House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 4 October 1653

Tuesday, the 4th of October, 1653.

Com rs of Excise.

CAPTAIN Stone reports from the Committee for Inspection, and for regulating Officers, and their Salaries.

THAT it be humbly propounded to the Parliament, That Luke Hoages, Thomas Bulstrode, and Wm. Parker, Esquires, or any Two of them, be Commissioners of Excise for the Time being, to put in Execution the several Acts, Orders, and Ordinances of Parliament touching Excise, until further Order: And that the several Orders and Resolves of the late Parliament touching Excise, which were in Force at the Dissolution thereof, be continued and prolonged from and after the 29th of September last, until the 29th of December 1653.

Resolved, That Luke Hodges, Thomas Bulstrode, and Wm. Parker, Esquires, be Commissioners of the Excise, for the Time being; and that they, or any Two of them be impowered to put in Execution the several Acts, Orders, and Ordinances of Parliament touching Excise, until further Order: And that the several Orders and Resolves of the late Parliament touching Excise, which were in Force at the Dissolution thereof, be continued and prolonged from and after the 19th of September last, until the 29th of December 1653.

Resolved, That from and after the 29th of September last, the Salary of the Commissioners for the Excise, for the Time being, be reduced to one Peny in the Pound.

Officers of Excise.

He also reports from the same Committee.

THAT it be humbly propounded to the Parliament, That the Salary allowed out of the Excise, for dispatching all Business relating to the Service of the Excise with his Excellency the Lord General, amounting to Fourscore Pounds per Annum, be taken off; and that Office laid aside, as useless:

That it be humbly propounded, That the Salary of Four hundred and Twenty Pounds per Annum, now paid to the Surveyor General of the Excise at the CustomHouse, and his Clerks, be reduced to Two hundred and Twenty Pounds per Annum:

That it be humbly propounded to the House, That the Salary of the Examiner belonging to the Excise, at the Custom-House be reduced, from One hundred and Twenty Pounds per Annum, to Sixty Pounds per Annum:

That it be humbly propounded to the House, That this Committee finding, that Mr. Samuell Bartlett was, by Patent under the Great Seal of England, intrusted by the late Parliament for 'Say-Master of the Mint, upon the Account of his Fidelity and great Judgment and Skill for that Service; and that the Profits arising out of the Office is merely contingent and inconsiderable; it is hereupon humbly tendered to the Parliament, That the said Mr. Bartlett be continued still in that Employment; this Committee conceiving it very conducible and advantageous to the Publick Service, that he have the Supervising of that Affair.

Resolved, by the Parliament, That the Salary allowed out of the Excise, for dispatching all Business relating to the Service of the Excise with his Excellency the Lord General, amounting to Fourscore Pounds per Annum, be taken off; and that Office laid aside, as useless.

Officers of Customs.

Resolved, That the Salary of Four hundred and Twenty Pounds per Annum, now paid to the Surveyor-General of the Excise at the Custom-House, and his Clerks, be reduced to Two hundred and Twenty Pounds per Annum.

Resolved, That the Salary of the Examiner, belonging to the Excise at the Custom-House, be reduced from One hundred and Twenty Pounds per Annum, to Sixty Pounds per Annum.

The Mint.

Resolved, That Mr. Samuell Bartlett, be continued in the Office of 'Say-Master of the Mint, until this House shall take further Order.

Publick Creditors.

He also reports, That it is the Opinion of that Committee, that it be humbly propounded to the Parliament, as the Opinion of that Committee, that some Persons be appointed by the Parliament, to treat with those Creditors to whom the Commonwealth are indebted the Sum of Two hundred Forty-three Thousand Three hundred and Nine Pounds Nineteen Shillings and Eight-pence, and which Sum is charged upon the Excise to be paid in Course, for Twelve Months longer Time to pay the same; and for reducing the Interest thereof, for the Time to come, from Eight Pounds to Six per Cent.

Resolved, by the Parliament, That some Persons be appointed by the Parliament to treat with these Creditors to whom the Commonwealth are indebted the Sum of Two hundred Forty-three Thousand Three hundred and Nine Pounds Nineteen Shillings and Eight-pence, which Sum is charged upon the Excise, to be paid in Course, for Twelve Months longer Time to pay the same: And that the Committee for Inspections, or any Four of them, do treat with them, accordingly: And Colonel Jones is added to that Committee for this Purpose.

Correspondence with Switzerland.

Mr. Lawrence reports from the Council of State, The Draught of a Letter to be sent to the Protestant Cantons of Switzerland: Which was read; and, upon the Question, agreed.

Resolved, That it be referred to the Council of State, To cause this Letter to be translated into Latin: And that the same, being so prepared, be signed by the Speaker, and sealed with the Seal of the Parliament: And that the Council do take Order for the sending the same, accordingly.

Gretham Hospital.

Resolved, That these Words be added to the Vote which passed Yesterday, touching the Master of the Hospital of Gretham; viz. "And that the said Symon Askwith, shall have, hold, and enjoy the said Mastership, with all Rights, Privileges, thereunto belonging, in as large and ample manner as any Master of the said Hospital have lawfully heretofore enjoyed the same."

Union with Scotland.

A Bill, intituled, An Act of the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England, for the Uniting and Incorporating of Scotland, into one free State and Commonwealth with England, was this Day read the First time; and appointed to be read the Second time on Thursday next.

Relief of Creditors, &c.

The Bill for Relief of Creditors, and poor Prisoners, was this Day read the Third time.

The Names of the Commissioners for the UpperBench, &c. being read;

The Question being put, That there be Two Lawyers added to this Number;

The House was divided.

The Yeas went forth.

So it passed in the Affirmative.

Resolved, That Mr. Henry Proby be one of these Commissioners.

Resolved, That Peter Ellison be the other of these Commissioners.

And the Names presented were resolved, being Fifteen in Number; besides the Two added.

Resolved, That the Blank in the Seventh and Eighth Line be filled up with these Words, "the 10th of October 1653."