House of Commons Journal Volume 6: 20 December 1649

Die Jovis, 20 Decembris, 1649.

Prayers.

Excise.

THE House this Day proceeded in the Debate touching the Excise.

Resolved, That Linen, fine and coarse, as well already imported, not having paid Excise, as which shall hereafter be imported, shall pay Five Pounds per Cent. according to the Value set in the Book of Rates, to be paid by the first Buyer thereof from the Merchant or Importer.

Resolved, That Upholstery, Haberdashery, Soap, Paper, Skins, Glasses, and Earthen Ware, as well already imported, not having paid Excise, as which shall hereafter be imported, shall pay Five per Cent. according to the Value set in the Book of Rates, to be paid by the first Buyer thereof from the Merchant or Importer.

Resolved, &c. That Spirits made of French or Spanish Wines, called Brand Wine, as well already imported, not having paid Excise, as which shall hereafter be imported, shall pay Four-pence per Gallon, to be paid by the first Buyer thereof from the Merchant or Importer.

Resolved, That Foreign Spirits and Domestick, fraudulently sold instead of Aqua Vitæ, or Strong Water, as well already imported, not having paid Excise, as which shall hereafter be imported, shall pay One Shilling per Gallon, to be paid to the first Buyer thereof from the Merchant or Importer.

Resolved, That Strong Water perfectly made, as well already imported, not having paid Excise, as which shall be hereafter imported, shall pay One Shilling per Gallon, to be paid by the first Buyer thereof from the Merchant or Importer.

Resolved, That all other Goods and Merchandizes, mentioned in the Book of Rates, as well already imported, mentioned in the Book of Rates, not having paid Excise, as which shall be hereafter imported, except Bullion, Corn, Victual, Arms, and Ammunition, and Spanish Wools, and such Goods as shall hereafter be appointed by Parliament, not formerly voted to be chargeable with the Excise, shall pay Five per Cent. to be paid by the First Buyer thereof from the Merchant or Importer.

Resolved, That, all other Goods and Merchandize to be imported, upon which no Values are set in the Book of Rates, shall pay Five Pounds per Cent. to be paid by the First Buyer thereof from the Merchant or Importer.

Resolved, That these several Votes be sent to the Commissioners for Excise: And that they be required to put the same in Execution, and to collect and gather the same, according to their former Powers, and under the Pains and Penalties expressed in the former Ordinances and Acts: And that these several Votes be forthwith printed and published.

Excise Officers.

Mr. Miles Corbett reports from the Committee for the Excise, Votes of that Committee,

That the several Members of the House do bring in, unto this Committee, the Names of Persons of Trust and Diligence to be Sub Commissioners of Excise, to collect the Excise, and put the Orders of Excise in Execution in the respective Counties of this Commonwealth, for which each Member serves, to be presented to the House; the Number of Persons in each County, and their Salaries, to be according to the Votes of the Grand Committee.

That it is the Opinion of that Committee, that a Comptroller be nominated for every County, who is to be a Man of Ability and Faithfulness.

Resolved, That the several Members of this House do bring in, unto that Committee, the Names of Persons of Trust and Diligence to be Sub Commissioners of Excise, to collect the Excise, and put the Ordinances of Excise in Execution, in the respective Counties of this Commonwealth, for which each Member serves, to be presented to the House; the Numbers of Persons in each County, and their Salaries, to be according to the Votes of the Grand Committee.

Resolved, That, a Comptroller be nominated for every County, who is a Man of Ability and Faithfulness.

Resolved, That the Members of the House do present unto that Committee, under their Hands, the Name of a sit Person to be a Comptroller in the respective Counties, for which each Member serves, to be presented to the House.

Resolved, That Tuesday next, Report be made from the Committee of Excise, for the further Perfecting of that Business.

Butlerage, &c.

Resolved, That it be referred to a Committee, to take Consideration of the Business of Butlerage and Prisage; and to call before them and hear all Persons concerned; and to report their Opinions therein to the House:

Colonel Marten, Lord Commissioner Whitelock, Mr. Bond, Sir Henry Vane junior, Sir Richard Lucy, Mr. Miles Corbett, Mr. Love, Sir Wm. Allenson, Sir James Harrington, Lord Commissioner Lisle, Sir Henry Vane, senior, Mr. Goodwin, Sheriff Wilson, Mr. Nelthorp, Mr. Lechmere, Sir Arth. Hesilrige, Sir Wm. Masham, Mr. Garland, Mr. Blagrave, Mr. Edward Ashe, Mr. Holland; or any Five of them: And this Committee are to meet this Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chamber, at Two of the Clock.

And the special Care hereof is committed to Mr. Miles Corbett.

Grant to Ministers.

Ordered, That the Sum of Three hundred Pounds, of the Revenues of the late Archbishoprick of Canterbury, formerly appointed to be paid unto the Assembly of Divines, and now in the Hands of Arthur Squib Esquire, Receiver of that Revenue, be paid, by Order of the Committee of the publick Revenue, to such Ministers, Members of the Assembly of Divines, as have subscribed the Engagement: And that the Trustees for Bishops Lands be required not to dispose thereof.

Coinage.

Lord Commissioner Whitelock reports from the Council of State, That, in pursuance of the Order of Parliament, of 16 Novembris, for the Making of Standard Pieces of Gold and Silver, a Jury of Goldsmiths appeared before the Council, and were sworn for the Making thereof; viz. Sir John Wollaston Knight and Alderman, Thomas Vine Alderman, Thomas Noell Alderman, Francis Ash, Thomas Smithes, Francis Hall, George Courthop, John Perryn, Richard Morrell, Samuel Moore, George Snell, Richard Gibbes, Matthew Mason, Alexander Jackson: That, upon the Two-and-twentieth of November, they presented their Verdict, as followeth, subscribed by them; and therewith two Standards, one of Gold, and one other of Silver, indented and marked, divided into Four Parts: Whereof one Part was delivered to the Master Worker of the Mint; one to the Warden; one to the Wardens of the Company of Goldsmiths; and one remains to be delivered in to the Exchequer.

The Verdict of the Jury for making of Two indented Standard Pieces of Gold and Silver.

We, whose Names are hereunderwritten, have, according to our best Skill and Judgments, made Two Standard Tryal Pieces; viz. the One in Gold commixed, in Proportion, of Two-and-twenty Carracts of sine Gold, and Two Carracts of Allay in the Pound Weight Troy of England, weighing Two-and-twenty Ounces Fifteen Peny weight Six Grains, divided into Four indented Pieces; and the other of Silver commixed, in Proportion, of Eleven Ounces Two Peny-weight of sine Silver, and Eighteen Peny-weight of Allay, in the Pound Weight Troy of England, weighing Two-and-eighty Ounces Eighteen Peny Weight Twelve Grains, divided, in like Sort, into Four indented Pieces for the Tryal of the Commonwealth's Monies of Gold and Silver, to be made in England: Both which Standard Pieces, so divided, indented, and printed, we present unto the Right honourable Council of State, appointed by Authority of Parliament, according to our Oaths in that behalf taken before your Lordships: In Witness whereof we have hereunto subscribed our Names the Two-and-twentieth Day of November, Anno Dom. 1649.

Resolved, That this House doth approve of the Two Standards, one of Gold, and one other of Silver, indented and marked, divided into Four Parts, presented by the Jury impannelled and sworn for that Purpose: And that one Part thereof be delivered to the Master Worker of the Mint; one to the Warden; one to the Wardens of the Company of Goldsmiths Hall; and one be delivered into the Exchequer, as formerly hath been used: And the Council of State do take care the same be done accordingly.

Ordered, That the Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal be required and authorized to issue forth Writs, for proclaiming the Act touching the Monies and Coins of England.

Value of Livings.

Ordered, That the Lords Commissioners for the Great Seal of England do prepare and present to the House, a Commission to issue according to the Act, intituled, "An Act for providing Maintenance for preaching Ministers, and other pious Uses," for Discovery of the Values of the several Livings in the respective Counties, and other the Directions in that Act: And that the Members of this House do present Names of fit Persons to be Commissioners for that Purpose, with all Speed.

Preaching the Gospel.

Ordered, That it be referred to a Committee, to consider how the Gospel may be generally preached throughout the whole Nation; and how sit Men may be sent forth into the several Counties for that Purpose:

Sir James Harrington, Colonel Harrison, Earl of Pembroke, Mr. Corbett, Mr. Gurdon, Mr. Hill, Sir Arthur Hesilrige, Sir Henry Mildmay, Colonel Ven, Sir Wm. Masham, Sir Richard Lucy, Mr. Brewster, Mr. Say, Mr. Lister, Mr. Leman, Sir Gilbert Pickering, Colonel Wauton, Mr. Weaver, Mr. Allen, Alderman Colonel Rich, Alderman Hoyle, Sir John Mr. Danvers, Luke Hodges; or any Four of them: And this Committee is to meet this Afternoon, at Two of the Clock, in the Court of Wards; and so de die in diem; and to report the same to the House.

And Mr. Gurdon and Sir James Harrington are to take care hereof.

Grievances in Wales.

The humble Petition of divers of the Well-affected in the Six Counties of North Wales, was this Day read.

Ordered, That the said Petition be referred to a Committee, to consider of the Petitioners Desires; and to bring in an Act or Acts to redress the Petitioners Grievances; and also the like for those in South Wales; and present the same to the House: Or to consider of any other Ways or Means for their Relief, and Redress of their Grievances; and present their Opinions to the House; together with the Names of such Persons as they conceive sit to be intrusted with those Powers; Viz. unto Colonel Jones, Sir Arthur Hesilrige, Colonel Fleetwood, Mr. Weaver, Sir James Harrington, Mr. Gurdon, Mr. Browne, Colonel Harrison, Mr. Say, Colonel Ven; or to any Three of them: With further Power to consider of the Petition of the Four Northern Counties, and the Petition for Yorkshire; to bring in such Acts for their Redress, and to think of any other Way for their Relief; and present to the House their Opinions therein: And are to meet this Afternoon, in the Court of Wards.

And the particular Care hereof is referred to Colonel Harrison.

Norwich Ministers.

The humble Petition of the Mayor, Sheriffs, Citizens, and Commonalty of the City of Norwich was this Day read.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of plundered Ministers, to consider of that Part of the said Petition, which concerns the Uniting of Parishes within the said City and Liberties, and raising Maintenance for godly Ministers there, by some sitting Way amongst themselves; and to report the same to the House.

Petition from Manchester.

The humble Petition of divers Well-affected within the Parish of Manchester, was this Day read.

Ordered, That this Petition be referred to the Committee for Obstructions for Sale of Dean and Chapters Lands; to consider thereof.

Letters read.

A Letter from Guernsey, of 5 Decembris 1649, from John March and J. Santhy, was this Day read.

A Letter from Guernsey, of 4 Decembris 1649, from Colonel Russell, was this Day read.

Ordered, That the said Letters, with the Papers inclosed, be referred to the Council of State.