House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 3 March 1660

Saturday, March 3d, 1659.

Prayers.

Christ-Church, Oxford.

ORDERED, That it be referred to a Committee, to send for Doctor Reynolds, and Doctor Owen; and to examine the Business touching Dr. Reynolds and Doctor Owen, touching the Deanry of Christ-Church: And that the Committee do state Matter of Fact; and report it to the Parliament, on Thursday next: And that Doctor Owen be summoned, forthwith, to attend the said Committee; Viz. Colonel Lee, Mr. Swynfin, Sir Peter Wentworth, Mr. Knightley, Colonel Harley, Mr. Pryn, Sir John Northcot, Mr. Grove, Sir Gilbert Gerrard; or any Three of them: And are to meet, at Two of the Clock this Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Cust. Rot. of Essex.

Ordered, That Charles, now Earl of Warwick, be, and is hereby, constituted Custos Rotulorum for the County of Essex; to hold, exercise, and enjoy the said Office, as fully and amply, to all Intents and Purposes, as any Person or Persons formerly held and enjoyed the same.

Sir A. Dick.

A Bill granting a Protection to Sir Andrew Dick, and Continuance of a weekly Pension of Five Pounds, was this Day read the First time.

Ordered, That the Pension of Five Pounds a Week, formerly granted to Sir Andrew Dick, be, and is hereby, continued unto the said Sir Andrew Dick: And that the same, with all the Arrears, be paid unto him, or his Assigns, out of the Publick Exchequer, until the Parliament take further Order: And that the Council of State do give Order for the Payment thereof, accordingly.

Ordered, That it be recommended to the Council of State, to confer some such Preferment on Sir Andrew Dick, in Scotland, as he is capable of.

Ordered, That the Committee to whom the Business of Sir Andrew Dick is referred, do forthwith make Report thereof to the Parliament: And that Sir Gilbert Gerrard, Mr. Crew, Mr. Ansley, and Lord Ancram, be added to that Committee.

Lancaster, &c. Palatinate.

Colonel Thomas Birch reports, A Bill for reviving the Jurisdictions of the Counties-Palatine of Lancaster and Chester: Which was this Day read the First and Second time; and, upon the Question, committed unto Mr. Attorney Lechmere, Sir Anthony Irby, Mr. Pryn, Sir Wm. Wheeler, Mr. Knightley, Mr. Dogley, Major-General Browne, Colonel Hunt, Serjeant Twisden, Colonel Mackworth, Mr. Jones, Lord Ancram, Mr. Hungerford, Mr. Francis Gerrard, Sir Samuell Luke, Sir John Lenthall, Lord Chief-Baron Wild, Mr. Geo. Mountague, Mr. Serjeant Waller, Mr. Nelthorpe, Colonel Rosseter, Colonel Feilder, Mr. Swynfin, Mr. Foxwist, Colonel Dove, and all the Gentlemen of the Long Robe; or any Five of them: With Power to revive the Duchy of Lancaster: And are to meet on Monday, Two of the Clock in the Afternoon, in the Duchy-Court.

Prisoners discharged.

A Letter from Colonel Whitchcot, from Windsor-Castle, 22d February 1659; and a Warrant of the 27th Day of November 1656, signed "He. Lawrence, President," directed to the Governor of Windsor-Castle, to receive into his Charge John Earl of Crawford Lindsey; and another Warrant, signed "He. Lawrence, President," dated the 17th of January 1656, directed to the Governor of Windsor-Castle, to take into his Charge the Body of John Lord Sinclare; and another Warrant, dated 14 January 1656, signed "Oliver P." to detain and keep under Imprisonment the Body of the Earl of Lauderdale; were read.

Ordered, That the Earl of Crawford Lindsey, the Earl of Lawderdale, and the Lord Sinclare, now Prisoners in Windsor Castle, shall be discharged of their Imprisonment, upon giving Security to the Council of State, to whom it is referred to take the same, not to act any thing prejudicial to this Commonwealth.

Peck's Claims.

Sir Anthony Irby reports from the Committee touching Mr. Henry Peck's Business, The Opinion of that Committee, That out of the Two Thirds of the whole Estates, or Compositions, of the Lord Vaux, Sir Percy Herbert, and his Lady, Sir Charles Smith, alias Lord Carrington, Francis Viscount Mountague, the Lady Nevell, sequestered Recusants, Satisfaction be made of the Debt due to Henry Peck Esquire, being Three thousand Nine hundred Forty-three Pounds Twelve Shillings Five-pence Halfpeny; having received, upon his Ordinance, Three hundred Thirty-eight Pounds Five Shillings Eleven-pence, and no more, according to the former Order of the Lords and Commons, of the 21th October 1648, in lieu of the Estates of Sir Thomas Timperly, and Sir Roger Martyn, deceased: And that an Act be passed for settling the same, accordingly.

Resolved, That this House doth agree with the Committee, That, out of the Two Thirds of the Estates, or Compositions, of the Lord Vaux, Sir Percy Herbert, and his Lady, Sir Charles Smith, alias Lord Carrington, Francis Viscount Mountague, the Lady Nevell, sequestered Recusants, Satisfaction be made of the Debt due to Henry Peck Esquire, being the Sum of Three thousand Nine hundred Forty-three Pounds Twelve Shillings Five-pence Halfpeny; he having received Three hundred Thirty-eight Pounds Five Shillings Eleven-pence, and no more, upon his Order of the Lords and Commons, of the 21th of October 1648, in lieu of the Estates of Sir Thomas Timperly, and Sir Roger Martin, deceased: And that an Act be passed for settling the same, accordingly.

He also reports, A Bill for Satisfaction of the said Debt of Three thousand Nine hundred Forty-three Pounds Twelve Shillings Five-pence Halfpeny, out of the Two Thirds of the said Estates: Which was this Day read the First time.

Ordered, That this Bill be read the Second time, on Monday Morning next.

Navy and Admiralty.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Council of State, upon Conference with the Generals at Sea, or either of them, to nominate and approve of all the Captains and Lieutenants to be employed in the Navy: And that the Generals at Sea, or either of them, do grant Commissions, under the Seal of the Anchor, to such Captains and Lieutenants as they shall approve of, accordingly: And, in their Absence, that the Commissioners of the Admiralty do grant the same.

Resolved, That General Edward Mountague be, and is hereby, constituted and appointed one of the Commissioners of the Admiralty: And that he be, and is hereby, impowered and authorized to act as one of the Commissioners for the Admiralty, as fully, to all Intents and Purposes, as any other of the Commissioners may or ought to do.

Ordered, That no Persons go as Chaplains in any of the Ships, but Ministers such as shall be approved of by the Generals at Sea.

Issues for Navy.

Colonel Thompson reports also, The State of the Account of Monies charged on the Assessments, for the Use of the Navy; and what hath been received thereupon, as followeth, viz.

Memorandum, There hath been no Monies received from the Customs or Excise, between the 23d of December 1659, and the 15th of February 1659; and besides, several Sums formerly diverted, to the Value of 32,950£. Viz,

Besides other Sums lately diverted; which will appear in the Exchequer.

Navy Estimate.

He also reports, An Estimate of the Debts of the Navy, now due, to the 1st of February 1659, as followeth; viz.

An Estimate of the Charge of setting forth to Sea a Fleet, to consist of Twenty thousand Men for Eight Months Service, to end the last of September 1660, as followeth; viz.

Which was read.

Navy, &c.

He also reports from the Commissioners of the Admiralty and Navy;

THAT it be humbly offered to the Parliament, That in respect of the Inconveniency that is found in the present issuing the Victuals of the Fleet; which, in some Ships, is performed by Pursers, in others by Cheques and Stewards; the Commissioners may have Liberty to dispose of that Affair into the Hands of Pursers, notwithstanding any former Establishment, in case it shall be found advantageous to the State:

That it be also humbly offered to the Parliament, That their Pleasure may be signified, Who shall be intrusted with the Care of bringing the late Commissioners for Prize-Goods to an Account for the Arrears remaining in their Hands; as also, for getting in such Monies as have been imprested by the late Committee for the Navy, or others, to any Person or Persons not yet accounted for: And how the said Monies, with the growing Receipts of Prize-Goods, shall be disposed of: Which, in regard of the urgent Necessities of the Navy, the said Commissioners humbly offer may be appointed for the Use of the Navy:

And forasmuch as there are no Commissioners at present, impowered to take care of such Prizes as are, or shall be, brought in by the Ships of this Commonwealth; the said Commissioners humbly offer, That some Persons may be appointed to that Work: As also, That some Direction may be given, for Proceedings to be had, in a summary Way, touching Merchants Ships of this Commonwealth, surprised by the Enemy, and retaken by the State's Frigates: In which Case, one Eighth Part is only due to the Commonwealth, for Salvage, that the Owners and Proprietors may not be put to that chargeable and tedious Way of Proceedings, as heretofore:

That it be also humbly reported to the Parliament, That the Sheriffs and Receivers of the respective Counties, in whose Hands there are considerable Sums of Money, on account of Papists Lands, and other Publick Revenue, may be required forthwith, to pay into the Exchequer all such Monies as are due to the Commonwealth: And that, upon Payment thereof, they may have a legal Discharge.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Commissioners of the Admiralty: And that the said Commissioners be, and are hereby impowered to place Pursers, instead of Cheques and Stewards, if they see Cause.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Commissioners for the Admiralty, To take care, and they are hereby impowered, to bring the late Commissioners for Prize-Goods to an Account, for the Arrears remaining in their Hands; and also, to get in such Monies as have been imprested by the late Committee for the Navy, or others, to any Person or Persons not yet accounted for: And that the Prize-Goods be disposed of, and applied to the Use of the Navy: And that the said Commissioners for the Admiralty do also take care of such Prizes as are, or shall be, brought in by the Ships of this Commonwealth: And the Commissioners of the Admiralty are hereby impowered to proceed in a summary Way, touching Merchant-Ships of this Commonwealth surprised by the Enemy, and retaken by the State's Frigates.

Resolved, That Mr. Scawen be added a Commissioner for the Admiralty and Navy.

Publick Charges and Debts.

Ordered, That the Council of State, with the Generals at Land and Sea, do advise with the Committee of the Army, Commissioners of the Admiralty and Navy, and Committee of the Revenue, about the Charge and Debts of the Commonwealth; with the Income: And to consider, How the Forces at Land and Sea may be so retrenched, as that the Charge exceed not the Income: And how the Debts may be satisfied, and Monies apportioned between the Army and Navy.

Admiralty Judges, &c.

Resolved, That Dr. Walker and Dr. Turnor only, be Judges of the Admiralty, and Probate of Wills.

Resolved, That Dr. Wiseman be Advocate of the Commonwealth, instead of Dr. Walker.

The House adjourned till Monday Morning, Eight of Clock.