House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 19 June 1657

Friday, 19th June, 1657.

Forests.

INSTRUCTIONS for Commissioners for surveying the Four Forests; viz. the Forest of Sherwood, the Forest or Chace of Needwood, the Forest or Chace of Kingswood, and the Forest or Chace of Ashdowne; were read.

Resolved, That these Persons be added in the Instructions, as Commissioners for the Surveying of the said Forests; viz. William Grigg and Adam Baynham Gentlemen, for the Forest and Chace of Kingswood; Richard Boughton for the Forest of Ashdowne; Mr. Wilford of Hadley for Enfield Chace; and Henry Stone, of Wanson, Esquire, for the Forest of Needwood.

And the said Instructions, being put to the Question, were agreed unto.

Immoderate Living.

Colonel Shapcott reports, Amendments to the Bill for punishing such Persons as live at high Rates, and have no visible Estates, Profession, or Calling, to maintain the same: Which were twice read; and, upon the Question, agreed unto.

Resolved, That this Bill, thus amended, shall be ingrossed.

Earls Calender and Cranston.

The Earl of Tweddale reports, from the Committee to whom it was referred to peruse the Order * * * *.

Resolved, That this Bill for the Pardon of the Earl of Calender and the Lord Cranston, shall be ingrossed.

Publick Debts.

A Bill for the stating and ascertaining the Debts upon the Publick Faith * *, was this Day read the Second time; and, upon the Question, committed to Capt. Baines, Colonel Jones, Colonel Sidenham, Major-General Goff, Master of the Rolls, Sir Wm. Strickland, Colonel Zanchy, Colonel White, Mr. Bond, Lord Strickland, Alderman Foote, Sir Tho. Pride, Colonel Shapcott, Sir Charles Wolsley, Mr. Highland, Mr. Godfrey, General Disbrow, Mr. West, Colonel Clerk, Colonel Weldon, Mr. Bampfeild, Sir John Baxter, Mr. Timbes, Colonel Castle, Mr. Moody, Sir Richard Onsloe, Colonel Hawksworth, Colonel Harvey, Mr. Bedford, Mr. Collins, Mr. Fowell, Captain Hatsell, Mr. Alsop, Sir Christofer Pack, Mr. Grove, Mr. Scotten, Mr. Wagstaff, Colonel John Jones, Colonel Beamont, Sir Lislebone Long: And are to meet Tomorrow Morning, at Seven of the Clock, in the DuchyChamber: And all that come, to have Voices: With Power to the Committee, if they find a Difficulty therein, to propound some Expedient to the House.

Bill of Indemnity.

Colonel Shapcott reports Amendments to the Bill for Indemnity: Which were Twice read, and agreed.

And the Bill, so amended, ordered to be ingrossed.

Buildings.

A Bill, intituled, An Act for the Preventing of the Multiplicity of Buildings in and about the Suburbs of London, and within Ten Miles thereof, was this Day read the Third Time.

A Proviso was tendered to this Bill, in Parchment, in these Words; viz. "Provided always, That this Act, or any thing therein contained, shall not extend to any Cottage, House, or Building, that shall hereafter be built in or upon Two hundred and Fifty Acres of MeadowGround lying next unto the River of Thames, by the State's Dock and Yard at Debtford, purchased of Sir John Barkestead, and his Regiment, by Robert Stanton, Samuell Moyer, Charles Harris, and others, upon Encouragement for the making therein Harbours and Moles for the Riding of Two hundred Sail of Ships, without the Use of Anchor or Cable, and wherein many Conveniencies shall be made for building, and repairing many Ships together; towards which, much hath been expended already, in digging one of the Moles and Cuts towards the others, and Contracts made for Provisions and Workmanship, to a great Value:" Which was twice read.

Resolved, That these Words, "so as such Harbours and Moles be finished before the First Day of July in the Year 1667, and not otherwise," be added to this Proviso.

Resolved, That these Words be added to this Proviso; viz. "and so as the Undertaking of this Work be approved by his Highness the Lord Protector, and the Council."

The Question being put, That these Words be added to this Proviso; viz. "and so as that the said Undertakers do first give such Security to Persons interested in the Lands adjoining to the said Harbours and Moles, to save them harmless, and recompense their Damages and Losses thereby occasioned, as his Highness the Lord Protector, and Council, shall think fit;

It passed with the Negative.

And the Question being put, That this Proviso, so amended, be Part of the Bill;

The House was divided.

The Yeas went forth.

So it was Resolved, That this Proviso be Part of the Bill.

Another Clause was tendered in Parchment, to be added to the last Proviso, in these Words; viz. "So as the said Undertakers do, within the said several and respective Houses or Buildings, satisfy and pay unto his Highness the Lord Protector, and his Successors, One full Year's Value of all and every the said Houses so to be built:" Which was once read.

Resolved, That this Debate on this Bill be adjourned till Two of the Clock in the Afternoon.

Petition from London.

The House being acquainted, That divers Aldermen and Citizens were at the Door;

They were called in: And being come to the Bar, Alderman Underwood acquainted Mr. Speaker, That they were commanded by the Mayor, Aldermen, and Common-Council, to present their humble Petition: Which was received in.

And they being withdrawn, the Petition was read; and was intituled, The humble Petition of the Mayor, Aldermen, and Commons of the City of London, in Common-Council assembled.

Post Meridiem.

Buildings.

THE House resumed the Debate upon the Bill for Buildings: The Clause last read was again read.

Resolved, That this Clause be added to the last Proviso.

Another Proviso was offered to this Bill, in Parchment, in these Words; viz. "Provided also, That nothing contained in this Act shall be extended to charge either the Governors of Christ's Hospital, St. Bartholomew's Hospital, Bridewell, Thomas and Bethlem Hospital, in the City of London, and Borough of Southwark, for any House erected by them within the Time aforesaid, which the Poor, Sick, ....; and which are for the immediate Use and Relief of the Poor of the same Hospitals.

Resolved, That this Proviso be read.

And the Proviso was read accordingly, the First and Second time; and, upon the Question, ordered to be Part of the Bill.

Buildings.

Mr. Pedley reports from the Committee to whom the same was referred, A Proviso, ingrossed, in these Words; "Provided always, That whereas there is an Agreement or Contract made between the Society of Lincoln's-Inn, and James Cooper and Robert Henley Esquires, and other Owners of certain Parcels of Ground in the Fields called Lincolns Inn Fields, for the erecting and finishing certain Houses and New Buildings on Three Sides of the said Fields; and for the conveying and assuring the rest and Residue of the said Fields unto the said Society; and for Laying of the same into Walks for common Use and Benefit; whereby the great Annoyances, which formerly have been to the said Fields, will be taken away, and Passengers there for the future better secured; this Act, or any thing therein contained, shall not extend, or be construed to extend, to any Houses which shall at any time before the First Day of October in the Year of our Lord 1659, be built by the said James Cooper, Robert Henley, or other the respective Owners of the said Parcels of Ground, their Heirs and Assigns, in pursuance and according to the said Contract or Agreement, so as the said James Cooper, Robert Henley, and other the Owners aforesaid, their Heirs and Assigns, do, within one Month after the Erecting of the said several and respective Houses or Buildings, satisfy and pay unto his Highness the Lord Protector, and his Successors, One full Year's Value of all and every the said Houses so to be built: And, in so doing, the said Owners, their Heirs and Assigns, shall have the same Benefit and Advantage of this Act, as if the said Houses were already built; any Law or Statute to the contrary notwithstanding." Which was twice read; and, upon the Question, ordered to be Part of the Bill.

Another Proviso, ingrossed, was tendered to this Bill, in these Words; "Provided also, That this Act, or any thing therein contained, shall not extend to any Houses or Buildings which shall, at any time before the First Day of October in the Year of our Lord 1659, be built by Francis Finch Esquire, his Heirs or Assigns, in his Parcel of Ground in Lincolns-Inn-Fields in the County of Middlesex aforesaid; so as the said Francis Finch, his Heirs or Assigns, do, within one Month after the erecting of the said several and respective Houses or Buildings, satisfy and pay unto his Highness the Lord Protector, and his Successors, one full Year's Value of all and every the said Houses, so to be built; and so as neither the said Francis Finch, his Heirs nor Assigns, shall build upon any Part of those Fields which by Contract between the said Society of Lincoln's-Inn, and Robert Henley Esquire, James Cooper Esquire, and others, are agreed to be left open, and laid into Walks, for common Use and Benefit: And, in so doing, the said Francis Finch, his Heirs and Assigns, shall have the same Benefit and Advantage of this Act, as if the said Houses or Buildings were already built; any Law or Statute to the contrary notwithstanding:" Which was twice read; and, upon the Question, ordered to be Part of the Bill.

Mr. Pedley reports from the same Committee, another Proviso in Parchment, in these Words; "Provided always, That this Act, or any thing therein contained, shall not extend to any Houses or Cottages built, or to be built, within Two Furlongs of the River of Thames below London-Bridge, by any Seaman, Sailor, or other Person, of such a Trade and Manual Occupation, as properly relates to building, rigging, and navigating the Ships and Vessels of this Commonwealth, for the Habitation of themselves and Families; neither shall it extend to lay any Penalties upon any of the Persons above-mentioned, that live in any House built, or to be built, by any other Persons, for any Interest that such Seamen, Sailors, or others, as aforesaid, have therein, so long as they keep the same to their own or Families Uses, or it be employed to the Use of others of the aforesaid Condition: And if any other Person hath, since 1620, built, or shall hereafter build, any House or Cottage, as aforesaid, wherein any other Person than Seamen, and other Persons, as aforesaid, relating to Navigation, shall inhabit, or have Interest; that then all such Persons shall be under the Penalty of one Year's Fine, to be paid unto the Lord Protector, and his Successors, according to the true Meaning of this Act, and not otherwise:" Which was twice read; and, upon the . . . ., committed to Mr. Godfrey, Colonel Clerk, Mr. Highland, General Disbrow: To withdraw presently.

He reports another Proviso, ingrossed, in these Words; viz. "Provided this Act shall not extend to charge the Interests and Estate of the Governors of the Free-School in St. Olives Parish in Southwark, or of the Poor of the said Parish for any Houses built, or hereafter to be built, upon Horsey-Downe, for the Use of the said Poor, before the Twenty-fourth of June 1659; but shall extend to charge the several Tenants of the said Houses and Buildings for their Estates and Interest respectively:" Which was Twice read; and, upon the Question, was ordered to be Part of the Bill.

There having been a long Debate in the House, Whether the City of London shall be included within this Bill;

And the Question being put, That these Words, "and about the Suburbs of," do stand in the Bill;

The House was divided.

The Noes went forth.

So it was Resolved, That these Words, "and about the Suburbs of," do stand in the Bill.

Colonel Clerk reports from the Committee appointed to withdraw, A Proviso in Parchment, to be added to this Bill; Provided always, That this Act, nor any thing therein contained, shall extend to any House or Cottage upon the Side of the River of Thames, and within Two Furlongs of the said River, for so long time only as such House or Cottage shall be inhabited by any Seaman, Sailor, or Man of Manual Occupation, which doth properly relate to the Building, Rigging, or Managing of Ships or Vessels belonging to the Sea; or by their or any of their Wives, Families, or Widows; or by no other Person or Persons; or shall be and remain untenanted; and also of any small House or Cottage, not above the true Value of Ten Pounds yearly Rent; shall be hereafter built within the Limits aforesaid, by any Person or Persons, for the Habitation of any Seamen, Mariner, or other Persons of Manual Occupation, as aforesaid, properly relating to the Building, Rigging, or Navigating, of any Ships or Vessels belonging to the Sea; such House or Cottage shall be free from any Fine or Penalty imposed by this Act, so long as no other Person or Persons, save the said Seamen, Mariners, or other Persons aforesaid, their Wives, Widows, or Families, shall dwell or inhabit therein:" Which was Twice read.

Resolved, That this Proviso be re-committed to the same Committee.

Ordered, That all the Provisoes, that shall be tendered to this Bill, be delivered in this Night; and no more be received, but such as are committed or re-committed.

Resolved, That this Debate on this Bill be adjourned till To-morrow Morning.