House of Commons Journal Volume 6: 8 November 1649

Die Jovis, 8 Novembris, 1649.

Prayers.

Relief of Creditors.

RESOLVED, upon the Question, by the Parliament, That the Act touching the Relief of Creditors, and touching Writs of Error, be reported on Tuesday next.

Excise.

The House this Day took up the Debate of the Business touching regulating the Excise.

Robberies, &c.

Resolved, upon the Question, by the Parliament, That such Person or Persons who shall at any time, within the Space of Six Months now next coming, apprehend, and bring in safe Custody, before any Justice of Peace, or any other Officer of Justice, any Person that hath committed, or shall commit, any Burglary, or Robbery on the Highway, or that hath or shall break open any Dwelling House, or enter into any such House, and there use any Violence upon any Persons, or their Goods, dwelling or residing there, upon the Conviction of such Person apprehended, shall have a Reward of Ten Pounds for every such Person so apprehended and convicted.

Ordered, by the Parliament, That all and every the Sheriff and Sheriffs of the respective Counties in England and Wales, where such Apprehension and Conviction shall be made and had, be required (upon the Certificate of the Judge, or under the Hands of Two or more Justices of the Peace, before whom such Conviction shall be made) to pay unto such Person or Persons, who shall apprehend such Offender, the Reward aforesaid, of Ten Pounds for every Offender so apprehended and convicted, out of the publick Monies received by him, in that County: And that the same shall be allowed unto him, upon his Accompts, in the Exchequer.

Ordered, by the Parliament, That the Sheriffs, the Justices of the Peace, and Members of the Committees, in the several Counties throughout England and Wales, or any of them, be authorized and required speedily to disarm all Papists, Delinquents, and other suspicious Persons, who have Arms contrary to the Law; and to take Order, That such Arms be brought into some publick Magazine, for the publick Use.

Ordered, That Mr. Marten, Mr. Attorney General, and Mr. Hill, do withdraw; and pen a Vote upon the Debate of the House, touching such Person guilty of any the Crimes aforesaid, as shall make considerable Discoveries of others guilty of such Crimes, that they may be brought to Justice.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Lords Commissioners for the Great Seal, to bring in an Act or Acts for preventing Robberies, Burglaries, and other such Mischiefs; and present them to the House.

Ordered, That all Justices of Peace in the several Counties be required and injoined to put in Execution the Laws against Vagrants and Rogues; and to take especial Notice of such Persons as are or shall come out of Ireland, or pretend to be such, and travel up and down the Country, and beg; and either to send them back again, or otherwise to punish them as Vagrants, according to the Law: And that all Masters of Ships, Mariners, and Seamen, be enjoined not to bring over any such Persons coming out of Ireland into this Nation: And the Generals of the Sea, and all Captains of the Ships belonging to the State, and all Officers of Ports, are to take especial Care hereof.

Mr. Marten reports from the Committee that did withdraw, Two Votes, by them prepared.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Council of State, to cause these Votes to be printed and published; and to see the same put in Execution; and require an Account every Month from the Counties: And that the said Council give an Account thereof to the House.

Ordered, That the Council of State be impowered to give Reprieves or Protection to such Person or Persons guilty of any the Crimes expressed in the former Vote, as shall make any considerable Discovery of his or their Complices, or other the like Offenders, as they shall see Cause, for the Safety of the Commonwealth; and to give an Account of it, from time to time, to the House, for their further Direction therein.

Excise.

Resolved, &c. That the House be resolved into a Grand Committee, To-morrow Morning, to take into Consideration how the Excise may be settled throughout the whole Commonwealth; and likewife how it may be best levied for the Advantage of the Commonwealth, and Ease of the People: That the grand Committee, have also Power to consider of the Rates already made, and of any Addition or Alteration thereunto.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Mr. James Ashe have Leave to go into Flanders for Three Months; and to carry over with him a Man, and Two Horses: And that Mr. Speaker do give him a Pass accordingly.

Deans and Chapters Lands.

Mr. Allein reports from the Committee of Obstructions for Sale of Deans and Chapters Lands, That Three thousand Five hundred Twenty-six Pounds Thirteen Shillings and One Peny Halfpeny, formerly stood charged upon the Excise, in Course, and Four thousand Pounds upon Goldsmiths Hall, in Course, as due to the Officers of the late Lord Fairefax, deceased, being comprised in a List, now by him presented; and that the said Sums were transferred by the late Act for the Sale of Dean and Chapters Lands, to be secured and paid by the Sale of the said Lands, with a Query of further Satisfaction, as in the said Act is expressed, before the said Sums were to be allowed; and that, for the further Satisfaction of the House, the Committee had examined Matter of Fact; and found the Debts to be charged as abovesaid, by Authority of Parliament; and had received Certificates from the Lord General, Major General Lambert, Captain Nicholas Greathead, and Captain Nicholas Saunderson, of the Fidelity of the said Officers, and their constant Adherence to the Parliament.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth approve of the Committee's Proceedings herein; and do order, That the said Committee issue forth their Order to the Trustees, and all other Persons concerned therein, to allow of the said respective Sums abovesaid, by the Sale of the said Lands, as of any other Sum or Sums of Money transferred upon Deans and Chapters Lands, for the Use of the Persons mentioned in the said List.