House of Commons Journal Volume 6: 20 September 1650

Die Veneris, 20 Septembris, 1650.

Prayers.

Prize Wines.

A LETTER from the Lord General Cromwell, from Edenburgh, 14 Septembris 1650.

Resolved, That, as to the Wines taken as Prize in Scotland, whereof Part is sold there by the Lord General, and other Part to be sent up to be sold, the Act prohibiting the Importation of French Wines be dispensed with; and that the same be free of Custom and Excise.

Ordered, That the Committee of the Navy be authorized and required to write a Letter to the Lord General, to send up unto them a Particular of the Quantities of Wines he hath sold; and to what Persons; the better to prevent any Deceit of the Commonwealth in venting the said Wines, or others under colour thereof: And that it be recommended to that Committee to take care herein.

Ld. Howard.

The humble Petition of Edward Lord Howard, a Member of Parliament, was this Day read.

Religious Toleration.

Colonel Jones reports from the Committee to whom the Bill, intituled, An Act for Relief of Religious and peaceable People from the Rigour of former Acts of Parliament, in Matters of Religion, was committed, Amendments to the said Bill: Which were twice read.

The Question being put, That these Words, "prosane Persons, and Contemners of," in the last Clause of the Act, do stand;

It passed with the Negative.

Resolved, That these Words; viz. "Offenders against;" be inserted in the Place of the Words omitted.

And the Amendments, being put to the Question, were assented unto: And the Bill, so amended, was ordered to be ingrossed; and brought in on This-daysevennight, the first Business.

Blasphemy.

Ordered, That the Committee to whom the Consideration of the Ordnance against Blasphemy is referred, do meet from time to time; and present something to the House concerning that Business This-day-sevennight.

Excise.

Colonel Thompson reports, The Answers of the Commissioners of the Excise, touching the Advancing of Ten thousand Pounds.

The humble Answer of Maurice Thompson.

"He faith, That a great Part of his Estate is already laid out for the Service of the Parliament, to the Value of above Eight or Ten thousand Pounds: And, as he hath hitherto been ready to lay out himself for the Publick, so he is still contented and willing to obey the Parliament's Commands, in the Loan of the Sixth Part of Ten thousand Pounds, for the Reimbursement of the Commissioners for the Excise, as hath been proposed by the Committee for regulating the Excise."

The Answer of Wm. Parker to the Order of Parliament.

"That notwithstanding he hath been a very great Sufferer in his Estate, by reason of these Troubles, yet he is willing to Advance his Sixth Part of the Ten thousand Pounds, for reimbursing the old Commissioners for Excise, upon the Security as hath been propounded by the honourable the Committee for regulating the Excise."

The humble Answer of Richard Downes.

"He faith, That he hath laid out for the Service of the Parliament formerly, and very lately, a very large Sum, and yet shall not fail to comply with the Desires of the Parliament, for the Loan of his One Sixth Part of the Ten thousand Pounds, for reimbursing the present Commissioners of Excise, upon the Security propounded unto us by the honourable Committee of Excise; which said One Sixth Part shall be ready at the Time prefixed."

The Answer of Mr. Tho. Bulstrode.

"As to the Proposition for his Loan of the Sixth Part of Ten thousand Pounds, towards the reimbursing the Commissioners of Excise, faith, That albeit that the Commonwealth is indebted unto him One thousand Pounds, and more, already; yet he shall be ready to advance his Sixth Part of the said Ten thousand Pounds, for the Reimbursement of the said Commissioners, as the honourable Parliament shall appoint; hoping that the Parliament will vouchsafe the same Security for this Sum, as the said Commissioners had for the same."

Mr. Snelling, being in the House, did also agree to the advancing his Part of the said Ten thousand Pounds.

The humble Petition of George Snelling, a Member of Parliament, was this Day read.

Resolved, That it be referred to the Commissioners at Goldsmiths Hall, to examine the Debt due to the Petitioner: And that the said Debt, not exceeding Five hundred Pounds Principal, be paid out of such Discoveries as he shall make to the Commissioners at Goldsmiths Hall: And that the Commissioners do proceed upon such Discoveries, accordingly: And the said Commissioners of Goldsmiths Hall are hereby impowered and authorized, in case the said Five hundred Pounds appear to be due to the Petitioner, to give Warrant to the Treasurers at Goldsmiths Hall to pay the some out of such Discoveries, accordingly: And the Acquittance or Acquittances of the said George Snelling shall be their sufficient Discharge in that Behalf.

Norwich Weavers.

Ordered, That the Business touching the Weavers of Norwich and Norfolk be reported on Wednesday Morning next.

Comm rs of Excise.

An Act appointing Commissioners of the Excise, was this Day read the Third time.

A Proviso was tendered to the said Act, in these Words; viz. "And be it further Enacted and Ordained, by the Authority aforesaid, That all Sub-commissioners, and other Officers and Persons, now employed in the Service of the Excise, under the late Commissioners for the Excise, shall remain and continue in their respective Employments, until such time as the Commissioners herein named shall, by and with the Consent and Approbation of the Committee for regulating the Excise, otherwise order and appoint; any thing in this Act contained to the contrary notwithstanding:" Which was this Day read the First and Second time; and, upon the Question, ordered to be Part of the Act.

And the said Act, being put to the Question, passed.

Ordered, That the new Commissioners of Excise do, before the Twenty-ninth of September instant, pay the Ten thousand Pounds due to the old Commissioners of the Excise: And that the new Commissioners have the same Security for their Reimbursements, as the former Commissioners had.

Door shut.

Resolved, That the Door be shut till One of Clock.

Irish Commissioners.

Ordered, That the Report from the Council of State, touching the Sending of the Commissioners into Ireland, be made on Tuesday Morning next.

Military Proceedings.

The House being informed, that Mr. Rushworth was at the Door;

He was called in; and made a Relation of the State and Condition of the Parliament's Army in Scotland.

The Copy of a Letter from the Lord Lowdon to the King of Scotland, dated 9 Julii 1650; and the Copies of Three other Letters, all found in the Lord Lowdon's Cabinet: were all this Day read.

Ordered, by the Parliament, That the said Four Letters be all printed at the latter End of the Declaration; with the Circumstances when and where the same were found: And it is referred to Mr. Scott to take care to see them printed accordingly.

Business to be done.

Ordered, That the Business of Money, and nothing else, be taken up the next Week, notwithstanding any former Order.

The House, according to former Order, adjourned itself until Tuesday Morning, Eight of Clock.