House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 24 August 1653

Wednesday, the 24th of August, 1653.

Publick Debts.

MR. Sadler reports from the Committee for Publick Debts, An Act for Accounts, and clearing of Publick Debts; for Discovery of Frauds or Concealments of any thing due to the Commonwealth: Which was this Day read the First and Second time; and, upon the Question, committed to the same Committee.

He also reports from the same Committee, their Desires to know the Pleasure of the House concerning Payment of Pensions, as some Part of Publick Debts, formerly granted by the late Parliament: As also concerning Claims of publick Debts, stated by other Committees; to which the Parliament referred them: As likewise concerning Grants under the Great Seal, before the Wars, whether they shall be allowed as publick Debts, or not.

Resolved, That the yearly Pension of One hundred Pounds formerly granted to Mr. Peter du Moulin, and charged upon Goldsmiths-Hall, be paid and continued unto the said Peter du Moulin, or his Assigns, during his Life, together with the Arrears thereof, incurred since the 25th of March 1652; and that the Commissioners for Compounding be required to issue their Warrants to the Treasurers of that Receipt, to pay the said Arrears, and the said Pension, from time to time, as the same shall become due unto the said Mr. Peter du Moulin, or his Assigns: And the Acquittance and Acquittances of the said Mr. Peter du Moulin, or his Assigns, shall be a sufficient Discharge to the said Treasurers, for Payment thereof, accordingly.

Resolved, That the Pension of Four Pounds a Week be continued unto Dame Alice Burlace, together with the Arrears thereof since the time the same was paid to her, out of the Treasury of Haberdashers-Hall, upon Account: And that the Commissioners for compounding do issue their Warrants to the Treasurers of that Receipt, to make Payment thereof unto the said Dame Alice Burlace, or her Assigns, until the Parliament shall take other Order: And the Acquittance and Acquittances of the said Dame Alice Burlace, or her Assigns, shall be a sufficient Discharge to the said Treasurers for Payment thereof, accordingly.

Registering Marriages.

The Bill touching Marriages, and the Registering thereof; and touching Birth and Burials; was this Day read the Third time.

A Clause was tendered to this Bill, in these Words; viz. "And be it further Enacted, by the Authority aforesaid That, from and after the Time wherein this Act is to take Effect, as aforesaid, if any Person heretofore married or hereafter to be married, according to the Intent of this Act, shall either of them make Proof, by one or more credible Witnesses, upon Oath, before the Judges by this present Act mentioned and intended for determining the Cases arising thereupon, which Oath the said Judges are hereby authorized to administer accordingly, that either of the said Parties, Husband, or Wife, have, during their Intermarriage, violated his or her Covenant of Marriage, by committing the detestable Sin of Adultery; that then it shall and may be lawful to and for the Judges, or any Three of them, to sentence and adjudge the said Parties to be divorced from the Bond of Marriage: And that, from and after the said Judges Declaration, and pronouncing such Sentence of Divorce, and delivering the same, under their Hands and Seals, to the said Parties, or either of them, the said Parties shall be, and are hereby declared to be, divorced from the Bond of Marriage, to all Intents and Purposes whatsoever:" Which was read.

And the Question being put, That the said Clause be read the Second time;

It passed in the Affirmative.

And the Clause was accordingly read the Second time.

And the Question being put, That this Clause be added, to be made Part of the Bill;

It passed with the Negative.

A Proviso was tendered to this Bill, in these Words; " Provided always, That the aforesaid Parish-Register shall not receive or take, of or from any Person or Persons living only by and upon his, her, or their daily Labours, any Sum, or Thing, exceeding One Peny, or the Value thereof, for Entry of the Birth or Burial of any Child of such said daily labouring Person or Persons; any thing in this Act to the contrary thereof in anywise notwithstanding:" Which was read the First and Second time; and, upon the Question, rejected.

Another Proviso was tendered to this Bill, in these Words; " Provided always, That this Act, or any thing therein contained, shall not extend to make null or void any Marriage, or to make any Person or Persons liable to any Penalty, Forfeiture, or Punishment, for or by reason of any Marriage, unless the Person or Persons offending against this Law shall be prosecuted for such Offence, within one Year next after such Marriage:" Which was read the First and Second time; and, upon the Question, rejected.

The Question being put, That there be a Change of the Years of Consent in this Bill;

It passed in the Affirmative.

Resolved, That there be One Year abated in the Years of Consent.

The Question being put, That there be another Year abated from the Years of Consent in this Bill;

It passed in the Negative.

So the Bill was amended, and made Sixteen Years for the Man, and Fourteen for the Woman, to consent.

And the Act, so amended, being put to the Question, passed: And was ordered to be printed and published.

The Mace.

Ordered, That the Speaker be attended with the Mace To-morrow, to and from the Sermon.

The House adjourned itself to Friday Morning next Eight of Clock.