FOr the more speedy and effectual 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 Excize 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 [Page 48] 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 Common­wealth, 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 Moneths after such Sequestration, then all and every Estate so sequestred, 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 any time relating to the Excize, shall pretend any thing due to him from the Com­monwealth, 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 [Page 49] 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, Vsage, Statute, Act, or Ordi­nance, to the contrary notwithstanding.

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 Excize 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 [Page 50] 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.