House of Commons Journal Volume 6: 21 March 1650

Die Jovis, 21 Martii, 1649.

Prayers.

High Court of Justice.

THE House this Day resumed the Debate upon the Amendments to the Act for erecting an High Court of Justice.

And the several Amendments being put to the Question particularly, with some Amendments at the Table, passed.

Resolved, That William Weston Esquire be one of the Commissioners in this Act.

Resolved, That Robert Warcupp Esquire be one of the Commissioners in this Act.

Resolved, That this Clause following be inserted into this Act; viz. "And be it further Enacted, That every of the Commissioners before-named, before he shall do or execute the Office of a Commissioner by virtue of this present Act, shall take the Oath ensuing; viz. 'You shall swear, that you shall well and truly, according to the best of your Skill and Knowledge, execute the several Powers given unto you by this present Act:' And the Lords Commissioners for the Great Seal of England, or any one of them, are hereby authorized to administer the said Oath accordingly."

Resolved, That Richard Graves Esquire, John Sadler Esquire, and John Hurst Esquire, be Commissioners in this Act.

Resolved, That this Bill be ingrossed; and brought in on Saturday Morning.

Issue of Money.

Resolved, That the Committee of Goldsmiths Hall be authorized and required to grant their Warrants to the Treasurers there, to make Payment of all such Sums of Money as the Council of State hath charged upon the Revenue of the Lands settled upon Trustees for the Irish Affairs, according to the several Contracts and Warrants made by the said Council, out of the Monies and Revenue that shall come in to Goldsmiths Hall, out of those Lands.

Transporting Coins.

Ordered, That Sir James Harrington do, on Saturday next, report the Bill for preventing the Transportation of Coins.

Post Office.

Mr. Scott reports from the Council of State, A Paper given in to the Council by Mr. Attorney General, concerning the Posts: And that it is the Opinion of this Council, That, as Affairs now stand, they conceive it safe and fit, that the Office of Postmaster shall be in the sole Power and Disposal of the Parliament, in these Words; viz.

"That, by Direction and Authority of the Parliament, I erected Postages for the Service of the State:"

"That, for defraying the Charges of the several Postmasters, and easing the State of it, I published, that there should be a weekly Conveyance of Letters into all Parts of the Nation:"

"That, with the Benefit which came by the Postage of Letters, I have taken off from the State the Charge of all the Postmasters of England, except Dover Road, which is above Seven thousand Pounds by the Year:"

"That the Committee of the Council of State, for Irish Affairs, have treated with me for taking off the Charge of the Packet Boats for Ireland; which I have consented to do; and will cost nigh Six hundred Pounds a Year more:"

"That the Common Council of London have sent an Agent to settle Postages, by their Authority, on the several Roads; and have employed a natural Scott into the North; who is gone into Scotland, and hath settled Postmasters (other than those for the State) on all that Road."

"The Pretence of the Common Council is, for another weekly Conveyance of Letters, for other Uses; and, though pressed unto it, have refused to come to the Parliament, and to have Direction from them in it."

"That, besides the intrenching upon the Rights of the Parliament, it will distract that Course which is now settled, and by which the Charge of all the Postmasters of England are taken off from the State; and another way must be thought on for Payment of them, if continued; and it cannot be longer expected to be done by me."

"This I humbly offer and present, in Discharge of the Trust lying on me, and the Duty which may be required of me."

Resolved, That the Offices of Postmaster, Inland and Foreign, are, and ought to be, in the sole Power and Disposal of the Parliament.

Resolved, That it be referred to the Council of State, to consider of the State of the Offices of Postmaster, and of the Interests of those Persons who claim any therein: And to take into Consideration, how the same may be settled in the best way for the Advantage and Safety of the Commonwealth; and report their Opinions therein to the House: And that they take Order for the present Management thereof in the mean time.