House of Commons Journal Volume 6: 8 August 1649

Die Mercurii, 8 Augusti, 1649.

Prayers.

Relief of Debtors.

MR. Marten reports the Bill for the Enlargement of poor Prisoners, and for more effectual and speedy Way for Recovery of Debts.

Which was this Day read the First and Second time; and upon the Question committed to the same Committee: And that the Committee have Power to confer with such Persons as they shall think fit: And that all that come may have Voices: And the Committee is to meet at Two of the Clock this Afternoon, in the Exchequer Chamber; and so de die in diem.

Letters from the Fleet.

A Letter, written from the Fleet, to the Lord Commissioner Whitelock, of the Twenty-seventh of July 1649, from Henry Thorneton, George Herbert, Thomas Colchester, and Wm. Hawes, with the Copies of Two Letters therein inclosed, pretended to be sent to them by a Member of the House, were all this Day read.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Indemnity to consider of, and examine, the Business; and to examine whether the pretended Letters be forged or not; and to take what Course they think fit for the geting of the original Letters, if any such be; and to send for the Warden of the Fleet, and for Parties and Witnesses; and to report the Business to the House.

Mr. Dove is to take care of it.

Isle of Guernsey.

Sir Gilbert Pickering reports from the Council of State, That John Marsh, John Santhy, Esquires, Moses Wall, and Roger Frith, Gentlemen, or any Three of them, may be Commissioners to go into Guernsey, for the Ordering of the Affairs there, according to an Ordinance, dated the Third November 1647.

Ordered, That it be re-committed to the Council of State, to consider of this Business; and to report their Opinions therein to the House.

Relief of Debtors.

Ordered, That the Form of a Commission, upon the Debate of the House, touching the Release of poor Prisoners, who cannot pay their Debts, be prepared, and brought into the House To-morrow Morning, by Mr. Corbett, Mr. Garland, and Mr. Fell.

And Mr. Garland is to take care of it.

Deans and Chapters Lands.

Ordered, That Sir George Ascough, Vice Admiral of the Irish Seas, shall have Liberty to come and contract for the Inheritance of the Land he holds by Lease from . . . Dean and Chapter of * at any Time within Thirty Days after his Return out of the Summer's Service: and that the Contractors for Deans and Chapters Lands do, in the mean time, forbear to contract with any other Person for the Purchase thereof, until that Time be expired.

North Wales Sequestrations.

Ordered, That the Act for Compositions with Delinquents in North Wales be reported on Friday next.

Publick Accompts.

Mr. Fell reports Amendments to an Act for the Accompts of the Officers of the Navy and Customs: Which were twice read; and, upon the Question agreed unto.

And the Bill, so amended, was, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be printed and published.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of the Navy, to consider who are now Auditors of the Press, and the Number of them, and whether it be necessary to increase their Number; and to nominate such others as they shall think fit, if there be Cause; and present their Names, and what Allowances are fit to be made to them, to the House: And, if they see no Cause of any Addition, that then the said Committee do give Order, That they do speedily proceed in the Taking of the Accompts of the Officers of the Navy and Customs, according to the Act in that Behalf.

Excise.

Ordered, That the Report touching the Excise be made To-morrow Morning, the first Business.