May, 1647
[28 May, 1647.]
Army Committee to have accounts of whole Army taken.; To issue debentures to officers and soldiers.; Debentures, how to be satisfied.; Assistance.
Be it Ordained, and it is Ordained by the Lords and Commons
now assembled in Parliament, That the Committee of Lords and
Commons for the Army, appointed by Ordinance of the eight
and twentieth of March, 1645, shall have Power and Authority,
and are hereby authorized and enabled, by such ways and means
as they or any five of them shall think fit, To cause the
Accounts of all the Officers and Souldiers of the Army, now or
late under the Command of Sir Thomas Fairfax, as well due to
them upon publick Faith, as for their present pay, to be audited
and cast up during their service in the said Army: and to allow
and determine of such accompts, and to give out Debenters accordingly unto the said Officers and Souldiers. And it is further
ordained, That for such Debenters as shall be thereupon given out
and signed by the said Committee, or any five of them, the State
shall be liable to the payment thereof, and shall be paid and
satisfied respectively by Warrant from the said Committee or
any five of them out of such Monies as the Parliament hath
Ordained by Ordinance to be paid out of the Grand Excise in
course, and out of Delinquents Estates, for the payment of the
said Officers and Souldiers of the said army, and out of the
remainder of the monies formerly assigned upon Gold-smiths
Hall for the army. And it is further ordained, That the said
Committee shall have power to call to their assistance any
person or persons whatsoever as they shall think fit, for their
information touching the said accompts, and of free quarter, or
money for free quarter, and monies otherwise levied, and to
make up the accompts according to the late instructions for
the Accompts of the Souldiery of the Kingdome, that defalcation
may be made upon the said accompt. And it is lastly Ordained
that the Treasurers at War and Commissioners appointed by
Parliament to reside in the army shall be aiding and assisting to
the said Committee in this Service.