House of Lords Journal Volume 6: 9 January 1644

DIE Martis, videlicet, 9 die Januarii.

PRAYERS.

Lords present this Day:

Ds. Grey de Warke, Speaker.

Answer from the H. C.

Sir Rob't Rich and Mr. Page return with this Answer to the Message sent Yesterday to the House of Commons:

That, for the appointing of Mr. Solicitor, Mr. Selden, and Mr. Recorder, and such others [ (fn. 1) of their] Members to be called, to advise by the Lords Committees concerning the Proceedings against the Queen, (fn. 2) they will take it into Consideration, and send an Answer by Messengers of their own.

Witnesses sworn in the Archbishop of Cant's Cause.

This Day these Witnesses were sworn at this Bar, to be examined by the Lords Committees, in the Business touching the Archbishop of Canterbury:

Ordinance for an Excise on Flesh and Salt.

Next, the House was adjourned during Pleasure, to take into Consideration the Ordinance concerning the putting of Excise upon Flesh and Salt.

The Ordinance was read; and the Committee thought fit to make some Alterations therein.

And the House being resumed;

The said Alterations were reported to the House; and being read, were Agreed to, and Ordered to be communicated to the House of Commons To-morrow.

Ordinance for pressing Seamen.

The Earl of Northumb. offered to this House an Ordinance for pressing of Mariners, for serving in the next Summer's Fleet; which was read, and approved of, and Ordered to be sent to the House of Commons, to desire their Concurrence.

Sir R. Crewe, a Pass.

Ordered, That Sir Randall Crewe shall have a Pass, for his Coach, to carry his Grand-child to Fulham, and to return again quietly through the Courts of Guard.

" (fn. 3) Die Martis, 9 Januarii, 1643.

"An Ordinance of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, touching the Excise of Flesh-victuals and Salt.

Ordinance for an Excise on Flesh-victuals and Salt.

"The Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament having, by an Ordinance dated the 11th of September last, set a Rate of Excise and new Impost upon several Commodities, as well Native as Foreign, for the Maintenance of the Armies raised in Defence of the King and Parliament, and other great Affairs of the Commonwealth; amongst which, they had special Regard to the Navy, for Guard of the Seas; and now finding that, through the Loss of several Ports of the Kingdom, and daily Decay of Trade, the Navy cannot be sufficiently maintained out of the Revenue of the Customs, as these Times of imminent Danger do require, nor such a convenient Fleet set forth this next Summer, for the Guard of the Seas, Defence of the Kingdom, and Preservation of Trade, without further Supply of Monies, to be raised by some equal and indifferent Way, as may be most easy to the well-affected Subjects of this Kingdom:

"Be it therefore Ordained, by the said Lords and Commons, That, from and after the 10th Day of this Instant January, all the several Sorts and Kinds of Flesh Meats, as also all Salt imported or made within this Kingdom, shall pay the several Rates of Excise, or new Impost, hereafter appointed and specified, according as the said Excise is hereby directed to be levied and paid; videlicet,

"That all Foreign Salt imported, or to be imported, into the Kingdom of England, Dominion of Wales, and Town of Barwick, shall pay One Penny upon every Gallon, to be paid by the First Buyer of such Salt.

"That all Salt made within the Kingdoms of England and Scotland, and Dominion of Wales, shall pay One Half-penny upon every Gallon; and that all Salt upon Salt, that is made of Salt, within the said Kingdom of England and Dominion of Wales, which hath once paid the Excise, shall pay One Farthing upon every Gallon, to be paid by the Maker of all such Salt, before such Time as the said Salt shall be put to Sale; and that all Salt upon Salt, that is made of Salt, in the Kingdom of Scotland, which hath once paid the Excise, shall pay One Farthing upon every Gallon, to be paid by the First Buyer of such Salt; and that all other Salt upon Salt, imported, or to be imported, in the said Kingdom of England, Dominion of Wales, and Town of Barwick, shall pay One Penny Half-penny upon every Gallon, to be paid by the First Buyer of such Salt: Provided always, That no Salt expended upon Fishing shall be liable to this Excise.

"That all Beefs, Muttons, Veals, Porks, Lambs, and other Butchers Meat, to be killed for Provision of Victuals, shall pay One Shilling in every Twenty Shillings Value of the Beast when he is living.

"That all Conies, or Rabbits, shall pay One Halfpenny a-piece.

"That all Pigeons shall pay after the Rate of One Penny for every Dozen.

"That all Butchers, or others, who do kill and sell any Beef, Veal, Mutton, Lamb, Pork, or any other Swines Flesh whatsoever, for the Market or Sale, do Weekly give an Accompt to such Office of Excise under which their Dwelling or other Place of Residence is, and at that same Time pay the Excise before mentioned; upon Forfeiture of Double the Value of all such Beasts and other Cattle, as by Two Witnesses or other good Proof shall be proved to have been killed at any Time after the 10th Day of January, 1643, for which no Excise hath been paid; and further, to be restrained from the killing and selling of any Flesh Meat, for One whole Year after such Proof as aforesaid.

"That all Poulterers and others, who make Sale of any Rabbits or Pigeons, do Weekly make like Accompt to the Office of Excise under which their Habitation and Trading is, of all Rabbits and Pigeons by them sold from Time to Time; and at the same Time pay the Duty of Excise before appointed in this Particular, upon the like Penalty respectively; and to be restrained from such Trading and Dealing in any Kind whatsoever, for One whole Year after.

"That all Housekeepers, who, for their own Spending, shall at any Time kill any Beefs, Calves, Sheep, Lambs, Porkers, Rabbits, or Pigeons, shall Weekly pay Excise, after the Rate aforesaid, unto such Collector or Collectors as shall be appointed to that Purpose.

"And all Persons who shall refuse or neglect to give a true Weekly Accompt, either of their killing for Sale, or of their own Expence, as aforesaid, shall be liable, upon Proof of One or Two Witnesses, as before directed, to the Fine of Treble the Value, toties quoties, to be levied by Distress; and, in Default thereof, unto Imprisonment, until the Excise and Penalty be both satisfied.

"That all Sum and Sums of Money received by virtue of this Ordinance, upon any Butchers Meat, Rabbits, or Pigeons, before-mentioned, as also of all Salt imported, or made in the Land, be appropriated to the Maintenance of the Navy, and from Time to Time issued and paid out, according to the Orders of the Committee of the House of Commons for the Navy, which shall be a sufficient Discharge to the Commissioners for Excise, being signed by the Hand of the Chair-man of that Committee for the Time being.

"That John Towse, Thomas Foot, John Kendricke, and Thomas Cullum, Esquires, Aldermen of the City of London, Simon Edmonds, John Lamot, and Edward Claxton, of London, Esquires, shall be Commissioners for the Receipt of the beforementioned Excise, according as they are already appointed and authorized by Ordinance of the 11th of September last, for the Receipt of the Excise and new Impost therein rated and expressed, and receive the like Allowance of Six Pence in every Pound for the Receipt; and shall and may likewise execute all and every Thing and Things therein prescribed, for the better managing of this Work, mutatis mutandis, as shall be requisite for the due Performance of this Ordinance, according to the true Intent and Meaning thereof; and that Thomas Fawkonbridge and William Bond, Gentlemen, shall be Auditors, to execute this Ordinance, by the same Rules and Limitations as they are authorized by the former Ordinance of Excise.

"And all Persons, who shall seek to elude this Ordinance, by Concealment, or other fraudulent Practice, or by Non-payment of the Excise as aforesaid, shall be subject to all Fines, Forfeiture, Imprisonment, or other Punishment whatsoever, as in the said Ordinance of the 11th of September last is more at large Declared and Ordained.

"Provided, That in case there shall happen to be an Overplus of Money arising by virtue of this Ordinance, which shall not be necessary for the Support of the Navy, that in such Cases the Overplus shall not be disposed to any Uses, but by Order of both Houses of Parliament.

"Provided, That this Ordinance shall continue in full Force for One whole Year after the Date hereof.

"Hen. Elsynge, Cler. Parl. D. Com."

(fn. 4) "An Ordinance of the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament, for the better raising, levying, and impressing of Mariners, Sailors, and others, for the present Guarding of the Seas, and necessary Defence of the Realm, and other His Majesty's Dominions.

Ordinance for pressing Seamen and others.

"Whereas both Houses of Parliament have appointed a competent Number of Ships to continue out this Winter, and intend to set forth a great Fleet this ensuing Spring, for Guard of the Narrow Seas, Preservation of Trade, and for the necessary Defence of this Kingdom, and other His Majesty's Dominions, which at this Time is of as great Necessity as ever, considering not only the Home-bred Distractions of this Kingdom and of Ireland, but the great Preparations which are making already in Foreign Parts, in Aid and Encouragement of the Papists and ill-affected Party amongst ourselves, now up in Arms against the Parliament; and whereas there is Occasion, as well at present, as hereafter will be, for pressing of Mariners for the said Service: Be it therefore Ordained, by the Lords and Commons in this present Parliament assembled, That the Lord High Admiral of England appointed by both Houses of Parliament shall and may, at any Time or Times, from the First Day of January 1643, to the First Day of January 1644, by himself, his Commissioner or Commissioners, Officer or Officers, or any of them, raise, levy, and impress, such and so many Mariners, Sailors, Watermen, Chirurgeons, Gunners, Ship Carpenters, Caukers, and Whoymen, as also Carmen, for Carriage of Victuals, &c. as shall be requisite and necessary for the Service aforesaid, or for any such further Defence of this Realm, or any other of His Majesty's Dominions; which said Mariners, Sailors, and other such Persons so to be levied and impressed as aforesaid, and every of them, shall have paid and delivered unto him, upon such his impressing, by the Person that shall so impress him, for Conduct-money; for every Mile from the Place where he shall be so imprest, to the Ship or Place where he shall be appointed to make his Repair, the Sum of One Penny to each Man; and the like Sum of One Penny for every Mile from the Place of his Discharge, unto the Place of his Abode; and shall be allowed for this Service the same Wages and Entertainment, in all respects, which hath been allowed by the Parliament this last Year to any such Person or Persons employed in the aforesaid Service: And if any Mariner, Sailor, Waterman, Chirurgeon, Gunner, Ship-Carpenter, Cauker, Whoyman, or Carman, shall wilfully refuse to be impressed in or for the said Service, or shall voluntarily hide or absent himself at the Time of such Press, to avoid the said Service, or, receiving his said Conduct-monies, do not appear at such Places and Times as by his Ticket he is appointed, That then any such Person so offending shall suffer Imprisonment for the Space of Three Months, without Bail or Mainprize: Provided always, and be it Ordained, That no Money, or other Reward, shall be taken, or any corupt Practice used, by any the Persons authorized by this Ordinance, in or for the pressing, changing, sparing, or discharging, of any Person or Persons to be imprest as aforesaid, as they will answer such Offence in Parliament; and all Deputy Lieutenants, Mayors, Bailiffs, Constables, and all other inferior Officers, are hereby required and enjoined to be aiding and assisting from Time to Time to the Persons authorized by this Ordinance, according to the true Intent and Meaning thereof: Provided always, That this Ordinance shall not extend to the pressing of any Master or Masters, Mate, Gunner, Carpenter, or Boatswain, of any Ship or Vessel that is or shall be in Employment.

"And for the better Encouragement both of Seamen and Watermen to apply themselves the more willingly to this Service, it is further Ordained by the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, That all Mariners, Sailors, and likewise all Watermen, who have served an Apprenticeship by the Space of Seven Years in their said Professions, or that are Servants and Apprentices by Indenture to any such Watermen, shall hereby be freed and exempt from being pressed to serve as Soldiers in any Land Service, except in Case of extreme Necessity, and that with the Consent and Privity of the Lord High Admiral of England, or by express Order of both Houses of Parliament.

"January 12, 1643.

"Ordered, by the Commons in Parliament, That this Ordinance be forthwith printed and published.

"H. Elsynge, Cler. Parl. D. Com."

Adjourn.

House adjourned until 1^a cras post meridiem.