House of Commons Journal Volume 6: 15 April 1651

Die Martis, 15 Aprilis, 1651.

Prayers.

Assessment.

COLONEL Downes reports, Amendments to the Bill for Continuance of the monthly Assessment of One hundred and Twenty thousand Pounds, from the Twenty-fifth Day of March 1651, until the Twenty-ninth Day of September 1651: Which were this Day read the First and Second time.

Resolved, That Ireland be named before Scotland, in the Amendments.

Ordered, That Colonel Downes, Mr. Robinson, Sir Henry Vane, Colonel Marten, Mr. Hill, Colonel Walton, Alderman Allen, Sir Peter Wentworth, Mr. Ash, and Mr. Dormer, or any Three of them, do withdraw; and pen the Preamble of this Act, according to the Debate now had in the House.

Scotch Affairs.

A Letter from the Lord General Cromwell, from Edenburgh, of the Eighth Day of April 1651, was this Day read.

Resolved, That the Parliament doth approve, that such Goods and Merchandize as have been already sold, by the Commissioners for the Parliament in Scotland, for the State's Use, and for which the said Commissioners, and the General, have engaged their Words, that they should be excepted from Payment of Custom and Excise, be freed and exempted from Payment of Custom and Excise: And that the Committee of the Navy and Excise do give Order, That the same be discharged of Custom and Excise, accordingly; and that they take care, that, under colour thereof, the Commonwealth be not abused or defrauded.

Resolved, That so much of the said Letter from the General, as concerns the Excise and Custom on such Salt, and other Commodities, in Scotland, confiscate to the State, and sold for the Use of the State, by the Commissioners there, and for Coals, Cloth, and other Commodities, brought out of England, to the Army in Scotland, be referred to the Committee of the Navy, and Customs; to consider thereof; and report their Opinion to the House on This-day-sevennight.

Resolved, &c. That that Part of the Letter concerning Commissioners to be sent into Scotland, be referred to the Council of State; to consider thereof; and present the Names of fit Persons to be Commissioners; and Instructions to be given to them; and to report it to the House with all Speed.

Hospitals.

Resolved, That the last Part of the Letter concerning Hospitals, be referred to the Committee to whom the Bill for Regulating of Hospitals was committed: Who are revived; and to meet at Two of the Clock To-morrow in the Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chamber; and to report their Opinions, together with the Amendments to that Bill, on Friday next.

Invalid Soldiers.

Resolved, That it be referred to the same Committee, on the Debate of the House, to consider of the Business touching Provision for maimed Soldiers, and their Wives and Widows: And to report their Opinion to the House on Friday next: And to bring in an Act, to the House, if they see Cause.

Resolved, That it be referred to the same Committee, to examine how the Monies collected for Relief of maimed Soldiers; in the several Counties, and the Marshalsey, be disposed of; and where, and in whose Hands, the same do remain; and require an Account thereof from the Justices of the Peace in the several Counties; and report the same to the Parliament.

Transactions with Holland.

Mr. Bond reports from the Council of State, A Letter from the Lords Ambassadors Extraordinary to the States General of the United Provinces, from the Hague, of the 9/19 April 1651.

Which was this Day read; together with a Paper therein inclosed, being an Extract out of the Resolutions of the Lords the States of Holland and West Friezland, made in their Lordships Assembly.

Assessment.

Colonel Downes reports from the Committee appointed to withdraw, Some Amendments to the Preamble of the Act for Continuance of the Assessment: Which were twice read.

The Question being propounded, That the certain Number of Horse and Dragoons be expressed in this Bill;

The House was divided.

The Yeas went forth.

So it passed with the Negative.

And the new Amendments, being put to the Question, passed.

And the rest of the Amendments, being put to the Question, passed.

The humble Petition of the Justices of Peace, and Grand Jury, for the County of Northumberland, in behalf of themselves, and the said County, at a Sessions of the Peace, the Fifteenth Day of January 1650, was this Day read.

The humble Petition of the Mayor, Aldermen, and Commons of the City of London, in Common Council assembled, was this Day read.

A Proviso was tendered to this Act, in these Words, "Provided always, no Person shall be rated for any empty House, or Land unletten, more than shall be received for them, according to the Intent of this and the former Acts made and provided: And that the Committee of the Army, in such Cases, shall and may discharge such Assessments; and order Rates to be raised upon other Persons and Estates, liable by this and the said Acts:" Which was read the First time.

And the Question being put, That it be read the Second time;

It passed with the Negative.

And the Question being put, For Ingrossing;

It passed with the Negative.

And the Bill, being put to the Question, passed: And ordered to be forthwith printed and published.

Colonel Downes reports, The Names of divers Persons to be added as Commissioners in this Act.

Ordered, That the Debate hereof be taken up Tomorrow Morning, the first Business.