House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 12 August 1653

Friday, the 12th of August, 1653.

Clerk Assistant.

THE Question being put, That Mr. Blanchford shall be Clerk Assistant to the Clerk of the Parliament;

The House was divided.
The Yeas went forth.

So it passed with the Negative.

Resolved, That Mr. Robert Davey be Clerk Assistant to the Clerk of this House.

Memorandum, That Mr. Sweet, a Member of this House, did undertake for the Sufficiency and Integrity of Mr. Davy.

Publick Debts.

Mr. Sadler reports from the Committee for publick Debts, That, for the better Stating, and more clear Ascertaining of publick Debts, in order to their Payment by the Commonwealth, and for discovering of Fraud for the Time past, and preventing it for Time to come, the said Committee do humbly propose, That it may be Declared and Enacted, That all Persons whatsoever, that have taken or received any Money, Plate, Horses, Arms, or any thing else, from any Person of this Commonwealth, upon any Receipt or Bill given for the Publick Faith, thereby to charge the Commonwealth as Debtor on the Publick Faith, do and shall, before the 25th Day of December next following, deliver in, to here in Westminster, an alphabetical List or Register of all the Persons to whom, and Things for which they have given such Receipts or Bills, with the Times therein, and Date of Order, Ordinance, or Act of Parliament, impowering them to give such Publick Faith: And that all Committees, Commissioners, Auditors, or other Persons, who have been intrusted to audite, state, or allow any Soldier's, or other Accounts; or to give Debentures, thereby making the Commonwealth Debtor on the Publick Faith, or otherwise, do likewise, before the said 25th Day of December, deliver in, to such a List or Register of all the Persons and Sums, so by them stated, audited, or accompted, with the Times thereof; and by what Power and Authority they did the same: And that all Commissioners, and other Persons, that have been intrusted in paying or allowing any Bill of Publick Faith, Debenture, or any publick Debt by ready Money, or by Doubling in any Purchase, or any other way, do and shall before the said 25th of December next, deliver in to the same Persons, such a List or Register of all such Bills, Debentures, Sum or Sums of Money, paid, doubled or allowed, with the Persons to whom, and the Times when, and the Powers by which, they were allowed: And that all Persons claiming any publick Debt from the Commonwealth upon the Publick Faith, or upon such Debentures, or Bills of Arrears for Wages, or any Service, or other Account, as Soldiers, or any Officer belonging or relating to the Militia of this Commonwealth, do and shall before the 25th Day of March next following, bring or send to all and every such Claim in Writing, with the Name, Surname, and Place of Abode, affixed to the Sum or Sums so claimed, and the Times thereof, and Manner how the same came due: And that all and every Claim or Pretence to any such public Debt or Debts, that shall not be delivered in within the Time, and in the Manner aforesaid, shall at all times after the same 25th Day of March, be held and judged void and counterfeit, and never be allowed as a Debt from the Commonwealth, or from any Persons or Persons in the same: And that all and every Person, that, by Fraud, doth or shall claim any such Debt, which shall not be found and adjudged good (as a true Debt charging the Commonwealth) shall forfeit Treble to the Sum or Sums claimed; and to be sequestered, till the said Forfeiture be paid to the Commonwealth: And that all and every Person, neglecting or offending in any of the Premises by this Act required, shall be liable to any Action at Law to be brought by, and to full Satisfaction of, any Persons damnified by such Neglect or Offence; besides all other Fines or Penalties, that may and shall be adjudged upon Indictment, Presentment, Information, or other lawful Complaint, on Behalf of the Commonwealth.

Resolved, by the Parliament, That it be referred back to the same Committee, to prepare a Bill according to the Matter of this Report; and report the same to the House.-

Letter read.

A Letter from the Queen of Sweden, dated at Stockholme the 18th of May 1653, on the Behalf of the Lord Hieronimus Radseiowice Senator and Pro-Chancellor of Poland, was this Day read.-

Publick Debts.

Colonel Castles doth likewise report from the Committee for publick Debts, The Desire of that Committee for some Directions of the House, concerning what Allowance shall be made for the Encouragement of such as shall make Discoveries of any Monies justly due to the Commonwealth, or of any Frauds or Breach of publick Trust; and do intimate, that the Discoveries are greatly different in Proportions, and probably to be very different in their Nature, as to Facility and Difficulty or Discovery; and concerning Encouragement to such as shall make any Discoveries, that such of them as have Debts owing them, may be reimbursed out of their Discoveries.

Ordered, by the Parliament, That it be referred to this Committee, to prepare a Clause for this Purpose; and insert the same into the Bill appointed to be brought in by them, upon the former Report made from that Committee.

Thanksgiving Day.

Colonel Sidenham reports, A Declaration for a solemn Thanksgiving on the Five-and-twentieth Day of August instant: Which was twice read.

Ordered, That Colonel Sidenham, Sir Charles Wolseley, and Colonel Clerk, do withdraw; and amend this Declaration, upon the Debate of the House.

Committee for Petitions.

Resolved, That, Monday next, Reports be made from the Committee for Petitions: And, in the first Place, the Cases of those who have suffered Loss by Fire.

Resolved, That Thursday next be likewise set apart for Reports.

Publick Treasuries.

Resolved, That the Report be brought in To-morrow Morning, from the Council of State, touching the Treasuries, and Charges of the Commonwealth.

Com rs of Assessment.

Colonel Barton reports from the Committee for Justices of Place, That John Vaughan, Richard Herbert, Thomas Evans, and Erasmus Lloyd Esquires, and Walter Vaughan, and James Lewis Gentlemen, be added to the Commissioners for the Monthly Assessment: And that they be indemnified for so acting.

Resolved, That John Vaughan, Richard Herbert, Thomas Evans, and Erasmus Lloyd Esquires, WalterVaughan and James Lewes Gentlemen, be added to the Commissioners for the Monthly Assessment for the County of Cardigan.

Registering Marriages.

The House resumed the Debate upon the Bill touching Marriages, and the Registering of them; and touching Births and Burials; and adjourned till To-morrow Morning.

Thanksgiving Day.

Sir Charles Wolseley reports from the Committee appointed to withdraw, Some Amendments to the Declaration for a publick Thanksgiving: Which were agreed: And the Delaration, so amended, was, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be printed and published.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Council of State, to cause this Declaration to be published, in the several Counties.

Leave of Absence.

Resolved, That Capain Philips have Leave to go into the Country.