House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 4 February 1653

Friday, the 4th of February, 1652.

Prayers.

Dean and Chapters Lands.

SIR Arthur Hasilrig reports from the Committee for removing Obstructions in the Sale of Dean and Chapters Lands;

UPON reading the Petition of divers Persons, the Assigns of certain Scotts reduced Officers, and Examination had, they find the Truth of the Case to be as followeth;

That there being due to the said Officers Seventeen thousand One hundred and Twenty Pounds Fourteen Shillings and Four-pence Halfpeny; and nothing appearing, nor charged upon the Accounts of those Officers, what Free-Quarter, or Monies, those Officers have levied or taken of the Country, nor what Horse or Arms they have received from the State, or taken of the Country the Lords and Commons in Parliament, on the 1st of May 1647, did order, That the Third Part of the said Sum of Seventeen thousand One hundred and Twenty Pounds Fourteen Shillings and Four-pence Halfpeny, Amounting to Five thousand Seven hundred and Six Pounds Eighteen Shillings One Peny Halfpeny, should be paid to such of the said Officers, proportionably to their Arrears, as should accept their proportionable Part thereof in full Discharge of all Demands whatsoever, and was charged upon Goldsmiths-Hall in course: Whereof the Treasurers did take Notice, accordingly:

That, for the said Officers further Satisfaction, and Encouragement of Merchants, and others, to advance the same, it was ordered, by the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, on the 25 Maii 1647, That Interest, after the Rate of Eight Pounds per Cent. be allowed, payable every Six Months, to such Person or Persons as should advance the same, or any Part thereof:

That for the said Officers better Accommodation in disposing of their particular Proportions, Mr. Broad was appointed to make out particular Assignments of their respective Proportions of their Third Parts of the said Sum of Five thousand Seven hundred and Six Pounds Eighteen Shillings One Peny Halfpeny, unto themselves, or such as they should appoint; to be paid by the Treasurers at Goldsmiths-Hall, in course:

That, by Ordinance of the 1st of February 1647, the Treasurers at Goldsmiths-Hall were ordained to take Notice of such Assignments, and make Entries thereof, as the said Officers have already made, or shall make, that the Monies and Interest due upon them may be paid from time to time, at the End of every Six Months, to the Officers to whom it was charged, or their Assigns, according to the several Proportions made out under the Hand of Mr. Broad; concerning which, the Committee at Goldsmiths-Hall, on the 2d of February 1647, did give Order to the Treasurers, accordingly.

That the said Officers did accept of the said Sum of Five thousand Seven hundred and Six Pounds Eighteen Shillings One Peny Halfpeny, being only the Third Part of their Arrears; and did give their respective Discharges to the Committee of Petitions, in full of all their Arrears demandable thereupon:

That the Treasurers at Goldsmiths-Hall, did take Notice of their Assignments, and did make Entries thereof: did pay divers Six Months Interest for the said Monies; and did take the Assigns Receipts for the same:

That after the said Monies were due, in course, to have been paid to the Assigns, the said Monies were removed from Goldsmiths-Hall, upon Deans and Chapters; but with a Query:

That this Committee, upon the Petition of divers Officers, Merchants, and others, the Assigns of the said Officers, after Consideration had of the Premises, did allow of Thirty-nine Assignments, to have the Security of Deans and Chapters for the same:

That soon afterwards, upon Suggestion to the Parliament, that the Remainder did belong to such Officers, who were supposed to have forfeited the same, the Parliament was pleased to make the ensuing Votes:

"4 September. 1650.

"Resolved, by the Parliament, That the Lands of the late Deans and Chapters be discharged from the Sum of Three thousand Five hundred and Thirty-six Pounds Fifteen Shillings and One Peny, for Scotts Officers, formerly charged on that Security."

"Resolved, That the said Three thousand Five hundred Thirty-six Pounds Fifteen Shillings and one Peny be absolutely discharged from being a Debt from the Commonwealth; and that the Commonwealth be discharged thereof."

Without being made acquainted, That the same were assigned to the Petitioners, long before any Delinquency committed by the original Creditors: Which Assignees, for divers Six Months, received Interest for the same at Goldsmiths-Hall.

Now this Committee, finding a great deal of Justice and Equity in their Petition, do think fit, and so order, That the Matter be represented to the Parliament for their further Consideration.

Scotts reduced Officers.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Commissioners for removing of Obstructions, to examine the Truth of the Petition of divers Persons, Assignees of divers Scotts reduced Officers, mentioned in the said Report, touching Three thousand Five hundred and Thirty-six Pounds Fifteen Shillings and One Peny, the Remainder of a Debt of Five thousand Seven hundred and Six Pounds Fifteen Shillings and One Peny: And that the said Commissioners be, and are hereby, authorized to give Allowance of such of the said Assignments of the said Officers, to such of the Petitioners, who have not forfeited the same; and to settle the same, as formerly, upon the Security of Deans and Chapters Lands.

Letter to Archduke Leopold.

Ordered, That Two Members of Parliament do withdraw, to see the Letter to be sent to the Archduke Leopold, sealed with the Seal of the Parliament; viz. Mr. Corbett, Mr. Scott.

Ministers Maintenance.

Mr. Millington reports from the Committee of plundered Ministers;

WHEREAS, by the additional Act for Maintenance of Ministers, &c. it is provided, That the Committee for the Universities should review what former Augmentations have been granted by the Parliament, or Authority derived from them, to any Minister, Lecturer, or SchoolMaster; and where they should find any Augmentations, or Allowance, granted to any Person or Persons not deserving the same; or where there is a convenient Maintenance otherwise; or where the Augmentation is too great, to make such Abatement and Discharge, as they shall think fit; and to give to the said Trustees such Rules and Directions, after what Rate and Proportion they should grant any further Augmentations, or Allowance, for Maintenance of preaching Ministers, and School-Masters, within such Towns, Parishes, and Chapalries, as should stand in need of the same, as the said Committee should think fit and requisite; which the said Trustees were, by the said Act, to augment and allow accordingly; and to allow such Fees, Salaries, and incident Charges and Expences, as the said Committee should think fit:

Which said Committee being now dissolved, there are many Augmentations, heretofore granted by this Committee, which, for want of a Continuance of the same by the said Committee, are not paid by the Trustees for Maintenance of Ministers; and divers other Places, that stand in need of Augmentations, remain destitute of Relief; and the Augmentations allowed of by the said Committee for the Universities, are limited only to the Persons that then officiated in the respective Churches, to which the same were granted; divers of which having also left the said Churches, the said Augmentations cease, the said Committee being dissolved before the said Review was made, and the said Rules and Direction by them given to the said Trustees, or other the Powers executed by the said Committee, in reference to the said Trustees: It is Ordered, That the same be reported to the Parliament; and that their Direction for a Supply thereof be humbly desired.

The Question being propounded, That the Power formerly given to the Committee for the Universities, touching Augmentations for Maintenace of Ministers, be, and is hereby, transferred and settled in the Committee for plundered Ministers;

And the Question being put, That that Question be now put;

It passed with the Affirmative.

And the main Question being put; It was

Resolved, by the Parliament, That the Power, formerly given to the Committee for the Universities, touching Augmentations for Maintenance of Ministers, be, and is hereby, transferred and settled in the Committee for plundered Ministers.

Impropriations.

Major Salwey reports from the same Committee;

WHEREAS the Parliament have referred it unto this Committee, to examine the State of the Business, touching the Feoffees for purchasing Impropriations for Advancement of the Gospel; and how those Profits and Revenues are and have been employed; and to report the same to the Parliament: And there are divers pious Uses incumbent upon the Revenues, vested in the said Feoffees, that might in the mean time be satisfied, in case sufficient Authority were given for the same: It is therefore Ordered, That Major Salwey be desired to report the same to the Parliament, that Authority may be given to dispose of such Proportion of the Revenues, in the mean time, for the Maintenance of Ministers, as shall be thought fit, for Satisfaction of such charitable Uses, that, for want of perfecting the whole Business, remain unsatisfied.

Ordered, by the Parliament, That the Committee of plundered Ministers be authorized and impowered to dispose of such Proportion of the Revenues, mentioned in the said Report, in the mean time, for Maintenance of Ministers, as shall be thought fit, for Satisfaction of such charitable Uses, that, for want of perfecting the whole Business, remain unsatisfied; with respect had to the Intention and Meaning of the Donors.

Cockshall Poor.

Ordered, That the Bill touching the Poor of Cockshall, in the County of Essex, be read on Tuesday Morning next.

Lady Ranelaugh.

Ordered, That the Business touching the Lady Ranelaugh, be taken into Consideration on Tuesday Morning next.

Officers of Ireland.

Ordered, That the Business concerning the Officers of Ireland, be taken into Consideration on Thursday Morning next.

London Petition.

The House being informed, That there were divers Aldermen and Citizens of London, at the Door, with a Petition; they were called in: And, being come to the Bar, Mr. Alderman Estwick acquainted the House, That he, with the rest of the Aldermen and Gentlemen with him, were commanded by the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Common Council of the City of London, to present unto the Parliament their humble Petition: Which was taken in: And, after they were withdrawn, the Petition was read; and was intituled, "The humble Petition of the Mayor, Aldermen, and Commons of the City of London, in Common-Council assembled."

Ordered, That the Committee for Markets do bring in their Report, and the Act prepared by them for the Market, in this Petition complained of; and that, at the same time, this Petition be taken into Consideration.

Poor.

Mr. John Stephens reports Amendments to a Bill for further providing and setting on Work of the Poor of this Commonwealth: Which were Twice read, and, upon the Question, assented unto.

Resolved, That the said Act, so amended, be ingrossed.

The House, according to former Order, adjourned itself to Tuesday Morning next, Eight of Clock.