House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 8 June 1659

Wednesday, June 8, 1659.

Army Commissions.

A BILL, ingrossed, intituled, An Act, constituting Commissioners for Nomination of Commission-Officers for the Forces in England and Scotland, and directing the granting Commissions to them, was this Day read the Third time; and, upon the Question, passed.

Army and Navy Debts.

Colonel Downes reports from the Committee for Inspections, That the said Commitee do humbly present to this House, What are the present Debts to the Armies and Navy; and what the Charge of carrying on those Affairs to the First of December will amount unto, by the nearest Estimate can be made; and what probably may be expected towards them; Viz.

Towards which, there is not yet in View to the Committee any Way for raising Monies, but

The Arrears of Prize-Goods:

Sale of such Forests as are not already engaged:

Sale of the Remainder of Lands and Estates forfeited to the Commonwealth for Treason, already exposed to Sale, but the Sales not perfected:

And the Monies which may come in upon Discoveries, some whereof are already offered; viz.

Of a Duty or Rent-Charge called Procurations and Synodals, heretofore payable by Ministers to Archdeacons;

Of Monies suggested to be due to the Commonwealth by the Sale of Lands heretofore conveyed to Sir Allen Apsley by the late King;

Of some Advantage pretended by the Commonwealth by discovering Persons who have embezzled Prize-Goods;

Of Monies owing to Persons whose Estates are exposed to Sale;

Of Estates of Delinquents, for which Savings were granted, and are not yet compounded for:

Which Ways, or some of them, though they may in time produce Monies, yet there can be no Expectation from them of a timely Supply for accommodating the pressing Occasions of the Commonwealth.

The publick Revenues of the Three Nations, besides Customs, Excise, and the Assessments, cannot be estimated sufficient to answer the publick Civil Expences of the Commonwealth; it being not yet visible to the Committee, that they can produce above One hundred and Fifty thousand Pounds for this current Year.

And therefore the Committee do humbly offer to the Consideration of the House, By what other Ways Monies may be raised.

Army and Navy Commissions.

Resolved, That Captain Richard Potter be Captain of the President Frigate.

Resolved, That Nathaniell Terne be Lieutenant of the Ship James.

The House being informed, That divers of the Officers of the Army and Navy, whose Commissions are ready, are at the Door;

Resolved, That the Officers of the Army and Navy be called in.

Colonel Hacker, and the Officers of his Troop, were called in: And, after Obeisance made, came up to the Clerk's Table; the Serjeant coming up before them, with the Mace on his Shoulder, and being at the Table, Mr Speaker acquainted Colonel Francis Hacker, and the rest of the said Officers, "That the Parliament and Commonwealth have put a great Trust in you; and expect you shall be faithful in the Discharge thereof:" And thereupon delivered Colonel Hacker his Commission at the Table, to be Colonel of a Regiment of Horse.

And Mr. Speaker did also acquaint every one of the Officers severally with the Trust reposed in them by the Parliament and Commonwealth; and that they did expect, that they should be faithful in Discharge thereof: And, after, at the Clerk's Table, delivered, unto the said Francis Hacker, his Commission to be Captain of a Troop of Horse.

Army and Navy Commissions.

And to Elias Whalley, his Commission to be Captain-Lieutenant of Colonel Hacker's Regiment:

And to John Finnis, to be Cornet of Colonel Hacker's Troop of Horse:

And to George Lassels, his Commission to be QuarterMaster of Colonel Hacker's Troop of Horse:

And to William Hubert, his Commission to be Major of a Regiment of Horse:

And to William Watts, his Commission to be Lieutenant of a Troop of Horse:

And to Thomas Egerton, his Commission to be Quarter-Master of a Troop of Horse:

And to Clement Needham, his Commission to be Captain of a Troop of Horse:

And to Ralph Gale, his Commission to be Lieutenant of a Troop of Horse:

And to Richard Mallet, his Commission to be Quartermaster of a Troop of Horse:

And to Gabriell Wayne, his Commission to be Captain of a Troop of Horse:

And to * * his Commission to be Lieutenant * *

And to Thomas Page, his Commission to be Cornet of a Troop of Horse.

And to Samuel Stephenson, his Commission to be Quarter-Master of a Troop of Horse:

And to Thomas Willoughby, to be Captain of a Troop of Horse in Colonel Hacker's Regiment.

And to John Atterton, his Commission to be Lieutenant of a Troop of Horse:

And to Joseph Strangwich, his Commission to be Cornet of a Troop of Horse:

And Captain Lockyer, and his Officers, were called in: And Mr. Speaker acquainted them, That the Parliament and Commonwealth hath appointed them Officers in this Regiment; and they expect they shall be faithful to the Parliament in Discharge of the Trust reposed in them: And then, at the Table, delivered unto Mr. Nathaniell Lockyer, his Commission to be Captain in Colonel Hacker's Regiment:

And to Francis Hacker, his Commission to be Cornet in Colonel Hacker's Regiment:

And to Philip Launder, his Commission to be Quartermaster of that Troop.

The House being informed, that some of the Sea Captains were at the Door to receive their Commissions;

They were called in: And the Serjeant at Arms, attending this House, came in before them, with his Mace on his Shoulder: And when they came to the Bar, and in the Middle of the House, and near the Table, made their Obeisance: And being come to the Table, Mr. Speaker acquainted Vice-Admiral John Lawson, and the rest of the Commanders, "That the Parliament, on the Behalf of the Commonwealth, have appointed you Commanders and Officers in several Ships of this Commonwealth; and the Parliament expect your Faithfulness in the Discharge of the Trust reposed in you:" And thereupon, at the Clerk's Table, delivered unto Geo. Dawkins, a Commission to be Commander of the Bristoll:

And unto Willoughby Hammond, a Commission to be Commander of the Kentish:

And unto Giles Shelley, a Commission to be Commander of the Providence:

And to Henry Fenn, a Commission to be Commander of the Hampshire:

And unto Vice-Admiral John Lawson, a Commission to be Commander of the Ship James.

Customs, &c.

A Bill for Levying, Collecting, and Paying in the Arrears of the Revenues of Excise, and New Impost, Customs, Subsidies, Prize Goods, and other Revenue due before the * Day of May 1659; and for Confirming the former Powers established for levying the same; was read the First time.

Resolved, That this Bill be now read the Second time.

The said Bill was read the Second time, accordingly; and, upon the Question, committed unto Colonel Rich, Sir Henry Mildmay, Sir Henry Vane, Colonel White, Colonel Downes, Mr. Solicitor Reynolds, Mr. Lechmere, Mr. Robinson, Mr. Martyn, Major Salway, Mr. Nelthorp, Mr. Darley, Colonel Lister, Colonel Barker, Colonel Birch, Mr. Anlaby, Colonel Jones, Mr. Cawley, Colonel Pyne, Mr. Brewster, Colonel Hayes, Sir Tho. Wroth, Lord Monson, Mr. Garland, Mr. Hallowes, Mr. Wallop, Mr. Skynner, Mr. Holland, Sir Wm. Brereton, Colonel Done; or any Five of them: And are to meet this Afternoon, at Two of the Clock, in the Treasury Chamber: And the especial Care of this Bill is referred to Mr. Robinson.

Customs, &c.

Ordered, That a Bill be brought in to enable Persons to bring in the Monies, due by Custom and Excise, by Seizure, Sale of Lands, Sequestration, or otherwise: Viz. unto Sir Tho. Widdrington, Mr. Baron Hill, Lord ChiefBaron Wild, Baron Thorp, Lord Lisle, Colonel White, Colonel Waite; or any Three of them: And are to meet in the Speaker's Chamber, this Afternoon, at Two of the Clock.

Protections.

Ordered, That the former Protections granted by this House unto Robert Turner, Joseph Drew, and William Cash, be continued for Three Months longer.

Customs, &c.

Ordered, That, in all Cases where the Farms of the Customs and Excise are adjudged, by the Commissioners for bringing in the Revenue, necessary to be taken into the State's Hands; and the same shall be so approved by the Committee of Inspection; that then the said Committee of Inspection do give Order to the Commissioners of Excise in Broad-street, to take in the said Farms into the State's Hands, accordingly.

Assessment.

Ordered, That the Bill for the Assessment be read the first Business, on Friday Morning.

Forests, &c.

Ordered, That it be referred unto a Committee, to prepare and bring in a Bill for Sale of the Forests and Chaces belonging to the Commonwealth: Viz. Mr. John Corbet, Mr. Lechmere, Lord Lisle, Lord Whitlock, Mr. Lister, Mr. Goodwyn, Serjeant Earle, Mr. Robinson, Mr. Say, Sir Tho. Wroth, Colonel Done, Mr. John Goodwyn, Mr. Nevill, Mr. Piggot, Mr. Garland, Sir Henry Vane, Mr. Holland, Colonel Waite; or any Five of them: And are to meet To-morrow Morning in the Speaker's Chamber: And Mr. Corbet is to take care of it.

Publick Sales.

Ordered, That Mr. Serjeant Earle do bring in the Bill for Confirmation of Publick Sales, To-morrow Morning.

Forefeited Estates.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee for Inspections, upon Conference with the Trustees for Sale of Lands forfeited to the Commonwealth for Treason, to bring in an Act giving further Powers to make Sale of any of the said Lands yet unsold, or obstructed in the Sale; and report the same to the House forthwith.

Petition from London.

Ordered, That the Petition from the Lord Mayor and City of London be read To-morrow Morning.

Indemnity.

The Parliament intending to pass an Act of Indemnity, and which is under present Consideration, in reference to such Persons as have acted under Colour and Pretence of several Powers, and Commands or Directions, during this Parliament's late Interruption, do Declare, That they expect all Persons should forbear to commence or prosecute any Suits against any Person, upon any the aforesaid Actings, until the Judgment of Parliament be known, and held forth in the said Act of Indemnity; wherein they intend such Restrictions and Limitations, as shall be found necessary for the Good of this Commonwealth.

Letter read.

A Letter from the Sound, near Elsenore, of the Twenty-fifth of May 1659, was this Day read.

Indemnity.

Ordered, That the House be resolved into a Grand Committee, upon the Act of Indemnity, To-morrow Morning.