House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 24 August 1652

Tuesday, the 24th of August, 1652.

Prayers.

Letters read.

A LETTER from the Commissioners for Managing the Affairs in Ireland, from Droghedah, of the 11th of August 1652, which was this Day read.

A Letter inclosed, from the Officers of the Army of the Rebels in Ireland, of the Fourth of August 1652, was this Day read.

Resolved, That this Letter be referred to the Council of State; and that they do consider what Commission is fit to be granted for Trial of the Persons therein mentioned; and report the same, with their Opinion, to the Parliament, for their further Consideration.

Virginia.

Resolved, That the Report touching Virginia be made on Thursday next, the first Business.

Army Accompts.

Lieutenant-General Fleetwood reports, Amendments to the Bill for stating and determining the Accompts of such Officers and Soldiers as are or have been employed in the Service of this Commonwealth in Ireland: Which were twice read.

The Question being propounded, That Domvile be one of the Commissioners in this Bill;

And the Question being put, That that Question be now put;

It passed in the Affirmative.

And the main Question being put; It was

Resolved, That Domvile be one of the Commissioners in this Bill.

Resolved, That the Blank for the Christian Name of Mr. Domvile, in the former Vote, be filled up with the Word, "Nicholas:" And so it was.

Resolved, That Nicholas Domvile be one of the Commissioners in this Bill.

Resolved, That Robert Jeoffreys be one of the Commissioners in this Bill.

Resolved, That Robert Harding be one of the Commissioners in this Bill.

Resolved, That Roland Wilson of the City of Westminster, Gentleman, be one of the Commissioners in this Bill.

Resolved, That John Gay of London, Gentleman, be one of the Commissioners in this Bill.

Resolved, That Thomas Dancer of Putney in the County of Surrey, Gentleman, be one of the Commissioners in this Bill.

Resolved, That Roland Oakeley be one of the Commissioners in this Bill.

Resolved, That James Standish be one of the Commissioners in this Bill.

Resolved, That these Eight be Commissioners, to be named in this Bill.

And the rest of the Amendments, being put to the Question, were agreed.

Ordered, That this Bill be re-committed, and that the Committee meet this Afternoon; and report it To-morrow Morning, the first Business.

Resolved, That Lieutenant-General Fleetwood be one of the Commissioners for the Parliament in Ireland.

Resolved, That Lieutenant-General Ludlow be one of the Commissioners for the Parliament in Ireland.

Resolved, That Mr. Myles Corbett be one of the Commissioners for the Parliament in Ireland.

Resolved, That Colonel John Jones be one of the Commissioners for the Parliament in Ireland.

Resolved, That Mr. John Weaver be one of the Commissioners for the Parliament in Ireland.

Resolved, That Mr. John Weaver have Leave to stay in England for Two Months.

Resolved, That the Names of these Commissioners be inserted into the Instructions.

Resolved, That these Commissioners do continue Commissioners until the 1st of September 1654.

The Instructions to be given to the Commissioners of the Parliament, for managing the Affairs in Ireland, being put to the Question, were assented unto.

Irish Affairs.

Instructions for Oliver Cromwell, Captain-General of all the Forces raised by Authority of Parliament, Charles Fleetwood Esquire, Commander in Chief, under the Lord General Cromwell, of the Forces in Ireland; Edmond Ludlow Esquire, Lieutenant-General of the Horse in Ireland; Myles Corbett Esquire, John Jones Esquire, John Weaver Esquire, or any Three or more of them, appointed Commissioners by the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England, for ordering and managing the Affairs of Ireland.

YOU are to endeavour, by the best Ways and Means you can, to preserve the Peace of that Nation; and that the People there may have Right and Justice duly administered to them; and to that End, as near as the present Affairs will permit, you are to see that the Laws of England, as to Matter of Government, and Administration of Justice, be put in Execution in Ireland: And you are authorized to erect, allow, alter, or continue any Court or Courts of Justice, or Judicatories, in any Place or Places in Ireland, with all Rights, Powers, Jurisdictions, Incidents, and Necessaries requisite for the same; and to appoint and place in every of them, such Judges, Justices, Officers, and Ministers, and to appoint for every of them, respectively, such Salaries and Allowances, and to issue forth such Commissions and Deputations, for the Execution thereof, as you shall judge needful, and most conducing to the Peace and Good of that People, and to the settling of them in Obedience to the Parliament of England, until further Resolutions be taken by the Parliament, concerning the same: And you are to cause such Seals to be made and used in the Courts of Justice, or for passing Grants, or transacting Proceedings there, as are, or shall be, in that Behalf, by the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England, directed and appointed.

2. You are to cause the Act, intituled, An Act for the Settling of Ireland, whereof several printed Copies are herewith delivered unto . . ., to be published and dispersed in the several Provinces of Ireland, in such manner as you shall think fit, to the end that all the People of that Nation, concerned therein, may understand what the Intentions of the Parliament are towards them; and you are to take care that the same be put in Execution accordingly.

3. You are to consider of the readiest and best Ways for settling that Country; and present your Opinions therein to the Parliament, as there shall be Cause.

4. You are to endeavour the Promulgation of the Gospel, and the Power of True Religion and Holiness there; and to cause competent Maintenance to be allowed, and duly paid, out of the Publick Revenue, to such Ministers and Persons of pious Life and Conversation, and well-affected to the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England, as are fitly qualified with Gifts for Preaching the Gospel, and Instructing of the People there in Godliness and Honesty; and to take care, that all due Protection, Countenance, and Encouragement, be given thereunto, in Authority under the Parliament; and to put in Execution all Acts, Ordinances, and Orders of Parliament, now in Force against Pluralists, Malignants, and scandalous Ministers.

5. You are to consider of all due Ways and Means for the Advancement of Learning, and training up of Youth in Piety and Literature, and to promote the same by settling of Maintenance upon fit Persons to be employed therein.

Irish Affairs.

6. You are authorized to remove, out of any Office or Place of Civil Government in Ireland, any Magistrate, Governors, Officers, or others, whom you shall find unfit for the Trust reposed in them, or to be dangerous to this Commonwealth; and you shall place others in their Rooms, as you see Cause, fitted for such Employment, for the better Advancement of the Service of this Commonwealth, and for the Good and Peace of the People thereof.

7. You are to take care, that no Papist, or Delinquent, or disaffected Persons, be intrusted with, or any way employed, in the Administration of the Laws, or Execution of Justice, or of any Office or Place of Trust in Ireland.

8. You are to take care, that no Papist, or Delinquent, be permitted, directly or indirectly, to practise as Counsellers at Law, Attorneys, or Solicitors, nor to keep Schools for the Training of Youth.

9. You are to inform yourselves of the State of the antient Revenue, and all the Profits of forfeited Lands in Ireland; and to cause all Forfeitures and Escheats to be improved for the best Advantage of this Commonwealth; and to cause all Acts, Ordinances, and Orders of Parliament, now in Force in this Commonwealth, for Sequestring of Delinquents and Papists Estates, and of all the Estates of Archbishops, Bishops, Deans, and Chapters, to be put in Execution, in Ireland: And also to put in Execution all Acts and Ordinances of Parliament for levying and receiving of the Duties of Custom and Excise, at the same Rates and Proportion expressed in the said Acts and Ordinances for levying the same in England.

10. You are authorized, by yourselves, or such as you shall appoint, fit for that Purpose, from time to time, as you shall see Cause, upon the Place, to impose and lay Taxes and Assessments upon the Lands and Goods of the People of Ireland, not exceeding Forty thousand Pounds a Month, towards the Pay and Maintenance of the Army and Garisons there, and for the defraying of the Publick Charges, and carrying on the Affairs of this Commonwealth, in Ireland, in order to the Execution of these Instructions; and, as much as may be, for the Ease of the Charge of this Commonwealth: And you are also, by yourselves, or such as you shall appoint, to sett and lett all such Lands, Houses, and other Hereditaments whatsoever, in Ireland, as are, or shall be, in the Disposal of the Parliament of England; as also the Rents, Issues, and Profits of all Ecclesiastical Benefices of such Ministers as shall be ejected, and of all such other Ecclesiastical Promotions and Benefices, as are or shall become vacant, and not otherwise disposed of by Act or Order of Parliament; for such Time or Term of Years, not exceeding Seven Years; and at and under such Rents, and other Conditions, as you shall conceive to be most for the Publick Advantage: And you are to give such Directions or Instructions, as, upon the Place, you shall think fit, concerning the Publick Revenue arising out of that Nation.

11. You are authorized, by Warrants under your Hands, from time to time, to charge the Treasury, and Publick Revenue arising out of that Nation, and to dispose of so much thereof as you shall judge necessary for the carrying on, and effecting of any thing in these Instructions, or in Pursuance thereof: And you are to appoint Receivers, Collectors, and all Officers and Ministers needful for the raising, collecting, receiving, managing, and issuing of the said Publick Revenue; and to allow them, and every of them, fitting Salaries for their Service therein; and your said Warrant for the issuing out, or disposing of any Sum or Sums of Money out of the said Revenue, shall be a sufficient Discharge to the sad Officers, respectively, for the same; all other Warrants for Payment of the Army, either in Money or Provisions or the incident Charges thereof, and likewise all Warrants for Ammunition to be delivered out of the Publick Stores, being to be issued by the Commander in Chief of the Forces in Ireland.

12. You are to cause to be put in Execution effectually all Laws now in Force against the Counterfeiting, Clipping, Washing, or debasing of Coin; and are impowered to put forth Proclamations, as you shall think fit, for suppressing thereof.

13. You are, from time, to time to commissionate and appoint Judges, Justices, Commissioners, Ministers, and such other Persons, as you shall judge requisite for the putting in Execution all and every of these Instructions; and to order and appoint them fitting Salaries and Allowances, for the same, with Regard had to the Ease of the Charge of this Commonwealth; and, from time to time, to remove and displace them, or any of them; and to place others in their Rooms, as you shall see Cause, for the Publick Service there.

14. You are hereby authorized and impowered to erect, and make use of, or command, any Press, or Presses there, for Printing and Publishing any Proclamations, Declarations, Orders, Books, or other Matters, which you shall think fit for the Publick Service; and to prohibit the Use thereof, by any Person, or in Cases where you shall see Cause.

15. You are authorized to send for, in safe Custody, and to commit to Prison, or otherwise to restrain, such Persons in Ireland, not under the military Command, whom you shall, at any time, find to be any ways dangerous to this Commonwealth; and such as shall be by you imprisoned or restrained, to release and discharge out of Prison or Restraint again, at any time, when you shall see Cause to do the same for the Advantage of the Publick Service: And you are authorized to remove from their Places of Residence or Habitation, and to send into England, or such other Places as you shall think fit, any Persons whose Residence in those Parts from whence they are to be removed, you shall judge dangerous to this Commonwealth, or prejudicial to the Authority thereof, or the Peace of that Nation; and you may give Licence to any Persons that shall be by you so removed, to return again to their Places of Residence or Habitation, at any time when you shall see Cause for the Advantage of the Publick Service there.

16. You are authorized, by yourselves, or such as you shall depute or appoint for that Purpose, to administer any Oath or Oaths to any Person or Persons whatsoever, in pursuance of these Instructions, or in order to the Execution thereof.

17. You are to consider, with the Commander in Chief, of all due Ways and Means for lessening the Publick Charge of the Commonwealth there, either by reducing the Forces into sewer Regiments, disbanding Supernumeraries, demolishing of Castles, or Garisons, or by moderating and regulating the present Establishment of the Pay for the said Forces; or by taking away any other superfluous Charge, of what kind soever, wherewith the Publick Revenue in charged; and to put the same into Practice and Execution, with such convenient Speed as the Condition of Affairs will admit, and as you find the same may stand with Publick Safety and Advantage.

18. You are authorized to be present at all Councils of War, and to give such Advice as you shall see Cause.

19. All Officers and Soldiers of the Forces of this Commonwealth in Ireland, and all other Persons residing or being there, within the Power and Protection of this Commonwealth, are hereby commanded to be aiding and assisting to you, for the better Execution of these Instructions.

20. You are to give frequent and timely Notice of your Proceedings, in the Execution of these Instructions, unto the Parliament, or to the Council of State.

21. You are to take effectual Care for the Preservation of the Timber in Ireland; and to use all such Ways and Means for preventing the Mischiefs and Inconveniences by selling Timber there, as you shall think fit.

Ordered, That an Act be brought in for repealing the former Act, constituting Commissioners for Ireland, and the former Instructions, and for constituting the said Commissioners to put in Execution the Instructions now passed; and that all such Orders, Directions, Declarations, or other thing whatsoever, heretofore given, made, acted or done in Ireland, by the Commissioners of the Parliament there, in pursuance of their Instructions, given them by the Parliament, and now in Force, and unexpired, shall stand good and effectual, and be valid and intire, to all Intents and Purposes, until the Parliament, or the Commissioners now appointed for the Affairs of Ireland, shall think fit to make any Alteration, or give other Orders therein: And that Mr. Scott do bring in an Act accordingly.

Trade with France.

Mr. Nevill reports from the Council of State, That it be humbly offered to the Parliament, as the Opinion of this Council, that it is of great Advantage to this State, in many respects, to have a free Trade and Commerce between this Commonwealth and many Ports and Places in France; and, therefore, that the Parliament be humbly moved, to give Liberty and Licence, by such Means, and under such Restrictions, as they shall think fit, for such Trade and Commerce as aforesaid, notwithstanding an Act, intituled, An Act prohibiting the Importing of any Wines, Wool, or Silk, from the Kingdom of France into the Commonwealth of England or Ireland, or any the Dominions thereunto belonging.

The Question being propounded, That Liberty and Licence be given for a free Trade and Commerce between this Commonwealth and many Ports and Places in France, by such Means, and under such Restrictions, as the Parliament shall think fit, for such Trade and Commerce as aforesaid, notwithstanding an Act, intituled, an Act prohibiting the Importing of any Wines, Wool, or Silk, from the Kingdom of France into the Commonwealth of England or Ireland, or any the Dominions thereunto belonging;

And the Question being put, That that Question be now put;

It passed with the Affirmative.

And the main Question being put; It was

Resolved, That Liberty and Licence be given for a free Trade and Commerce between this Commonwealth and many Ports and Places in France, &c.

Resolved, That, instead of "many," in the former Vote, the Word "such" be inserted:- So it was

Resolved, by the Parliament, That Liberty and Licence be given for a free Trade and Commerce between this Commonwealth and such Ports and Places in France, by such Means, and under such Restrictions, as the Parliament shall think fit, for such Trade and Commerce as aforesaid, notwithstanding an Act, intituled, An Act prohibiting the Importing of any Wines, Wool, or Silk, from the Kingdom of France into the Commonwealth of England or Ireland, or any the Dominions thereunto belonging.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Council of State, to consider of what Places and Ports in France this free Trade and Commerce is to be given, and under what Restrictions; and report their Opinion therein to the Parliament, together with an Act for that Purpose.