House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 30 September 1653

Friday, the 30th of September, 1653.

Publick Debts.

MR. Sadler reports, from the Committee of Debts, Further Amendments to the Bill for Accompts, and clearing of publick Debts, &c. Which were twice read, and put to the Vote one by one; and several Amendments made at the Table.

Resolved, That the Number of the Commissioners in this Bill be Seven.

Resolved, That the Quorum shall be Four.

Resolved, That Symon Cressy be one of the Commissioners.

Resolved, That Mark Coe be one of the Commissioners.

Resolved, That Robert Perwich be one of the Commissioners.

Resolved, That Philip Tandy be one of the Commissioners.

Resolved, That Wm. Maddison be one of the Commissioners.

Resolved, That John Greensmith be one of the Commissioners.

The Question being propounded, That James Freeze be one of the Commissioners;

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

It passed in the Negative.

Resolved, That Richard Wilcox be one of the Commissioners.

And the rest of the Amendments, after several Amendments at the Table, being put to the Question, were agreed.

Resolved, That Worcester-House be the Place for these Commissioners to sit.

A Clause was tendered to be inserted into this Bill in these Words; viz. "And to the end, That the Northern Counties may be put in an equal Capacity of receiving Satisfaction with all the other Counties within this Commonwealth, for what was by them raised upon the Propositions of Parliament; Be it Enacted, by the Authority aforesaid, That the Receipts or Certificates given by the late Ferdinando Lord Fairfax, or the now Thomas Lord Fairfax, or by such Treasurers or Receivers as were employed by them, or either of them, for receiving such Money, Plate, Horse, or Arms, or any thing else for the Use of the Publick, as was raised in the said Northern Counties, shall engage the Publick Faith for Repayment as well as the Receipts or Certificates of the Treasurers or Receivers, in all or any the other Counties of this Commonwealth:" Which was twice read, and laid aside.

And the Act, with these Amendments, was ordered to be ingrossed.

Lawson's Estates.

Resolved, That the Payment of the Second Moiety for the Purchase of the Lands of John Lawson of Brough in the County of York Esquire, be respited for Twenty Days now next coming; and no Advantage taken for Nonpayment thereof in the mean time:

And that the Trustees for Sale of the Lands and Estates forfeited to the Commonwealth for Treason, and the Treasurers, and other Officers, are to take Notice hereof.

Dick's Claims.

Resolved, That Sir Wm. Dick's Report be made Tomorrow Morning, the first Business.

Customs.

Mr. Strickland reports from the Committee appointed for that Purpose, Powers to be given to the Committee for the better Preservation of the Customs, and preventing the Deceits and Abuses to the State therein; viz.

THAT the Committee for the Preservation of the Customs, and preventing the Deceits and Abuses to the State therein, or any Three of them, shall have Power, and hereby are authorized, to take Cognizance of all Causes relating to the Customs; and of all Persons which shall be transmitted unto them by the Commissioners for the Customs, in the Custody of the Messengers; as also to receive such Charge or Charges, together with such Examinations, or Proofs taken by the said Commissioners for the Customs, or their Deputies authorized under their Hands and Seals, as shall be transmitted by the said Commissioners unto the said Committee against such Persons, concerning any Fraud, Force, or Misbehaviour, practised or done in the Revenue of the Customs, or relating to any of the Officers, or Affairs thereof.

And the said Committee are hereby authorized, upon hearing the said Charges and Examinations taken as aforesaid, or such other Proofs as shall be made before them, to punish all such Persons as they shall see Cause, either by Imprisonment, or otherwise by Fine, not exceeding the double Value of the Goods, about which the Fraud, Force, or Misbehaviour, was exercised: And in case of Contempt or Refusal, the said Committee shall, and hereby are impowered to, commit such Person or Persons to Prison, until they shall conform thereunto.

And the said Committee, or any Three of them, are hereby likewise impowered to administer an Oath to any Person or Persons, in pursuance of Execution of their Trust, as they shall judge meet.

Ordered, by the Parliament, That the Committee for the Preservation of the Customs, and preventing the Deceits and Abuses to the State therein, or any Three of them, shall have Power, and hereby are authorized, to take Cognizance of all Causes relating to the Customs, and of all Persons which shall be transmitted unto them by the Commissioners for the Customs in the Custody of their Messengers; as also to receive such Charge or Charges, together with such Examinations or Proofs taken by the said Commissioners for the Customs, or their Deputies authorized under their Hands and Seals, as shall be transmitted by the said Commissioners under the said Committee, against such Persons, concerning any Fraud, Force, or Misbehaviour, practised or done in the Revenue of the Customs, or relating to any of the Officers or Affairs thereof.

And the said Committee are hereby authorized, upon hearing the said Charges and Examinations, taken as aforesaid, or such other Proofs as shall be made before them, to punish all such Persons as they shall see Cause, either by Imprisonment, or otherwise by Fine, not exceeding the double Value of the Goods, about which the Fraud, Force, or Misbehaviour was exercised: And in case of Contempt or Refusal, the said Committee shall, and hereby are impowered to commit such Person or Persons to Prison, until they shall conform thereunto.

And the said Committee, or any Three of them, are hereby likewise impowered to administer an Oath, to any Person or Persons, in pursuance of the Execution of their Trust, as they shall judge meet.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Mr. Broughton have Leave to go into the Country for a Week.