House of Commons Journal Volume 6: 16 June 1649

Die Sabbati, 16 Junii, 1649.

Prayers.

Excise, &c.

MR. Miles Corbett reports from the Committee touching the Excise, the State of the Business of the Excise: And also

An Act, That all Bonds, Bills, and Writings obligatory, entered into, to the Use of the Commonwealth, touching Customs and Excise, shall. . made and taken in the Name of Custodes Libertatis Angliæ, Authorilate Parliamenti; and for returning them into the Court of Exchequer; and for Proceedings to be had thereupon in the said Court, for levying the said Debts:

Which was this Day read the First and Second time; and, upon the Question, passed.

And it is Ordered, That the same Act be forthwith printed and published.

The Question being propounded, That this House doth agree with the said Committee, That the Commissioners of Excise now in being be continued in their respective Places until the Twenty-fifth Day of December next, unless this House shall take further Order to the contrary;

And the Question being put, That that Question be now put:

It passed with the Affirmative.

And the main Question being put;

It was Resolved, &c. That this House doth agree with the said Committee, That the Commissioners of Excise, now in being, be continued in their respective Places until the Twenty-fifth Day of December next, unless this House shall take further Order to the contrary.

Ordered, That the Business touching the Excise be taken up on Thursday next, the first Business; nothing to intervene.

Ordered, That the Committee of Excise be injoined to sit from time to time; and to consider of the Propositions to them made touching the Excise; and report their Opinion therein, to this House, on Thursday next: And that the Gentlemen that have Propositions to make to the said Committee touching the Excise, be desired to attend the said Committee.

And it is likewise referred to the said Committee, according to the Debate now had in this House, to prepare things so for the House, that some Settlement may be made of the Excise for easing the Commonwealth of Burdens.

Bishops Lands.

Ordered, That the Contractors and Trustees for Sale of Bishops Lands be injoined to put in Execution all Powers given unto them, for the speedy and effectual bringing in the Monies due upon Contracts for Bishops Lands, as well against Members of Parliament as others.

Resolved, &c. That the several Committees in the several Counties, upon Certificates given in to them by the Contractors and Trustees for Sale of Bishops Lands, or either of them, of any Persons that are arrear with Monies upon Contracts for the said Lands, do according to the Powers to them given, forthwith sequester all such Lands contracted for: And, in Default thereof, this House will take a strict Account of the said several Committees for their Neglect herein.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Obstructions for Sale of Bishops Lands to consider of further Ways and means for the speedy bringing in the Arrears due upon Contracts for Sale of Bishops Lands, and for the Lessening of the whole Debt, by the speedy Sale of the Lands, or otherwise; and present their Opinions therein to this House; together with the Names of such Persons as are arrear upon their Contracts, on Tuesday Morning next.

Deans and Chapters Lands.

The Question being propounded, That Power be given to the Contractors and Trustees for Sale of Deans and Chapters Lands, to sell such Lands as are, by the Act for abolishing Deans and Chapters, &c. appointed to be sold at Twelve Years Purchase, at Ten Years Purchase, and not under; and so proportionably for Lives and Years;

And the Question being put, That that Question be now put;

It passed with the Affirmative.

And the main Question being put;

It was Resolved, &c. That Power be given to the Contractors and Trustees for Sale of Deans and Chapters Lands, to sell such Lands as are, by the Act appointed for abolishing Deans and Chapters, &c. to be sold at Twelve Years Purchase, at Ten Years Purchase, and not under; and so proportionably for Lives and Years.

Ordered, That an Act be brought in to this Purpose.

Mr. Lechmere is to bring in the Act on Tuesday next.

Resolved, &c. That Power be given to the Contractors and Trustees for Sale of Deans and Chapters Lands, to sell the Lands appointed by the Act for abolishing Deans and Chapters, &c. to be sold at Fifteen Years Purchase, at Thirteen Years Purchase, and not under; and so proportionably for Reversions for Lives or Years.

Ordered, That an Act be brought in to that Purpose.

Mr. Lechmere is to bring in the Act.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Obstructions for Sale of Deans and Chapters Lands, to consider of all such Obstructions as hinder the Sale of Deans and Chapters Lands; and of the best way for removing the said Obstructions; and present the same to this House on Tuesday Morning next.

Ministers.

Ordered, That the Declaration for the Ministers be read on Wednesday Morning next, the first Business; nothing to intervene.

Letter read.

A Letter from the Lord Mayor of London, Sir John Wollaston, and others, of the Fourth of June 1649, was this Day read.

Maddison's Claims.

Resolved, &c. That the Sum of Four hundred Pounds, seized in the Hand of Sir Ralph Maddison Knight, in July 1643, by Warrant from the late General the Earl of Essex, and after disposed of by him for the Service of the State in the Expedition to Gloucester, be admitted, as due to the said Sir Ralph Maddison, upon the Publick Faith, without Interest.

Ordered, That the said Sir Ralph Maddison be admitted to come in for the said Four hundred Pounds, upon Doubling upon Dean and Chapters Lands.

Col. Fox.

The humble Petition of Colonel John Fox, and his Officers, was this Day read.

Ordered, That the Sum of Fifty Pounds be forthwith paid to Colonel John Fox, or his Assigns, for Supply of his present Wants and Necessity; to be advanced at Haberdashers Hall: And that the Committee at Haberdashers Hall, and their Treasurers, do make present Payment thereof accordingly: And the Acquittance or Acquittances of the said Colonel John Fox, or his Assigns, shall be a sufficient Discharge to the Committee and Treasurers there, for Payment thereof accordingly.

Westminster College.

Ordered, That the Quorum of the Committee for Westminster College be reduced to Five.

Excise, &c.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Care of Mr. Lechmere and Mr. Allen, to bring in the Act formerly ordered to be brought in, touching the several Sums of Four hundred thousand Pounds, and Four hundred thousand Pounds, charged on the Excise and Goldsmiths Hall.

Ordered, That the Papers, now delivered by Colonel Wauton, touching Persons to be admitted to come in upon Doubling their Debts, be referred to the Committee who are to bring in the said Act: Who are to consider thereof; and report their Opinions therein to the House.

Public Debts.

Mr. Dove reports from the Committee for Advance of Money, a List of several Sums of Money owing by several Gentlemen of the County of York, to divers Persons, who lent the same to maintain the War against the Parliament.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee for the Advance of Monies at Haberdashers Hall, to compound with the Persons specified in the said List; and to take the Money proportionably; and, upon Payment thereof, to discharge the Parties bound: And that the said Committee have further Power to call in any other Persons that are engaged in the like kind; and to compound with them accordingly.

Dick's Claims.

Ordered, That Mr. Allen do make the Report from Goldsmiths Hall, now in his Hands, touching Sir Wm. Dick, on Thursday Morning next, the first Business.

Cromwell's Arrears.

Ordered, That the Petition of Major Oliver Cromwell be referred to the Committee of Haberdashers Hall for Advance of Money, to give him Satisfaction for his Arrears out of the Eleven thousand Six hundred and Sixteen Pounds Ten Shillings, now discovered, mentioned in the List reported by Mr. Dove, and out of such other Monies as shall be discovered: And the Acquittance or Acquittances of the said Major Cromwell, or his Assigns, shall be a sufficient Discharge to the Committee and Treasurers there for Payment thereof, or any Part thereof, unto the said Major Oliver Cromwell, or his Assigns accordingly.

Reduced Officers, &c.

Ordered, That the Petition of the several reduced Officers, and Widows whose Husbands lost their Lives in the Service, whose Names are subscribed to the said Petition, and the Paper annexed to the said Petition, be referred to the Committee at Haberdashers Hall for Advance of Monies: Who are to proceed effectually upon the said Discoveries to be made by the Petitioners; and out of the same, and also out of the Eleven thousand Six hundred and Sixteen Pounds Ten Shillings, mentioned in the List reported by Mr. Dove (fn. 1), to satisfy the Arrears due to the Petitioners, and to the several Persons named in the Paper annexed to the said Petition.

Proposition committed.

Ordered, That the Proposition, now presented to this House, be referred to a Committee: Who are to take the same into Consideration; and present their Opinions therein to the House; viz. unto Colonel Rich, Mr. Holland, Colonel Fleetwood, Sir Pecer Wentworth, Mr. Lechmere.