House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 10 February 1652

Tuesday, the 10th of February, 1651.

Prayers.

Seizures in Portugal.

RESOLVED, That, out of the Monies arising upon the Proportion of Prize-Goods, appointed by the Act for making Ships and Merchandizes taken or to be taken from the King of Portugal, or any of his Subjects, to be Prize, to be distributed among such well-affected People of the Commonwealth, whose Goods and * were unduly seized in Portugal, the Committee of the Navy have Power, and be authorized, to pay off the Mariners belonging to the Ships now returned from the Streights, and such others as shall return home from Sea; for lessening the Charge of the Commonwealth: And that the same Committee do take care, that so much of the said Money as they shall so make use of for that Purpose, be repaid into that Treasury, if there shall be Cause, for the Ends for which the same were formerly appointed by that Act: And the Collectors for Prize-goods are to pay the same, according to the Directions of the Committee of the Navy, accordingly.

Swedish Ambassador.

Mr. Speaker, by way of Report, acquaints the House, That the Publick Minister from the Queen of Sweden is lately dead.

Prize Goods.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of the Navy, to give Order to the Collectors of Prize-goods to state the Accompt of General Blake, for the Portugall Goods by him taken as Prize; and to give him a Discharge upon his Account, accordingly.

Publick Revenue.

Ordered, That the House do take into Debate, on Thisday-seven-night, the Report touching settling the Treasury of this Commonwealth.

Contract for Gunpowder.

Sir Arthur Hesilrig reports from the Council of State; " That the Council have made a Contract with William Pennoyer, Daniel Judd, John Freeman, Thomas Stephenson, John Semaine, and George Bowreman, PowderMerchants, to serve the State with Five thousand Barrels of English Gunpowder, for the ensuing Year, for Sea and Land-Service, at the Rate of Four Pounds per Barrel, Tower-Proof; to be delivered by One thousand Barrels per Mensem; to be paid out of the Monies remaining in the Hands of the East India Company, due for Customs; and out of such Customs, as shall arise upon the Arrival of the next Ships from India: Which the Council represents to the Parliament for their Approbation, if they shall think fit, that Order may be given for Payment for the same, according to the Contract made by the said Powder Merchants.

Resolved, That the Parliament doth approve of, and confirm, the Contract made by the Council of State with Wm. Pennoyer, Daniel Judd, John Freeman, Thomas Stevenson, John Semaine, and George Bowreman, Powder Merchants, to serve the State with Five thousand Barrels per Mensem; to be paid out of the Monies remaining in the Hands of the East India Company, due for Customs; and out of such Customs as shall arise upon the Arrival of the next Ships from India: And it is referred to the Council of State, to proceed and perfect the said Contract; and also to consider how this Twenty thousand Pounds may be supplied to the Navy some other way.

Swedish Ambassador.

Resolved, That a Safe-conduct be granted for the Transportation of the dead Body of the Publick Minister from the Queen of Sweden, and for the Persons that did belong to his Family; and also the Goods belonging to the said late publick Minister and his Family: And that it be referred to the Council of State, to consider how the same may best be done, for the Honour of the Crown of Sweden; and report their Opinions therein to the House.

Resolved, That Two Members of Parliament be sent from the Parliament, to speak with the Secretary of the deceased Publick Minister of the Queen of Sweden, to condole the Death of the said Publick Minister; and to let him understand, how much the Parliament doth resent it; Viz. Sir Henry Mildmay, Sir Henry Vane, Mr. Strickland, or any Two of them.

Act of Oblivion.

The House, according to former Order, resumed the Debate upon the Act for a General Pardon and Oblivion.

A Proviso was tendered to the Bill, in these Words; viz. " Provided always, That this Act shall not extend, or be construed to extend, to pardon, acquit, or discharge the Fifth and Twentieth Part of any Delinquent, assessed or set by the Commissioners for Compounding with Delinquents, before the Fifth of February One thousand Six hundred Fifty-and-one; saving such as were exempted therefrom by Articles allowed of by the present Parliament:" Which was read the First Time.

The Question being put, That this Proviso be read a Second time;

The House was divided.

The Yeas went forth.

So it passed with the Affirmative.

And the said Proviso was read the Second time, accordingly.

The Question being put, That these Words in these Provisoes, viz. " allowed of by this present Parliament." do stand in this Proviso;

It passed in the Negative.

The Question being put, That this Proviso, so amended be Part of the Bill;

The House was divided.

The Yeas went forth.

So it passed with the Negative.

Resolved, That this Debate be taken up the first Business To-morrow Morning; nothing to intervene.

Ministers Petition.

The House being informed, That divers Ministers were at the Door, they were called in:

And Mr. Owen being come to the Bar, accompanied with divers Ministers, after a short Preamble made at the Bar, presented a Petition, with a Paper annexed; being a Copy of a Warrant mentioned in the Petition, together with a printed Book: Which Petition, after the Petitioners were withdrawn, was read; and was intituled, " The humble Petition of divers Ministers of the Gospel, whose Names are subscribed;" and the Paper annexed were likewise read.

Resolved, That this Petition, Paper, and Book presented therewith, be referred to a Committee; viz. unto Mr. Rous, Sir James Harrington, Mr. Gurdon, Mr. Scott, Colonel Fielder, Alderman Allein, Lord General, Colonel Lister, Colonel Stapley, Sir Arthure Hesilrigg, Colonel Thompson, Mr. Garland, Mr. Leman, Major Gen. Harrison, Colonel Jones, Colonel Sidney, Sir John Bourchier, Mr. Browne, Mr. Carew, Colonel Birch, Mr. Masham, Mr. Stephens, Sir Wm. Constable, Mr. Dove, Sir Henry Mildmay, Mr. Hallowes, Sir Wm. Masham, Mr. Love, Mr. Corbett, Mr. Moyle, Lord Commissioner Lisle, Colonel Purefoy, Mr. Dixwell, Sir Wm. Allanson, Colonel Sidenham, Mr. Hodges, Mr. Cawley, Colonel Rich, Mr. Millington, Sir G. Pickering; or any Three of them: And Mr. Rous, and Sir James Harrington, and Mr. Millington, are to take care of it: And this Committee are to meet To-morrow in the Afternoon, at Two of the Clock, in the Duchy Chamber; with Power to send for Persons, Papers, Witnesses; and to report to the House, together with their Opinion.

Resolved, That a Committee be appointed to confer with these Ministers, whose Names are subscribed to the former Petition; or any other Persons: And to consider with them upon such Proposals as shall be offered for the better Propagation of the Gospel; and to report the same, with their Opinion therein, to the House; viz. Mr. Gurdon, Lord General, Sir Gilbert Pickering; Major General Harrison, Mr. Scott, Mr. Rous, Mr. Westrow, Colonel Bennett, Colonel Rich, Alderman Allein, Mr. Holland, Sir Wm. Masham, Sir Arthure Hesilrig, Colonel Sidenham, or any Five of them: And this Committee are to meet To-morrow in the Afternoon, at Four of the Clock, in the Queen's Court; and so de die in diem.