House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 21 October 1656

Tuesday, the 21st of October, 1656.

Hull's Petition.

THE humble Petition of Wm. Hull, Servant to the Serjeant at Arms attending the Parliament, was this Day read.

Ordered, That this Petition, and the Consideration of the Patent claimed by Whineard, be referred to a Committee, to consider thereof; and send for the Parties; and report the State of the Business, with their Opinion, to the House: Viz. to Mr. Bond, Mr. Robinson, Colonel Shapcott, Mr. Bampfield, Mr. Gorges, Lord Strickland; or any two of them.

Resolved, That William Hull, Servant to the Serjeant at Arms, attending the Parliament, be allowed his Privilege, at the Arrest and Suit of Mr. * Whyneard.

Newport's, &c. Nat.

An Act for naturalizing Adriana Newport, and others, was this Day read the First time.

Ordered, That Colonel Bridges and Alderman Tigh be added to the Committee for Naturalization.

Lynne Regin Writ.

The House being acquainted, That the Clerk for the Commonwealth was attending at the Door, with the Returns for Lynne Regis in the County of Norfolk, according to the Order Yesterday: He was called in.

And being come to the Bar, he was commanded to take off the File that Indenture which returns MajorGeneral Disbrow, and Mr. Guibon Goddard; and the other Return of Major-General Disbrow, and MajorGeneral Shippon, to be affixed to the Writ: Which he did accordingly.

Ordered, That a Warrant be issued for Election and Returning of a new Burgess for the Town of Lynne Regis, in the Place of General Disbrow, who hath made his Election to serve as a Knight for the County of Somerset.

Scotch Affairs.

Ordered, That Mr. George Lockart be added to the Committee for Scotland.

Pardon, &c. of Prisoners.

Colonel Shapcott reports from the Committee for Prisoners for Treason, &c. The humble Petition of Abraham Wilson, who was in the late Insurrection in the West, and condemned; but hath been reprieved by his Highness: And that it is the Opinion of the Committee, that the said Abraham Wilson is a fit Object of Mercy and Pardon.

Resolved, That Abraham Wilson is a fit Object of Mercy and Pardon: And that, in the mean time, the said Abraham Wilson do stand reprieved.

He also reports, the Case of John Downes, now a Prisoner in Newgate, being condemned for Treason, for Coining of Money: And the Opinion of the Committee, That he the said John Downes is an Object of Mercy and Pardon.

Resolved, That the said John Downes is a fit Object of Mercy and Pardon: And that, in the mean time, the said John Downes do stand reprieved.

Sale of Lands, &c.

Ordered, That the Committee, to whom it was referred to take the Accounts of the Trustees and Contractors for Sale of Lands, &c. and the Committee for the Business of the Prize-Office, be added to the Committee appointed to take into Consideration the Arrears of the Excise, &c. And that they be made one Committee for these several Businesses.

War with Spain.

The House, according to former Order, was this Day resolved into a Grand Committee of the whole House, upon the Business of carrying on the Spanish War.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Master of the Rolls took the Chair.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Master of the Rolls reports from the Committee of the whole House, for carrying on the Business of the Spanish War, That it is the Desire of the said Committee, that the House be moved to refer it to a Committee, to consider how the Excise and Customs may be put into one Receipt, with Safety and Advantage; how the Charge of the Officers of those Receipts may be retrenched; how an exact Account may be had of imported Commodities; and to consider whether the Farming the Customs and Excise may be advantageous to the State: And that they have Power to confer with Merchants, or others; and to offer to the House, what they shall think most for the Advantage of the Commonwealth.

That the Committee may have Liberty to sit again on this Business, To-morrow at Nine of the Clock; and so every Morning, till this Business be dispatched.

Excise and Customs.

Resolved, That it be referred to a Committee, to consider how the Excise and Customs may be put into one Receipt with Safety and Advantage; how the Charge of the Officers of those Receipts may be retrenched; how an exact Account of imported Commodities may be had; and how the Customs and Excise may be improved to the Advantage of the State: And that they have Power to confer with Merchants, or others; and to offer to the House what they shall think most for the Advantage of the Commonwealth.

Ordered, That this Business be referred to the Committee to whom the Business of the Arrears of Excise, &c. is referred, as the same was increased this Day, by Addition of Two other Committees.

Ways and Means.

Resolved, That the House be resolved into a Committee of the whole House, To-morrow Morning at Nine of the Clock, upon the Business of raising present Money, and for further Assistance in carrying on the Spanish War; and so every Morning, till this Business be dispatched.

Excise.

Ordered, That Dr. Clergis, Mr. Lucy, Colonel Crompton, Mr. John Upton, Mr. Standish, Mr. Alsop, Sir Francis Norris, Mr. Wakering, Mr. Hall, Mr. How, Colonel Carter, Mr. Flood, Mr. Castle, Mr. Bennett, Mr. Jenkins, Colonel Shuttleworth, Major Brooks, be added to the Committee for the Arrears of Excise.