OLIVER, Lord Protector of the Com­monwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and the Dominions thereto belonging, To our right trusty and welbeloved, the Commissioners of and for our Treasury, the Barons of our Exchequer, and our Attorney General for the time being; And all other our Officers and Ministers of or in our Exchequer; And all others, to whom these presents shall appertain, and to every of them, Greeting;

Whereas by our Letters Patents under our Great Seal of England, bearing date at Westminster the Three and twentieth day of May, in the year of our Lord God, One thousand six hundred fifty and six, we have for the Reasons therein expressed, nomi­nated, constituted, and appointed Ralph Hall, Peter Elliston, John Griffith, Edward Carey, John Wilsby, William Bridges, and Nathaniel Stirrup, Esquires, to be our Commissioners, and have thereby impowred and authorized, and appointed them or any four or more of them, to receive for and on our behalf, all such Informations as should by any person or per­sons [Page 4]be exhibited before them, touching or any way concerning our Manors, Lands, Tenements, Rents, Arrears of Rents, Debts, Duties, Moneys, Plate, Iewels, Goods, Chattels, or other things belonging to us in right of the Commonwealth, and not pardoned, but unjustly concealed and detained. And by all such good and lawful ways and means, as to them or any four or more of them, should seem meet to send for any Persons, Parties, Witnesses, Records, Accompts, Books, and Writings whatso­ever; And if upon any such Information, Exami­nation, and Inquiry, and full hearing of the parties concerned, and mature consideration had of the whole matter, it should appear unto them our said Com­missioners, or any four or more of them, That any such Lands, Tenements, Rents, Arrears of Rents, Debts, Duties, Moneys, Goods, Chattels, Plate, Iewels, or other things, so belonging to us in right of the Commonwealth, and not pardoned, be un­justly concealed or detained as aforesaid; then they our said Commissioners, or any four or more of them should forthwith from time to time, under their Hands and Seals, certifie all such Manors, Lands, Tenements, Rents, Arrears of Rents, Debts, Duties, Moneys, Goods, Chattels, Plate, Iewels, and other things so discovered; together with the whole matter, touching such Discovery or Discove­ries to you our said Commissioners of our Treasury for the time being, to the end you our said Commis­sioners of our Treasury, might forthwith cause the premises by Proces out of our Court of Exchequer, to be duly seised into our hands, and to that purpose put in charge in the great Roll of the Pipe there; which said Commissioners for Discoveries or four or more of them, we did in and by our said Letters Pa­tents, command and require to meet upon Monday the Six and twentieth day of May last past, by nine of the clock in the morning at Worcester-House in the [Page 5] Strand, in the County of Middlefex, then and there to enter upon the execution of that our Commission, and to proceed therein for the space of one whole year, from the date of our said Commission, or until we should signifie our pleasure to the contrary.

And whereas for the Reasons in our Letters Pa­tents at large expressed, We have declared our will and pleasure to be, and have thereby with the advice and consent of our Council, granted, That all and every person and persons, who before you our said Commissioners of and for our Treasury had then discovered, or upon any Information or Informa­tions to be afterwards exhibited before them our said Commissioners for Discoveries, or any four or more of them should discover, or upon any Bill or Infor­mation then exhibited, or afterwards to be exhibited in our said Court of Exchequer, had then discovered or should after discover any such Manors, Lands, Tenements, Money, Plate, Iewels, or any other the premises so belonging to us, and not pardoned, but unjustly concealed or detained as aforesaid; and the respective Heirs, Executors, Administrators and Assigns of all and thery such person and persons so discovering, should from time to time, and at all tiems, have and enjoy to their own use and behoof, one full Fifth part, or so much more as you our Com­missioners of our Treasury for the time being, should think fit to allow of all Annual and other sum and sums which should be paid into the Receipt of our Exchequer, upon any such Discovery or Discoveries, and upon the prosecution of any such person or per­sons so discovering respectively; And that if any persons or persons be seised of any such Manor, Lands, Tenements, Rents, Moneys, Plate, Iewels, Goods, or Chattels, or owing any such Ar­rears of Rents, Debts, and Duties, so belonging to us, and not pardoned, but unjustly concealed or de­tained as aforesaid, should voluntarily first discover [Page 6]the same unto you our said Commissioners of our Treasury for the time being, before any such disco­very thereof made as aforesaid, and should submit unto such Orders and Directions, as should by you our said Commissioners of our Treasury be given, for the more speedy seising into our hands, and due charging in the great Roil of the Pipe aforesaid, all such Manors, Lands, Tenements, Rents, Ar­rears of Rents, Debts, Duties, Goods, and Chat­tels; so voluntarily discovered as aforesaid, then and in such case onely; We have in and by our said Let­ters Patents declared our will to be, That such per­son and persons so voluntarily discovering, and his, her, and their respective Heirs and Assigns, should from time to time, and at all times have and enjoy to their own use one full Fifth part, or so much more as you our Commissioners of our Treasury, should think fit to allow of all Annual, or other sum or sums of Money which should be paid into the Receipt of our Exchequer, upon voluntary discovery or disco­veries of any such Manors, Lands, Tenements, Goods, Chattels, or other the premises; and should likewise have Allowance, Deduction, Defalcation, and Retainer, to him, her, or themselves, of one full Fifth part, or of so much more as you our said Com­missioners of our Treasury should think fit, to al­low of all such Arrears of Reants, Debts, Duties, Plate, Iewels, and sums of Money so voluntarily discovered, to be in his, her, or their possession, or by him, her, or them owing, concealed or detained as aforesaid.

And whereas in and by our said Letters Patents, we have declared our further will and pleasure to be, That if any person or persons having compounded, and having any Manors, Lands, Tenements, Rents Arrears of Rents, Debts, Duties, Moneys, Plate, Iewels, Goods, or Chattels, omitted out of his, her, or their Composition or Compositions not [Page 7]pardoned, but unjustly concealed or detained as afore­said, or being then under Sequestration for the De­linquency or Recusancy; and having any Manors, Lands, Tenements, Rents, Arrears of Rents, Debts, Duties, Moneys, Plate, Iewels, Goods, or Chattels, not sequestred nor pardoned but con­cealed or detained as aforesaid; or being comprised in any Act for Sale; and having any Copihold or Cu­stomary Lands or Arrears of Rents, Debts, Du­ties, Goods or Chattels, not sequesrred nor pardon­ed, but concealed or detained as aforesaid; Do and should before any such discovery thereof made as a­foresaid, Petition you our said Commissioners of our Treasury for the time being, to be admitted to compound for the same; Then we have thereby willed and authorised you our said Commissioners of our Treasury, That in such case you compound with such person or persons so petitioning after the rate of one Fourth part of the value of such Ma­nors, Lands, Tenements, Rents, Arrears of Rents, Debts, Duties, Moneys, Goods, and Chattels respectively; and have by our said Let­ters Patents, delared and granted by and with the advice and consent of our Council, That all ande­very such person and persons who should compound as aforesaid, and after submit unto such Orders and Directions as by you our said Commissioners of our Treasury should be given, for duly charging such sum or sums of Money as should be due, and owing upon such Composition or Compositions in the Roll of the Pipe, and should duly pay the same into the Receipt of our Exchequer; and the Heirs, Executors, Administrators and Assigns of such per­son and persons so compounding, submitting, and paying, should and might peaceably hold and enjoy all such Manors, Lands, Tenements, Rents, Ar­rears of Rents, Debts, Duties, Goods and Chat­tels so compounded for, free and clear, of and from [Page 8]any Seisure, Sequestration or Molestation what­soever, any thing in that our said Commission or otherwise to the contrary notwithstanding; as in and by our said Letters Patents relation, being thereunto had more at large (amongst other things) it doth and may appear.

And whereas we have received Information, that the said Nathaniel Stirrup, one of our Commissioners beforementioned, is lately dead, Know ye, That we by the advice of our Council, have nominated and assigned, and by these presents, Do nominate and assign our trusty and welbeloved Robert Griffith Esq to be One of our Commissioners as aforesaid, in the stead and place of him the said Nathaniel Stirrup, de­ceased; to do and execute all and singular, the Pow­ers and Authorities in our said Letters of Commis­sion mentioned, and all and every other thing and things therein contained, together with our said other Commissioners surviving, according to the purport and intent thereof; and that in as full and ample manner and form to all intents and purposes, as if he the said Robert Griffith had been specially and expresly named One of our said Commissioners in that our Commission aforesaid. And our will and pleasure is, That he the said Robert Griffith be re­puted and taken as one of our Commissioners afore­said, by force and vertue of these presents, to do and execute the premises accordingly; And to the intent and purpose, That our will and pleasure in and by our said Letters Patents, so as above declared, may be put in due execution; And all such Fifths, Allowances, Defalcations, and Compositions, may be duly had and made according to the true intent and meaning of our said (in part recited) Letters Patents, Know ye further, That we have autho­rised and required and by these presents, do autho­rise and require you our Commissioners of our Treasury for the time being, or any Two or more of [Page 9]you, from time to time, to receive as well all such Certificates of any such Discovery or Discoveries made or to be made before our said Commissioners for Discoveries, or any four of them; as also all such voluntary Discoveries as have been or shall be first made before you our Commissioners of our Treasury, or any two or more of you as aforesaid: And we have authorised and required, and by these presents do authorise and require you our Commissi­oners of our Treasury, Barons of our Exchequer, and our Attorney General for the time being, and all other our Officers and Ministers of, and in our said Exchequer, whom it may concern, That according to the duties of your several places, you causeall such Manors, Lands, Tenements, Rents, Arrears of Rents, Debts, Duties, Moneys, Plate, Iewels, Goods, Chattels and other things, so as above cer­tified to be discovered before our said Commissioners for Discoveries, or any four of them, or so as above voluntarily first discovered before you our said Com­missioners of our Treasury for the time being, to be seised into our hands by due Proces out of our said Exchequer, or put in charge either in the great Roll of the Pipe, or with the Auditors of our said Ex­chequer, As to you our Commissioners of our Treasury for the time being, shall be thought most advantagious for the Commonwealth in that be­half.

And we have authorised and required, and by these presents, do authorise and require you our said Com­missioners of our Treasury for the time being, or any two or more of you from time to time, to allow unto all and every such person and persons, who be­fore you our said Commissioners of our Treasury, have, at, or before the day of the date of our said Commission, so as above discovered, or before our said Commissioners for Discoveries, have so as a­bovesaid discovered, or shall hereafter discover; or [Page 10]upon any Bill or Information exhibited or to be ex­hibited in our said Court of Exchequer, have so as above discovered, or shall hereafter discover; and to the Heirs, Executors, Administrators, and Assigns, of all and every such person or persons so discovering, one full Fifth part of all such Annual and other sum or sums of Money whatsoever; as by the joynt or several Certificate or Certificates of the Clerk of the Pells, of the Receipt of our Exche­quer, and other our Officer or Officers, unto whom it shall appertain, shall appear unto you the Com­missioners of our Treasury for the time being, or any two or more of you, to be paid into the Receipt of our Exchequer, upon any such Discovery or Dis­coveries, and upon the prosecution of such person or persons so discovering respectively.

And we do also by these presents, authorise and require you our Commissioners of our Treasury for the time being, or any two or more of you from time to time, to grant your Warrant or Warrants, for the due payment out of the Receipt of our Ex­chequer, of such Fifth part, or Fifth parts, unto such person or persons so discovering, and their Heirs, Executors, Administrators, and Assigns, respective­ly. Nevertheless, if any person or persons being so as above said, seised or possessed of any Manors, Lands, Tenements, Moneys, Plate, Iewels, Goods, Chattels, or other things, or owing any Rents, Arrears of Rents, Debts, or other things so as above, belonging unto us, and concealed or de­tained as aforesaid, have so as above, voluntarily first discovered, or shall voluntarily first discover the same unto you our Commissioners of our Treasury for the time being, before any such discovery thereof, made as aforesaid; and have submitted or shall sub­mit unto such Orders and Directions, as by you our Commissioners of our Treasury for the time being, or any two or more of you have been or shall [Page 11]be given, for the due seising into our hands, the premises so voluntarily discovered or to be discovered, and putting the same in charge in the great Roll of the Pipe, or with the Auditors of our Exchequer; Then our will and pleasure is, and we do by these presents, authorise and require you our Commissi­oners of our Treasury for the time being, or any two or more of you from time to time; and at all times to make allowance by way of Deduction, De­falcation, and Retainer, to such person and persons, so voluntarily discovering, and his, her, and their Heirs, Executors, Administrators and Assigns re­spectively, of one full Fifth part of al such Rents, Ar­rears of Rents, Moneys, and Debts, so volunta­rily first discovered; and also to make allowance un­to such person and persons, so voluntarily discover­ing; and his, her, and their Heirs, Executors, Ad­ministrators and Assigns respectively, of one full Fifth part of all such Annual, and other sum and sums of Money, as by such Certificate or Certifi­cates of our said Clerk of the Pells, of the Receipt of our Exchequer, and other our Officers, to whom it shall appertain, shall appear unto you our Com­missioners of our Treasury for the time being, to be paid into the Receipt of one Exchequer, upon such voluntary Discovery or Discoveries of any such Manors, Lands, Tenements, Plate, Iewels, Goods, and Chattels: And also, we do by these presents authorise and require you our Commission­ers of our Treasury for the time being, or any two or more of you, from time to time, to grant your Warrant or Warrants as well for striking of Tal­lies for such Fifts by way of Deduction, Defalcati­on and Retainer; as also for the due payment out of the Receipt of our Exchequer of such Fifths, of all such Annual and other sums of Money, unto such person or persons so voluntarily discovering and submitting, and his, her, and their Heirs; Executors, [Page 12]Administrators, and Assigns, respectively. And for the better satisfaction unto all and every such person and persons, any ways intitled unto any such Fifths as aforesaid, We do by these presents authorise and require you our said Commissioners of our Treasury for the time being, or any two or more of you from time to time to contract with any person or persons so intitled unto any such Fifths for any Lease or Leases of any such Manors, Lands, or Tenements so discovered for any term of years, to be made unto such person or persons so intitled, in full satisfaction of such their Fifths as abovesaid: And such Lease and Leases so to be contracted for, and made, shall pass under our Great Seal of Eng­land, or the Seal of our Exchequer, by Warrant un­der the hands of you our Commissioners of our Treasury for the time being, or of any two or more of you: And we do by these presents, further au­thorise and require you our Commissioners of our Treasury for the time being, or any two or more of you, from time to time to receive the Petition and Petitions of all and every such person and persons, as having compounded, and having any such Ma­nors, Lands, Tenements, Rents, Arrears of Rents, Debts, Duties, Moneys, Plate, Iewels, Goods or Chattels, omitted out of his or their Com­position or Compositions, and so unjustly concealed or detained, as aforesaid; and being now under Se­questration for Delinquency or Recusancy, and ha­ving any such Manors, Lands, Tenements, Rents, Arrears of Rents, Debts, Duties, Moneys, Plate, Iewels, Goods, or Chattels not sequestred, but concealed or detained as aforesaid, or being com­prised in any Act for Sale, and having any Copihold or Customary Lands, or Arrears of Rents, Debts, Duties, Goods, or Chattels not sequestred, but con­cealed or detained as aforesaid, or the Petition and Petitions of the Heirs, Executors, Administrators, [Page 13]or Assigns of such person or persons, having so com­pounded, or being, or having been so under Se­questration, or being so comprised in any Act for Sale as aforesaid respectively, as shall before any discovery thereof made as aforesaid; and before the expiration of our said Commission, Petition you our Commissioners of our Treasury for the time being, to be admitted to compound for the same respective­ly; and to compound with all and every such person and persons so Petitioning, after the rate of one Fourth part of the value of such Manors, Lands, Tenements, Rents, Arrears of Rents, Debts, Duties, Moneys, Plate, Goods and Chattels, respectively; and also to make and give such Orders and Directions as to you our Commissioners of our Treasury for the time being, or any two or more of you shall be thought fit for the due charging the great Roll of the Pipe; all and every such sum and sums of money so due or owing upon any such Com­position or Compositions respectively, and for the speedy payment thereof into the Receipt of our Ex­chequer accordingly.

And we do by these presents authorise, will and re­quire you our Commissioners of our Treasury, Ba­rons of our Exchequer, and our Attorney General for the time being, and all other our Officers and Ministers of and in our Exchequer, whom it may concern, To permit and suffer all and every such per­son and persons, that shall so Petition and Com­pound, and shall likewise observe and perform such Orders and Directions, and their Heirs, Executors, Administrators and Assigns respectively, from time to time, quietly and peaceably to have hold and oc­cupy, all such Manors, Lands, Tenements, Rents, Arrears of Rents, Debts, Duties, Moneys, Plate, Iewels, Goods, and Chattels, so compounded for, free and clear, of and from any Seisure, Sequestra­tion, or other Molestation whatsoever; Any Law, [Page 14]Statute, Act, Ordinance, or any other matter or thing whatsoever to the contrary, in any wise not­withstanding: And for so doing, and for observing and executing our will and pleasure herein expressed, and the several Authorities hereby given, These pre­sents shall be unto you, and every of you respectively, a good, absolute and sufficient discharge. In wit­ness whereof, We have caused these our Letters to be made Patents; witness our self at Westminster the Twelfth day of March, One thousand six hundred fifty and six.