William and Mary, 1694: An Act for appointing and enableing Commissioners to examine take and state the Publicke Accompts of the Kingdome [Chapter XXIII Rot. Parl. pt. 5. nu. 3.]

Commissioners for taking the Public Accounts.

2 W. & M. Sess. 2. c. 11. 4 & 5 (4) W. & M. c. 11.; revived and continued.; Treasury to issue Money for Salaries, &c.; Power to Commissioners to take Account of Monies granted by c. 1. ante, and of other the Revenue; pursuant to 3 W. & M. c.6.

For the better takeing stateing and examining of the Publicke Accompts of theire Majesties treasure and the better encouragement of theire Majesties good Subjects to sustaine the greate payments upon them for the prosecuc[i]on of the p[re]sent warr against France and the supporte of theire Majesties Governement Be it enacted by the King and Queenes most excellent Majesties by and with the advise and consent of the Lords Spirituall and Temporall and Co[m]mons in this p[re]sent Parliament assembled and by the authority of the same That Robert Harley Esquire Sir Thomas Pope-Blunt Baronett Paul Foley Esquire Sir Thomas Clarges Knight Charles Hutchinson Esquire Sir Edward Abney Knight and Sir James Houblon Knight shall be and are hereby constituted Co[m]missioners for examining takeing and stateing of the accompts of all money of the Publicke Revenue of the Crowne and all other Accompts which were by one Act of Parliament made in the Second yeare of their Majesties Raigne entituled An Act for appointing and enableing Co[m]missioners to examine take and state the publicke accompts of the Kingdome And one other Act made in the Fourth and Fifth yeares of theire Majesties Raigne entituled An Act for examining takeing and stateing the Publicke Accompts of this Kingdome to be taken examined and stated by the Co[m]missioners by the said Act constituted or any Five or more of them respectively appointed by virtue of the said Acts or either of them And that the said Acts be and are hereby revived and continued and in force from the Four and twentieth day of Aprill in the yeare of our Lord One thousand six hundred ninety four to the Five and twentieth day of Aprill which shall be in the yeare of our Lord One thousand six hundred ninety and five and shall be executed with all the powers therein contained by the Co[m]missioners herein named or any Four or more of them; And that the Lords Co[m]missioners of the Treasury or Lord High Treasurer of England for the time being shall and are hereby authorized and required to issue and pay or cause to be issued and paid the like yearely allowances for payment of Clerks and other charges as are in the first recited Act directed And the like quarterly payments to every of the said Co[m]missioners hereby constituted as are appointed to be paid to the Co[m]missioners therein named; And the said Co[m]missioners by this Act constituted as aforesaid or any Four or more of them shall and have hereby power to take an accompt of all moneys granted to theire Majesties by one Act made in this p[re]sent Session of Parliament entituled An Act for granting to theire Majesties an Aide of Four shillings in the pound for one yeare for carrying on a vigorous Warr against France And of all other moneys that have beene or shall be granted to theire Majesties in this p[re]sent Session of Parliament; And of all other theire Majesties treasure or other publicke money due or payable to theire Majesties on the Fifth day of November One thousand six hundred eighty eight or att any time betweene the said Fifth day of November and the said Five and twentieth day of Aprill which shall be in the yeare of our Lord One thousand six hundred ninety five not yet accompted for by virtue or in pursuance of the said recited Acts or either of them or the last Clause touching publicke accompts made and enacted in one Act made in the Third yeare of theire Majesties Raigne entituled An Act for raiseing Money by a Poll payable quarterly for One yeare for the carrying on a vigorous Warr against France:-

II. Commissioners to take Oath.

And be it further enacted, That two of the said Co[m]missioners first named in this Act before they enter upon the execuc[i]on of the same shall take an Oath before the Chancellor of the Exchequer or Master of the Rolls for the time being which they and either of them are hereby authorized and required to administer to them the tenor whereof shall be as followeth (that is to say:-

Form of Oath.

I. A. B. doe sweare that according to the best of my skill and knowledge I shall faithfully impartially and truly demeane my selfe in examining and takeing the accompts of all such su[m]me or su[m]mes of money and other things brought or to be brought before me in execuc[i]on of one Act entituled An Act for appointing and enableing Co[m]missioners to examine take and state the Publicke Accompts of the Kingdome according to the tenor and purport of the said Act:-

And every other of the said Co[m]missioners in the Act named before he enters upon the execuc[i]on of the said Act shall likewise take the same Oath before the said two Co[m]missioners herein first named who are hereby authorized to administer the same unto them after they shall themselves have taken the said Oath as aforesaid:-

III. Commissioners to summon Commissioners, &c. of certain Transport Ships to account.

Provided alsoe and be it enacted That it shall and may be lawfull for the Co[m]missioners appointed by this Act and they are hereby required to summon the Co[m]missioners appointed for the Transport Shipps for the Warr of Ireland or any other Contractors for the same as alsoe the severall Owners and Proprietors of the said Transport Shipps and theire Executors or Assignes to state the accompts and adjust the Debte due for the said Transport Shipps which accompt soe stated they are to prepare against the next Sessions of Parliament:-