House of Commons Journal Volume 8: 18 December 1660

Tuesday, 18th December, 1660.

Prayers.

Provost Marshal.

THE humble Petition of Lancelot Emott, Provost Marshal of Middlesex and Westminster, on Behalf of himself and Officers, was read.

Ordered, That it be referred to Henry Cholmeley, Mr. Knight, Sir William Lewes, Sir Richard Onslow, Lord Viscount Valentia. Sir Salomon Swayle, Sir William Doyly, Sir John Northcott, Mr. Crowch, Mr.Lowther, or any Three of them, to consider of the said Petition; and of the Pains taken by the Chaplain, that hath prayed daily with this House ever since the Beginning of the Parliament; and of the Services of the Clerks, and other Officers, attending this House, and those acting under them; as also, of the Printers and Stationers Bills; and what Allowances will be fit to be made to them respectively; and to report their Opinion to the House.

Davies' Claims.

The humble Petition of John Davies, of Carickfergus in the Kingdom of Ireland, Esquire, was this Day read.

That it be referred to the Committee to whom the Business of publick Debts is referred, to consider of this Petition, and inform themselves of the Petitioner's Demands; and to examine and state the same; and report the same to the House.

Dieke's, &c. Claims.

Resolved, That the Petitions of Sir Andrew Dicke and Mrs. English be referred to the Committee for publick Debts, to examine the Case of the Petitioners; and to report the State of the Debt demanded, to this House, with their Opinion: And the said Committee are to meet this Afternoon.

Doe's Estate.

An ingrossed Bill for confirming the Sale of the Manor of Hitcham, sold to Charles Doe by Sir John Clark Knight, and for disposing and settling the Estate of Sir John Clarke, was this Day read the Third time; and, on the Question, passed.

That the Title of this Bill be, An Act for confirming the Sale of the Manor of Hitcham, sold to Charles Doe by Sir John Clarke, Knight and Baronet, and for settling and disposing other the Lands of the said Sir John Clarke, and Dame Philadelphia his Wife.

This to be sent to the Lords for their Concurrence: And the Lord Angier is to carry it to the Lords.

Seymour's Case.

That Report be made, in the Afternoon, of the Case of Mrs. Seymour.

Sir J. Lawson.

A Letter from his Majesty, directed "To Our Trusty and Well-beloved Sir Harbottle Grimston Baronet, Speaker of our House of Commons," dated 15 December instant, on Behalf of Sir John Lawson, Vice Admiral, was this Day read.

A Letter from his Highness the Duke of Yorke, directed to Mr. Speaker, dated 14 December 1660, on Behalf of the Vice Admiral, was this Day read.

A Letter from the Duke of Albemarle to Mr. Speaker, in Behalf of Vice Admiral Lawson, dated 18 December 1660, was this Day read.

The humble Petition of Sir John Lawson Knight, Vice Admiral of his Majesty's Fleet at Sea, was this Day read.

Resolved, That the Members of this House, who are of his Majesty's Privy Council, be desired to attend his Majesty, and inform him, that, after the Return of the secluded Members to the Exercise of their Trust, there was no Vote or Engagement passed by them for settling of any Land on Sir John Lawson, Vice Admiral of his Majesty's Fleet; and that therefore this House have not made any Proceedings therein: And the Care hereof is specially recommended to the Lord Viscount Valentia, and Mr. Hollis.

Poll Bill.

Mr. Pryn reports from the Committee, a Clause to be added to the additional Bill for Poll Money: Which was read the First and Second time; being as followeth:

"Provided always, and be it Enacted, That every Peer of this Realm, whose real and personal Estate, according to the Rates before-mentioned, exceeds the Sum which he ought to pay for his Dignity, and hath not been already assessed, and paid in the Proportion of Monies answerable to his Estate, shall be assessed, according to the Value of his real and personal Estate, by the Commissioners appointed by this Act, and in the original Act, made this Parliament, for the Provision of Money for the disbanding and paying off the Forces of this Kingdom, both by Land and Sea, appointed for the respective Counties, Cities, and Towns, therein mentioned; any Clause in the said original Act to the contrary notwithstanding."

Resolved, That these Words, viz. "by the Commissioners," be inserted in the 6th Line of the said Proviso.

And the Proviso, being so amended, was agreed; and ordered to be Part of the Bill.

Resolved, That Skin 1, Line 51, betwixt the Word "Person," and the Word "that," these Words be inserted, "whether Peers or Commoners."

Resolved, That Mr. Tho. Manley be added to the Commissioners for Poll Money, in the County of Essex.

Resolved, That all the Aldermen in the City of Yorke be added to the Commissioners for the Poll Bill in that City.

Resolved, That these Words be inserted, next after the Word "after;" viz. "the 20 December 1660," Folio *, Line *.

Resolved, That, after the Word "Person," these Words be added, "other than the Peers of this Realm," in the 2d Skin, Line 23.

And the said Bill, so amended, being put to the Question, passed; and ordered to be carried to the Lords.

Resolved, That the Title of this Act be, An Act for further Supply and explaining certain Defects in an Act, intituled, An Act for the speedy Provision of Money for disbanding and paying off the Forces of this Kingdom, both by Land and Sea.

Ordered, That the Lord Viscount Valentia do carry this Bill to the Lords; and desire their Lordships will please to sit this Afternoon; and also, put their Lordships in mind of the Bills sent from this House, not yet passed.

Publick Debts.

Resolved, That Colonel Birch do now make the Report in his Hands, touching publick Debts.

Colonel Birch reports a State of the publick Debts; with the Opinion of the said Committee, touching the Debts, concerning Monies owing to the Port Towns for Quartering of sick and maimed Soldiers: Which was read (fn. 1).

Resolved, That this House doth agree with the Committee, that the Auditors who shall, upon their Oaths, be appointed to examine and state the Debts due to his Majesty's Navy, do examine and state the Debts now claimed as due to the Port Towns, for Quartering of sick and maimed Soldiers and Seamen, put on Shore from Donkerke, and divers of his Majesty's Ships, amounting to Six thousand Seven hundred Fifty-six Pounds Fifteen Shillings and Five-pence; and that what Part thereof shall appear due to those Ports, being so examined, be satisfied and paid out of the Six Months Assessments, next after the growing Charge for Wages is paid to his Majesty's Navy and Army.

Navy Debts

Colonel Birch also reports the gross Sum of the Debts due to the Navy for Wages to Mariners and Seamen, and for Provisions and Stores; and also Debts, which stand charged upon his Majesty's Exchequer; and the Debts which stand charged upon the Excise.

Ordered, That the House do take this Report, and the several Parts thereof, into Consideration, To-morrow Morning.

Relief of Soldiers.

Resolved, That the Sum of One thousand Four hundred Pounds be paid and satisfied, in full Discharge of all Demands, for the Wounded and maimed Soldiers and Widows in Ely House, and the Savoy: And that the same be charged upon the Arrears of the Excise, and paid in Course: And the Commissioners of Excise be and are hereby authorized and required to pay the same.

Excise.

Ordered, That it be referred to Colonel Birch, Colonel King, and Mr. Prynn, to peruse the Acts for the Excise, and, if they find any Defects therein, whereby the Arrears of that Duty cannot be brought in, then, that they bring in a Bill To-morrow Morning, for Supply of the said Defects; and to impower the bringing in of the said Arrears.

And Colonel Birch and Colonel King are desired to take care herein,

Assessment.

Sir Henage Finch reports from the Grand Committee, Amendments to the Bill for an Assessment of Seventy thousand Pounds per Mensem, for Six Months:

Which he read in his Place, with the Coherence; and were read the First time by the Clerk.

Poll Bill, &c.

The Lord Viscount Valentia reports, that he had delivered to the Lords the Bill concerning the Poll Money; and desired the Lords to dispatch the Bills whereof they were minded Yesterday; and that they would please to sit this Afternoon.

Assessments, and Post Office.

Resolved, That, at the first Sitting of the House this Afternoon, the Report about the Six Months Assessments be proceeded with; and, after that, the ingrossed Bill for the Post Office; and the Bill concerning Wine Licences.

This House adjourns to Two of the Clock this Afternoon.

Post Meridiem.

Seymour's Case.

COLONEL King reports the State of the Case of Mrs. Dorothy Seymour, as followeth; viz.

At the Committee, to whom Mrs. Seymour's Petition was referred;

August 13, 1660.

Sir Job Harvy and Sir John Jacob appeared, and confessed, that, in 1640, they received Five thousand Pounds in Gold from the Lord of Norridge, being Mrs. Seymour's Money; for which they, and the rest of the Farmers of the Customs, were engaged unto her: That, in 1644, Mr. Stroade discovered it to the Parliament; and it was sequestered in their Hands: That, Sir Paul Pinder, Sir Job Harvy, Sir Jo. Jacob, Sir John Nulls, paid Seven hundred Fourteen Pounds Five Shillings Nine-pence apiece.

August 28, 1660.

The said Committee find, that Sir John Harrison paid Seven hundred Fourteen Pounds Five Shillings and Ninepence; and that Sir Nicholas Crisp and Sir Abraham Dawes did not pay in their Share, being One thousand Four hundred Twenty-eight Pounds Eleven Shillings and Six-pence; and that there is due unto Mrs. Seymour, by the Publick, being received of Sir Paul Pinder, and others, the Sum of Three thousand Five hundred and Seventy-one Pounds.

Resolved, by the said Committee, That the Sum of Three thousand Five hundred and Seventy-one Pounds be charged upon the Excise.

Ordered, by the and Commons, assembled in Parliament, That the Sum of Three thousand Five hundred and Seventy-one Pounds, due to Mrs. Dorathy Seymour, be and is hereby charged upon the Arrears of Excise, and paid to the said Mrs. Seymour, or her Assigns, in Course, after the Sums shall be satisfied, which are charged on the Grand Excise by former Orders of this Parliament: And the Commissioners of Excise are hereby authorized and required to make Payment thereof to the said Dorathy Seymour, or her Assigns, accordingly: And this Order, together with the Acquittance or Acquittances of the said Dorathy Seymour, testifying the Receipt thereof, shall be, to the said Commissioners of Excise, a sufficient Warrant and Discharge.

Ordered, That the Lords Concurrence be desired herein: And Mr. Jonathan Trelawney is to carry it to the Lords.

Fishery.

A Bill for Encouragement of the Fishery of this Kingdom was this Day read the Second time; and, on the Question, committed to Mr. Tytus, Mr. Pierrepont, Mr. Prynn, Mr. Geo. Montague, Sir Walt. Erle, Mr. Rigby, Mr. Lowther, Sir Fran. Gerard, Sir Horatio Townesend, Sir Wm. Hickman, Mr. Walpoole, Sir Wm. Vincent, Mr. St. Aubin, Mr. Yong, Colonel Birch, Mr. Bulkley, Sir Allen Brodrick, Mr. Knightly, Sir Geo. Downing, Mr. Trelawney, Colonel West, Sir Geo. Booth, Sir Lancelot Lake, Colonel Gerard, Sir John Cloberry, Lord Richardson, Mr. Sprey, Lord Howard, Mr. Jolliffe, Sir William Doyly, Mr. Goodricke, Mr. Molleneux, and all the Gentlemen that serve for any of the Sea Ports: And they have Power to send for Persons, Papers, and Records: And are to meet this Day, after the Rising of the House, in the Speaker's Chamber. And Sir George Downing is to take care hereof.

Tanning Leather.

A Bill, sent from the Lords, for the more speedy and better Way for Tanning and Dressing of all Sorts of Leather, was this Day read the First time.

The Question being put, That this Bill be read the Second time To-morrow in the Afternoon;

The House was divided:

And so the Question passed in the Negative.

Adjournment.

Resolved, That this House do now rise, and meet again To-morrow, at Eight of the Clock in the Morning.

This House adjourns itself till To-morrow at Eight of the Clock in the Morning.