House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 13 April 1659

Wednesday, the 13th of April, 1659.

Prayers.

Dick's Claims.

THE sad and lamentable Petition of the sole Son and Surety alive, general Assignee and Executor of the deceased Sir William Dick, in Scotland, and of his numerous, distressed, and dispersed poor Families, for the Publick, was this Day read; and was, to have Satisfaction of several Sums of Money, claimed to be owing by the Nations of England and Scotland to Sir William Dick his late Father, deceased; and to have a Protection to prosecute the said Petition, in the Parliament.

Colonel Gorge, Mr. Buckland, Mr. John Thompson, Colonel Whetham, Mr. Trevor, Mr. Serjeant Seys, Colonel Kenwrick, Captain Hatsell, Sir William Wheeler, Mr. Povey, Mr. Francis Gerard, Mr. Juxon, Mr. Crew, Mr. Cheeke, Mr. Annesley, Sir Walter Earle, Colonel Alured, Mr. James Dewy, Mr. Trenchard, Mr. Ralph Bankes, Mr. Nathaniel Whetham, Mr. Nathaniel Bacon, Mr. Prideaux, Mr. Rushworth, Mr. Wharton, Captain Lilborne, Mr. Clayton, Colonel Stanley, Mr. Minors, Mr. Jonathan Jennings, Mr. Attorney of the Duchy, Lord Lambert, Marquis of Arguile, Mr. Terrill, Lieutenant-Colonel Brett;

This Committee are to examine the Matter of Fact, in the aforesaid Petition of Sir Andrew Dick; and to report the same to the House: And they have Power to send for Parties, Witnesses, Papers, and Records: And are to meet about the same in the Star-Chamber, Tomorrow in the Afternoon, at Two of the Clock.

Resolved, &c. That Sir Andrew Dick shall have a Protection for Two Months, to follow his Petition in Parliament: And that Mr. Speaker do sign a Protection for him, accordingly.

Disbanded Forces.

The humble Petition of Part of the supernumerary Forces, disbanded in the County of Lancaster, was this Day read; and was, To have their Accompts stated, and put into Bonds.

Colonel Ireland, Lord Fairfax, Colonel Freeman, Sir George Booth, Colonel Standish, Colonel White, Colonel West, Mr. Povey, Mr. Liegh, Captain Lilborne, Colonel Rigby, Captain Hatsell, Mr. John Thompson, Mr. Margetts, Mr. Rushworth, Colonel Okey, Mr. Jonathan Jennings, Mr. Ralph Bankes, Mr. Collins, Mr. Anthony Buller, Colonel Cox, Major-General Browne, Captain Baynes, Colonel Walters, Dr. Mills, Colonel Parsons, Mr. Bodwrda, Colonel Alured, Colonel Fitz-James, Colonel Twisleton, Mr. Raliegh, Mr. St. Awbyn, Mr. Marvell, Mr. James Dewey, Mr. Clayton, Colonel Gorges, Dr. Stane, Mr. Thomas Bayles;

This Committee are to examine the Matter of Fact in the aforesaid Petition of the supernumerary disbanded Forces in the County of Lancaster; and to report the same to the House: And they have Power to send for Parties, Witnesses, Papers, and Records: And are to meet about the same in the Duchy Court, To-morrow in the Afternoon, at Two of the Clock.

The humble Petition of Adam Eyre, on Behalf of divers reduced Officers, late under Command of Ferdinando Lord Fairfax, deceased, was this Day read; and was, to have a Debt of Three-and-twenty thousand Five hundred Sixty-six Pounds One Shilling One Peny and One Half-peny, owing to them for their Pay and Service, put into Bills or Bonds, and allowed in Purchase on any Part of the Four Forests or Chaces, as other Bills and Debts are. And it is

Ordered, That the said Petition be referred to the Committee this Day named and appointed to consider of the Petition of Part of the supernumerary disbanded Forces in the County of Lancaster: And that the same Committee do examine the Matter of Fact in this Petition of the said Adam Eyre; and report the same to the House.

Tavestock Writ.

The House being informed, That, upon the new Writ lately issued for the Election of a Burgess for the Borough of Tavestock in the County of Devon, by reason of the Double Election of Captain Hatsell for the Borough of Plympton, as well as for the said Borough of Tavestock, there had been some Miscarriages; and that the Sheriff of the said County of Devon had returned the Writ, and an Indenture thereto affixed, but not signed or sealed by the Port-reve of the said Borough; and that, sithence the said Return, the Port-reve had sent up another Indenture, signed and sealed by him, of another Person, and not of the Person named in the Indenture affixed to the Writ, and returned by the Sheriff to serve as Burgess in this present Parliament for the said Borough;

Resolved, &c. That the Clerk of the Commonwealth in Chancery be and is hereby required to receive the Indenture signed by the Port-reve of Tavestock in the County of Devon, upon the last Election of a Burgess for the said Borough, in the Place of Captain Hatsell elected for the Borough of Plympton, as well as for the said Borough of Tavestock.

Resolved, &c. That it be referred to the Committee of Privileges and Elections, to examine the Matter concerning the last Election for the Borough of Tavestock; and why the Indenture signed by the Port-reve of the said Borough was not returned, and filed, to the Writ delivered in to the Office of the Clerk of the Commonwealth in Chancery, by the Sheriff; and to report the same to the House.

Countess of Worcester's Claims.

Resolved, &c. That Mr. Terrill do make the Report from the Grand Committee for Grievances, now offered by him, concerning the Countess of Worcester, Tomorrow Morning.

Invalid Soldiers.

Resolved, &c. That the Committee appointed, on Thursday the Seventh of this instant April, to consider of the Petition of the sick and maimed Soldiers belonging to Ely-House and the Savoy Hospital, shall have Power to send for Parties, Witnesses, Papers, and Records.

Leave of Abseuce.

Resolved, &c. That Mr. Gell shall have Leave to go into the Country for a Fortnight; notwithstanding the Order for Calling over of the House.

Printing Proceedings.

Resolved, &c. That the Orders and Resolutions of this House shall not be printed by any Person or Persons whatsoever, without the special Leave of this House.

Excise.

The House resumed the Debate adjourned Yesterday, concerning the Farmers of the Excise of Beer and Ale, and other Inland Commodities.

A Paper delivered in Yesterday, at the Bar, by Mr. Morris, one of the said Farmers, was this Day read; and was, concerning the Proceedings of one Mr. Challoner, and Mr. Spence, Justices of the Peace for the County of Sussex, upon a Warrant granted by them, at the Instance of the Officers belonging to the Farmers of the said Excise, for distraining the Goods of several Persons, in the said Paper named, for not paying to them the Duty of Excise demanded on the Behalf of the said Farmers.

The humble Petition of the Sub-Commissioners and Farmers of the Excise of Beer, Ale, and other Inland Commodities in England and Wales, delivered in also at the Bar Yesterday, was this Day read; and was, to have a timely Consideration taken of the Difficulties in levying the Excise, and the Doubts concerning the Laws of Excise; and to have Relief as concerning the Payment of their Rents; and that their Sureties might not be ruined.

Mr. Martin Noell, one of the Members of this House, who is Farmer of the Excise for certain Inland Commodities of England, and of the native and foreign Salt of Scotland; and is charged with an Arrear of Twenty-five thousand Two hundred and Seven Pounds Four Shillings and Eight-pence, due and owing by him upon the said Farm; gave the House an Account, Why the said Arrear is not paid.

Resolved, &c. That the respective Farmers of the Excise of Beer and Ale, and other Inland Commodities within this Commonwealth, be required to pay in to the Publick Exchequer, on or before the First Day of the next Term, all the respective Debts and Sums of Money due, and in Arrear, and owing by them, or any of them, to the Commonwealth.

The Farmers of the Excise of Beer and Ale, and other Inland Commodities, that, in pursuance of the Order of the House made Yesterday, attended again this Day; were called in to the Bar; and Mr. Speaker, by the Command of the House, informed them, That the House had considered of their several Cases; and of what hath been offered by them, respectively, Why they have not paid in the several Debts, owing by them to the Commonwealth for their Farms; and that the House is not satisfied with any of their Answers: That for all such Monies as are due or owing to any of them for Excise, they have a Remedy against their respective Debtors: And that the House doth expect that they pay their Rents, according to their several Contracts: And that the House hath Ordered, That, on or before the First Day of the next Term, the said Farmers do respectively pay in to the Receipt of the Exchequer the Debts and Arrears due and owing by every of them, respectively, to the Commonwealth.

And thereupon they were commanded to withdraw: And withdrew accordingly.

Resolved, &c. That it be referred to a Committee to prepare and bring in a Declaration, upon the Debate concerning the Excise, now had in the House.

Mr. Annesley, Mr. Bodwrda, Mr. Swinfen, Mr. Scawen, Captain Stone, Mr. Attorney of the Duchy, Lord Lambert, Colonel White, Lord Marquis of Arguile, Mr. Sherwyn, Sir Henry Vane, Mr. Challenor, Mr. James Danby, Mr. Hungerford, Mr. Scott, Mr. Hobarte, Sir Wm. Doyley, Mr. Desbrow, Captain Hatsell, Mr. Greenvile, Dr. Mills, Mr. Jenkinson, Major General Browne, Mr. Serjeant Seys, Captain Baynes, Colonel Mathewes;

This Committee are to prepare and bring in the said Declaration: And they, or any Five of them, are to meet about the same this Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chamber, at Two of the Clock: And the Care hereof is more especially referred to Mr. Attorney of the Duchy.

Publick Revenue.

Resolved, &c. That the Report be made from the Committee for Inspection into the Accompts and Revenue of this Commonwealth, To-morrow Morning.