House of Commons Journal Volume 6: 4 October 1650

Die Veneris, 4 Octobris, 1650.

Prayers.

Door shut.

ORDERED, That the Door be shut till Twelve of Clock.

Letter read, &c.

Mr. Bond reports from the Council of State, a Letter from the Lord General, from Edinburgh, of the Twentyfifth Day of September 1650.

Which was this Day read.

Ordered, That the said Letter, except the Clause touching Monies, be referred to the Committee of Obstructions; to take the same into Consideration, and present their Opinions thereupon to the House.

Irish Commissioners.

Sir William Armyn reports from the Council of State, Instructions for the Commissioners of the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England, for the Ordering and Settling of the Affairs of Ireland: Which Instructions the said Commissioners, or the major Part of them present, are to put in Execution; with the Advice and Approbation of Oliver Cromwell, Lieutenant General and General Governor of Ireland, and Henry Ireton, Deputy Governor of Ireland, or of one of them;

Which was this Day read first at large, and afterwards by Parts: And every Part being severally put to the Question, were, with some Omissions and Amendments, assented unto.

Instructions for Edmond Ludlow Esquire, Lieutenant General of the Horse in Ireland, Miles Corbet Esquire John Jones Esquire, and John Weaver Esquire, Commissioners of the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England, for the Ordering and Settling of the Affairs of Ireland: Which Instructions the said Commissioners, or the major Part of them present, are to put in Execution, with the Advice and Approbation of Oliver Cromwell, Lieutenant General and General Governor of Ireland, and Henry Ireton, Deputy General of Ireland, or of one of them.

I. FIRST, The said Commissioners are, as aforesaid, to improve the Interest of the Commonwealth of England, in the Dominion of Ireland, for the Advancement of Religion, and Propagation of the Gospel, in that Country; and for Suppression of Idolatry, Popery, Superstition, and Profaneness in that Land.

II. Secondly, The said Commissioners are, as aforesaid, to give all due Encouragement to, and appoint competent Maintenance for, all such Persons of pious Life and Conversation, as they shall find qualified with Gifts for the Preaching of the Gospel, and Instructing of the People there, in all Godliness and Honesty, by way of Stipend, out of the publick Revenue.

III. Thirdly, the said Commissioners are, as aforesaid, to cause to be put in effectual Execution all Laws, now in Force, made against Papists, and Popish Recusants.

IV. Fourthly, the said Commissioners are, as aforesaid, to consider of all due Ways and Means for the Advancement of Learning, and Training up of Youth in Piety and Literature; and to promote the same, by Settling of Maintenance upon fit Persons to be employed therein; so far as they shall find the present State and Condition of the Affairs of Ireland to admit.

V. Fifthly, The said Commissioners are, as aforesaid, to cause the Acts, Ordinances, and Orders of Parliament, now in Force, in this Commonwealth, against Delinquent Malignant Pluralists, and scandalous Ministers, to be put in Execution in Ireland.

VI. Sixthly, The said Commissioners are, as aforesaid, to inform themselves what Course is held (for present) in the Administration of Justice in Ireland; to consider what is further to be done, for the Settling and Establishment thereof in the several Provinces there, that the People may enjoy their Properties, Planters may be encouraged, and the Inhabitants governed according to the Laws and Constitutions of England; so far as the present Constitution of the Country will admit; and to certify their Opinions herein to the Parliament, with all convenient Speed; and, in the mean time to take care that Justice be administred.

VII. Seventhly, The said Commissioners are, as aforesaid, to take care that no Popish, Malignant, or other Delinquent Persons, be intrusted with, or employed in, the Administration of the Laws, or Execution of Justice; nor be permitted directly, or indirectly, by themselves, or others, to practice as Counsellors at Law, Attornies or Solicitors, nor to keep Schools for the training up of Youth, or be continued or employed in the Execution of any Place or Office of Trust.

VIII. Eighthly, The said Commissioners are, as aforesaid, to inform themselves of the State of the ancient Revenue, and all the Profits of forfeited Lands; and to cause all Forfeitures and Escheats to be improved for the best Advantage of the Commonwealth of England; and to cause all Acts, Ordinances, and Orders of Parliament, now in Force, in this Commonwealth, for Sequestring of Delinquents and Papists Estates, and of the Estates of Archbishops, Bishops, Deans, and Chapters, &c. to be put in Execution in Ireland.

IX. Ninthly, That, in order to the Improving and Settling of a competent Revenue there, for the Ends and Uses aforesaid, the said Commissioners are, as aforesaid, impowered to set and let all such Lands, Houses, and other Hereditaments whatsoever, in Ireland, as are in the Disposal of the Parliament of England; as also the Rents, Issues, and Profits, of all Ecclesiastical Benefices of such Ministers as shall be ejected; and of all such other Ecclesiastical Promotions and Benefices, as are, or shall become vacant, and not otherwise disposed of by Act or Order of Parliament; for such Time, or Terms of Years, not exceeding Seven Years, and at and under such Rents, or other Conditions, as they shall conceive to be most for the publick Advantage.

X. Tenthly, the said Commissioners are, as aforesaid, to settle the Excise and Customs in all Places in Ireland, according to the Rates now settled in this Commonwealth; and to advance the said Rates, or set new Rates upon such Commodities in Ireland, as they shall conceive may bear Advancement or Imposition, without Prejudice to Trade.

XI. Eleventhly, The said Commissioners are, as aforesaid, to inform themselves in what manner the Treasury of that Dominion hath been managed, as to its Receipts and Issues; and of the Persons intrusted concerning the same; to consider how for the future there may be established one Grand Treasurer in Ireland; what Person or Persons are fitting to be employed to supply the Place of Treasurer of all such Monies as are or shall be received; and also of fit Persons to supply all other Offices incident to the said Treasury; and what Salaries or Allowance are fit to be settled upon them respectively; and to certify the same to the Parliament; and in the mean time to take care that the same may be managed for the best Advantage of the State.

XII. Twelfthly, the said Commissioners are, as aforesaid, to take care that the publick Stores in Ireland be not imbezelled, or unnecessarily wasted: And that due Accounts be kept thereof, and from time to time returned to the Grand Treasury; there to remain, and be placed to the respective proper Accounts.

XIII. Thirteenthly, That the said Commissioners are, as aforesaid, impowered to sit and vote at Councils of War, as often as they shall conceive it fit, in order to the equal Distribution and Regulation of Quarters for the Standing Forces in Ireland, and for the better Settlement of the Affairs there, relating to the said Forces, for publick Advantage.

XIV. Fourteenthly, That the said Commissioners are, as aforesaid, to consider of all due Ways and Means for the Lessening of the publick Charge of the Commonwealth, and reducing of the same, as well by disbanding of such forces in Ireland, as they shall find to be supernumerary or needless, or demolishing of Castles and Garisons, as by Moderating and Regulating the present Establishment of the Pay for the said Forces; and likewise by taking away all other superfluous Charge, of what kind soever, wherewith the publick Revenue is charged; and to put the same in Execution, so far as they shall find it may stand with publick Safety and Advantage.

XV. Fifteenthly, the said Commissioners are, as aforesaid, to appoint and commissionate Officers, and such other Persons as they shall conceive necessary, for the putting in Execution of all and every of these Instructions; and to allow them sitting Salaries for the same; and, from time to time, to displace such of the said Persons, or any other Persons employed in the Civil Affairs in Ireland, as they shall find useless, or not faithful in the Discharge of their Trusts.

XVI. Sixteenthly, That all Warrants, that relate to the Payment of the Army, either in Money or Provisions, or for other incident Charges, concerning the War; and likewise all Warrants, for the issuing Ammunition out of the Publick Stores; issue by Warrant from the Lieutenant of Ireland, or the Deputy, for the Time being, upon the Place, as formerly: And that all other Warrants for Issuing of Moneys, relating to Affairs committed by these Instructions to the said Commissioners Care and Management, issue from the said Commissioners or the major Part of them.

XVII. Seventeenthly, That the said Commissioners have Power and Authority to exercise, and put in Execution, in Ireland, all and every the Powers and Authorities given or committed unto the Committee of Parliament, for Indemnity, by an Ordinance or Act of Parliament.

XVIII. Eighteenthly, The said Commissioners are, upon all Occasions, to certify their Proceedings, and what Obstructions they meet with in the Execution of the Premises, to the Parliament, or Council of State; to the end fitting Means may be used, for Removing of Impediments, and Supply of Power, as there shall be Occasion.

Adjournment.

Resolved, That, at the Rising of the House, the House do adjourn to Wednesday next, at Eight of Clock.

Door shut.

Ordered, That the Door be shut till One of Clock.

Irish Commissioners.

Sir Wm. Armyn also reports from the Council of State; Mr. Salwey, and Mr. Weaver, to go into Ireland: That the Parliament will take into their Consideration, what Allowance is fit to be made unto those, who are employed as Commissioners into Ireland: And that they will appoint, a certain Place, where such Allowance, as they shall appoint, may be paid.

Resolved, That Richard Salwey Esquire, a Member of this House, be one of the Commissioners to be sent into Ireland.

Resolved, That John Weaver Esquire be one other of the Commissioners to be sent into Ireland.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Council of State, to consider what fit Allowance shall be made to the Commissioners to go into Ireland, and out of what the said Allowance shall be made; and report their Opinions therein to the House.

The House adjourned itself until Wednesday Morning next, Eight of Clock, according to the former Order.