House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 23 January 1652

Friday, the 23d of January, 1651.

Prayers.

Judges Salaries, &c.

MR. Solicitor reports from the Committee appointed to consider of Matters of greatest Importance, Three several Votes of that Committee for the Consideration of the House.

1. "That the Salaries already allowed, or which shall be allowed to the Judges of the Four Courts of Westminster-hall, be placed upon some certain and ancient publick Revenue, that so those Salaries may be duly paid, Quarterly; and that the said Judges shall content themselves with such Salaries, without taking any other Fee, Perquisite, or Reward, directly or indirectly, by themselves or their Servants, under such Penalty as the House shall think fit."

2. "That all the publick Revenue be brought into one Channel, for the future; and in order thereunto, that the previous Instructions for that Purpose, already resolved at a Grand Committee, be forthwith taken into Consideration, and put in Execution."

3. "That the Bill depending in the House for the inrolling of Deeds in the several Counties, be called for, and taken into Consideration."

The Question being propounded, that no Fee, Perquisite, or Reward, shall be taken by any of the Judges of the Four Courts of Westminster-hall, directly or indirectly, by themselves or their Servants, except such Salary as shall be allowed unto them by the State, under such Penalty as the Parliament shall think fit;

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

It passed in the Affirmative.

And the main Question being now put;

It was Resolved, by the Parliament, That no Fee, Perquisite, or Reward, shall be taken by any of the Judges of the Four Courts of Westminster-hall, directly or indirectly, by themselves or their Servants, except such Salary as shall be allowed unto them by the State, under such Penalty as the Parliament shall think fit.

Resolved, That the Time for this Vote to take Effect, and to be put in Execution, be the First Day of May One thousand Six hundred Fifty-and-two: And that it be referred to that Committee, to bring in an Act, accordingly.

Publick Revenue.

Resolved, That all the publick Revenue be brought into One Receipt, for the future.

Army.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Council of State, and the General, and that they be impowered, to take into Consideration, how the Forces of Foot and Horse, in the Nation, may be removed and transposed from one Place to another, or otherwise altered, as Occasion shall require, for the Service of the State; and to dispose of them accordingly; so as they do not exceed the Charge of the Establishment: And that the Committee of the Army do observe such Directions for the Pay of the said Forces in relation thereunto, as they shall, from time to time, receive from the Council of State.

Report deferred.

Ordered, That Mr. Thomas Challoner do make the Report in his Hands, touching the Merchants, on Tuesday next, after the Act of General Pardon, and Act of Oblivion.

Cambridg Petition.

Ordered, That the Petition touching the Gentlemen of Cambridg, be presented to the Parliament on Wednesday next.

Worcester.

Ordered, That the Report touching Worcester, be made on Wednesday next, after Cambridg Petition.

Report deferred.

Ordered, That Colonel Downes do make the Report from Goldsmiths-Hall on Thursday next, the first Business.

Foulk's Claims.

Ordered, That the Report touching Alderman Foulk, and his Petition, be taken into Consideration on Thursday Morning next, after the Report from Goldsmiths-Hall.

Correspondence with Spain.

The Lord Commissioner Whitelock reports, from the Council of State, a Paper, given in to the Council by the Lord Ambassador of the King of Spaine, in Spanish and English: Which was now read.

Resolved, That it be referred to the Council of State, to hear what the Spanish Ambassador shall propose to them.

Colonel Lilburne.

Resolved, That the Committee upon the Bill touching Lieutenant Colonel Lilburne, do meet this Afternoon, at Two of the Clock.

Bradshaw's Claims.

The humble Petition of Richard Bradshaw Esquire, Resident from the Parliament within the City of Hamburgh, was this Day read.

Resolved, That Richard Bradshaw Esquire be admitted to double the Sum of Five hundred and Fifty-eight Pounds, due to him upon his Debentures, for his Service, as Quarter-master General of all the Horse and Foot under the Command of Sir Wm. Brereton, upon the Act for Sale of several Lands and Estates forfeited to the Commonwealth for Treason: And that the Trustees and Treasurers, Register, Accomptant, and other Officers for Sale of the said Lands and Estates, be authorized and required to admit the said Richard Bradshaw to double the same accordingly.

Resolved, upon the Question, by the Parliament, That, in Satisfaction of the Remainder of the Debt of Two thousand Six hundred Twenty-and-three Pounds and Four Shillings, due to Richard Bradshaw Esquire, mentioned in an Order of the Commons in Parliament assembled, dated the Seventeenth of September 1645, and of all Interest for the same, the Sum of Two thousand Pounds be admitted as doubled Monies, in the Purchase of Lands or Estates exposed to Sale, by the Act intituled, An Act for Sale of several Lands and Estates forfeited to the Commonwealth for Treason: And that the Trustees, Treasurers, Register, Register-Accomptant, and other Officers for Sale of the said Lands and Estates, be authorized and required to admit the said Sum of Two thousand Pounds unto the said Richard Bradshaw, as doubled Monies, in such Purchase, accordingly.

Army Appointment.

The Lord Commissioner Whitelock reports, from the Council of State, That it is humbly offered to the Parliament, as the Opinion of that Council, That Major General Lambert may be appointed Commander of the Military Forces in Ireland, under the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, if the Parliament shall so think fit.

Resolved, That this Report be taken into Consideration on Wednesday next.

Grants to Lambert, &c.

A Letter from the Commissioners of the Parliament now in Scotland, dated from Dalketh 17th of January 1651, was this Day read.

Ordered, That the Votes made by the Parliament for settling Lands in Scotland on Major General Lambert, Colonel Mathew Allured, Lieutenant General Monck Commissary General Whalley, and Colonel John Okey, be sent to the Commissioners of the Parliament in Scotland: And that the said Commissioners be required to set out Lands to them respectively, according to the said Votes, with all Expedition: And that a Letter be written, and signed by Mr. Speaker, to the Commissioners, to that Purpose.

Ambassy from Sweden.

Mr. Speaker, by way of Report, acquainted the House, That he received a Letter from Peter Spering Silverchwen, directed, " To the Right honourable Wm. Lenthall Esquire, Speaker of the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England;" wherein was inclosed a Letter with this Inscription, "Sereniss. Reipublicæ Anglicanæ amicæ nostræ:" Which the said Peter Spering Silverchwen, by his Letter, informs to be Credential Letters from the Queen of Sweden to the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England.

Resolved, That this Letter be opened.

And the Letter was accordingly opened, and read, being dated at Stockholme the 26th of September 1651; inscribed as before; and subscribed, " Vestra bona amica, Christina."

The House, according to former Order, adjourned itself to Tuesday Morning next, Eight of Clock.