House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 8 March 1653

Tuesday, the 8th of March, 1652.

Prayers.

Northern Officers.

ORDERED, That Colonel Downes do report the Act concerning the Northern Officers, on Thursday next come Sevennight, the first Business.

Commissioners for Articles.

Ordered, That, on Thursday Morning next, the Letter from the Commissioners for Articles be read; and the Businesses therein mentioned be taken into Consideration.

Prizes of War.

Mr. Say reports from the Council of State, The Report which was in Mr. Corbett's Hands, concerning the settling a Way for the Sale of Dutch Prize-Goods: Which Report was as followeth:

THE Council having taken into Consideration the Order of Parliament, of the 9th of July last, authorizing and impowering them to dispose of the Goods and Ships taken from the Dutch; and, in pursuance thereof nominated Richard Hill, Samuell Wilson, and Robert Turpin, Commissioners for the Sale and Dispose of them, to the End the Proceed thereof may be kept upon a distinct Account, and come clear to the State, without being intermixed with other Prize-Goods: And, for the more orderly Proceeding, in reference to the Act of Parliament, of the 17th of April 1649, for Sale of Prizes, having ordered the said Richard Hill, Samuell Wilson, and Robert Turpin, to give Acquittances to the Collectors of PrizeGoods, mentioned in the said Act of Parliament, for all such Goods as they should make Sale of, and given them Instructions for regulating themselves in the Execution of their Trust, and to be subject unto the same Cheque, that the said Collectors for Prize-Goods are; It is ordered, That the Proceedings of the Council, upon this Occasion, be humbly represented to the Parliament; and also that the Parliament be humbly moved, that the said Commissioners may be put under such Rules, in executing their Trust, as are appointed and directed by the said Act of Parliament; and likewise that an Oath be given them for the faithful Discharge of the aforesaid Trust: And also reports the Order of the Council, appointing Richard Hill, Samuell Wilson, and Robert Turpin, Commissioners for the Sale of Dutch Prizes; And the Instructions given to the Commissioners for Sale of Dutch Prizes: The Order of the Council of State for the Commissioners for Sale of Dutch Prizes to enter into Recognizance; Orders from the Council of State, concerning Sale of Dutch Prizes; Instructions to Mr. Oxenbridge for being Cheque to the Commissioners for Dutch Prizes; And some particular Orders of the Council touching the said Cheque: Which were read.

The humble Petition of John Sparrow, Richard Blackwell, and Humfrey Blake, Treasurers and Collectors of Prize-Goods, by Act of Parliament of the 17th of April 1649, was this Day read.

Resolved, by the Parliament, That John Sparrow, Richard Blackwell, and Humfrey Blake, appointed by Act of Parliament, published the 17th of April 1649, to be Treasurers and Collectors of Prize Goods; and Richard Hill, Samuell Wilson, and Robert Turpin, appointed, by Order of the Council of State, to be Commissioners for the Sale and disposing of the Goods and Ships taken from the Dutch; be joined together, as joint Commissioners for Prize-Goods, for the Time to come: And that they be authorized and required to act therein jointly, according to the several Powers given by that Act of Parliament, until the Parliament give further Order.

Resolved, That, for the Time past, the first Treasurers and Collectors do accompt distinctly: And the Commissioners appointed by the Council, do also make a distinct Accompt, until this Time, for the Prizes and Goods by them respectively seized.

Resolved, That the Salary which they shall receive from henceforth, shall be not above Two-pence in the Pound, until the Parliament take further Order.

Ordered, That an Act be brought in upon these Votes, and the Debate of the House, in reference to the PrizeGoods already taken, To-morrow Morning: And that the Lord Commissioner Whitelock do bring it in, the first Business.

Probate of Wills, &c.

Ordered, That the House do proceed in the Debate of the Amendments to the Act for Probate of Wills, on Thursday Morning next.

Irish Affairs.

Ordered, That the Committee to whom the Act touching Ireland is referred, be enjoined to meet this Afternoon, and so de die in diem: And report the same to the House, with all convenient Speed.

Sir R: Gurney.

Ordered, That the Business touching Sir Richard Gurney, be reported on Tuesday Morning next, the first Business.

E. of Shrewsbury.

Ordered, That the Petition of John Earl of Shrewsbury, be read on Tuesday next.

Correspondence with Switzerland.

The Lord General Cromwell reports from the Council of State, The Draught of a Letter to be sent to the Switzers, in Answer to their Letter sent to the Parliament: Which was this Day read.

Transactions with Holland.

The Question being propounded, That the further Debate of the Business, what is further fit to be done in reference to the Affairs between this Commonwealth and the United Provinces, be adjourned till Thursday next;

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, by the Parliament, That the further Debate of the Business, what is further fit to be done, in reference to the Affairs between this Commonwealth and the United Provinces, be adjourned till Thursday next.

Navy.

Sir Henry Vane junior reports, unto the House, the particular State of the Navy, and the Care taken of the wounded Persons, and of Eleven hundred Prisoners of the Dutch, besides about Two thousand slain and sunk.

Resolved, That an Act be brought in for impressing Seamen, with such Clauses as shall be necessary, with all convenient Speed: And that the Members of the House, who are Commissioners of the Admiralty, do bring in an Act accordingly.

Resolved, That there be a Master of Attendant allowed at Portesmouth, distinct from the Commissioners of the Navy: And that he have the same Salary as other Masters of Attendants have.

Resolved, That when any Master Attendant shall be called forth to Sea, according to the Duty of his Place, his Salary at Land nevertheless shall be continued.

Resolved, That Arkinstall shall have the same Allowance of his Pay at Land, for the last Year, notwithstanding he was in Service at Sea.

Ly. Blany.

Resolved, That the Report touching the Lady Blany be made on Tuesday Morning next.