December, 1653
[29 December, 1653.]
Names of Commissioners for inquiring into arrears of Excise.; Estates of those refusing to pay arrears to be sequestered till payment made.; And sold, unless arrears and damages paid within six months.; Commissioners to hear and determine all complaints.
For the more speedy and effectuall getting in of all Arrears of
Excize, Be it Ordained by His Highness, the Lord Protector, with
the consent of his Council, and it is Ordained, That Sir William
Roberts Knight, John Stone, Gervas Bennet, John Hildesley,
Richard Lucy, Edward Clud, Tho. Wood, Anthony Rous, James
Phillips, and Nathaniel Barton, Esqs; or any three of them, be
authorized and required, to consider and examine, by Oath or
otherwise, what Arrears of the Excise are not yet paid into the
Treasury for the same, and what remaineth in the hands of any
Farmer, Commissioner, Sub-Commissioner or other person
whatsoever, or for which any person or persons stand engaged
with any Farmer or Sub-Commissioner, and to send for persons
Accompts, Articles, Receipts, Bonds or any writings concerning
Excize, or relating thereunto; and to hear all parties, and to
determine all differences concerning the same, and to commit
any person to safe custody for contempt; and if any person shall
refuse or delay to pay into the said Treasury, all such Arrears of
Excize, and every, or any part thereof, as by the said Commissioners, or any three of them shall be adjudged due to the
Common-wealth, and ordered to be paid, upon such default
certified under the hand of the Treasurer, and from the said
Commissioners, or any three of them; the Commissioners for
Compounding at Haberdashers-hall, shall Sequester the Estate
of all such persons, both personal and real, till such Arrears be
paid with dammages; and in case such Arrears and Dammages shall
not be received and paid within Six Months after such Sequestration then all and every Estate so sequestered, and continuing
so long in Sequestration, may, and shall be, sold by such person
as the Commissioners herein named shall appoint, rendring the
overplus to the person so offending, after such Arrears of Excize
shall be fully paid, with Dammages for the same: and if any
Collector, Receiver, or any other Officer, or person at anytime
relating to the Excize, shall pretend anything due to him from
the Common-wealth, or from any Commissioners for the Excize,
and upon that, or any other pretence, shall detain any money
in his hands, or Arrears unpaid into the Treasury, the said
Commissioners, or any three of them are hereby impowred to
hear and determine the same, and to make such Order and
Allowance in all such cases as shall be just; and the said
Commissioners or any three of them, are impowred to hear and
determine all Suits, Bills, Complaints, or Differences, and to
relieve any person by delivering Bonds, releasing Extents, or
otherwise, in all Cases concerning Excize; as the Barons of the
Exchequer, or the Committee of the late Parlament, for
Inspecting the Treasuries, Regulating Officers Sallaries, or any
other, might have done before this Ordinance, any Custom,
Usage, Statute, Act, or Ordinance, to the contrary notwithstanding.
Power to order Excise Commissioners to farm out excise.; Further powers of Commissioners for arrears.; Their consultations.; They may release persons imprisoned by Excise Commissioners.
And it is further Ordained, That the said Commissioners or
any three of them, be authorized to give Order to the Commissioners of Excize, to farm out the Excize of such Counties,
Places, or Commodities, in England, Wales, and Town of Barwick
upon Tweed, as to the said Commissioners shall appear to be most
advantagious for the Commonwealth, and the ease of the People;
to Commence from the 29. of December, 1653. and continue till
the 25. day of March. 1654. So as the same be not at a less rate
then the Excize of such County, Place, or Commodity, was
farmed at the last year. And the said Commissioners, or any
three of them, are impowred to approve and allow of such
Sallaries, or yearly Wages, and other necessary Charges, as by
the Commissioners for Excise shall be allowed to their Officers
and others, and expended for carrying on of that service; and
shall have 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 Acts,
Ordinances, and Orders of Parlament for the Excize, or the
Ministers imployed in the said service, and shall from time to
time debate consult, and devise of all wayes and means for the
improvement of the Excize, for the best advantage of the
Commonwealth, in pursuance of the several Acts, Ordinances,
and Orders of Parlament relating thereunto, and to prepare such
Laws for the Lord Protector, and his Council, for removing of
Obstructions and Improvement of the Excize, as they shall think
fit and necessary; and from time to time to determine all such
Differences which may happen and arise between the said
Commissioners of Excize, and the Comptroler. And the said
Commissioners or any three of them, are impowred to release
such person or persons from prison, who shall be committed by
the Commissioners for the Excize, or their Sub-Commissioners or
Farmers.