people wherby many disherisons and divers great mischeifes and damages bee hapned aswell to the King as to his said people and to all his Realm wherof hee to the honor of God and for the weale of him and his Realm And for the quietness and Releif of him and of his people who have ben in divers manners greatly charged before this time willing with the grace of God against such mischeifes to provide a good and due remedy HATH of his free will and at the request of the Lords and Comons aforesaid ordayned made and assigned his great Officers that is to say The Chancellor Treasurer and keeper of his Privie Seale such as hee holdeth good sufficient and lawfull for the honor and profit of him and his Realm And moreover of his authoritie royall certain knowledg and good agree and freewill And by the advice and assent of the Prelats Lords and Comons aforesaid in the full Parlament in ayd of good governance of his Realm And good and due execution of his said Lawes And in releif of the Estate of him and his people in time to com uppon the full trust that he hath of good advisement witt and discretion of the Honorable Fathers in GOD William Arch Bishop of Canterbury and Alexander Arch Bishop of York his dear Uncles â—dmond duke of York and Thomas duke of Glocester the honorble Fathers in GOD William Bishop of Winchester Thomas Bushop of Exeter and Nicolas Abbott of waltham and his wellbeloved and Faithfull Richard Earl of Arundell John Lord of Cobham Sir Richard le Scrope John Devoreux hath ordained and assigned and deputed them by his Letters Patents under his great Seal to be of his greate and continuall Counsel from S. Edmonds Eve the Martyr by a whole year next following after the date of the said Letters Patens to survey and examine with the said great officers That is to say the Chancellor Treasurer and keeper of his privie Seal aswell the Estate and governance of his house and of all his Courts and places as of all his Realm as of all his officers and Ministers of whatsoever Estate Degree or condition hee bee aswell within the said Hous as without and to enquire and take Information by all the wayes which to them best shal seeme of al the rents revennues and profits that to him appertaneth and be due aswell within the Realm as without in any manner way or condition And of all manner of Gifts and Grants alienations and confirmations made by him of Lands Tenements Rents and ymmunities profits Revenues wards marriges Escheats forfeitures franchises liberties voydances of Archbushops Bushiprickes Abbies Priores Fermes of Howses and Possessions of Aliens And of all other possessions soms of money goods and Chattels and of all other things and to what persons and for what caus and how and in what manner And namely of those persons which have taken without desert And also all manner of Revenues and profits aswell of his said Realm as of Lands Seigniories Cities Towns Castles Fortresses and also of all manner his other posesons aswell on this side the Sea as beyond and of the profits and emoluments of his money bullions and of the taking of Prisoners Towns and Places Ships Carackes good and Ransoms of warre by land and by sea And of benifices and other possessions of Cardinals Rebels and all other aliens and also of carrying of money out of the Realm by the Collectors of the Pope Procurators of the Cardinals Lumberds other persons aswell aliens as Denizens And of the Emoluments and profits coming and rising out of the Customs Subsides of Wools Leather And woolfels and of smal Custstomes and other Subssedies of Cloethes Wynes and all other Marchandize And of disines quinzins And all other subsides and charges granted by the Clergie and the Comons and also of the receipt profits and payments of the hamper of his Chancery And of all other his receipts from the time of his Coronatiion tell And of fees Wages and rewards of officers and Ministers more and less Also of immunities and other Rewards And also guifts and grants made to any person by him and by his Father and his grand father in fee or for terme of life or in any other manner And if gre or payment bee to them thereof made and by whom and how And in what manner And also how much they have released or given to officers or others to have their payments to what persons how and in what maner And of Lands Tenements Rents Revenues and forfeitures barganed and sold to the prejudice and damage of him and of his Crown and by whom and to whom how and in what manner And of the Sale or bargain of Tallies and Patens of singular profits aswell in the tyme of his said grand-Father as in his own time and how and by what persons And also of all his jewells and goods which were his said Grandfathers at the time of his death and what and of what price or value and where they bee becom and how and in what manner And of all Cheviences any wise made to his use by any maner of persons And of all loss and damage hee hath had fustained by the same And by what persons how and in what manner and of charters of pardons generall and espcciall and also of the somes and payments and maner of expence aswell of his said hous as for the salvation and defence of his Realms Lands and seignioryes Towns Castles and fortresses and other Places on this side the Sea and beyond don and received by any persons aswell Soldiers as others and by any manner of way and how and in what manner and how much they have given to have their payments and of the concealments of rights and profits and by whom how and in what maner and of maintainers and takers of quarels embracers of enquests and of officers and ministers made by brockage and of their broggers and of them that have taken the said brocage and how and in what maner and also of all the defaults and offences that bee don aswell in his said hous as other places and courts aforesaid as in all other places within his realm of England by any manner of persons whereby the profit of him and of his crown hath been impaired and diminished or the common law disturbed delayed or other damage to him hapned giveing comitting by the same of his royall authoritie and by the advice and assent aforsaid to the said counsellors or any six of them and to the great officers full power authority generall especiall to enter his said hous all the offices of the same and all his other Courts places as often as them pleas to caus to com before them where when them pleaseth The Rols records and other minuments evidences such as them liketh and all the defaults waste and excesses found in his said hous and also all the defaults and
of this Business Upon the peril of my life this your Highness will finde to bee the true condition upon examination of many members in the long Parlament many Committee-men many Farmors of the Customs many Commissioners for Delinquents Lands many Purchasers of Lands many Excize-men many Commissioners for Prize-Goods and many other persons of all callings and conditions that have had imploiment for the publick and have fingred the publick Treasure ever since the year 1640. of every condition great numbers who amongst them have stoln and cozened the Common-wealth of above twenty millions of money May it pleas your Highness I have ever esteemed that man a bad Bailiff or Steward that desires to keep a confederacie and correspondencie with his Lords Tennants and Debtors that so they may keep their Landlord and Master in ignorance never to know the value of his estate nor when nor how to make his improvement but when casualties fall to pocket up the profits themselvs and defraud their Lord and keep him alwaies poor that so they may bee alwaies held usefull and necessary by their Lords and Masters when indeed they are but jugling Knaves and are the bain and dishonor of their Lord and Master both in his Estate and Reputation I most humbly say that if there bee any against the discovery of these Abuses your Highness will upon examination finde them parties or near of affinity to them that have cozened your Highness and the Common-wealth I humbly upon my knees beg your Highness's pardon for these my plain and loial expressions which proceed from the heart of one that daily praies to God for your Highness's peace safetie and prosperitie Your Highness 's most dutifull and loyal Subject THO. VIOLET May it pleas your Highness I Requested Mr Kelleway to deliver into your Highess's own hand this Business in a written parchment and a written sheet of paper annexed thereunto it conteining a Business in this conjuncture of time very necessarie for your Highness's perusal and observation as your Supplicant humbly conceiveth praying your Highness to signifie your pleasure to your Supplicant thereupon by your Servant Mr Kelleway And your obedient Supplicant and Subject as in dutie bound shall daily praie c. April 1. 1656. Your Highness 's most dutifull and obedient Subject THO. VIOLET May it pleas your Highness AN Act of Parlament now so effectually made and so effectually prosecuted as this Act in Richard the Seconds time was would bring your Highness in many hundred thousands of pounds if the care of the mannagement of this great Business bee left to men of unbyassed Interests that will see to the strict examination and punish of the offenders great and small it will eas the people in general of many of their taxes A few Laws well executed is better then a multitude of Laws and the execution neglected And this Act in King Richard the Seconds time appoints the Pillars of the Land to see to the due execution and punishing the offenders And the wisedom of that Parlament would not appoint Commissioners of a meaner degree least through fear or for reward Justice might bee blinded and over-awed as many times it is when ordinary persons have the execution thereof Great Trust in mean mens hands is subject to miscarriage May it pleas your Highness I Have delivered in to your Highness Commissioners for discoveries at Worcester hous in writing the 30th of May 1656 these Discoveries annexed amounting to about the summ of four hundred thousand pounds which your Highness and the Commonwealth have been defrauded of I have humbly desired their direction to mee thereupon and that I might have a Copie of their Commission that so I might bee informed whether these my Discoveries on the Termes and Conditions I have presented them bee comprised therein and whether any incouragement is to the Discoverer for so doing My most humble Sute to your Highness is that I may bee impowered to inspect all and every such papers books warrants accompts and orders as may conduce to make my discoveries And further to examine upon Oath all such persons who can and will prove the aforesaid Frauds The whole premises as I have humbly stated it to the Committee I present to your Highness and most humbly beg your Highness to vouchsafe your Highness gracious perusal it beeing as your humble Subject conceiveth verie much for yovr service and to bee pleased to signifie your gracious pleasure therein And as in dutie bound your Supplicant shall dailie pray c. 30. May 1656. Your Highness most humble and faithfull Subject THO. VIOLET Here followeth the Copy of the Writing I delivered in to your Highness's Commissioners To the honorable the Committee for Discoveries sitting at Worcester Hous May it pleas your Honors I Am certainlie informed by those that are learned in the Lawes That all Sequestrators Treasurers Receivers and all such who have the States Tenths upon Reprisals in their hands Committee men and all other persons whatsoever in whose hands any Monies Jewels Plate Goods or Merchandize or other things of value whatsoever belonging to the late King the Parlament his Highnes the Lord Protector or the Publique The said persons their heirs executors and administrators and their and every one of their lands goods tenements c. into whose hands soever they bee converted and do come and all other lands tenements goods and chattels which any other then had in Trust or for their Use or which at any time or ever after they had power to dispose of Are all liable for the paiment and answering of the said publique Debts and Accompts of the said Treasurers Receivers Sequestrators and such as have the States Tents in their hands concerning all Reprisals of Ships And their heirs executors administrators Tertennants and all others into whose hands the said goods lands monies Jewels Merchandise c. do by whatsoever means come Are all accountable for and must pay and satisfie the same to his Higness May it pleas your honors This being granted a Truth the old Maxime of my Lord Cook 's will now at this day prove true That whosoever eats the Kings goos the feathers at one time or other will stick in his throat And that all persons whomsoever whether Committee-men Sequestrators Treasurers or any other persons whomsoever his and their Estates their Heirs Executors and Administrators are alwaies chargeable with Debts due to his Highness and the Commonwealth without his Highness's gracious pardon And that this is Law there are many Judgments and Presidents in the Exchequer which if there bee occasion to satisfie your Honors I will caus some learned Gentleman in the Law to produce to you Presidents and Statutes And I also desire your patience to read my Ensuing Queries thereupon Viz. May it pleas your Honors I Humbly present these Queries to you and desire to receiv your Judgements thereupon that so I may know whether my Discoveries are within Cognizance of your Commission when they are Discoveries
Your loial Subject did present unto Your Highness's said Commissioners at Worcester-hous about the last day of May the names of several persons who had been entrusted and employed as Accomptants and Treasurers to receiv and finger the publick Monies Lands and Marchandise Very many of these persons have made the Commonwealth's Money Lands Goods and Merchandise which they were entrusted with so like their own that to this day it stick 's in these men's hands and is in their private possession to the great dammage of the Nation And many of them upon examination will bee found to have at this time vast summs of money in their hands and possessions amongst them all to the value of many hundred thousand pounds Likewise your loial Subject hath most humbly presented your Highness how strict Queen Elizabeth was to have all her Receivers called to a just accompt never sparing her great Officers and Favorites by which means shee lived and died rich never finding want in her Exchequer nor her Chests without Treasure Your faithfull Subject finde's now upon his Inquiry many of these Gentlemen that were Treasurers and Accomptants to wonder and make it strange that ever they should live to see the day that any persons should call them in question upon their accompts and that a just and true accompt should bee ever expected by the State from all persons that have received and possessed themselvs of the publick Moneys Lands and Merchandise c. May it pleas your Highness your humble Suppliant saie's That that opinion of these Gentlemen for to have a perpetual Indempnity and to escape scot-free as hee most humbly conceiv's is not grounded upon any just or true reason for there bee hundreds of Orders Ordinances and Acts to enable them and thousands of people now living to bee Collectors of Subsidies Committee-men Treasurers Excise-men Commissioners of the Customs Trustees for the sale of the King Queen and Prince's Lands Bishop's Deans and Chapters and other Delinquents Lands Receivers Sequestrators and Collectors of the monthly Taxes Collectors for Charitable Uses and all and every one of these persons by the fundamental Laws of this Nation their bodies lands and estates from the time and hour they became Debters to the Common-wealth their Persons Heirs Executors and Administratorâ— their and every one of their Goods Tenements into whose hands they are sold converted or do com And all other Lands Tenements Goods and Chattels which any other person then had or now have in trust for their use or which at any time ever hereafter shall have power to dispose of are all lyable to the due and true accompting paying and answering your Highness and your Successors the monies lands and goods c. they have received and this is by many Statutes known to be the law of England And many of them before they were admitted to act as Trustees Sequestrators Committee men or Treasurers took an Oath not to act contrary to the several Rules Limitations and Instructions given them by several Acts and Orders of Parlament and Council of Sate as appeareth by the Journal books and printed Acts and Ordinances of Parlament and Council of State likewise many of the abovesaid persons upon strict examination will bee found wilfully perjured which makes the Offenders lyable to fine and ransom for the breach of their Oaths The Lawes now in force to bee duely and truely executed for to have an exact accompt will bring your Highness and the Common-wealth in milions of money there is not any one of the aforesaid persons can shew any Order Ordinance Act of the Council of State or Act of Parlament that when they were made Committee-men or Treasurers to give them or any one of them a privilege or indempnity to cozen and defraud the State or to licence any one of them to pocket up the Wealth and publick Treasure of the Nation which they have fraudulently converted to their own use And when they can shew no such privilege nor so much as a pardon they need not make it strange as many of them do at this day That they should bee forced to give the Common-wealth a just strict and true Accompt or els their Bodies and Estates as also their Heirs Executors Administrators and Assigns to bee lyable till they shall have justly and truly accompted Your Highness's humble subject delivered in Wâ—iting to your Commissioners at Worcester-Hous certain Queries for his better direction to proceed in this service and most humbly desired their judgments thereupon that so hee might know whether his discoveries were within the cognizance of their Commission All which hee humbly presented unto them as being verie materiall both for your Highness and the Commonwealths service and hee told the Commissioners that hee intended to make their judgment thereupon to him to bee his Rule either to proceed or desist in these discoveries to avoid unnecessary expence and trouble to himself and others May it pleas your Highness in June last your Supplicant left with your Highness servant Mr Kelleway the true copie of the Writing hee did deliver to the Commissioners at Worcester-Hous and most humbly besought him to present the same unto your Highness And his most humble petition to your Highness was That you would bee graciously pleased upon your Highness's perusal to signifie your pleasure thereupon to your humble and loyal subject concerning the premisses that so hee might know how to proceed but Mr Kelleway having no covenient opportunitie to get your Highness to peruse the same by reason of your Highness other great and weighty affairs thereupon your Supplicant received back the said writing again from Mr Kelleway and hath now printed the same The true reason wherefore your humble Subject hath forborn to attend the Commissioners at Worcester-hous to receiv their order and direction concerning the premisses is becaus your most humble and loyall subject intends to put in the same Writing into the Parlament and there will humbly wait for your Highness's and the Parlaments gracious Commands and directions therein And the results of that most high and honorable Court upon the premisses what your Highness and your high Court of Parliament in your great and profound wisdomes shall judg fit to bee don for the glory of God and good and eas of the nation concerning all the premisses May it pleas your Highness your loyal Subject hath in som things enlarged himself more then in his writing hee left with your Highness hee hopes it is for the honor of God the benefit of your Highness and the eas of the good people of this nation in generall His daily praiers to God is That the publique Treasure that is in private mens hands may by a gracious Act of this ensuing Parliament bee ordered converted and turned into the right Channel to save the publique Taxes which will bee as a sweet smelling Perfume in the nostrels of the good people of this nation when they shall see those Caterpillers that have not
of the Tower by order of the Counsel of State 1652. and since I laid out in the Prosecution of the silver Ships Sampson Salvador and George above the summ of five hundred pounds as appears by the Oaths of severall persons which I emploied in this Discovery as you may see in this book Fol. 50 51 52 53 54 55. I borrowed every penny of this money paying Interest for it at this day And by my Protest against the Discharge of these silver Ships Sampson Salvador and George and my Discoveries thereupon by many good and legal Witnesses Passengers and others in these Ships I caused all the Silver to become the States All which services I did upon the faitfull promise of the Counsel of State in December 1652 to restore mee to all my Estate or the full value of Eleven thousand pounds being Required to do this Service by severall Warrants from the Counsel of State and at the Entreaty of Doctor Walker as appears in this Book And no other man in England besides my self did ever at one time save the State three Hundred thousand Pounds which if it had not been for mee the State had been cozeâ—ed of every penny of it as appears by this and my former Narrative Here followeth the Copie of the late Kings Letter to the City of LONDON To Our Trusty and Wel-beloved Our Lord May or and Aldermen of Our City of London and all other Our wel-affected Subjects of that City Charles Rex TRustie and Well beloved wee greet you well When wee remember the many Acts of Grace and Favor Wee and Our Royal Predecessors have conferred upon that our Citie of London and the many examples of eminent Duty and Loyaltie for which that City hath been likewise famous Wee are willing to beleev notwithstanding the great defection wee have found in that place That all men are not so farr degenerate from their affection to Us and to the peace of the Kingdom as to desire a continuance of the miseries they now feel And therefore being informed That there is a desire in some principal persons of that City to present a Petition to Us which may tend to the procuring a good understanding between Us and that Our City whereby the peace of the whole Kingdom may bee procured Wee have thought fit to let you know That wee are ready to receiv any such Petition and the Persons who shall bee appointed to present the same to Us shall have a safe conduct And you shall assure all our good Subjects of that Our City whose hearts are touched with any sense of Duty to Us or of Love to the Religion and Laws established in the quiet and peaceable fruition whereof They and their Ancestors have enjoyed so great Happiness That wee have neither passed any Act nor made any profession or Protestation for the maintenance and defence of the true Protestant Religion and the Liberties of the Subject which wee will not most strictly and religiously observ And for the which 〈◊〉 will not bee alwaies ready to give them any security that can bee desired And of these Our gracious Letters Wee expect a speedy Answer from you And so Wee bid you farewell Given at Our Court at Oxford in the nineteenth year of Our Reign December 26. 1643. By his Majesties Command GEORGE DIGBY I do most humbly desire the Common Council of the Citie of London to certifie your Highness if ever amongst all their Records since the foundation of their City they finde such a sad President as mine is And whether that any Messenger from any former King of England suffered the loss of his Estate to his damage above eleven thousand pounds for bringing them or any their Ancestors the like Letter as I did from the late KING And at that time viz. in December 1643. there was sent and came from Oxford the Writs weekly under the Great Seal of England without any Countermand My hard usage After-ages will hardly beleev had I not Printed it to Posterity I Sufferd Imprisonment in the Tower almost four years for bringing up the aforesaid Letter from Oxford to the Lord Mayor and Common Council of the City of London in December 1643 although I had an Order from the Hous of Commons as appears by their Journal Book and a Pass from the Lord General Essex to go to Oxford which were both procured for mee by Mr Theophilus Ryley Scout-master General of the City of London who was authorized to execute that place by the then Parlament and Common Council of London and I was authorized by the said Mr Ryley to do the same Mr Ryley being impowered by the then Parlament and Common Council of London to hold Intelligence in any the Kings Quarters as by his Orders hee shewed me Mr Ryley was a man of a known approved Integritie and in great esteem with the then Parlament and Citie of London at that time and would not have acted any thing but what was just and for the Parlaments service according to his Trust If hee had thought it otherwise and hee might have gotten a hundred thousand pounds upon my Conscience and that made mee to act this Business to bring up the Kings Letter upon his Intreaty as hee confessed upon his Examination and I justified my doing thereof by his Order hee being a publick minister and impowered to do it as hee told mee And also the Committee of both Nations was made acquainted with my going to Oxford for the bringing up the said Letter which I brought from the late King by Sir David Watkins Knight I desired him to make them acquainted therewith before ever I went to Oxford and to have their approbation which Sir David Watkins after hee had spoken with them told mee I had their approbation to go to Oxford And all this was done before any Law or Ordinance was made or declared to forbid mee or any other to do the same that ever I heard of And I humbly say That before a law made there is no transgression neither by Gods law nor Mans law And I was not to question Mr Ryleys power abilities and trust considering hee acted as a publick minister but to act according to his direction so long as hee was in the said Office of Scout-master I having his Warrant and approbation for doing what I did I have never read nor heard of so heavy a punishment as your Supplicant doth suffer under before a Law made to give a man warning And by the Statutes of 9. Hen. 3. cap. 29. 5. Edw. 3. cap. 9. and 28. Edw. 3. cap. 3. No person of what estate oâ— condition soever hee bee shall bee put out of Land or Tenement nor taken nor imprisoned nor dis-inherited without being brought to answer by due process of the Law which I have petitioned for by a legal trial many years but could never obtain the same May it pleas your Highness Had there been a Proclamation or Act of Parlament at that time to have
monies with interest money over and above their Bonds they have paid in to the Commissioners and Treasurers appointed to receiv their payments My humble Quere is Whether all such interest money received by any Commissioner as aforesaid ought not all to bee accompted for by every Treasurer upon oath and whether a fifth part of the said discovery shall bee paid to the Discoverer 8. Whether the Treasurers for Charitable uses as Redemption for Slaves Plymouth Duties for redeeâ—â—ng of Captives from Argier Tunis and Tipolis c. Collections for the Relief of Ireland Tanton and all other Charitable Uses of that nature bee within the cognizance of your Commission and that a fifth part shall bee allowed to any person that can and will make discovery in whose hands any summ of money is collected as aforesaid and not truly accompted for to his Highness 9. Whereas several Lands have been illegally and unduely sold viz some before a survey or This is a particular Charge against the Commissioner as Drury-hous for several great abuses and frauds practised by them to the great dammage of your Highness and contrary to their Trust and Oaths particular returned contrary to the Commissioners instructions And also by their Commission no Lands ought to be sold till a certain set number of Commissioners were met together which number made them a Committee and under that Committee the said persons could not legally act as Commissioners nor had a lesser number then was appointed them by their Commission power to sell Lands or Gods appertaining to the Common-wealth and the Commissioners to take a Corporal Oath before they could act as Commissioners not to act contrary to their Directions and Rules set them notwithstanding the aforesaid Rules and Instructions appointed unto the Commissioners and Trustees by the Parlament and his Highness and contrary to their Oaths several great quantities of Lands have been sold by some few of the Commissioners privately before the said Commissioners number was full or the Trustees fully impowered to sell any Lands appertaining to the State for many dayes meeting and contracting for Lands and Houses when there were not so many Commissioners met together as to enable them legally to bee a Committee according to their Commission and Instructions thereupon My bumble Querie is to know Whether these Sales are good in law being sold contrary to their Instructions and by a lesser number of Commissioners then were appointed to sell the Lands So that many thousand pounds yearly of Delinquents Estates have been sold in reversion which ought to have been sold in possession And great and vast summs of mony have been reprised by some Commissioners and the Contracters contrary to their Trust have received seueral summs of money indirectly of several persons for their actings as aforesaid and have sold Lands at under-values viz. When one man hath bid 25 years value and could not have it but hath gone without it another that hath been a friend hath bought the same Land for 13 years value to the great prejudice of the Commonwealth I humbly crave your Opinions Whether all the aforesaid frauds or any of the said misdemeanors are within Cognizance of your Commission And the Discoverers to have a Fifth part for all Summs of mony that shall bee caused to bee brought in to the Exchequer upon these Discoveries proposed in this Article 10. Whether it bee within the Cognizance of your Commission to take an accompt of all summs of monie that have been collected in the City of London and Lines of Communication for furnishing the Cittie with Coals and where that Stock remains for though some men received back their monies without their Interest after they had been deluded many years Yet there is many thousand pounds at this verie daie in the Treasurers hands And whether all the Treasurers living since 1644 within every County City and Borrough and have been appointed to receive great summs of monie and other Provisions for the relief of Ireland building of Churches mending High-waies redeeming of slaves and other Charitable uses bee within the Cognizance of your Commission and the Discoverers to have a fifth part 11 Whereas great summes of monie remain in mens hands that have stoln Custom and Excise and also in several Committees hands within this Nation upon the Accompt of the publique I late of the Nation and several Taxes viz. of 60000l 90000l 120000l a Moneth and all other Parlament-Taxes whereas greater summs of monie have been by vertue and colour of the said Ordinance collected upon the severall Inhabitants of the City of London and Lines of Communication and in other parts and Counties of this Nation which monies have been levied by the Pettie-collectors and paid in to the great Collectors and Treasurers and great quantities of these monies remain in several persons hands unaccompted for to the great Damage of his Highness and the Publique I humbly desire to know whether this Discovery bee within the Cognizance of your Commission And the Discoverers to have a Fifth part of all summs of monie that shall be paid into the receipt of his Highness's Exchequer And how I shall bee secured of my Fifth part upon all or any the aforesaid Discoveries in the aforesaid Articles Which I humbly propound unto your grave Judgment and crave your Orders and Directions thereupon it tending to and being highly for his Highness 's service to have all the aforesaid Frauds strictly examined and found out I shall and do attend this business and when I shall receive your Commands or Directions how I shall steer my self in the Prosecution of this business And know from you whether all these Discoveries are within the Verge of your Commission That then the Discoverers of all or any the offenses aforesaid shall have one full Fifth part for his Discovery of all summs of money due unto his Highness and unlawfully detained as aforesaid I shall upon yours Honors answer unto mee put in several Claims to all these several Branches aforesaid May it pleas your Honors SEverall persons have withheld from his Highness and the Commonwealth in Lands Tenements Debts Duties Monie Mertchandize Assessments Goods and Chattels the several Summs hereunder named which several summs of monie they have in their hands or have converted them to their own Uses I have thought it convenient to conceal their name and not print them but to print the Summs by the Numbers and leav a space for the names Numbers Pounds I. 01500 II. 01000 III. 02000 IV. 04000 V. 10000 VI. 16000 VII 20000 VIII 06000 IX 02000 X. 20000 XI 10000 XII 06000 XIII 15000 XIV 10000 XV. 20000 XVI 02000 XVII 04000 XVII 04000 XIX 06000 XX. 04000 XXI 15000 XXII 05000 XXIII 20000 XXIV 06000 XXV 20000 XXIV 04000 XXVII 15000 XXVIII 12000 XXIX 12000 XXX 16000 XXXI 04000 XXXII 02000 XXXIII 02000 XXXIV 06000 XXXV 0â—000 XXXVI 02â—00 XXXVII 08000 XXXVIII 06000 XXXIX 02000 XL. 03000 These are the Summs of money which several
Gentlemen in this Nation Accomptants Treasurers and others have in their hanâ—s and possessions or have converted the same to their own private Uses And all the aforesaid persons ought to bee accomptable for the Lands Tenements Debts Collections Assessments Merchandize Goods and Chattels to the full value they have received And at this day the aforesaid persons have in their hands the particular Summs aforesaid which they still with hold from his Highness most of them contrary to their Trust being the Parlaments and his Highness's servants and receiving their Sallaries and Wages of the Parlament and his Highness for their Attendance in the Excise Office Custome-hous Drury-hous Goldsmiths-hall Treasurers for the monethly Taxes and Treasurers for several other Assessments monies collected for several charitable uses for Redemption of Slaves from Argier Tunis Tripolis c. Commissioners for sale of all Prize goods c. who all have had great Fees and Sallaries and therefore ought by the Law to make a true and just Accompt upon Oath And every of them have got the Publique monies and by that means have unduely enriched themselves with great and vast Possessions in Lands and Treasure And they withhold to this day the just Rights and Dues which appertain to his Highness and the Commonwealth And in regard there is a Fifth part to the first Discoverer that shall make it appear by sufficient proof that any have Monies Lands Houses Goods and Merchandize or any other thing of Value in their hands appertaining to the State Thereupon I put in my Claim and Charge all the aforesaid persons to have in Severall Commissioners at Drury-hous have by undue Practises contrary to their Trust damnified and defrauded his Highness of above Sixty thousand Pounds The several Commissioners names the particular Summs and the particular Charges I humbly crave leav to have liberty hereafter to insert referring my self to my 9th Query I herewith presented to the Commissioners at Worcester-hous their Custodies the aforesaid monies Lands houses goods and Merchandize to the values aforesaid and desire of your Honors that I may bee admitted to make my Proofs against such of the said persons as I do and shall desire to charge and that I may have a view and inspection into all such Books and papers which are conducing to the making of every particular Charge and to examine witnesses upon Oath thereupon And that all persons which stand in Contempt may by your warrant bee Attached My humble desire is That these Discoveries bee Registred and the day when I delivered the same and this Charge with my several Queries annexed I desire also they may bee kept at Worcester-hous as a Record to manifest the true grounds and reasons why I deliver in this Charge 26. May. 1656. Your humble Servant THO. VIOLET May it pleas your Highness THe High Court of Parlament being shortly after summoned by Your Highnes I did thereupon forbear for a time to proceed further in this Business with the Commissioners at Worcester-hous being resolved by the assistance of God humbly to present these humble Propositions with some additions unto your Highness and that Supreme Court the Parlament desiring of God so to direct mee in this Business that what I most humbly propound may bee for the glory of God and good of the Nation and that my Labors in this Business may bee accepted of by your Highness and the Parlament as proceeding from an humble loyall and true English Heart May it pleas your Highness I Do most humbly offer to your Highness and the Parlament these further most humble Proposals for your Highness and the Common-wealth's service which I most humbly present on my knees at your Highness's and the Parlaments feet and do likewise humbly pray that these my most humble Proposals may bee confirmed by an Act of this Parlament with such alterations and additions as shall bee conceived by your Highness and the Parlament most for the honor of God and the benefit of the good people of this Nation by easing them in their Taxes and calling to accompt the Common-wealths Debtors 1. According to the Statute of Rutland made May 24. in the tenth year of the Reign of King Edw. 1. Anno Dom. 1282. touching the Recovery of the Kings Debts And the Statute of 6. Hen. 4. cap. 3. made against the frauds and deceipts of divers Sheriffs Escheators Aulnagers Customers Comptrollers and others in these words following viz. Item Whereas divers Sheriffs Escheators Aulnagers Customers Comptrollers and other the Kings Officers accomptable in many parts of the Realm do fraud and deceive our said Lord the King yearly in their unlawfull and untrue accompts concealing and reteining to their own use the greater part of that which rightfully ought to appertain to the King to his great dammage and loss Out said Lord the King by the Advice and Assent aforesaid hath ordained That presently after every finall accompt given and made by the Officers and Customers aforesaid before the Barons of the Exchequer of our Lord the King The tenor of the Accompt of every the said Officers from time to time shall bee sent into the Counties where the same Accomptants bee Officers together with CoÌ„missions directed to the most lawfull and discreet persons to enquire and certifie the profits which the said Accomptants have received within the said Counties in the name and to the use of our said Lord the King by them in the manner aforesaid upon their said Accompts or deceitfully concealed and received to their proper use and profit And in case that the said Accomptants bee attained of their said fiauds and deceipts they shall incurr to our Lord the King the penaltie of the Treble of the same whereof they shall bee so convict and their Bodies to Prison untill they have made fine and ransom to our said Lord the King according to the discretion of his Judges These excellent Laws to bee put in execution for the strict and just taking up all the Accompts of Sequestrators Treasurers Collectors Committee-men Excize men and Collectors of Customs Surveyers who have returned fals surveys and then bought the Lands according to the value of their fraudulent surveys or received Bribes for making these fraudulent surveys for some particular persons profit these I humbly say being strictly examined will bring your Highness in many hundred thousand pounds Here followeth many Laws of excellent use for the furthering of this business of calling the Accomptants of the Nation to a just accompt THe Statute of 33. Hen. 8. cap. 39. Provides that all Bonds and Specialties made to the King shall bee in the nature of a Statute of the staple and also all Process Judgments Executions c. That the King his Heirs and Successors shall not bee debarred or delaied his just debts and duties against any as heir or heiâ—s to any person endebted to him albeit the word heir bee not comprised in the Cognizance Obligation or Specialty That the King in all his
most excellent Waies and Rules were setled in the Court of Exchequer in all Kings Reigns by the great care of many Ages And the Sages of the Law know there was not a more exact method in the world then the Court of Exchequer was for the just accompting and paying the Kings Dues I have heard my Lord Cottington say in the Exchequer Chamber That no Prince in Christendom had the like exact way as the King of England had by the course of the Exchequer if the Rules set down by the Court bee by the under-Officers duely executed so that whatsoever summ comes in there bee it a million of money must bee duely paid and accompted for or else hee could finde it upon the foot of the accompt if ever it came in charge into the Pipe And if the course of the Exchequer had not been disturbed and the payments of the publick money thrust out of the old Channel it had been impossible to have had so many Treasurers cozen the Common-wealth so grosly and shamefully as they have done And in order and pursuance of calling all Accomptants to a just true and strickt Accompt your Supplicant most humbly presents these ensuing Proposals to your Highness and the Parlaments view and consideration and humbly prayeth that the same may bee put in strickt execution with such alterations and additions as your Highness and the Parlament shall conceive fittest for the good of the Nation in general to ease the people of their Taxes For God defend that the generalitie of the people should contribute their monies and pay it to Treasurers that shall make themselves great and their private posterities after them out of what they have cozened and defrauded the Common-wealth of Therefore I humbly petition your Highness and the Parlament 1. THat an Act of Parlament may bee made and a Proclamation thereupon go forth commanding and requiring all Committee-men Sequestrators Trustees for sale of Delinquents Estates Commissioners of Excize Commissioners of the Customs Treasurers of the publick Plate and all other Treasurers Receivers Collectors and all other Accomptants and persons whatsoever that have been imploied to collect and receiv and have collected and received any the publick monies goods chattels plate c or other things of value throughout England and Wales ever since the beginning of the year 1642. shall within three moneths next after the date of the said Act and Proclamation make up and deliver according to the Laws and Statutes of this Nation made for Accomptants and Accompts into the Exchequer or other place your Highness shall appoint their several just and true Accompts of what Monies Goods Chattels Plate c. or other thing of value they or any for them have received And how and by what warrant they have paid and delivered out the same The same Accompt to bee delivered in upon the particular oath of every such person Accomptant that the same is a just and true Accompt And upon every particular accompt so made to pay in the money remaining in his hands upon his said Accompt if any there bee into the Exchequer or other person and place your Highness shall appoint to receiv the same And upon failer of bringing in their several and particular Accompts according to the said Act and Proclamation that then all such monies goods chattels and other things of value which shall bee found and proved upon Inquisition they have received for the Common-wealth whereof they have not accompted for shall bee levyed and taken upon their estates and their persons imprisoned untill they have justly and truly accompted And if any person or Accomptant aforesaid shall bee dead then the Heir and Executor or Administrator of such person so dying or being dead shall duely accompt for the partie so dying or being dead according to the Laws and Statutes of this Nation 2. That an Act of Parlament may bee made and sent throughout England and Wales to require and impower four of the next Justices of the Peace or such other Commissioners your Highness shall appoint to call a Jury in every Parish of substantial Free-holders or other discreet honest men either of the same Parish or Parishes next adjacent and to call to their assistance all other discreet persons that can and will give them true information concerning any of the premisses in charge And the said Jury so impannelled to make true Inquisition of all such neighbours and persons aforesaid of these particular things following viz. 3 That the Jurie bee impowered to enquire and present all persons men and women and their degree and qualitie that have been sequestred in each respective parish within every County of this Nation and the dayes of the moneth and year when this was done Also they are to enquire and present what stock of Cattel Money Plate houshold stuff c. or other things of value they had taken from them and to set down the particular values thereof Also to set down the values of the Houses Lands and Tenements Woods c. sequestred and into whose hands the same came And to set down the parcels and values distinctly and the several time and times when this was done and by whose order warrants and directions and who received the monies 4. They are to enquire and present in every Parish what Committee-men and Sequestrators and Treasurers are in every Parish their distinct names and qualities who of them are dead and who bee their Heirs and Executors or Administrators And if any Sequestrator Treasurer or Committee-man bee removed out of their ancient abiding places since 1642. to set down to the best of their knowledg or information they can get where every such Sequestrator Committeeman and Treasurer doth live in what Countie and place within this Nation or elswhere 5. They are to enquire in what Places of the Countie the Committee for Sequestrations did usually sit and to certifie the same And that diligent search bee made for all Books of Orders of everie particular Committee That in every Parish twelv able and discreet persons upon oath shall make strict inquisition who received all Rents and Profits of all Lands and Houses of Delinquents in the said Parish and how long every Delinquents lands were under Sequestration before they were compounded for or sold and to present all persons that shall bee proved to have the publick money in their hands and what quantity And this all Juries in every Parish shall swear to do without favor or affection and that some considerable penaltie may bee inflicted on such Juries or the Parties offending amongst them that shall wilfully perjure themselvs in wilfull making false Returns and in wilfull concealing any frauds to the prejudice of the Common-wealth through their connivance or willfulness when the Evidence for the State hath by good and legal witnesses sworn the fact positively and clearly and yet the Jury will not make their Returns according to their Evidence to set a penalty upon all Offenders of this