House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 23 June 1659

Thursday, the 23d of June, 1659.

Indemnity, &c.

THE House, according to former Order, was this Day resolved into a Grand Committee, upon the Bill of Indemnity, and upon the Petition and Address of the Army.

Mr. Speaker did forbear to take the Chair.
Mr. Serjeant Hill was called to the Chair.
Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Mr. Serjeant Hill reports from the Grand Committee, That the said Grand Committee desired Leave to sit again To-morrow Morning.

Resolved, That the House be resolved into a Grand Committee To-morrow Morning, upon the Bill of Indemnity, till Eleven a Clock: And that Mr. Speaker do forbear to take the Chair.

Assessments.

Colonel Downes reports from the Committee for Inspections, A Draught of a Letter to be sent to the Commissioners for the Assessment in the respective Counties: Which was read:

Gentlemen,

BY the inclosed Act of Assessment you will perceive that, with respect to the present Exigency of Affairs, and pressing Necessities, requiring speedy Supplies of great Sums of Money, the Parliament have Enacted, That the Twelve Months Assessment of Thirty-five thousand Pounds by the Month, already imposed upon England, with the other monthly Sums therein mentioned upon Scotland and Ireland, shall be assessed, levied, and collected, so as the same may be paid in to the Receivers-General of the whole Assessment, by Two equal Payments; the one Half, on or before the First of August next; and the other Half thereof, on or before the Tenth of October next. And, for that the due Execution of this Act is of great Concernment to the Commonwealth at this Season, I am therefore commanded by the Parliament, to recommend it to your especial Care, That the said Twelve Months Assessment, and all Arrears of the former Two Years Assessment at the same Rate, And of all other former Assessment due from your County, be fully and speedily assessed, levied, collected, and paid, to the said Receiver-General of the whole Assessment. And I am also commanded by the Parliament to signify to you, That the Assessing, Collecting, and Payment, of the First Moiety of the said Twelve Months Assessment, before the First of August next, will be a very seasonable Service to the Commonwealth; and that your utmost Diligence for the present Raising thereof within your County, is very requisite; and will be accepted as a Testimony of your Endeavours to advance the Service and Good of this Commonwealth.

Ordered, That Mr. Speaker do subscribe Letters, in this Form, to be sent to the Commissioners for Assessments in the several Counties; and that a Postscript be written to the said Letter, to the City of London, to hasten a Payment in of the said Assessment in London.

Foreign Embassies.

Sir Henry Vane reports from the Council of State, The Credential Letters from the King of Sweden, directed thus; viz. "Bonis nostris Anicis et Fæderatis Reipublicæ Angliæ et Hiberniæ, &c. illustrissimis et excellentissimis Dominis Proceribus:" Dated, the One-and-thirtieth of May 1659.

He also reports, Papers delivered to the Council from the Envoys Extraordinary from the King of Sweden: And that the Council have, according to the Order of Parliament, given them Audience; and, finding the same to be Matters of great Consequence, have thought fit to report the same to the Parliament, for their Direction: Which Papers were read.

Sir Henry Vane also reports, The Paper delivered to the Council by the Dutch Ambassador, concerning the Ratification of the Treaty at the Hague: Which was also read.

Ordered, That these Papers be referred back to the Council of State, speedily to treat with the Plenipotentiaries of the King of Sweden, upon what is, or shall be, proposed by them; and report it to this House.

Ordered, That the Paper from the Dutch Ambassador be also referred back to the Council of State, to take the same into their Consideration; and to present their Opinions to this House, What they think fit to be done in that Business.

Council of State.

Ordered, That the Order of the Twenty-sixth of May last, giving Power to the Council of State, for issuing Money for carrying on the Publick Affairs of this Nation, be continued for a Month longer.

Impresting Seamen.

Ordered, That the Amendments to the Bill for impresting Seamen be reported To-morrow Morning.