House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 5 December 1654

Tuesday, the 5th of December, 1654.

Prayers.

Assessment.

THE House, according to former Order, did this Day take into Debate the Assessment for Scotland and Ireland.

The Question being propounded, That the Sum to be assessed upon Scotland, for the next Three Months, shall be the Sum of Ten thousand Pounds by the Month;

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

It passed in the Negative.

The Question being propounded, That the Sum to be assessed upon Scotland, for the next Three Months, shall be the Sum of Eight thousand Pounds by the Month;

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

It passed in the Affirmative.

And the main Question being put; It was

Resolved, by the Parliament, That the Sum to be assessed upon Scotland, for the next Three Months, shall be the Sum of Eight thousand Pounds by the Month.

Post Meridiem.

Assessment.

RESOLVED, That the Proportion of the Assessments upon the City and County of the City of Gloucester, for the next Three Months, and so for the future, shall be divided into Seventeen Parts; and that the County of the said City shall bear Thirteen Parts of the said Seventeen; and the City of Gloucester, excepting those Hamlets which were most usually rated by the High Constables of the Hundreds of the said County of the said City, namely, Tuffley, Wooton, Barton-street, Longford, Twigworth, Kingsholme, and Lanthony, shall bear the remaining Four Parts; and no other Proportion to be borne by the said City, without Order of Parliament: And that the last Three Months Assessment shall be paid and borne according to this Proportion.

Resolved, That the Persons hereafter shall be Commissioners for the City and County of the City of Glocester; and that their Names be inserted into the Bill; for the next Three Months Assessments; viz. William Cook, Wm. Selwin, Edward Nurse, William Lawrence, Wm. Hinson, Esquires; Wm. Caple, John Maddox, Henry Cugley, Aldermen; John Gise, Francis Wheeler, Anthony Freeman, Richard Guinett, and Robert Theyre, Gentlemen.

The Question being propounded, That the Sum to be assessed upon Ireland, for the next Three Months, shall be the Sum of Ten thousand Pounds by the Month;

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

It passed with the Negative.

The Question being propounded, That the Sum to be assessed upon Ireland, for the next Three Months, shall be the Sum of Nine thousand Pounds by the Month;

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

It passed with the Negative.

The Question being propounded, That the Sum to be assessed upon Ireland, for the next Three Months, shall be the Sum of Eight thousand Pounds by the Month;

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, That the Sum to be assessed upon Ireland, for the next Three Months, be the Sum of Eight thousand Pounds by the Month.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee for Ireland, to bring in a Bill for the said Assessment, accordingly.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee for Scotland, to bring in a Bill for settling of the said Assessment for Scotland.

Ordered, That Candles be brought in.

Resolved, That the House be resolved into a Grand Committee, To-morrow Sevennight, to take into Consideration the best Way, how the Proportions of Assessments may be most equally laid for the future: And that Mr. Speaker do then forbear to take the Chair.

Settling the Government.

The House this Day resumed the Debate upon the Report of the Committee of the whole House, upon the Government.

Resolved, That the Number of the Persons who shall be of the Council, shall be, and not exceed, One-and-twenty.

The Question being propounded, That Nine of them shall be a Council, and not under;

And the Question being put, That, instead of the Word "Nine," in this Question, the Word "Eleven" be inserted;

The House was divided.

The Yeas went forth.

So it passed with the Affirmative.

And the main Question being put; It was

Resolved, That Eleven of them shall be a Council, and not under.

Resolved, That no Person shall continue to be of the Council longer than Forty Days after the Meeting of each succeeding Parliament, without a new Approbation by the Parliament.

Resolved, That the standing Forces of this Commonwealth, both by Sea and Land, during the Life of the now Lord Protector, shall be no more in Number, than shall be agreed upon, from time to time, by the said Lord Protector and the Parliament.

The Proviso to that Vote in the Report being read;

And the Question being put, That the Debate of this Proviso be adjourned till To-morrow Morning;

The House was divided.

The Yeas went forth:

So it passed in the Negative.