House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 12 February 1652

Thursday, the 12th of February, 1651.

Prayers.

Printing Acts.

ORDERED, That it be referred to the Committee of Parliament, appointed by Order of the 21th of July 1650, to whom the collecting of the several Statutes and Ordinances of Parliament concerning Justices of Peace, and the Administration of Justice, to give Order for the printing of the Book now presented to the Parliament, intituled, " A Collection of several Acts of Parliament, published in the Year 1648, 1649, 1650, 1651;" and that the same be not printed, nor reprinted, but by the Order and Direction of that Committee.

Act of Oblivion.

The House this Day resumed the Debate upon the Act of General Pardon and Oblivion.

A Proviso was tendered to this Act, in these Words; " Provided, that this Act, or any thing therein contained, shall not extend to discharge the Arrears of Assessments for the Army, due from January 30th 1644, to March 25th 1649, from the County of Essex; and appointed, by Authority of Parliament, for Satisfaction of the said County, for Provisions and Free-Quarter taken by the said Army at the Siege of Colchester, 1648."

Resolved, That this Proviso be read a Second time.

The said Proviso was read the Second time, accordingly; and, upon the Question, passed, and ordered to be Part of the Bill.

Resolved, That all Provisoes to be tendered to this Bill, be presented to the House before the rising of the House To-morrow; and that no Provisoes be tendered to this Bill after that time.

A Proviso was tendered to this Act; " Provided, that this Act, or any thing therein contained, do not extend to the annihilating or making void an Order of Parliament of the 8th of March 1647, for Payment of the Arrears of Colonel Nicholas Devereux, upon Discoveries; but that, notwithstanding anything herein contained to the contrary, he may, by Virtue thereof, prosecute, proceed against, and receive the Benefit of all or any Discovery whatsoever, already entered by him the said Colonel, or any other for him, or at his Appointment, at Haberdashers hall; in regard, he hath been at great Charges in the prosecuting of several Delinquents; and because he hath no other Security for his Arrears; and being, by an Ordinance of Parliament of the 25th of May 1647, acknowleged a due Debt to the Commonwealth:" Which was this Day read the First time.

And the Question being put, That this Proviso be read the Second time;

It passed in the Negative.

A Proviso was tendered to this Act: Provided also, that this Act, nor any thing therein contained, shall not extend to the Discharge of any Person or Persons, of, for, or concerning any Penalty, Fine, or Forfeiture incurred, or to be inflicted, for or by reason of the Monopolies of Soap:" Which was this Day read the First time.

And the Question being put, That this Proviso be read the Second time.

It passed with the Negative.

A Proviso was tendered to this Act; " Provided always, that this Act, or any thing therein contained, shall not extend, or be Advantage, unto John Webster, Theophilus Baynham, Edward Maning, Richard Foord, and James Yard, Merchants, or either of them; who, by a Declaration of the Lords and Commons, assembled in Parliament, passed the Sixth of July 1644, are declared to be Incendiaries between the United Provinces, and the Kingdom and Parliament of England:" Which was this Day read the First and Second time.

And several Amendments being offered to this Proviso, the same was amended in these Words; viz. " Provided always, that this Act, or any thing therein contained, shall not extend, or be Advantage, unto John Webster, of Amsterdam, Merchant; who hath been formerly declared to be an Incendiary between the United Provinces and the Parliament of England."

And the said Proviso, so amended, being put to the Question, was assented unto, and ordered to be Part of the Bill.

Ordered, That this Debate be resumed To-morrow Morning, the first Business; nothing to intervene.