House of Commons Journal Volume 4: 14 April 1646

Die Martis, 14 Aprilis, 1646.

Prayers.

THE Grand Committee of the House, according to former Order, sat, to take into Consideration, How all publick Taxes, Payments, and Charges, through the whole Kingdom, may be reduced into one Way of Receipt and Payment both for England and Ireland; and what these Payments shall be in and upon the several Cities and Counties.

Mr. John Stephens in the Chair.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Upon Mr. John Stephens' Report from the Grand Committee;

It is Ordered, That this Power be added to the said Committee; viz. That they shall have Power to present an Estimate of the Charge of the Forces by Sea and Land, and of the Garisons fit to be kept, and of Field-Forces to be maintained, in England and Ireland; and what Engagements lie on the Excise, and the other publick Charges and Revenue; and what further Improvement may be made of the Excise, and the other publick Charges and Revenues.

Mr. Maynard carried to the Lords, for their Concurrence, the Ordinance concerning the Disposal of Mr. Henley's Fine, and for Discharge of his Delinquency and Sequestration: Also the Ordinance for Fifteen hundred Pounds, with Interest, out of the Excise.

Ordered, That Caleb Haggar, Servant to Sir Gilbert Gerard, a Member of this House, and avowed by him to be his Servant, be forthwith discharged of his Imprisonment, he being arrested upon a mean Process: And that Paul Donsett, the Bailiff that arrested him, be sent for in safe Custody.

Ordered, That the Committee of Goldsmiths-Hall do, on Thursday Morning next, and so on every Thursday Morning weekly, make their Receipts of Compositions and Ordinances, and other Proceedings of that Committee with Delinquents.

Ordered, That the Petition of Robert Villiers Esquire be taken into Consideration on Thursday Morning next.

Mr. Lisle reports, from the Committee to whom it was referred to examine and find out the Printer and Author of the Book, intituled, "Some Papers of the Commissioners of Scotland, &c." the Examination and voluntary Consession of Robert Bostock, of one Harison his Servant; also the Examination of one Bell, a Printer; and of Robert Bostock's Wife.

Ordered, That the further Consideration for the examining and finding out the Author to the said Book be re-committed to the said Committee.

Resolved, &c. That a Conference be desired with the Lords, at such time as their Lordships shall think fit, concerning a Book, intituled, "Some Papers of the Commissioners of Scotland, given in lately to the Houses of Parliament, concerning the Propositions of Peace:" And that the Examination and Inquiry after the Author and Printer, and the Examinations taken in that Business, be read at this Conference: And that the Vote, Yesterday passed this House, concerning the said Book, be communicated to the Lords; and their Concurrence desired therein: And also, that the Lords be acquainted, That this House hath appointed a Declaration to be prepared touching this Book.

Sir Robert Pye went to the Lords, to desire this Conference.

Sir Robert Pye brings Answer, That the Lords will give a present Meeting, at a Conference by a Committee of the whole House, upon the Subject desired.

Mr. Lisle, and Sir John Evelyn of Wiltes, are appointed Managers of this Conference.

Ordered, That the Business moved by Mr. Sollicitor and Mr. Recorder, and debated in the House, be resumed, so soon as the House returns from the Conference.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of the West, to consider of, and bring in, an Ordinance for continuing the Ordinance for Bristoll for Six Months.

Ordered, &c. That Mr. Lane, Mr. Sollicitor, and Mr. Recorder, be added to the Committee where Mr. Lisle hath the Chair: And that it be referred to the said Committee, to prepare a Declaration concerning the Intentions and Proceedings of this House with the King; the Course for Settling of the Church; the Desires of the Parliament for Peace; their Adhering to the Grounds of the Covenant, and Treaties with the Scotts; to declare their Intentions against the Exercise of any arbitrary Power upon the Subject; and the Reasons, Why the Propositions are not sent concerning the Bringing of Delinquents to Punishment; and to declare the Intention of the Parliament concerning their Engagement to the Well-affected; and upon whatsoever else they shall conceive necessary, to take off the Misrepresentation of the Parliament, and their Proceedings, to the People; and for giving Satisfaction to the People: And are to bring in the said Declaration by Friday Morning next.

Ordered, &c. That the Committees of either House, and all other Committees, that act by Authority of both or either House, do take care, and they are hereby injoined, not to hear, determine or intermeddle with the private Interest, Right, or Title of any particular Person or Persons, or with any Matter depending, or in Difference, between Party and Party, unless they be thereunto expresly authorized by Ordinance of Parliament.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

The Question was propounded, Whether the Order of this House, for Stay of Proceedings at Law, concerning some Tobaccoes of Mr. Alderman John Warner's, seized for not Payment of Custom, should be discharged; he giving Security in the Exchequer to pay such Customs and Duties, as are payable for the same by any Act or Ordinance of Parliament:

The Question was put, Whether this Question should be now put:

The House was divided.

The Noes went forth.

So the Question passed with the Affirmative.

The Question itself being put;

The House was divided.

The Yeas went forth.

So the Question passed with the Affirmative.

Ordered, upon the Question, That the Declaration, in Answer to divers Papers of the Scotts Commissioners, published some Months since, be forthwith printed.

Mr. Maynard brings Answer, That the Lords do agree to the Ordinance for the Disposal of Mr. Henleye's Fine; and to the Ordinance for One thousand Five hundred Pounds, out of the Excise, for the Earl of Denbigh, in Part of his Arrears.