House of Commons Journal Volume 5: 8 February 1647

Die Lunæ, 8 Februarii, 1646.

Prayers.

Bishopp's Delinquency.

RESOLVED, &c. That, upon the earnest Desire of the Colony of Virginia, signified in a Letter from the Grand Assembly in Virginia, of 17 Martii, 1645, Henry Bishopp of Heanfeild in the County of Sussex, Esquire, be discharged from his Delinquency, and from the Sequestration of his Estate personal and real, according to the Particular thereof delivered in, under the Hand and Oath of the said Henry Bishopp: And the Sequestration of the Estate of the said Henry Bishop is hereby fully discharged, and taken off: And all Committees, and their Officers, are to yield Obedience thereunto.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Ordered, &c. That the Committee to whom the Letters from Virginia, concerning Henry Bishopp, was referred, to prepare a Letter to be signed by Mr. Speaker, to acquaint the Colony with the Votes of this House, passed, upon their Desire, for taking off the Delinquency and Sequestration of the said Henry Bishopp.

A Letter from the Commissioners from Durham, of 3 Februarii 1646, directed to Mr. Speaker, was this Day read; shewing, That they had given Leave to one Mongo Murray to take his Leave of the King: At which the King did privately convey a Paper unto him, in Characters, to be delivered unto the French Agent: The which being observed, and found in his Pocket, they committed the said Mongo Murray. The said Paper of Characters was sent up, inclosed in the said Letter. They further acquainted the House, that some from the Muscovia Company desired to attend his Majesty, to move him for a Letter to the Emperor of Russia, in the Behalf of the said Company; and gave them the Heads of the said Letter: The which were sent up inclosed; and were here likewise read.

A Letter from the Commissioners from Durham, of 4 Februarii, concerning Captain Errington and Mr. Dawson, Collectors of the Monies upon Coals, for taking their Accompts, was this Day read.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth approve of what the Commissioners employed from the Parliament to the King, have done in the Commitment of Mungo Murray.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Ordered, &c. That the Characters inclosed in the Letter from the Commissioners, from Durham, of 3 Februarii, 1646, be referred to Mr. Richard Sallway and Mr. Wecklerley, to decypher them with all the Speed they can.

Ordered, &c. That it be referred to the Committee that prepared the Instructions for the Commissioners employed to the King, to prepare an additional Instruction, to enable them with such Authority as may prevent the secret conveying to or from the King any Letters or Papers.

Ordered, &c. That the Accompt of Captain Errington, and Mr. Dawson, who have been employed in collecting Money upon Coals be referred to the Auditors of Imprest, to receive, state, and audit their Accompts: And that the Committee of the Revenue, and Committee of the Navy, joined as to this Business, do peruse the said Accompt so stated; and report it to the House.

Resolved, &c. That the Imposition of Four Shillings a Chaldron upon Coals be continued until the Five-andtwentieth Day of March next.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Moscovia Company.

Resolved, &c. That, in the Letter that shall be returned to the Commissioners, in Answer to theirs, Thanks shall be given unto them, for not admitting the Agents from the Moscovia Company to represent their Desires in that kind to his Majesty, until they had first acquainted this House therewith; and had received their Orders and Resolutions therein.

Excise.

According to the Order made on Saturday last, the House took into Consideration the Petition of the Commissioners of Excise, and New Impost, representing the Obstructions in the Receipt of the Excise: The which was read: And the House fell into the Consideration of the Obstructions intimated in the said Petition.

Grant to General Fairefaxe.

Ordered, That the Lords Concurrence be desired in the Order of this House, concerning the Sequestrations granted to Sir Thomas Fairefaxe, General.

Message to Lords.

Mr. Reynolds, according to the Order on Saturday made, communicated to the Lords the Letter, in French, intercepted at Sea, near to the Port of Dublyn, going from Du Moulin to the Comte de Tellier.

He likewise carried to the Lords, for their Concurrence, the Judges Circuits: The Sheriffs for several Counties: The Ordinance for making Sir Richard Bellassys Sheriff of the County Palatine of Durham: The Order for Thirty Pounds to the Messenger that brought former Letters from the Commissioners from Newcastle.

He was likewise to press the Lords to recall their Declaration concerning the Proceedings with Delinquents at Goldsmiths Hall; and to press them to pass the Ordinance for appointing Mr. Bence to be one of the Commissioners of the Navy.

Answer from Lords.

Mr. Reynolds brings Answer, That, to all the Particulars of his Message, the Lords will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Excise.

Resolved, &c. That it be referred to the Committee of Excise, to consider of something to present to the House in the Point of the Arrears; and to remove the Obstructions that are in the collecting and bringing in the Monies upon the Excise: and to prepare, and present to the House, Instructions to be observed by the Commissioners, Sub-Commissioners, and other Officers, employed in the levying, collecting, and bringing in Monies upon the Excise.

Resolved, &c. That it be referred to the same Committee, to bring in, with the Instructions, a Declaration setting forth the first Grounds and Reasons of first laying the Excise; the Necessity of Continuing of it; the Resolutions of the House in the way of Collecting of it; and the publick Uses . . . . . they do intend to employ it.

Ordered, &c. That it be referred to the same Committee, to consider of the exorbitant and extreme injurious and arbitrary Power and Proceedings of the Sub-Commissioners, in the Collecting of Monies upon the Excise, especially in that Particular of Beer, and in their Way of Setting and Levying of Fines; and to consider of Removing of such Obstructions in the Point of Excise, that do obstruct Trade: And they are to meet upon these Matters this Afternoon; and to bring in their Report upon all on Thursday Morning next, the first Business peremptorily: And that no other Business do intervene.