House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 20 May 1659

Friday, the 20th of May, 1659.

Prayers.

Discharge of Prisoners.

THE humble Petition of the Deputy, Common-Council, Churchwardens, and divers others, wellaffected Inhabitants of the Parish of Buttolp's without Algate, and Ward of Portsoken, London, was this Day read.

Ordered, That this Petition be referred to the Committee to whom the Business touching Discharge of Persons imprisoned for Matters of Conscience is referred, to examine the Matter of Fact; and certify their Opinions to this House what is fit to be done therein: And that Mr. Bennet, Sir Henry Mildmay, Mr. Robinson, Mr. Cawley, Mr. Hay, Mr. Nevill, Mr. West, Mr. Trenchard, Mr. Lechmere, Mr. Henry Smith, Mr. Henry Darley, Mr. Nelthrop, Alderman Atkin, Mr. Brewster, Mr. Lowrey, be added to that Committee.

Bulstroode's Petition.

Ordered, That the Petition of Thomas Bulstroode Esquire, formerly one of the Commissioners of Excise, be taken into Consideration, when the Report touching the Excise is made.

House to seek the Lord.

Ordered, That this Day Sevennight be set apart for a Day of Humiliation, Prayer, and seeking the Lord, to be observed by the Members of this House, in this House, for his Blessing upon the Counsels of this House, in carrying on the great Business incumbent on them.

Preachers appointed.

Ordered, That Mr. Adderley be desired to assist in carrying on the Work of Humiliation, and Prayer, and seeking the Lord for a Blessing upon the Counsels of this House, on this Day Sevennight: And that Sir Henry Mildmay give him Notice hereof.

Ordered, That Mr. Griffith be desired to assist in carrying on the Work of Humiliation, and Prayer, and Seeking the Lord for a Blessing upon the Council of this House, on this Day Sevennight: And that Mr. Trenchard be desired to give him Notice hereof.

Ordered, That Doctor Owen be desired to assist in carrying on the Work of Humiliation, Prayer, and Seeking the Lord for a Blessing upon the Counsels of this House, on this Day Sevennight: And Mr. Holland is desired to give him Notice hereof.

Publick Revenue.

Colonel Downes reports from the Committee for inspecting the Treasuries, as followeth; viz.

Publick Revenue.

A brief View of the Debt to the Army and Navies of this Commonwealth, and of the Charge thereof for a Year, as they appear out of several Accompts and Papers depending before the Committee for Inspection of the Treasuries; viz.

That whereas the Receipts arising by the Customs, Excise, Prize-Goods, and otherwise, have been kept on foot, raised, and managed by divers Orders and Powers, exercised since the Twentieth Day of April 1653, when this Parliament was interrupted; and divers great Sums of Money are in Arrear, and in the Hands of particular Persons, of those Payments due unto the Commonwealth; which, being remitted or not levied, will occasion greater Burdens upon the People; for the Avoiding whereof, it is humbly offered, as the Opinion of this Committee, That the House will please to order an Act to be brought in; by Force whereof all the Monies in Arrear, and which shall grow due until be collected, levied, recovered, and paid in such Manner and Form, as by the said Orders and Powers is directed, to all Purposes, as if the same had been continued and directed by the Authority of this present Parliament, unless the Committee of Inspection see Cause to give other Order therein; and that some Persons be impowered to take Course, that the same be levied and paid in, accordingly; and to re-enter upon all such Farms of Customs and Excise, as are or shall become forfeited to the Commonwealth, for Non-payment of Rent, or otherwise; and that the said Persons be appointed Commissioners to put in Execution such of the said Powers as do concern Sequestration, for the better Effecting of the Ends aforesaid; and shall nominate and appoint such Persons, for the Management thereof, as they shall think fit; and pursue such Directions as they shall therein from time to time receive from the Parliament, or the Committee for Inspection of the Treasuries.

And this Committee doth further offer to the Parliament, That timely Consideration may be had, and Provision made, for the Way of Managing the Customs and Excise from

And whereas there have been imposed upon the People of this Commonwealth, several Sums of Money, to be raised by way of Assessment, and to continue till the Twenty-fourth of June 1660; viz.

It is also offered to the Consideration of the Parliament, What shall be done concerning those Monies.

Resolved, upon the Question, That this House doth agree with the Committee, That it be referred back to the said Committee for inspecting the Treasuries, to prepare and bring in an Act for the effectual and speedy Levying, Recovering, and Paying in of all Monies in Arrear, due to the State for Customs, Excise, and Prize-Goods, and which shall grow due until Midsummer next, as, by the Orders and Powers exercised since the Twentieth Day of April 1653, is directed; to all Purposes, as if the same had been continued and directed by Authority of this present Parliament; and to impower such Persons as they shall think fit, to cause the same to be levied and paid in, accordingly; and to re-enter upon all such Farms of Customs and Excise, as are or shall become forfeited to the Commonwealth, for Non-payment of Rent, or otherwise; and with further Power to put in Execution such of the Powers as do concern Sequestrations; the said Persons to pursue such Directions as they shall therein from time to time receive from the Parliament, or the Committee for Inspection of the Treasuries.

Ordered, That the said Committee for inspecting the Treasuries do also prepare and bring in several Acts for the Managing of the Customs and Excise from Midsummer next, for the future.

Ordered, That it be referred back to the said Committee for Inspection of the Treasuries, to prepare and bring in an Act for raising the Thirty-five thousand Pounds per Mensem upon England; Six thousand Pounds per Mensem upon Scotland; and Nine thousand Pounds per Mensem upon Ireland; formerly imposed upon the People by way of Assessments, to continue from the Twenty-fourth of June 1660.

Ordered, That it be referred to a Committee, to prepare a Declaration, to satisfy the Nation, How Affairs stood with the Commonwealth, when this House was interrupted; and how Affairs stand at present: Viz. Mr. Marten, Mr. Robinson, Major Salwey, Sir James Harrington, Mr. Scot, Sir Henry Vane, Sir Arthur Hesilrig, Mr. Cawley, Lord Whitlock, Mr. Smith, Colonel Pyne, Sir Henry Mildmay, Colonel Rich, Mr. Ralegh, Lieutenant-General Ludlow, Mr. Dove, or any Five of them: To meet in the Speaker's Chamber, To-morrow Morning, at Seven of the Clock: And the especial Care hereof is committed to Mr. Martin.

Scotch Affairs.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Members of this House of the Council of State, to consider, What is fit to be done, as to the Administration of Justice in Scotland: Concerning the several Seals to be used in Scotland: And also to take Care to prepare a Seal for the Council of State; and present the same to this House, for their Approbation.