House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 5 September 1653

Monday, the 5th of September, 1653.

Army in Ireland.

COLONEL Clerk reports from the Committee of the Army, a Reducement, together with an Establishment for the Forces in Ireland.

Resolved, That this House doth agree, that the Forces in Ireland be reduced, according to this Report, to Twenty thousand Six hundred and Ninety, besides the Train of Artillery, and General Officers, according to the Establishment, now presented.

Resolved, That Four thousand Pounds a Month only be allowed for Contingencies: And the Establishment, with that Amendment, being put to the Question, was agreed.

Resolved, That this Establishment do commence from the 24th of October 1653 (fn. 1).

Publick Revenue.

Captain Stone reports from the Committee for inspecting the Treasuries, Certain Proposals for bringing in Money.

Resolved, That this be referred to the Committee for publick Debts, to add several Clauses to the Effect of these Proposals in the Bill; which is already committed to them.

Resolved, That it be likewise referred to the same Committee, do bring in a Clause in the same Bill, that all Persons who hold any the Lands, Rents, or other Estates of the late King, Queen, or Prince; or of Bishops, Deans and Chapters, not yet discovered, or surveyed; be, by a Day to be prefixed, discovered to such Persons as the Parliament shall appoint, by the Possessors or Occupiers thereof, upon Pain of Sequestration of the Estate, Real and Personal, of the said Possessors or Occupiers not discovering the same by the Time to be prefixed; and to manifest by what Title they had the same.

Publick Debts.

Resolved, That Mr. Studley, Mr. Phesanut, Mr. Coates, Mr. Sweet, and Mr. Sawrey, be added to the Committee for publick Debts.

Publick Treasuries.

Ordered, That Mr. Phesanut be added to the Committee for Inspection of Treasuries, and Regulating of Salaries.

Ways and Means.

Resolved, That it be referred to the Committee for raising of Monies (upon a Certificate made to them of the Gifts given by the last Parliament) to offer to the House what they shall think fit, for the Advantage of the Commonwealth.

Fee-farm Rents.

Colonel West reports from the same Committee, A further explanatory additional Act for Sale of the Feefarm Rents; and for Finishing of that whole Affair: Which was this Day read the First and Second time.

And the Blanks being filled up at the Table;

And the Question being put, That this Bill be ingrossed;

It passed with the Affirmative.

Letter read.

A Letter from several Persons, Prisoners in Horne, dated the 13th of August 1653, was this Day read.

Resolved, That this Letter be referred to the Council of State.

Navy.

Mr. Carew reports from the Commissioners for the Admiralty and Navy;

THAT, upon a late Conference with the Commissioners of the Navy, and Information received in Writing from them, and the Treasurer, touching the present State and Condition of the Navy, they do find, that according to an Estimate lately delivered to the Council of State, the Charge of the Fleet, to the last of December next, will amount to Eleven hundred and Fifteen thousand Pounds; towards which the Provision already made will not exceed Six hundred thousand Pounds, by the largest Calculation of the several Treasuries, upon which the Assignments remain: Since which there hath been an Engagement at Sea, that hath occasioned much Expence by Provision for Sick and Wounded, Gratuities to the Widows and Orphans of Officers, and private Seamen, slain therein; and also by Repair of the Hulls, Tackle, and Masts of Ships, and Supplies of Ammunition; which hath very much drained the publick Stores, and increased the Charge; of which there was no former Estimation.

They also find, That the daily Clamours which are made by Persons, with whom Contracts for Commodities to supply the Fleet are long since broken, the vast and unreasonable Charge the State is at, in the Price of all Provisions, for want of ready Money; which, besides the Disrepute the State, and their subordinate Instruments, lie under for Non-performance of Contracts, is more than Twenty in the Hundred clear Loss.

That, in regard Ships are coming in daily to be paid off, and within few Weeks the whole Fleet is expected; and if ready Money be not provided against that time; every Day's Delay (after the several Ships, so ordered to be paid off, are come in) will be of no less Prejudice than the paying after the Rate of Three hundred Pounds Interest yearly, for One hundred Pounds Principal.

Upon the Whole, they conceive, that the Sum of Five hundred and Fifteen thousand Pounds will be necessary to be provided for the present Carrying-on of the Service of the Navy:

And that it be likewise reported, That there is no Provision made in the former Estimate for the Winter's Guard, nor for the Ten Second-Rate Ships which the Council have ordered to be built.

Supply.

Resolved, That for Ten Days, to begin on Thursday next, the House do take into Consideration the Business of Money; and no other Business to intervene.

Comm rs of Excise.

Resolved, That the Committee for Inspection of Treasuries, and for regulating Officers, and their Salaries, be authorized and impowered to call to Account the Commissioners for the Excise, for the Fines which have been by them set and received within the Cities of London and Westminster, and Suburbs thereof, and Borough of Southwark; and to give Order to some Gentlemen in every County, to call to Account the Sub-Commissioners, and Farmers of the Excise, in the respective Counties, for the Fines, which have been by them set and received in the respective Counties; and make Return thereof to the said Committee (fn. 1).

Redeeming Captives.

Resolved, That the same Powers, which were in the Committee of the Navy, as to the Redemption of Captives, be vested in the Council of State; and that their Order therein be observed touching the issuing out of the Monies for that Purpose, as if the same had been done by Order of the said Committee of the Navy.