House of Commons Journal Volume 6: 18 June 1650

Die Martis, 18 Junii, 1650.

Prayers.

Embassy from Holland.

MR. Thomas Challoner reports from the Council of State, the Answer to be given to the Lord Gerard Schaeph, Commissioner from the States of Holland and West Freizland, in Answer to the Paper delivered in by him to the Parliament.

Which was this Day read the First and Second time; and, with some Amendments at the Table, agreed unto.

Resolved, That the said Answer be attested by the Clerk of the Parliament.

Navy.

Ordered, That Colonel Thomson make his Report from the Navy on Thursday Morning next, the first Business; nothing to intervene.

Publick Accompts.

Ordered, That the Business touching the Accompts of the Commonwealth be taken up on Thursday next, after the Business of the Navy.

Ly. Fairfax.

Ordered, That the Lady Fairfax her Petition be read To-morrow, after the Business for Trade.

Grant to Browne.

Ordered, That the Act for three thousand Pounds to be settled on Mr. Browne, in Recompence of his Office be read the Second time This-day-sevennight.

Relief of Creditors.

An Act for the more effectual Recovery of Debts, and Relief of Creditors, was this Day read the Second time; and, upon the Question, committed unto Mr. Solicitor, Mr. Say, Colonel Jones, Mr. Love, Sir Wm. Allanson, Mr. Hill, Mr. John Corbett, Mr. Gurdon, Mr. Attorney, Sir Thomas Widdrington, Lord Commissioner, Mr. Hodges, Serjeant Erle, Sir Henry Mildmay, Mr. Weaver, Mr. Long, Mr. Lechmere, Mr. Moyle, Mr. Miles Corbett, Mr. Edwards, Mr. Clement, Sir Peter Wentworth; or any Five of them: And all that come to have Voices: And this Committee is to meet this Afternoon at Two of Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber; and so de die in diem: And Mr. Serjeant Earl is to take care hereof; and that the same he brought in on This-day-sevennight.

Embassy from Holland.

The House being informed, that, according to the Order of this House, the Commissioner from the States of Holland and West Frizland was in the Court of Wards, attending the Pleasure of the House;

The Serjeant, by Command of the House, was sent to attend him, together with the Master of the Ceremonies: And, being come within the Door, uncovered, he came up to the Bar, the Serjeant at Arms attending on his Right-hand, and the Master of the Ceremonies on the Lest: Where, after mutual Compliment between him and Mr. Speaker, all the Members standing, he sate down in a Chair, placed at the usual Place, on the North Side of the House: And, being set, Mr. Speaker delivered this Answer unto him, by Word of Mouth; viz.

"The Parliament of the Commonwealth of England have taken into their serious Consideration what your Lordship did lately deliver unto them, in Behalf of your Superiors the High and Potent Lords the States of Holland and West Frizland: Unto which I am commanded, in their Name, to return this Answer:"

"The Parliament, both from the Motives remembered in your Lordship's Paper, and from many other Reasons and Experiences of their own, hath, ever since it pleased God to restore this Commonwealth to its just Freedom, been so apprehensive of the common Benefits apparently redounding to this Nation, together with the High and Mighty Lords the States of the United Provinces, by a strict Alliance between them, that they thought sit long since to employ, for that Purpose, Walter Strickland Esquire, a Member of Parliament, with Addresses, as well to the States General, as to the High and Potent Lords the States of Holland and West Frizland: Which Proceeding of theirs doth give a sufficient Testimony, on their Behalf, that the Fault hath not been in them, if so desirable a Union and Friendship between the Two Commonwealths hath not been attained."

"And although the Applications made by our said Resident unto the States General, on so friendly a Subject, and for so good an End, have been hitherto neglected, and not so much as Audience as yet given to him; which the Parliament cannot but take notice of, as not understanding, why the Friendship of this Commonwealth should be of so small Consideration with them: Yet the Parliament are so well satisfied with the Deportment of the High and Mighty Lords the States of Holland and West Frizland towards this Commonwealth, and their said Resident Walter Strickland, in the Applications which he hath made on their Part, and of the Endeavours which the said High and Potent Lords, from time to time, have used with the other Provinces, not only to prevent any Misunderstanding, but to maintain all friendly and good Correspondency between the Two States, that they do the more chearfully and readily entertain what hath been propounded to them by your Lordship; and do resolve to answer those Assurances of Friendship, and neighbourly Commerce, which your Lordship doth give on the Behalf of your Superiors, with most real Returns of good Acceptance; desiring, as a happy Result from the same, that this Commonwealth, and the States of Holland and West Frizland, may not only correspond together in a neighbourly and friendly Commerce, but may, at last, grow up to so strict a Union and Alliance, as may be found necessary for the Good of both."

"And, as there shall be Occasion for your Lordship to represent any further Particulars concerning the Interest of that Province, or of any Member thereof, whereunto there is no proper Remedy applicable in the ordinary Course of Justice, the Parliament hath impowered the Council of State to receive the same, and give such Answers, from time to time, as shall be requisite, and may witness the Regard which this Commonwealth hath to the Friendship of those by whom your Lordship is deputed."

Which being ended, Mr. Speaker, by the Master of the Ceremonies, delivered the same Answer to the Commissioner, in Writing, signed by the Clerk: Which, having received, the Commissioner of the States returned an Answer to this Effect:

* * * *

Army Maintenance.

Sir Wm. Armyn reports from the Committee of the Army, touching Four Months Pay for the Forces in Ireland; viz.

"Resolved, That One Third Part of the Three Months Assessments of Ninety thousand Pounds per mensem be assigned towards the Payment of Three Months Pay to the Army of Ireland; and to complete that Three Months Pay, and the Paying of One Month's Pay more to the same Forces; that Fifty-five thousand Pounds be charged upon the One hundred thousand Pounds appointed out of the Receipts of the Excise, for the Use of the Army, next after the Thirty thousand Pounds already engaged out of that Receipt by the Council of State."

Resolved, That the Committee of the Army be authorized to direct their Warrant to the Treasurers at War, to issue out the Monies accordingly.

Resolved, That towards the Maintenance of the Forces in England, One hundred and Fifty thousand Pounds be appointed to be paid, by Warrant from the Committee for the Army, to the Treasurers at Wars; viz. Fifty thousand Pounds out of the Receipts of Goldsmiths Hall, next after the One hundred and Five thousand Pounds already charged there, for the Use of the Armies in England and Ireland; and One hundred thousand Pounds, in Course, out of the Receipts arising upon the Sale of Feefarm Rents, next after the Two hundred thousand Pounds already charged thereon, for the Use of the Army and Navy.

Resolved, That, for the more speedy Bringing in of the Monies upon the Receipts of Goldsmiths Hall, and the Sale of the Fee-farm Rents, the Committee of the Army be impowered to consider of and remove such Obstructions as are or may happen therein, as to the Coming in of Money upon those Receipts; or otherwise, if they see Cause, to report the same to the House.

Ordered, That Mr. Attorney General and Mr. Solicitor General, together with the rest of the Counsel for the Commonwealth, do consider of, as well a Form of Conveyances for Sale of the Fee-farm Rents, as of any thing that is necessary for removing Obstructions in the Sale thereof: And that they prepare and present to this House, an Act or Acts for that Purpose.

Temple's Debts.

Ordered, That the Act for settling several of the Lands of Sir Peter Temple, and Richard Temple Esquire, upon Trustees for Payment of Debts, and other Purposes, be read on Tuesday Morning next.

Excise.

Ordered, That the Bill for regulating the Excise be reported on Thursday Morning next.

Resolved, That Ten thousand Pounds be charged upon the Remainder of One hundred and Fifty thousand Pounds formerly charged upon the Excise, for the Use of the Army and Navy, for incident Charges of the Army in Ireland; to be issued out by Order of the Council of State.