House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 19 December 1656

Friday, the 19th of December, 1656.

Grant to Gen. Monck.

A BILL for Confirmation of a Charter, granted by the Lord Protector to General George Monck, of the Barony of Kaniell, and other Lands, made in pursuance of several Orders of Parliament, was this Day read the First time; and, upon the Question, ordered to be read the Second time on Tuesday next.

Improving Commons.

A Bill for Improvement of Waste-Grounds, and Regulating of Commons and Commonable Lands, and preventing Depopulations, was this Day read the First time.

And the Question being put, That this Bill shall be read the Second time;

It passed in the Negative.

Resolved, That this Bill be rejected.

Petition from London.

The House being informed, that a Committee of Aldermen were at the Door from the Lord-Mayor, Aldermen, and Common-Council of the City of London;

They were called in: And, being come to the Bar, Alderman Fowke made a Speech at the Bar; and presented, from the Lord-Mayor, Aldermen, and CommonCouncil of the City of London, a Petition: Which, after the said Aldermen were withdrawn, was read; and was intituled, "The humble Petition of the Lord-Mayor, Aldermen, and Commons, of the City of London, in Common-Council assembled."

Ordered, That the said Petition be referred to a Committee; viz. to Colonel Grosvenor, Colonel Hewson, Alderman Foot, Sir Christofer Pack, Mr. Floyd, Mr. Bampfeild, Mr. Franck, Mr. Timbes, Mr. Recorder of London, Mr. Bedford, Colonel Rous, Colonel Blake, Alderman Dickenson, Mr. Jenkinson, Major-General Packer, Captain Blackwell, Mr. Holland, Colonel Purefoy, Mr. Waterhowse, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Drake, Mr. Godfrey, Mr. Moody, Judge-Advocate Whaley, Alderman Tigh, Mr. Stanley, Major-General Boteler, Mr. John Ashe, Mr. Downing, Captain Hatsell, Sir Rich. Onsloe, Major-General Whaley, Sir Tho. Wroth, Major-General Berry, Colonel White, Major-General Goff, Alderman Bradshaw, Mr. Robinson, Mr. Noell, Colonel Whetham, Mr. Aldworth, Alderman Geldare, Mr. Trenchard, MajorGeneral Kelsey, Mr. Trumball, Mr. Butler, Mr. Ramsey, Mr. Berkley, Captain Whitney, Mr. Sheild, Mr. Beake, Mr. Bond, Mr. Bodurda, Mr. Hyland, General Disbrow, Mr. Goodwyn, Mr. Bankes, Colonel Twisleton, Mr. Rolls: To meet To-morrow, at Two of the Clock, in the Inner Court of Wards.

The Aldermen and Citizens were again called in: And, being come to the Bar, Mr. Speaker, by Order of the House, acquainted them, That the House had read their Petition, and taken it into Consideration; and have referred the same to a Committee.

Whereupon they again withdrew.

London Assessments.

Captain Bailes reports from the Committee, to whom the Business touching the Arrears of the Assessments from the City of London was referred;

THAT this Committee find, by a List received from the Committee for the Army, that there is due by an Arrear of Assessments from the said City, from the 1st of February 1644, to the 24th of June 1656, the Sum of Thirty thousand Seven hundred Fifty-one Pounds One Shilling; whereof due by the Stillyard, and IntercourseMerchants, the Sum of Six thousand Six hundred and Sixteen Pounds Two Shillings Five Pence: And the rest, being Twenty-three thousand One hundred Seventy-one Pounds Ten Shillings Four Pence, in the said List, is mentioned to be lost by Abatements, made by the Commissioners for the Monthly Assessments for the said City, and otherwise.

The said Committee also finds, by an Account from the Lord-Mayor, Aldermen, and Common-Council of the said City, that the said Sum of Thirty thousand Seven hundred Fifty-one Pounds, or thereabouts, is in Arrear, and due from the said City; whereof, they say, about Six thousand Six hundred Pounds is discharged by the Act of Oblivion; and about Two thousand Six hundred Pounds is due by Offices and Officers employed by the State; and about Seven thousand Pounds is owing by the Merchants of the Intercourse; and about Fourteen thousand Five hundred and Two Pounds hath been growing in Eleven Years; which they move, may be remitted and discharged, for the Reasons in the annexed Paper given in to the said Committee by them.

The said Committee find, by the Account of the Agent for the Committee for the Army within the said City, whereunto the Committee of the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Common-Council, did more particularly refer themselves, and their Account, That the just Sum due from the said City, within the Time aforesaid, is Thirty thousand Six hundred Eighty-two Pounds Twelve Shillings Three Pence: Whereof remitted by the Act of Oblivion, Six thousand Six hundred Eighty-five Pounds Nine Shillings and Four Pence: Owing by the Stillyard, and Intercourse-Merchants, Six thousand Eight hundred Twenty-three Pounds Fifteen Shillings Five Pence: Owing by the Temple, and Inhabitants thereof, Two thousand Three hundred Twenty-five Pounds: Also charged on divers Offices and Officers, employed by the State, Two thousand Three hundred and Seventeen Pounds Nine Shillings: And the Remainder, being Twelve thousand Three hundred and Thirty Pounds Eighteen Shillings and Six Pence, hath been at several times abated by the Commissioners for the Monthly Assessments for the said City, and returned, as lost, to the said Agent.

1. So that, upon the whole Matter, this Committee are humbly of Opinion, that the Six thousand Eight hundred Twenty-three Pounds Fifteen Shillings Five Pence, due from the Stillyard, and Intercourse-Merchants, ought to be forthwith paid by them; or levied, by Distress, upon such of them as shall refuse to make Payment thereof.

2. That the Two thousand Three-hundred Twentyfive Pounds, charged upon the Temple, and Inhabitants there, be forthwith assessed and paid, or levied, by Distress upon such as shall refuse to pay the same; in regard the Acts for Assessment expressly say, That no privileged Place, or Person, shall be exempted from Payment of the Assessments.

3. That so much of the Two thousand Five hundred and Seventeen Pounds Nine Shillings, as was charged upon the said Offices, and Officers, be paid by, or levied upon such Offices, as have not been assessed in some other Place, where they lived, and did, and ought to pay for their said Offices; as also what hath been charged upon the Houses, where the said Offices were kept: And that the Remainder of the said Sum of Two thousand Five hundred and Seventeen Pounds Nine Shillings, together with the Twelve thousand Three hundred and Thirty Pounds Eighteen Shillings, abated by the Commissioners as aforesaid, be forthwith re-assessed upon the said City, according as the Acts for Assessments do direct.

4. That the Six thousand Six hundred Eighty-five Pounds Nine Shillings Four Pence, alleged to be discharged by the Act of Oblivion, be remitted, and the said City discharged therefrom: Provided, that the Remainder of the said Arrear be paid in to the Treasurers at War, on or before the Day of

Resolved, That the House doth agree with the Committee, that the Six thousand Eight hundred Twentythree Pounds Fifteen Shillings Five Pence due from the Stillyard, and Intercourse-Merchants, ought to be forthwith paid by them, or levied, by Distress, upon such of them, as shall refuse to make Payment thereof.

Resolved, That the further Debate upon this Report be adjourned till To-morrow Morning; and nothing to intervene.