THe Parliament of England now assembled , taking into their Consideration that divers sums of Money , Plate and Goods have been raised and received of the People of the Nation , for which no Accompts have been yet rendred for publique satisfaction : And thinking it very necessary , That all and every the Collectors and Receivers of such Money , Plate and Goods , should make a perfect Accompt of all the said particulars , Do Enact and Ordain , and be it therefore Enacted and Ordained by the Authority of the same Parliament , That the persons hereafter named , that is to say , Richard Wilcox , Thomas Richardson , Nicholas Bond , Henry Broad , Matthias Valentine , John Greensmith , Edward Fielder , John Ufflet , Henry Robinson , William Maddison , and Pierce Robinson , or any five or more of them , shall be a Committee for taking and receiving the Publique Accompts of the Common-wealth . And because several Orders and Ordinances of Parliament have been formerly made and published , for taking Accompts , particularly an Ordinance , entituled , An Ordinance of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament for Taking and receiving the Accoumpts of the whole Kingdom , dated the two and twentieth of February , 1643. and one other explanatory Ordinance of the eleventh of July , 1644. and also another additional Ordinance of the six and twentieth of June , 1645. Be it , and it is hereby further Declared and Enacted , that all Committees named in any such Order or Ordinance , and all Sub-Committees by them named and appointed , shall be , and hereby are discharged from their service herein ; And are hereby required , upon demand of the Committee herein named , to deliver up all their books of accompts , writings , Vouchers , Inventories , Appraisments , Rentals , and all other evidences and papers whatsoever , which are in their or any of their custodies , or in the hands of any other person or persons by their order or appointment , and do any way relate to the Publique accompts of the Common-wealth . And it is further Ordained and Enacted , that the Committee herein named , shall be , and hereby are enabled and authorized to put the said Orders , Ordinances , and all and every clause and clauses therein contained , or so much of them as they shall think fit , in execution , with as full and ample Power and Authority , to all intents and purposes , as the Committees therein named , or any of them are enabled to do : Provided , that this following clause be added to the Oath which is to be taken by every person which shall enter upon this service .

Nor wittingly , willingly , or causlesly molest or trouble any person to his prejudice , and for his vexation , under the pretence or colour of the Authority committed unto me by the Parliament ▪

And for the better taking and expediting the said accompts , Be it , and it is hereby further Declared and Enacted by the Authority aforesaid , That such person or persons within the Cities of London and Westminster , and the Liberties thereof , as shall find themselves any way chargeable or accomptable to the Common-wealth , shall within two and forty dayes after the Printing and publishing of this Act , deliver unto the Committee herein named , a true and perfect account , fairly written , and subscribed with their names , of all Moneyes and other things whatsoever , with which they now are , or heretofore have been chargeable or accountable , to the use of the Common-wealth : And all other persons within this Nation , and the Dominion of Wales , who are yet accountable as aforesaid , shall deliver in their Accompts fairly written and subscribed as aforesaid , to the said Committee , within six months next insuing the Printing and publishing of this Act , unless this Committee shall in the mean time appoint other persons to receive the same : All which accompts shall be brought and delivered in at the Office for accompts , situate and being in Worcester-house . Provided , that if any person shall come and make it appear to the Committee , upon just and Lawful reasons , that his accompts cannot be brought in within such time as aforesaid , then such persons shall be allowed some convenient time , with respect to the length of his accompt , as to the Committee shall seem meet . Provided also , that if any person hath duly and truly past his accompts with , and received his discharge from Parliament , or other persons Authorized thereunto , then such person is hereby required to bring in his Acquittances and Discharges onely , to the Committee , within the time before limited , to the end they may be there taken notice of , and Registred . Provided also , That if any person or persons have delivered in a just and perfect Accompt to the former Committee of Accompts , or to any other person or persons authorized by Parliament to receive the same , and have not received a Discharge therein , Then and in such case the Committee herein named , or any five or more of them , shall consider of the same Accompts so delivered in formerly ; and if they find them to be just and true , then to give a ful discharge and acquittance to such person or persons for the same , by Authority of this present Act of Parliament . And it is further Enacted , That if any person or persons at the time of Publication of this present Act , shall have any sum or sums of money remaining in his or their hands , upon any accompts hereafter to be examined and determined , and shall forthwith make payment of the same unto the Treasurers hereafter named , it shall be allowed unto him or them upon the determination of his or their accompts ; and in the mean time the Acquittances of the said Treasurers shall be to them and every of them a plenary and sufficient discharge . And it is further Declared and Enacted , That whosoever shall after the time aforesaid given for making and bringing in accompts , discover by the Oaths of two credible witnesses , That any Person or Persons , who according to this Act ought to be accomptable , hath not within the time before-mentioned given in his accompt , or appeared before the said Committee to desire time so to do ; or having given in his accompts , That the said Person or Persons had any sum or sums of money remaining thereupon , and not paid in according to this Act ; or that he or they had received more money or other things then is acknowledged upon his or their accompts , then every such Person , who upon due proof and examination before the said Committee , shall be found faulty in the premises , shall forfeit to the use and benefit of the Common-wealth , one full fifth part of the money and other things so concealed , over and above the sum due from the said Person ; which fifth part the Committee herein named are Authorized to Levy upon the estate Real and Personal of such Persons : And every such Discoverer , if he be a Person to whom the Parliament is engaged for arrears of pay as a Soldier , or for money or other things upon the publique Faith , shall receive his arrears or Debt due from the Common-wealth , out of the sum so discovered : Provided it exceed not one third part of the value brought in ; and if such Discoverer shall not have any money due as aforesaid , then he or they shall have and receive for his charges and paines , one fifth part of the moneys or other things so discovered as aforesaid : Provided , That such discovery or surcharge be made within two years from the making and publishing of this present Act. Be it further Enacted , that all persons , who under pretence of Authority from the late King , or any acting under him , have levyed or received Moneys upon any persons of England or Wales , by way of assess , or otherwise , be and are comprehended in this Act , to the end they may be brought to accompt by the persons named in this Act , and in the same manner as is therein expressed ; and that all such persons shall make a just accompt how these moneyes have been disposed of , to the end that what moneyes do appear to remain in their hands , may be disposed of to the relief of the persons from whom they have been taken , or otherwise as the Parliament shall think fit . And it is also Enacted by the Authority aforesaid , That the several sum and sums of money brought in and raised by force and vertue of this present Act , shall be paid by Order of the said Committee , and not otherwise , unto Nathanael Stirrop , and Lieutenant Colonel George Crompton of Westminster , who are hereby nominated and appointed Treasurers for the same ; All which moneyes ( such Salaries being first allowed and paid unto the several Officers imployed by the said Committee , and such other incident charges , as the said Committee shall find necessary in the execution of this Service , whose Warrant shal be a sufficient discharge to the Treasurers for payment of the same ) shall be issued out , and disposed of for the service of the Commonwealth , and not otherwise , by Order of Parliament . Provided , That it shall and may be lawful for the said Treasurers , to deduct one penny in every Twenty shillings value of such money as shall be paid unto them , for and towards their Charge and Paines in the execution of this service .