December 1647: An Ordinance for speedy auditing the Accompts of the Forces now or late under the Command of Sir Thomas Fairfax, and securing their Arrears.

Acts and Ordinances of the Interregnum, 1642-1660. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1911.

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Citation:

'December 1647: An Ordinance for speedy auditing the Accompts of the Forces now or late under the Command of Sir Thomas Fairfax, and securing their Arrears.', in Acts and Ordinances of the Interregnum, 1642-1660, ed. C H Firth, R S Rait( London, 1911), British History Online https://prod.british-history.ac.uk/no-series/acts-ordinances-interregnum/pp1051-1052 [accessed 31 October 2024].

December, 1647

[24 December, 1647.]

Army Committee to audit accounts of Sir T. Fairfax's forces.; To settle accounts and issue debentures.; Payment of debentures.; Defalcation for freequarter.

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, or any three of them shall have power and Authority, and are hereby authorised and enabled by themselves, and such as they shall appoint, and by such wayes and meanes as they or any three 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 Publique Faith, as for their present Pay, to be Stated, Audited, and cast up during their service in this Army, or in any other Service of the Parliament; And to allow and determine of such Accounts, and to give out Debenters accordingly unto the said Officers and Souldiers, and to cause a Register to be kept of such Debenters by such Person or Persons as they shall appoint. And it is further Ordained, That for such Debenters as shall be thereupon given out, and signed by the said Committee, or any three of them, and shall be Registered as aforesaid, 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 moneys, and other securities as the Parliament hath or shall Ordaine for those uses. And it is further Ordained and Declared, that the said Committee shall deduct, and defalke for free quarter out of the Arreares due to the Officers and Souldiers for their service in this Army according to the Proportions following, viz:—



From every Horseman, and non-Commissioned Officer of Horse	12d.	per diem.
From every Dragooner and non-Commissioned Officer	9d.
From every Footsouldier, and non-Commissioned Officer of Foot	4d.

From the Officers of the Traine of Artillery and Artificers, and Attendants thereunto, as followeth, viz.:—



At 2s. per diem, Gunners	9d.	per diem.
Matresses	4d.
Firelocks	4d.
At 18d. per diem, Carters	6d.
Quartermaster	12d.	per diem to be deducted.
At 3s. per diem, Gent. of Ordnance	12d.
At 2s. 6d. per diem, All Officers and Artificers with Horse	12d.
At 2s. 6d. per diem, Artificers of Foot	9d.

From all Officers in Commission, according to the Proportions following, viz.:—



Officers in Commission of Foot and Traine	¼ part.
Officers in Commission of Horse and Dragoones for themselves, and horse	⅓ of the pay due to them.
From the Gent. of the Life Guard, and other Persons as Deputies, Clerkes, Assistants, Chirurgions Mates	¼ part

Proviso.

Provided alwaies, That if any Officer, or Souldier can prove that he hath paid Quarter for more time than the space he hath been paid for, he shall have proportionate full pay for so much time over.

General powers of Committee.; Assistance.

And it is further Ordained and Declared that the said Committee may imploy such persons under them in this Service, and may reward and pay them for their paines and travell herein, out of the Receipts appointed for the Army as they shall thinke fit. And it is further Ordained, That the said Committee may if they shall thinke fit, administer an Oath to such Persons as they shall imploy under them in this Service, for their due and faithfull execution of the businesse they shall be imployed in according to their best skill and judgement; And in cases of doubt, to examine upon oath if they see cause. And it is lastly Ordained, That the Treasurers at Warres, and Commissioners of Musters, their Deputies and Clarkes shall be ayding, assisting, and obedient to the said Committee in the execution of the Premises.

Accounts may be surcharged within two years.

Provided alwaies, that if any surcharge can be brought upon any particular Account within two yeares after the Debenters are given, that defalcation shall be made for so much accordingly.