June 1645: Ordinance for regulating the Excise.

June, 1645

[6 June, 1645.]

Whereas sundry Persons liable to Payment of the Duty of Excise, contrary to the true Intent and Meaning of the several Ordinances passed in that Behalf do leave no Means unpractised to defraud the State: To the Intent that the timely removing of many growing Obstructions in the managing of those Affairs may take away all Discouragements from the Officers intrusted therein, and that the State may be no longer defrauded in this so great and necessary Service; the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, for advancing and improving the same, do hereby Ordain and Declare, That the Earl of Northumberland, Earl of Kent, Earl of Rutland, Earl of Pembroke, Earl of Essex, Earl of Nottingham, Earl of Suffolk, Earl of Salisbury, Earl of Warwicke, Earl of Denbigh, Earl of Bollingbrooke, Earl of Manchester, Earl of Stamford, Lord Viscount Say & Seal, Lord Berkly, Lord Dacres, Lord Wharton, Lord Willoughby, Lord North, Lord Mountague, Lord Grey of Warke, Lord Roberts, Lord Maynard, Lord Howard of Escrick, Lord Herbert, Lord Bruce Mr. Vassall, Mr. John Ash, Mr. Edward Ash, Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Recorder, Mr. Bond, Mr. Squire Bence, Mr. Alexander Bence, Mr. Prideaux, Mr. Trenchard, Mr. Beddingfeild, Mr. Greene, Mr. Jennor, Mr. Hoyle, Sir Oliver Luke, Bulstrod Whitlocke Esquire, Mr. Cornelius Holland, Mr. John Roll, Mr. Anthony Nicholls, Mr. Richard Barwis, Sir Dudly North, Sir Wm. Brereton, Sir John Curson, Sir Samuell Roll, Sir William Masham, Mr. Nathaniell Stephens, Mr. Valontine Walton, Sir Wm. Litton, Sir Robert Harley Knight of the Bath, Mr. Augustine Skinner, Sir Anthony Irby, Mr. Wm. Ellis, Sir Christofer Wray, Sir Arthur Haselrigg, Mr. Wm. Ashurst, Sir Gilbert Gerrard, Mr, Isaac Penington, Mr. Henry Herbert, Mr. Richard Knightly, Mr. Gilbert Millington, Sir John Potts, Mr. Thomas Toll, Mr. Miles Corbett, Sir Thomas Widdrington, Sir Robert Pye, Sir Richard Onslow, Mr. Mich. Noble, Mr. Wm. Spurstowe, Mr. Richard Whitehead, Sir Wm. Lewis, Mr. John Gourden, Mr. Alexander Popham, Mr. Anthony Stapley, Mr. Tho. Moore, John Wild Serjeant at Law, Wm. Purefoy, Esquire, Ferd. Lord Fairefax, Peregrin Pelham Esquire, Sir Henry Cholmely, Mr. Richard Harmon, Mr. Jeson, Sir Tho. Dacres, Mr. Rigby, Mr. Sallway, Sir John Corbett, or any Five of them, be Committees for Excise, and shall sit Once in every Fourteen Days, or oftener if need shall require; and shall have further 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 Ordinances of Excise, or the Ministers employed in that Service; and shall, from Time to Time, debate, consult, and advise, of all Ways and Means, for the Improvement of the Excise, for the best Advantage of the State, in Pursuance of the several Ordinances of Parliament; and to prepare such Ordinances, for the removing of Obstructions and Improvement of the Excise, as they shall think fit and necessary.