A Declaration to the Kingdome, of the Armies generall ſurvey of the accompts of the Excize, the Cuſtoms, the Kings Revenue, the Compoſitions of Goldſmiths Hall, and the Receipts of Committees in London, and ſeverall Counties of this Kingdome.
HAving by Gods bleſſing and the endeavours of this diſperſed Army overcome the moſt viſible actors of their own and the Kingdomes ruine, it pleaſed him to put into their thoughts to uſe ſuch waies and means as he ſhall dictate to them in a time of extremity and danger, for ſetling this long oppreſſed Nation in their juſt Rights and Priviledges, and upon the approach of ſome Regiments of the Army into the City of London, his Excellencie with the advice of his Generall Councell of the Army, gave Orders for the ſeizing of certain Treaſuries within the ſaid City, (they being as yet much in arreare for the Aſſeſſements to the Army) and coming to Weavers-Hall they found a conſiderable ſum of mony, which in probability was part of the money collected upon the Aſſeſſements to aforeſaid, however it might be otherwiſe pretended, which money by his Exeellencies Declaration (that not only the Kingdome, but the whole world may judge of the juſtneſſe of his proceedings,) is to be reſtored againe without loſſe, or to be made2 good out of that which is yet due to the Army, and was paid in by the middle ſort of people, which we hope will ſatisfie all reaſonable men that the intent of this Army is not to take or act any thing by violence, but what is theirs and the Kingdomes due; for however it may be alleadged that this act was to make proviſion to pay the private ſouldier, yet is it not without ſpeciall regard to the peoples intereſt, for it is too well knowne that if the ſouldier hath not his pay he is unable to diſcharge his Quarters, which cauſeth many deepe ſighs and groanes from the poore Farmer in the Country, who (with us) have long had a perticuler aſpect on the City of London in hopes of redreſſe, for that it is notoriouſly knowne, that it is the only place of receipt and the publique treaſury of the Kingdome. And when we examine the income of the Excize only, it amazeth us to think that the Eſtates of Holland ſhould maintain a far greater Army then this in conſtant pay (the Excize being no higher there then it is there) by that alone. But when you conſider the other vaſt ſummes of money, which for ſeverall yeares together have accrued out of this Office, the Cuſtome, Houſe, (and other the Kings Revenue) Compoſition money, the ſale of Biſhops Lands, ſequeſterations in all parts of the Kingdome, &c. and yet all too little either to ſatisfie publique debts, or pay the deerly earned wages of the ſouldiers, it muſt neceſſarily follow that a great part of ſuch moneyes were converted to a contrary uſe, or not that improvement made thereof as might beſt advantage the publique; which hath cauſed us and our friends to conſider of theſe perticulars following.
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- 1. That the Aſſeſſements for this Army were either not gathered, or deteined on purpoſe to bring the Army into diſdain, and render them odious unto the Kingdome.
- 2. That the accompts of the Excize are unperfect, or not kept in that forme which is requiſit for that and other Officers of like nature, the experience of the later too plainly appearing by the delaies that have commonly been uſed, when they have been called on to bring an accompt which could hardly ever yet be perfected, or brought to juſt eſtimate under 6. Moneths; within which time there commonly happened ſome extraordinary oceaſion for a great ſumme, and if this upon earneſt requeſt were advanced, it muſt be repaid with 8. l. per centum, which together with the large allowance to the Commiſſioners, and Sub-Officers, there comes not de claro above one moitie to the State.
- 3. That the Cuſtoms taken, or Tunnage & Poundage and the revenue of the Kings Land, brings a vaſt profit to the State, and ſome part thereof is unaccompted for, and the Cuſtomes which were heretofore declared to be for the maintenance of the Navy, not ſufficient to defray that charge, but large ſummes of Compoſitions, and otherwiſe have been added towards that ſervice.
- 4. That before the time of the riſing in Kent (and the Earle of Hollands party) there was at leaſt threeſcore thouſand pounds due, from ſuch as had already made their compoſitions and entred bond to pay it at ſuch a day, which moneyes not being brought in was made uſe of as an inablement to thoſe perſons in whoſe hands it remained, the more deeply to ingage in the4 laſt War, and of that which was brought in, many great ſummes thereof were given away as a recompence or reward to particuler perſons which had no need thereof, whilſt others which had faithfully ſerved the Parliament were ready to famiſh with hunger.
- 5. That for Biſhops Lands if they have not been ſold at an under value, yet hath not that benefit been gained thereby as ſuited with the neceſsity to ſupply the publique affaires, for it is a thing which few are unſenfible of, that ſome men being in equipage and condition to purchaſe, have made that good to themſelves which others have had ltttle cauſe to eſteem any better of then deſperate debts.
- 6. It is not to be forgotten that as theſe places before mentioned are chiefly to be dived into, yet doth it no waies excuſe Committees in the Countreies or other Cities, or any perſon or perſons of what ſort or degree5 ſoever which may juſtly bee charged, neither is it to be underſtood that every Member or particuler perſon officiating or appertaining to any of the Officers or Committees aforeſaid, are faulty or blameworthy for any miſcarriages therein, For he that doth well ſhall be accepted both of God and man.
Theſe things premiſed as ſo many generalls, wherein is conceived there might be great redreſſe, nevertheleſſe it is hereby fit likewiſe to be declared, that the Army do not take on them by force or violence to regulate theſe or other matters of the ſame kinde, but freely leave it unto the honourable Houſe of Commons, and others in place of truſt and judicature; and no ſooner ſhall it pleaſe God to ſettle this Kingdom in peace, the Army ſecured by good and undoubted wayes from thoſe which have and will at all times hereafter (if it Ile in their power) ſeek their utter ruine, and bring a new diſturbance upon the whole Kingdome; and our dearly earned wages ſatisfied or ſecured, we ſhall moſt readily and willingly disband, and betake our ſelves to our former callings.
And further, foraſmuch as a Party of Horſe did by miſtake march to the grand Excize, although no violence or injury offered, or money by them taken or ſecured,6 yet many falſe reports were raiſed, whereupon the Lord Generall, to preſerve a right underſtanding, ſent a Letter to the Commiſſioners of Excize in theſe words.
WHereas upon this preſent eight of December, a party of horſe and foot came to the Excize Office in Broadſtreet, which perhaps will occaſion ſome to think the Army came thither with a purpoſe to interrupt any more levying of the Excize. Theſe are to aſſure them that the ſaid forces came thither by a miſtake, and that there was not any intentions to give interruption unto the due levying of the Excize, or to ſeize upon any money in Caſh, and that you may proceed as formerly according to thoſe Ordinances and Orders of Parliament, which you have received concerning the ſame,