House of Commons Journal Volume 6: 17 March 1649

Die Sabbati, 17 Martii, 1648.

Defaulters.

ORDERED, That every Member of this House now in Town, that shall not attend the Service of this House by Nine of the Clock in the Morning every Day that the House sits, shall, for every Default therein, pay Twelvepence to the Use of the Poor: And that the Serjeant at Arms be injoined to see this Order duly observed.

Commissioners of the Peace.

An Act for omitting this Clause in Commissions of the Peace, viz. quorum unum esse volumus; was this Day read the First time; and laid aside.

Abolishing Monarchy.

An Act for the Abolishing the Kingly Office in England, Ireland, and the Dominions thereunto belonging, was this Day read the Third time:

And a Title to the said Act was tendered; and read the First and Second time; and, upon the Question, assented unto; and ordered to be ingrossed.

And the said Act, being put to the Question, passed; and was ordered to be printed and published.

Ordered, That the Sheriff of London and Middlesex do forthwith cause the Act for abolishing the Kingly Office in England, Ireland, and the Dominions thereunto belonging, to be proclaimed, in the Palace Yard, Westminster, Cheapside, and the Old Exchange.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Lords Commissioners for the Great Seal, and Mr. Corbett, to consider, How this Act may be transmitted into the Chancery; and from thence dispersed in the several Counties, to be proclaimed; and report the same to the House.

High Court of Justice.

Ordered, That the Place erected for the Sitting of the late High Court of Justice be taken down: And that the Courts of the Upper Bench and Chancery be made up again, as formerly.

Navy.

Resolved, &c. That Anthony Sharpe, of Lynne, be Captain of the Star Frigate.

Declaration of Parliament.

Mr. Whitlock reports Amendments to the Declaration for Satisfaction of the Kingdom, touching the late Proceedings of the Parliament: Which were this Day read the First and Second time; and, upon the Question, agreed unto; and ordered to be forthwith printed and published.

Ordered, That the Committee for preparing the said Declaration do peruse the said Declaration; and take care of the Orthography and Pointing thereof, and putting a Title thereunto before the Printing thereof: And that the said Committee do confer with Sir Oliver Fleminge, Dr. Dorislaus, and such other Persons as they shall think fit; and take Order for translating and publishing the said Declaration in Latin, French, and Dutch.

Maces.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee for Alteration of Seals, to consider of a new Form of Maces: And the special Care hereof is committed to Mr. Love.

Publick Fast.

An Act for keeping of a Day of Humiliation upon Thursday, the Fifth of April 1649, was this Day read the First and Second time; and, with some Alterations at the Table, was, upon the Question, passed.

Ordered, That this Act be forthwith printed and published: And that the Members of this House be required to take care to disperse them in the several Counties.

Monthly Fast.

Ordered, That the Committee that brought in the Act for the Fast on the Nineteenth of April next, do bring in an Act for repealing the Act for Observation of the Monthly Fast, with all convenient Speed.

Prize Goods, &c.

Mr. Miles Corbett reports from the Committee of the Navy, That there are several Sums of Money in the Hands of the Committee for Prize Goods, and of the Collector of the Tenths.

Ordered, That the Collectors and Treasurers for Prize Goods, and Tenths, do pay to the Treasurer of the Navy, all such Sums of Money as do remain in their Hands respectively, that are disputable, and not disposed of: And that the Committee of the Navy be required, from time to time, to pay back to the said Collectors and Treasurers, all such Sums of the said Money as shall appear to be due to any Person or Persons, out of the Receipts of the Customs, or upon the Credit of the late Act concerning the Monies due for the Judges Salaries, or any other Treasury in the Power of the said Committee: And the Committee of the Navy are to dispose of the said Monies received by the Treasurer of the Navy, for the carrying on the Service of the Navy.

Obnoxions Publication.

The House being, informed, that, according to the Order Yesterday, the Press hath been seized; and the Printer is at the Door;

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee for scandalous Pamphlets, where Mr. Challoner hath the Chair, to examine the Business: And Mr. Dove, Mr. Lister, Mr. Smith, Alderman Atkins, Sir James Harrington, are added to that Committee.

Abolishing House of Peers.

Mr. Lysle reports Amendments to the Bill for taking away the House of Peers: Which Amendments were twice read; and, upon the Question, were agreed to; and ordered to be ingrossed, and brought in on Monday Morning.

Barwick, &c. Garisons.

Ordered, That the Committee of the Army be, and are hereby, authorized and required forthwith to provide Wheat, Barley, Malt, and other Provisions of Victuals, for the Garisons of Barwick, Carlysle, Tynmouth, Newcastle, and the Holy Island, not exceeding the Sum of Twelve thousand Pounds.

Mynne's Fine.

Ordered, That the Committee of Haberdashers Hall be injoined forthwith to call in the Remainder of the Fine of Mr. George Mynne; and to pay the same to the Treasurers of War; to be forthwith by them paid over to the Mayor of Barwick, for the Building up and repairing the Fortification of that Garrison, as Sir Arthur Heslerigg shall appoint: And the Receipt of the said Mayor shall be a sufficient Warrant and Discharge to the Treasurers at Wars.

Delinquents.

The House resumed the Debate upon the Report from the Committee touching Delinquents.

The Question being put, That Leave be given to the House, to speak against the Vote already passed touching Sir John Winter;

It passed in the Negative.

Ordered, That Sir John Winter shall have Time till the First of May next, to go beyond the Seas into any Foreign Parts.

Ordered, That no Person or Persons whatsoever do cut down, or cause to be cut down, any Timber Trees, or other Trees, within the Forest of Deane; nor to carry away any already selled, or cut down, by Pretence of any Sale, or Grant whatsoever, notwithstanding any Ordinance or Order of Parliament, or of the Committee of Revenue, or other Committee, without further Order from this House, or from the Council of State.

Ordered, That Colonel Matthew Boynton, late Governor of Scarborough, shall be likewise added to the Number of the Persons in the former Vote, to be proscribed, and his Estate confiscate.

Resolved, &c. That Sir John Morley be added to the Number of the Persons in the former Vote, to be proscribed, and their Estates confiscate.

Resolved, &c. That these Words; viz. "And all such Persons as now do hold out any Castle, Fort, or Island;" against the Parliament; be struck out of the Vote passed on Wednesday last, touching Persons to be proscribed, and their Estates confiscate.

Resolved, &c. That all other Delinquents, Members of this Commonwealth, not comprehended in the former Exceptions, shall be admitted to compound.

Resolved, &c. That the Time for the Coming in of all Delinquents within the Lands, whose Habitations are within Eighty Miles of London, and for the Filing of their Petitions and Particulars, shall be before the Twentieth Day of April next; and, for all others residing at a further Distance, before the Third Day of May.

Resolved, &c. That the Times for perfecting the Compositions of such Delinquents; that is to say, for submitting to their Fines, and paying one Moiety, and securing the Remainder at Three Months Day; shall be Six Weeks from the respective Days before limited for filing their Petitions and Particulars.

Resolved, &c. That the Time for Coming in of Delinquents not excepted, and now beyond Seas, and out of this Land, shall be the First of June next, for the Filing of their Petitions and Particulars; and Six Weeks after, for the Perfecting of their Compositions, as is before expressed.

Resolved, &c. That the Rents and Profits of all sequestred Estates, except the Persons before excepted; growing due at Our Lady Day next, shall be stayed and detained in the Tenants Hands until the First Day of June next.

Resolved, &c. That the Estates of all such Persons who shall neglect to render themselves, and submit to their Compositions, at the respective Times before limited, shall be confiscate, and converted to the Use of the Commonwealth: And no further Allowance shall henceforth be made, out of the same, to the Wife or Children of any such Delinquent [ (fn. 1).]

Resolved, &c. That Delinquents who were formerly excepted from Pardon by their particular Names or Titles, who have not been formerly, but now are admitted, to Composition, except such as have already compounded, shall pay one full Moiety of the true Value of their Estates.