House of Commons Journal Volume 6: 27 February 1650

Die Mercurii, 27 Februarii, 1649.

Prayers.

Representation and Elections.

THE House was this Day, according to former Order, resolved into a Grand Committee, upon the Heads of the Bill for an equal Representative, and the regulating Elections.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Mr. Say took the Chair.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Mr. Say reports from the Grand Committee, That the Committee hath adjourned till This-day-sevennight; and desire the Leave of the House to sit then.

Resolved, That this House be resolved into a Grand Committee, on This-day-sevennight, upon the Heads of the Bill for an equal Representative, and the regulating the Elections.

Navy.

Colonel Thompson reports from the Committee of the Navy, That the said Committee, having received an Estimate, from the Commissioners of the Navy, of what Monies are due, and to be provided, for Payment of the last Summer's and this Winter's Guard, and for Setting forth and Maintenance of the next Summer's Fleet, and the Ships appointed to the Southward; which, with sundry other Particulars, mentioned in the annexed, amounts to Four hundred Fifteen thousand Three hundred and Ninety-six Pounds; Upon Consideration thereof, and of an Estimate likewise presented unto them from the Commissioners of the Customs, whereby the Customs for this next Year are computed to amount unto not above the Sum of Two hundred thousand Pounds, in regard of the Inhibition upon the Importation of French Wines, Silks, and other Manufactures of France, do think sit, that the same be reported to the Parliament; with their humble Desires, That, for the enabling them to carry on the Services abovesaid, there may be One hundred thousand Pounds ordered for the Use of the Navy, out of the Money arising by the Sale of the Fee-farm Rents; and also that, in regard the Fleet appointed to the Southward is of so great Advantage to the Levant Trade, and so great a Charge to the State, that therefore an Imposition of One per Centum may be laid upon all Goods and Merchandizes coming from thence into this Commonwealth: Which this Committee conceive very reasonable, and submit to the Judgment of the Parliament.

A Letter from the Generals at Sea, from Whitehall, dated 19 Februarii *, was this Day read; together with a List of the Raising of Officers Wages in the Navy belonging to the Service of the Parliament, when Colonel Popham, Colonel Deane, and Colonel Blake, . . . . Commanders of the Fleet for that present Service, with their Allowance of Wages per Day.

A LIST of the Raising of Officers Wages in the Navy, belonging to the Service of the Parliament, when Colonel Popham, Colonel Deane, and Colonel Blake, were Commanders of the Fleet for that present Service, with their Allowances of Wages per Day.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Council of State, to give such Gratuities to the Officers mentioned in the said List, as serve in the State's Ships, both for the Winter and Summer Guard, not exceeding the Sums contained in that List: And that the Committee of the Navy be required to give Order for the Payment thereof accordingly.

Resolved, That such Captains, that shall be put in by the State into Merchants Ships, to be employed in the Service of the State, be taken into Consideration in like Sort as the Officers of the State's Ships: And that the Council of State be authorized to do the same: And that the Committee of the Navy do give Order for Payment thereof accordingly.

Resolved, That the Sum of One hundred thousand Pounds, out of the Monies to be raised by the Sale of the Fee-farm Rents, shall be paid for the Use of the Navy.

Colonel Thompson reports from the Committee of the Navy;

"Whereas the Parliament, on the First of February 1647, directed the First Seventy thousand Pounds, Part of the One hundred and Fifty thousand Pounds charged for the Use of the Army, upon the Receipts of the Grand Excise, in Course, by Order of the Twenty-eighth of May 1647, to be paid to Sir Henry Vane junior, Knight, Treasurer of the Navy, for the Supply of the pressing Necessities of the Navy, upon Account, to be issued and paid out by Warrant from the Committee of the Navy; and also directed Interest, after the Rate of Eight Pounds per Centum, to be paid every Six Months to such as should advance and lend the same, to begin from the Time of Payment of the said Seventy thousand Pounds: It is ordered, That it be reported, as the Opinion of this Committee, That the Parliament be moved to give Order, That the Commissioners of the Excise be authorized to pay unto Sir Henry Vane junior, Knight, Treasurer of the Navy (to be issued and paid out by Warrant from the Committee of the Navy), Interest, after the Rate of Eight Pounds per Centum, as well for such Part of the Seventy thousand Pounds, payable by Order of Parliament, of 1 Februarii 1647 aforesaid, as hath not been borrowed, or taken up, upon the Credit of that Order, from the Date of the said Order; as also for such Part thereof as hath already been advanced and lent thereupon, for the Service of the Navy."

Resolved, That this House doth agree with the Committee of the Navy, That the Commissioners of the Excise be authorized to pay unto Sir Henry Vane junior, Knight, Treasurer of the Navy, to be issued and paid out by Warrant from the Committee of the Navy, Interest, after the Rate of Eight Pounds per Centum, as well for such Part of the Seventy thousand Pounds, payable by Order of Parliament of 1 Februarii 1647 aforesaid, as hath not been borrowed, or taken up, upon the Credit of that Order, from the Date of the said Order, as also for such Part thereof as hath already been advanced and lent thereupon, for the Service of the Navy.

Colonel Thompson reports from the Committee of the Navy, the Opinion of that Committee, in these Words; viz.

"Whereas by an Ordinance of Parliament, of the Eighth of July 1644, there was an additional Excise laid upon several Commodities therein mentioned, and the Monies thereby arising, were appointed to be employed as followeth; One Third Part thereof towards the Satisfaction of the pressing Debts due to several Tradesmen, and other Persons, for Arms and Ammunition of them bought, and to several poor Persons for Carriages, by Cart and Waggon, and for the Relief of maimed and wounded Soldiers, and for Satisfaction of Physicians, Apothecaries, and Surgeons, for Cure of them, and for the Relief of such Widows and Children as had lost their Husbands and Fathers in the Commonwealth's Service: For the Second Third Part, one Moiety thereof was to be employed towards the Maintenance of the Land Forces, and the other Moiety for Provision of Arms and Ammunition for the same: For the other Third Part, one Moiety thereof was to be employed for the Maintenance of the Navy at Sea, and the other Moiety for Provision of Arms and Ammunition for the same. That forasmuch as, by an Order of Parliament, of the Third of August 1644, the one Moiety of the last Third Part, appointed for Provision of Arms and Ammunition for the Navy, was directed to be paid to Sir Walter Erle, for the Use of the Navy, by Order from the Committee of the Navy: Ordered, That it be reported to the Parliament, as the Opinion of this Committee, That the Parliament will be pleased to order, that the said Moiety of the said last Third Part, payable, by the said Ordinance, to Sir Walter Erle, may be paid to Sir Henry Vane junior, Knight, Treasurer of the Navy, for the Use and Service of the Navy, by Order from the Committee of the Navy."

Resolved, by the Parliament, That the Parliament doth agree with the said Committee, that the said Moiety of the said last Third Part, payable, by the said Order, to Sir Walter Erle, may be paid to Sir Henry Vane junior, Knight, Treasurer of the Navy, by Order from the Committee of the Navy.

Christ Church Wood.

Colonel Thompson reports from the said Committee of the Navy:

"Whereas the Parliament, by their Order of the Third of January 1649, directed the Committee of the Navy to take care for buying of Christ Church Wood, for the Use of the Navy, and to make Payment for the same; and that, in the mean Time, the said Wood, nor any Part thereof, be not cut down: This Committee, in pursuance thereof, having called before them the Trustees and Contractors for Sale of Deans and Chapters Lands, as also the Surveyor General, upon Examination, do find, That the said Contractors have already sold the said Wood; and that a great Part of the Purchase-money is likewise paid; as also, that a great Part of the said Wood is of young Growth, and, at present, unserviceable for the Navy, as the Surveyor General informed this Committee, upon the Relation he received from the Surveyors of the said Wood: And this Committee, having likewise directed the Commissioners of the Navy to consider of the Usefulness of the said Wood, are certified, from the said Commissioners, that, notwithstanding they have formerly acquainted the Council of State, that they were advised it was serviceable; yet, since one of their Fellow Commissioners having surveyed it, they find it not so useful as was informed; and are therefore humbly of Opinion, That the Navy hath more Use of Monies at present, than of the said Wood: All which this Committee leave to the Consideration of the Parliament, praying their further Directions therein.

Ordered, That the Contractors and Trustees for Sale of Dean and Chapters Lands do proceed with the Persons who have contracted for Christ Church Wood, and do pass the Conveyance accordingly: And that the Order of the Committee of the Navy, for buying the said Wood, or to restrain the Proceeding in the Sale and Cutting down of the said Wood, be taken off.

Comm rs of Customs.

Colonel Thompson likewise reports from the same Committee, the Resolves of the Committee, touching the Commissioners of the Customs, and their Salary; viz.

"In pursuance of an Order of Parliament of the Seventeenth of this instant January, whereby it is referred unto this Committee to consider of a fitting Salary for the Commissioners of the Customs, for their Service, both for the Time passed, and to come; and to present it to the House; this Committee, upon Consideration thereof, and of several Proposals presented unto this Committee by the said Commissioners, as also of the Votes of Parliament passed the 14th and 17th of April, and the Sixth of May 1648, have made these following Resolves; which they think fit to be reported to the House; viz."

"Resolved, That the Commissioners of the Customs shall be accountable for, and chargeable with, all such Sum and Sums of Money as have been received, either by themselves, or any of their Receivers or Collectors, in any of the Ports or Creeks of this Nation, since their first Entrance upon the Management of the Customs, excepting for so much thereof, as shall be taken away and lost by Hostility, Force, or Violence.

"Resolved, That the said Commissioners shall, at the End of every Month, upon the Orders of this Committee, pay in, to the Treasurer of the Navy, all such Monies as have been, or shall be, received or receivable for Custom or Custom Causes, in any of the Ports or Creeks of this Nation; Salaries, and necessary Charges, being deducted; and shall, at the Time of their yearly Accompt, make good to the Commonwealth the whole Receipt (except, as is before excepted), how much soever thereof shall be then standing out in the Hands of the respective Receivers and Collectors, in any of the Ports of this Nation."

"Resolved, That the said Commissioners shall, at their own Charge, provide and keep so many able Clerks, as shall be further necessary for keeping and registring all their Proceedings and Transactions, touching Custom Affairs in the Port of London, there to remain for the Use of the Commonwealth."

"Resolved, That the said Commissioners shall, at their own Charge, find and provide Parchment, Wax, Ink; Pens, Paper, and Books, for themselves, and all their Deputies, and for all the Cheques in the Out Ports, which formerly was provided at the Commonwealth's Charge; and also all Fire and Candles that shall be spent and used about the Affairs of the Customs."

"Resolved, That the said Commissioners shall not use any Trade or Traffick, as Merchants, by way of Importation, Exportation, or Transportation."

"Resolved, That the said Commissioners of the Customs (in Lieu and Recompence of their Service and Engagements aforesaid) shall have the Salary of Six-pence in the Pound; viz. of every Twenty Shillings that hath been received since their first Entrance upon the Management of the Customs, or that hereafter shall be received for Customs, Impositions, Seizures, or Forfeitures, of any Goods or Merchandizes, during their Continuance on those Receipts, to be by them defalked out of the said Receipts for the Time passed, and for the future, at the End of every Quarter."

"Resolved, That, in case of Failure of any of the Collectors, or other Officers, in any of the Ports of this Nation, the Benefit of all such Bonds and Securities as are or shall be taken of them respectively, to the Use of the Commonwealth, shall be assigned over to the said Commissioners, to be sued by them in the publick Exchequer; with usual Privilege for the Reimbursement of such Monies as they stand obliged to make good, by reason of such Failure."

"Resolved, by the Parliament, That the Commissioners of the Customs, in Lieu and Recompence of their Service and Engagements, mentioned in the said Report, shall have the Salary of Four-pence in the Pound; viz. of every Twenty Shillings that hath been received since their first Entrance upon the Management of the Customs, or that hereafter shall be received for Customs, Impositions, Seizures, or Forfeitures, of any Goods or Merchandizes, during their Continuance, on those Receipts, to be by them defalked out of the said Receipts for the Time passed, and, for the future, at the End of every Quarter.

Resolved, That this House doth agree with the Committee in all the rest of the Votes.

Adjournment.

Resolved, That Mr. Speaker, at the Rising of the House, do adjourn the House till Friday Morning, Eight of the Clock.

The House adjourned itself accordingly.