WHereas in Our absence an Ordinance of both Houses of Parliament was made, Intituled, An Ordinance of the Lords and Commons for the Assessment of Seventy thousand pounds by the moneth upon England, for three Moneths, for the supply of Our present Occasions, and for and towards the payment and satisfaction of the Armys and Navies, continued for the defence of this Kingdom, and for other the necessary and ur­gent occasions thereof, And for the due levying and raising of the said Moneys, an Act also passed in this present Parliament, for putting the said Ordi­nance in execution, and thereby all and every the Clauses, Powers and Provi­sions in the said Ordinance mentioned, are enacted to be put in full execution.

And whereas by the aforesaid Ordinance, it is Ordered and Required, That the full Sum of the said three moneths Assessments, charged upon the several and respective Counties, Cities, Boroughs, Towns and Places, within Our Realm of England, and Dominion of Wales, should be wholly paid in and compleated to the Receiver General thereunto appointed, at or before the first day of August last past; Nevertheless the same is in a very great measure, as We are informed, un­collected: And for Non-payment thereof, the necessities they were appointed to supply are disap­pointed; and the disbanding of such part of the Army, to whom is assigned some of those Ar­rears, will be much retarded:

We therefore by and with the advice of Our Privy Councel, do hereby Require and Com­mand, under the penalty of Our High Displeasure, all and every the Commissioners named in the said Ordinance, for the respective Counties, Cities, Boroughs, Towns and Places, within Our Realm of England, and Dominion of Wales, speedily and very effectually, to put in full execu­tion all the Powers, Authorities, Orders and Rules mentioned and laid down in the aforesaid Ordinance, as may best conduce to the speedy carrying on of the publick Service thereby required, and that all and every the Head-Collectors, Sub-Collectors, Receivers, and other persons impow­red by any Clause, Article or Order, in the said Ordinance, do with all diligence and care, per­form the duty of their several Imployments, under the Penalties by the said Ordinance imposed; To the end that there be no failer in any part of the due execution of the Service by the said Ordi­nance appointed: But that the whole Arrears of the said Assessments being paid in without de­lay, the great inconveniencies which otherwise will ensue, may be prevented and avoided.

And lastly, We do hereby streightly charge and command all persons whatsoever to yield all due obedience forthwith as to the paying their and every of their Arrears of the aforesaid Assess­ments, in manner as by the said Ordinance is Ordered and directed, as they and every of them will answer the contrary at their utmost peril.

Given at Our Court at Whitehall, the Twenty sixth day of September, in the Twelfth year of Our Reign, 1660.