House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 23 August 1653

Tuesday, the 23d of August, 1653.

Publick Estates.

RESOLVED, by the Parliament, That Alderman Ireton, Mr. Frere, Colonel Barton, Mr. King, Mr. Draper, Mr. Rous, Colonel James, or any Three of them, be a Committee, to consider of all such Houses as belong to the Commonwealth in and about London and Westminster; and see how the same are disposed of: And to examine the Title of any Persons who make Title or Claim to any of the said Houses, or any Part of them: And to assign convenient Lodgings therein, to all the Members of the House; and take care the same be speedily done: And this Committee are to meet this Afternoon, at Two of the Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber, with Power to send for Persons, Papers, Records.

Excise.

Captain Stone reports from the Committee for Inspection of the Treasuries, A Bill for Continuance of the Receipts of the Excise, until the Day of: Which was this Day read the First and Second time.

Resolved, That this Bill be referred to the same Committee.

Resolved, That Mr. Highland and Colonel Clerk, be added to this Committee.

Resolved, That it be referred to the same Committee, to consider of fit Persons for the Managing of the Excise; and report the same to the Parliament.-

Drapery.

The humble Petition of the Clothiers and their Agents, in the Old and New Drapery, and of the Woollen Drapers, Mercers, Hosiers, and of divers other Dealers therein, on the Behalf of themselves, and many Thousands, who subsist upon the Manufacture of Cloth, and other Woollen Commodities, was this Day read.-

Excise.

Captain Stone also reports from the same Committee, That according to an Order of Parliament, authorizing and requiring Us, the Committee for inspecting the Treasuries, &c. among other things, to look into the State of the Excise, and consider how the same may be brought in with the greatest Ease to the People; we having called before us, the Commissioners for the Excise, and received from them an Account of the Arrears of Monies owing for Excise, by the several Farmers of the respective Counties of England and Wales; we find, upon Perusal, and Casting up, of the said Account, that there is in Arrear of the Money owing by the Farmers, the Sum of Thirty-seven thousand Seven hundred and Six Pounds One Shilling Three-pence, whereof Fourteen thousand Eighty-three Pounds Sixteen Shillings and Ten-pence is put in Suit by the Commissioners for Excise; and the Residue, being Twenty-three thousand Six hundred Twentytwo Pounds Four Shillings and Five-pence, is not in Suit: And we are informed, by the Commissioners for the Excise, that the Proceedings at Law, upon the Bonds by them put in Suit against the Farmers, are obstructed by several Bills exhibited in the Exchequer by the said Farmers; and by that Means the Recovering and Gettingin of the said Arrears is delayed; and so may be for a long time yet to come: Which we conceive to be very disadvantageous to the Commonwealth, with whom the Farmers do contend, fighting against them with their own Weapons: The Consideration whereof, and for a speedy Redress therein, either by extending or sequestering the Estates of the Farmers so in Arrear, or otherwise, we humbly submit to the Parliament.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee for Inspection of Treasuries, and regulating Officers, and Salaries, to consider of the Arrears of the Excise, and take an effectual Course for the bringing-in thereof; and to consider of all Bonds for the same; with Power to hear the Parties concerned on both Sides; and to determine the Differences thereupon: And that the Proceedings in the Exchequer in all and every such Cases be stayed.

Resolved, That the same Committee do prepare and bring in an Act to this Purpose.

Hampton Court.

Colonel West reports from the Committee for raising Momies, That it is the humble Opinion of that Committee, That the Vote of Parliament, of the 15th of April 1653, enjoining the Trustees and Contractors for Sale of Lands belonging to the late King, to forbear to make Sale of the House called Hampton Court, with the Appurtenances, and the Three Parks thereunto belonging, may be taken off; and the Trustees to proceed in the Sale thereof.

Resolved, by the Parliament, That the Vote of the Parliament, of the 15th of April 1653, enjoining the Trustees and Contractors for Sale of the Lands belonging to the late King, to forbear to make Sale of the House called Hampton-Court, with the Appurtenances and the Three Parks thereunto belonging, be taken off: And that the Trustees do proceed in the Sale thereof.

Late King's, &c. Lands.

Major-General Desborough reports from the same Committee, as their humble Opinion, That an Act be drawn up, that all Persons who hold any of the Lands, Rents, or other Estates, of the late King, or of Bishops, Deans and Chapters, not yet discovered or surveyed, be, by a Day to be prefixed, discovered to such Persons as the Parliament shall appoint, by the Possessors or Occupiers thereof, upon Pain of Sequestration of the Estate Real and Personal of the said Possessors or Occupiers not discovering the same by the Time to be prefixed; and to manifest by what Title they had the same.

Resolved, That it be referred to the same Committee, to bring in a Bill to the Purpose aforesaid, for what is not yet discovered.

Resolved, That the Bill prepared, by Direction of the Council, touching some Discoveries, be brought in Tomorrow Morning.

State of the Fleet.

Mr. Carew gives an Account to the House, that, by Order of the Council, Mr. Strickland, Lieutenant-Colonel Kelsey, and himself, have repaired to the Fleet, to view the same; and in what Condition they found the same; and the present State of the Fleet.

Resolved, That Mr. Strickland, and Mr. Carew, and likewise Lieutenant Colonel Kelsey, have the Thanks of this House for their great Care and Diligence in this Business.

Poor.

Resolved, That the Quorum of the Committee for the Poor, and Justices of Peace, be Five.

Registering Marriages.

Resolved, That the Bill touching Marriages be read To-morrow Morning, the first Business.