House of Commons Journal Volume 6: 8 January 1651

Die Mercurii, 8 Januarii, 1650.

Prayers.

Embassyfrom Portugall.

A LETTER from John of Guimaraes, the publick Minister from the King of Portugall, of the Seventeenth of January 1651, Stilo Novo, was this Day read.

Resolved, That the publick Minister from the King of Portugall have Audience on Friday Morning next, at Eleven a Clock, according to the former Rule: And that Sir Oliver Fleming, Master of the Ceremonies, do give him Notice hereof, and do then attend the said publick Minister, in such Manner, as the Council of State shall direct.

Ordered, That the Serjeant at Arms attending this House do take Care, that the late Court of Wards, and the late House of Lords, be prepared, furnished, and made fit against Friday next, for the Reception and giving Audience to the said publick Minister from the King of Portugall.

Fee-farm Rents.

The House, this Day, resumed the Debate upon the Report made Yesterday, by Sir Henry Mildmay, from the Council of State, touching Doubling upon Fee-farm Rents: Which Report followeth; viz.

IN pursuance of an Order of Parliament, bearing Date the Three-and-twentieth of November, referring it to the Council, to consider of the most effectual Way for bringing in the Remainder of the Monies which are to be raised by the Sale of the Fee-farm Rents not yet contracted for; That the Council are of Opinion, that the best Way for the speedy Selling of those Lands, and gaining of ready Money for them, will be, by admitting the Doubling of Publick Faith Bills, in the Purchasing of those Rents: And that they be sold, not under Years Purchase.

To the Right honourable the Committee of the Council of State for the Affairs of Ireland and Scotland.

WE, the Trustees for Sale of the Fee-farm Rents, &c. humbly certify,

All which we humbly submit to the Consideration of this honourable Committee.

Supply.

Ordered, That the House do take into Consideration, To-morrow-sevennight, how they may speedily supply present Monies, for carrying on the Publick Affairs of this Nation.

Delinquents Estates.

Ordered, That the Amendments to the Act for Sale of Delinquents Estates be reported To-morrow Morning the first Business.

Fee-farm. Rents.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Obstructions, to consider of the Obstructions in the Sale of Fee-farm Rents, by reason of the excestive Fees of the Auditors, Clerk of the Pipe, and other Officers and Ministers there, or otherwise: And the said Committee are hereby impowered to redress and regulate the same, as they shall see Cause.

Resolved, That the Committee of Obstructions be authorized and required to examine and consider of the excessive Fees of the Committees, Officers, and Clerks at Gurney House, and Worcester House; and of the Officers belonging to the Committee of Indemnity, plundered Ministers, Goldsmiths Hall, Haberdashers Hall; and regulate and reform the same.

Records in the Tower.

Ordered, That the Lord Commissioner Whitelock do make the Reports in his Hands, touching the Keeping of the Records in the Towner; and the Act touching the Titles of Honour conferred on Delinquents, on This-daysevennight.

Transactions with Spaine.

Mr. Bond reports from the Council of State, A (fn. 1) Letter from Colonel Blague, from aboard the Bonadventure, Cadize Bay, 21 Decembris 1650; with Copies of several Letters and Transactions between him and the King of Spaine.

Which were this Day read.

Resolved, That the Parliament doth approve of the Proceedings of Colonel Robert Blake, one of the Generals of the Fleet: And that the Council of State do prepare a Letter to be sent to him, from the House, taking Notice of their Acceptance of his great and faithful Services; and return the Thanks of this House to him for the same: And that Mr. Speaker be impowered to sign the said Letter accordingly.

Resolved, That Copies of the Letters now reported, between Colonel Blake, and the King of Spaine, be sent to the Committee appointed to prepare the Answer to the Spanish Ambassador.

Army, &c.

Mr. Holland reports from the Council of State;

"That Colonel Berkstead's Regiment hath been recruited to the Number of Two thousand Men, from the Twelfth Day of December instant: That the Parliament be moved, That Order may be given to the Committee for the Army, for the Paying of this Regiment, according to the Number of Two thousand Men, from the said time they were last recruited to that Number."

Resolved, That the Committee of the Army be, and are hereby, authorized and required to make Payment to Colonel Barkstead's Regiment, according to the Number of Two thousand Men, from the Twelfth of December last.

Resolved, That the Committee of the Navy be impowered to dispose of the Monies which are reserved out of Prize Ships and Goods, for the Use of the State, to be employed for the Service of the Navy; and to issue their Warrants and Orders for Payment of the said Monies, for those Uses: And that the Treasurers for such Monies be required to make Payment thereof accordingly.

Resolved, That Twenty thousand Pounds be raised for the Recruits of Ireland; viz. Twelve thousand Pounds thereof be charged on the Receipt of Goldsmiths Hall, in Course, after the Seventy thousand Pounds, and Fifty thousand Pounds, last charged; and the Eight thousand Pounds Residue be charged on Haberdashers Hall, in Course, to be paid to the Treasurers of War; and to be by them issued, by Order of the Council of State: And that the Commissioners for Compounding be authorized and required to issue their Warrants to the respective Treasurers of those Receipts, to make Payment thereof: And that the Acquittance and Acquittances of the Treasurers at War shall be a sufficient Discharge to the said respective Treasurers for the same.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Council of State, to take special Care, that the Recruits for Ireland be so conducted, that Free Quarter, and other Mischiess and Abuses to the People, by their short Marches or otherwise, be prevented; and to take speedy and effectual Course therein.

Ordered, That the Accompts of Colonel Robert Blake, as well for the Pay due to him for his Service done to the Parliament, as also for the Money by him disbursed for their Service, be referred to the Examination of the Commissioners for Accompts, sitting at Worcester House: Who are hereby authorized to take and examine the same, notwithstanding the Absence of the said Colonel, now employed abroad at Sea, in the publick Service of the Commonwealth: And the said Commissioners are to certify the State of the said Accompts unto the Parliament, with all convenient Speed.

Importing Bullion.

Mr. Challoner reports from the Committee for Trade, The humble Proposals of Peter Vandeputt, and James Stainer, of London, Merchants.

To the honourable Council for Trade,

The humble Proposals of Peter Vandeput, and James Stainer, of London, Merchants.

THAT having, by our Letters, encouraged divers Merchants beyond the Seas, that usually did import Bullion into this Land, to reassume that Trade again; unto which we find them inclined; but that, for Fear of the Dangers at Sea, by the many Enemies of this Commonwealth, they are disheartened thereunto; we therefore, willing to contribute our best Endeavours to so good a Work, tending to the Honour of this Commonwealth, and the Increase of Trade, humbly offer unto the Consideration of this honourable Council.

First, Whether it were not expedient, That, seeing the Plate Fleet is daily expected in Spaine, certain Men of War of this Commonwealth should be appointed forthwith, as a Convoy to such Merchant Ships, as shall be ready to go for Cadize, and St. Lucar; and to return back with them, or such others as shall be there ready; unto the Port of Dover, or Downes, within Thirty Days after their Arrival in Spaine: And that, from thenceforward, every Three Months, or oftner (if need require), the like Convoy may be appointed to go and come, as aforesaid: And that such their Resolution be declared publickly in Print, that all Persons concerned may take Notice thereof, and prepare their Goods accordingly.

Secondly, That the Parliament would be pleased to declare as formerly, by Ordinance of the Twenty-fourth of February 1643, That all Plate and Bullion so to be imported, shall have Protection, and free Passage, as well by Sea as by Land, unto the Port of Dover and London; and not to be detained or seized on, in Part, or in All, either at Sea, or in any Place within the Dominions of this Commonwealth, nor any of the Proceed thereof, by Order of this State, or by any other Person, upon any Pretence whatsoever, be the same in the Hands of Denizens or Strangers; but that the same may be brought up to London, and there remain with Safety, to be disposed into the Mint, or otherwise, as the Owners shall think fit, together with the Proceed thereof, without any Interruption.

Thirdly, Moreover, that they may have Liberty to transport the Two-Thirds of such Plate and Bullion, imported from the Port of Dover, paying the Duty of Two per Cent. the other One-Third Part remaining in this Commonwealth, to be disposed of as above: And that the usual Convoy may be allowed them from the Downs, to the Ports of Flanders, for the Transportation of the aforesaid Two Third Parts.

All which being established and declared, We humbly conceive, will be an Inducement to the Merchant beyond the Seas, to turn the Stream of sending such vast Sums unto our Neighbour Countries; and to make use of our English Shipping again: Wherein, by the Help of an established certain Convoy, they will find so much Security: All which, as Well-wishers to this Commonwealth, we humbly offer to the Consideration of this honourable Council, this Fifteenth November, Anno 1650. London. Signed,

Peter Vandeputt, and James Stainer.

At the Council for Trade, at Whitehall.

THAT whereas a Remonstrance hath been presented to this Council by some Merchants Strangers, and others, setting forth, That, by Intercourse with their Correspondents beyond the Seas, they find a Willingness and Inclination in them (if encouraged) to reassume that Trade of Bringing of Bullion and Plate in our English Shipping, as formerly, from several the Ports of Spaine, which might much tend to the Increase of Coin, and Advance of the Trade of this Nation; and, in order thereunto; desiring that a Convoy might, at sit Seasons of the Year, be sent with our Shipping to Saint Lucar and Cadiz in Spaine; and that an Act or Declaration of Parliament, according to the Tenor of that made in February 1643, be again set forth, to the Encouragement of Merchants Strangers, or others: All which being granted and declared, it may, as is alledged, be a Means very effectual to induce the Merchants beyond the Seas to turn the Stream of sending such vast Sums of Plate, and Foreign Coin, unto our Neighbour Countries, and to make use of our English Shipping; as is more at large contained in their Proposal hereunto annexed.

The Council having taken the said Proposals into their Consideration, and further advised with the said Merchants, do offer it as their humble Opinion,

That such an Act or Declaration of Parliament, for securing the Bullion that shall be imported by Merchants, or others, is necessary to encourage again that Trade of bringing in Plate from Spaine, and other Parts in English Shipping: A Copy of a Declaration to which Effect is herewith also humbly tendered.

That also, if Instruction to the Commanders of such Ships as the Parliament shall please to appoint, both now, and hereafter, at certain Seasons of the Year, to go as Convoy to the Southward, be given, to take into their special Care the Ships bound with Plate from Cadiz or Saint Lucar, this will likewise (if published) be a very great Eucouragement to the Merchants to lade their Plate in our Shipping.

All which is submitted to the Wisdom of Parliament; with a Desire from this Council, that, if the Parliament shall please to allow of it, their Resolves herein may be forthwith published; the Importance of the Thing, and Hazard of losing the present Opportunity, requiring it.

He also reports, A Bill touching Importing of Foreign Bullion.

Which was this Day read the First and Second time; and, upon the Question, committed to the Committee of the Navy: And

Ordered, That it be brought in To-morrow Morning, the first Business.