinances, are
limited to particular Treasurers nominated in the said Acts of
Parliament, and Ordinances which shall be paid in to the said
Treasurers. And be it further Ordained by the Authority aforesaid, that such sum and sums of money as the said Committee, or
any five of them shall finde necessary for the paying and satisfying
of the Registers, Accomptants, Clerks, Agents, and Ministers
imployed by them or otherwise, for defraying any charges for
taking the said Accompts, shall be paid out of the Chamber of
the Chamber of London aforesaid, whensoever the said Committee
or any five of them shall require the same, for which they shall
keep and give a true and perfect accompt under their hands in
writing, and that according to an Order of the thirteenth of
March, two hundred pounds shall be forthwith payed unto the
said Committee for Accompts.