House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 16 December 1652

Thursday, the 16th of December, 1652.

Prayers.

Marshalsey Prisoners.

ORDERED, That the Lord Chief Justice Rolle be authorized and required to pay, or cause to be paid, unto such Person or Persons as the Council of State shall appoint, all such Sum and Sums of Money as have been paid unto him from the several Counties upon the Act of 43 Elizabethæ, for Relief of the Prisoners in the Marshalsey, and are now in his Hands, to be employed for the Relief of the maimed Mariners.

Sir R. Gurney.

Ordered, That the Report touching Sir Richard Gurney be made on this Day Fortnight.

Publick Faith.

Ordered, That the Report touching the Publick Faith be made on this Day Sevennight.

Cheshire.

Ordered, That the Report touching the Cheshire Gentlemen be made on this Day Fortnight.

Weavers-Hall Bills.

Alderman Allein reports from the Committee to whom it was referred to consider of the State of the Business touching Weavers-Hall Bills, An Act for the Ascertaining the Time of Payment of the Monies due upon Weavers-Hall Bills: Which was this Day read the First and Second time.

Resolved, That the Blank in this Act be filled with the Word "Eight."

The Question being put, To agree to the Proviso in this Act;

It passed with the Negative.

The Question being put, That this Act be ingrossed;

It passed with the Negative.

The said Act, so amended, being put to the Question, passed.

Excise.

Resolved, That the Excise be continued from the Day of September next, for Two Years, from thence next following: And that the Committee of Excise do prepare and bring in an Act accordingly, upon the present Debate of the House.

Embassy from Portugall.

Resolved, That the Earl of Salisbury, Colonel Rich, and Mr. Ralegh do accompany the Lord Ambassador from the King of Portugall to his Audience this Day.

The House being informed, that the Lord Ambassador Extraordinary from the King of Portugall was ready to attend the Parliament, in order to his Audience, the Serjeant, by the Command of the House, went with his Mace to attend him from the Court of Wards: And, when the Lord Ambassador was entered within the House, he uncovered his Head: Mr. Speaker, and the Members of the House, being likewise uncovered, stood up; and, from the Bar, the Master of the Ceremonies and the Serjeant at Arms attended him the one on the Righthand and the other on the Left, to a Chair with Elbows, placed on the North Side of the House: Where, being set, he made an Oration, in the Portugall Tongue; which he presented in Writing, in Latin and in English, by the Master of the Ceremonies.

Mr. Speaker informed the Lord Ambassador, by the Master of the Ceremonies, That he would acquaint the Parliament therewith: And, after the usual Civilities performed mutually, the said Ambassador departed out of the House; and was attended by the Master of the Ceremonies and Serjeant of Arms to the Court of Wards.

Mr. Speaker, by way of Report, acquaints the House with what was delivered by the said Lord Ambassador: Which was read.

Resolved, That the Sum for the full Clearing of this Account, upon the Fourth preliminary Article, be Fifty thousand Pounds.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Council of State, to settle the Security for the Payment of the said Sum of Fifty thousand Pounds; and the Time of Payment thereof.

Ordered, That the Council of State be authorized to proceed with the Treaty of the Peace between this Commonwealth and the King of Portugall.

Ordered, That the Consideration of the Portugall Ships and Goods, now in Question in the Admiralty, be particularly referred to the Council of State.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Council of State to take Care that those Articles which concern the Merchants be effectually put in Execution.