ALthough we are very sensible of the great and heavy Taxes, & other publique bur­thens, which for the present are lying upon this Nation, and that nothing is to be more wished & endeavoured, next after the glory of God, and securing of this great Cause, than [Page 2] the ease of the People in this particular: Yet considering the great and important occasions and engagements of this Common-wealth at this time, both at Land and at Sea, requi­ring greater summes of money, than can be an­swered out of other publique receipts, which through the former improvident management of affaires, are either exhausted, or clogged with vaste anticipations; and that without a sup­ply of money by continuing of the monethly Assesment for some time longer, the Armies in England, Scotland & Ireland, would be necessitated to burthen the People with free quarter, the Warre with the united Provinces of the Ne­therlands, of so much concernment to the wel­faire of this Nation, be put in danger of mis­carrying; and the other affaires of this Com­mon-wealth, fall into disorder and confusion.

And because the Persons to whom the Su­pream Authority, according to our former De­claration is to be committed, cannot assemble time enough to take care therein, the Act of As­sesment expiring the 24. of this present June.

In this exegency, and upon this extraordi­nary occasion, it is thought necessary to De­clare and Order, and it is hereby Declared and Ordered by the Lord Generall, with the ad­vice of his Councill of Officers; That the last Act of Assesment beginning the 25 of De­cember, and ending the 24 of Iune: whereby one hundred & twenty thousand pounds by the moneth is laid upon the severall Counties, Cit­ties, Townes, and places therein mentioned, and every Clause therein contained, the seve­rall Taxes and Payments therein expressed, [Page 3] and the Powers and Authorities thereby given to all and every the Commissioners, Commit­tees, or Persons, or any of them named or men­tioned in the said Act, shall endure and have continuance for six moneths longer, from the said four and twentieth day of Iune 1653, unto the five and twentieth of DECEMBER next following, to all intents and purposes, as if the said Act had been at first made to have continuance for twelve moneths from the said five and twentieth day of December 1652.

And all persons impoured by, or by vertue of the said Act as Commissioners or otherwise, are hereby required and enjoyned, to rate, assesse, levy and collect the said six moneths Assesment, and to execute and do all matters whatsoever relating thereto as fully and amply to all intents and purposes, as they are enabled by the said Act, to levy and Collect the last six moneths Assesment.

And further, that the said Commissioners for the several and respective Counties, Cities and Towns, do meet at the most common and usuall place of meeting in each of the said Counties, Cities and Towns, for which they are Commissioners, respectively on or before the four and twentyeth day of this in­stant Iune; and the said Commissioners, or so many of them as shall then and there attend, and be present, shall cause this declaration to be put in execution, and shall thereupon send out their Warrants for the Asses­sing, collecting, and paying, the said six mo­neths Tax, so as the first three of the said six moneths Assesment, be paid into the Receivers Generall, upon or before the 30 day of Iuly next ensuing, and the last three moneths be paid, as aforesaid, upon or before the first day of November following.

And for that it is intended that an exact ac­count shall be given of all moneys which shall be Assessed, Leavied, & Collected throughout this Nation by vertue hereof, It is hereby required, That the several Receivers Generall of this As­sesment in the respective Counties and places, do within fourteene dayes after the end of the said six moneths, returne a perfect account of all the moneys they shall receive thereupon, to the Committee for the Army.

And seeing the said Assesment is continued upon no other grounds then are before expressed, It is not doubted, but the good and well-af­fected people of this Nation, who still retaine sound and honest Principles, will chearfully act in their severall places and stations, to pro­mote and further this service.

And if any, upon what pretence soever, shall refuse to pay the said Assesments or discourage or weaken the hands of others therein: All­though we doubt not, but all their endeavours in this kind will prove ineffectuall, yet they are to be looked upon, and proceeded against as those who from a Spirit of Malignity and oppositi­on to the Cause of God in this Land (though upon other pretences) have indeavoured, as far as in them lies, to subiect the People of England, Ireland, and Scotland, to free quarter, and to bring the Navy into discontent for want of pay at this time, when this Nation is engaged in so great a Warre at Sea: hoping thereby to plunge these Nations againe into troubles, and give new advantages to the Common Enemy.

And in case any of those who have formerly been Instrumental and Helpers in this great Cause, shall be found in their number, although it will be [Page 5] matter of great trouble & grief to us to see men thus by degrees fall short, divide, and withdraw themselves from publique ends; Yet as the Apo­stacy, & turning away of many amongst us for­merly, who at first seemd to be zealous promoters of this work, hath not been able to keep it at a stand, so our trust and confidence is, that now through the grace and goodnesse of God; nei­ther the neutrality and indifferency of some, nor the defection and opposition of others, no, though so grosse and open, as to close with the Enemies of the power and life of godlinesse, shall be any hinderance or prejudice thereunto: But that the same Spirit and presence which hath hitherto helped us in our greatest difficul­ties, and most eminent dangers; will still owne us and the rest of his People in this Land, and enable us to persevere unto the end against all discouragements whatsoever.

And it is hereby further declared, That all and every the Commissioners, Committees, and other persons whatsoever which shall act, do or execute any thing by vertue of, and in pur­suance of this Declaration and Order, shall be saved harmlesse and indemnified.