June, 1645
[6 June, 1645.]
Whereas sundry Persons liable to Payment of the Duty of
Excise, contrary to the true Intent and Meaning of the several
Ordinances passed in that Behalf do leave no Means unpractised
to defraud the State: To the Intent that the timely removing
of many growing Obstructions in the managing of those Affairs
may take away all Discouragements from the Officers intrusted
therein, and that the State may be no longer defrauded in this
so great and necessary Service; the Lords and Commons in
Parliament assembled, for advancing and improving the same,
do hereby Ordain and Declare, That the Earl of Northumberland,
Earl of Kent, Earl of Rutland, Earl of Pembroke, Earl of
Essex, Earl of Nottingham, Earl of Suffolk, Earl of Salisbury, Earl
of Warwicke, Earl of Denbigh, Earl of Bollingbrooke, Earl of
Manchester, Earl of Stamford, Lord Viscount Say & Seal, Lord
Berkly, Lord Dacres, Lord Wharton, Lord Willoughby, Lord
North, Lord Mountague, Lord Grey of Warke, Lord Roberts, Lord
Maynard, Lord Howard of Escrick, Lord Herbert, Lord Bruce
Mr. Vassall, Mr. John Ash, Mr. Edward Ash, Mr. Reynolds, Mr.
Recorder, Mr. Bond, Mr. Squire Bence, Mr. Alexander Bence,
Mr. Prideaux, Mr. Trenchard, Mr. Beddingfeild, Mr. Greene, Mr.
Jennor, Mr. Hoyle, Sir Oliver Luke, Bulstrod Whitlocke Esquire,
Mr. Cornelius Holland, Mr. John Roll, Mr. Anthony Nicholls,
Mr. Richard Barwis, Sir Dudly North, Sir Wm. Brereton,
Sir John Curson, Sir Samuell Roll, Sir William Masham,
Mr. Nathaniell Stephens, Mr. Valontine Walton, Sir
Wm. Litton, Sir Robert Harley Knight of the Bath, Mr.
Augustine Skinner, Sir Anthony Irby, Mr. Wm. Ellis, Sir
Christofer Wray, Sir Arthur Haselrigg, Mr. Wm. Ashurst, Sir
Gilbert Gerrard, Mr, Isaac Penington, Mr. Henry Herbert, Mr.
Richard Knightly, Mr. Gilbert Millington, Sir John Potts, Mr.
Thomas Toll, Mr. Miles Corbett, Sir Thomas Widdrington, Sir
Robert Pye, Sir Richard Onslow, Mr. Mich. Noble, Mr. Wm.
Spurstowe, Mr. Richard Whitehead, Sir Wm. Lewis, Mr. John
Gourden, Mr. Alexander Popham, Mr. Anthony Stapley, Mr.
Tho. Moore, John Wild Serjeant at Law, Wm. Purefoy, Esquire,
Ferd. Lord Fairefax, Peregrin Pelham Esquire, Sir Henry
Cholmely, Mr. Richard Harmon, Mr. Jeson, Sir Tho. Dacres,
Mr. Rigby, Mr. Sallway, Sir John Corbett, or any Five of them,
be Committees for Excise, and shall sit Once in every Fourteen
Days, or oftener if need shall require; and shall have further
Power to send for Parties, Witnesses, Writings and Records, and
to commit to Prison such as shall appear unto them to hinder
and oppose the Execution of the several Ordinances of Excise,
or the Ministers employed in that Service; and shall, from Time
to Time, debate, consult, and advise, of all Ways and Means, for
the Improvement of the Excise, for the best Advantage of the
State, in Pursuance of the several Ordinances of Parliament;
and to prepare such Ordinances, for the removing of Obstructions and Improvement of the Excise, as they shall think fit
and necessary.