House of Commons Journal Volume 8: 20 June 1660

Wednesday, 20th June 1660,

Wiggan Election.

MR. Turner reports from the Committee for Privileges and Elections, on the double Election for the Borough of Wiggan in the County of Lancaster;

Resolved, That the Matter of the Election for the Borough of Wiggan in the County of Lancaster, be recommitted to the Committee for Privileges and Elections: And the Mayor of Wigan is required to produce before the Committee the Charter, whereby the said Borough is incorporated: And the Committee are to examine, whether there were any Misdemeanor in the Carriage of the Mayor about this Business; and to make Report of the Whole.

Truro Election.

He also reports from the said Committee, the Case upon the double Return for the Borough of Truro in the County of Cornewall; that, upon Examination of the Fact, the Question appeared to be, Whether the Mayor and Four-and-Twenty, or all the Freemen of that Borough have Right to elect Members to serve in Parliament; and that the Committee are of Opinion, the Mayor and Four-and-twenty, without the Freemen, have Right to elect; and that Edward Boscawen Esquire, being returned in one Indenture from the said Mayor, and Fourand-twenty, together with Walter Vincent Esquire, who is also returned in the other Indenture with Hender Roberts Esquire, is duly elected and ought to sit.

Resolved, That this House doth agree with the Committee, that the Mayor and Four-and-twenty of the Borough of Truro in the County of Cornewall, have the Right of electing Members to serve in Parliament for that Borough; and that Mr. Boscawen, together with Mr. Vincent, are duly elected; and that they do sit in this House.

Preston Election.

He also reports from the said Committee, the Case upon the double Return for the Burgh of Preston in the County of Lancaster; that upon Examination of the Fact, it appeared to the Committee, that, at the Time of the Election, the taking of the Poll was denied by the Mayor; and that, in respect thereof, the Committee are of Opinion the Election is void.

Preston Writ.

Resolved, That this House doth agree with the Committee, that the Election for Members to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Preston in the County of Lancaster, is void; and that a new Writ be issued for a new Election; and that Mr. Speaker do issue a Warrant to the Clerk of the Crown in Chancery for preparing a new Writ for that Purpose; which the Lord Chancellor of England is to issue, and pass under the Great Seal of England accordingly.

Publick Debts.

Colonel Jones reports from the Committee for publick Debts, a List of several Debts charged on the Receipt of the publick Exchequer by several Warrants therein mentioned, amounting to Twenty-nine thousand Three hundred Ninety-seven Pounds Fifteen Shillings and a Half-peny.

Resolved, That all further Payments upon any Debts contracted betwixt the Fifth of December 1648, and the 22d of February 1659, (other than those which concern the Navy or Army) be stopped and forborn till further Order; and that it be referred back to the Committee, to examine the Grounds and Equity of the particular Debts; and the Conditions of the Persons, to whom they are due; and to represent their several Cases, from time to time, to this House, as they shall find necessary; to the Intent further Order may be thereupon given, as shall be meet.

Queen's Jointure.

Mr. Hollis reports from the Committee, to whom the Business of the Queen's Jointure is referred, the Opinion of the said Committee, that Twenty thousand Pounds be sent to the Queen's Majesty for her present Support; to be charged on the Three Months Assessment.

Grant to the Queen.

Resolved, upon the Question, by the Commons, assembled in Parliament, That the Sum of Twenty thousand Pounds, for the Queen's Majesty's present Occasions, be charged upon the Act and Ordinance of Assessment of Seventy thousand Pounds per Mensem, for Three Months; to be paid in Course (after the other Sums, already charged upon the said Security, be satisfied) to such Persons as the Queen's Majesty shall appoint to receive the same:

That the Lords Concurrence be desired herein: And Mr. Holles is desired to carry it to the Lords.

Ordered, That Colonel Archer be added to the Committee for the Queen's Jointure.

St. Nicholas Hospital.

Mr. Thomas reports from the Committee, to whom the Petition of Doctor Mathew Nicholas is referred; that, upon Examination and Proof, the Fact appeared to be, that the said Doctor Nicholas was in Possession of the Mastership and Government of the Hospital of St. Nicholas, in Harnham near Salisbury, divers Years before the late Wars, and until the Year 1645; when he, being a very reverend and worthy Divine, was ejected, by Sequestration, only for his Residence at his Deanery in Bristoll in the Time of the Wars, being the King's Garrison; and that all, that since pretended any Interest unto the Government of that Hospital, have done it under that Sequestration; and the Opinion of the Committee, That Doctor Mathew Nicholas be forthwith restored to his Mastership and Government of the said Hospital of St. Nicholas.

Ordered, by the Commons, assembled in Parliament, That Doctor Mathew Nicholas be from henceforth restored to his Mastership and Government of the Hospital of St. Nicholas in Harnham near Salisbury, and to the Rents and Profits thereof:

That the Lords Concurrence be desired herein: And Mr. Hollis is desired to carry it to the Lords.

Excise.

Colonel Birch reports a Bill, for the further Continuance of Excise, from the 24th of June to the 25th of December 1660; which was read the First and Second time.

Mr. Pryn reports a Clause to be added to the Bill, concerning the Receiving and Issuing of the Monies which shall be collected by virtue thereof; which was read.

Resolved, That the Bill, for further Continuance of the Excise, be, upon the whole Debate, referred back to the former Committee.

Resolved, That the additional Clause, now tendered, be referred to the same Committee; to be by them considered of: And they are also to consider of the Qualifications of the Officers employed about the Excise; and, in case they shall find any of them unfit to be continued, to present to the House the Names of such other Persons as they shall think fit: And they are to meet at Two of the Clock this Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chamber; and to make Report thereupon To-morrow Morning.

Tonage and Poundage.

Sir Henage Finch reports from the Committee, a Bill for the Subsidy of Tonage and Poundage; which was read the First and Second time; and, on the Question, ordered to be referred to a Grand Committee of the whole House, upon the whole present Debate.

Lords concur in Votes.

Mr. Hollis brings Report, That, according to the Order of this House, he had attended the Lords with the Vote of this House, passed this Day, for Twenty thousand Pounds, for the Queen's Majesty; which the Lords do fully concur withal; as also, that he had attended them with the other Vote concerning Doctor Mathew Nicholas; to which the Lords say they will return Answer by Messengers of their own.

Tonage and Poundage.

Ordered, by the and Commons now assembled in Parliament, That One Subsidy, called Tonage, and One other Subsidy, called Poundage, and those other Duties called or known by the Name of New Impost, shall continue to be paid after the Rates, Rules, and Proportions, by which they are now due and payable; and upon the same Goods and Merchandize whereupon the same are now levied and collected, until the Twentyfourth of July, which shall be in the Year of our Lord 1660; before which Time One Act is intended to be passed for the Settlement and Regulation thereof.

Excise.

Ordered, by the Commons, now assembled in Parliament, That the Imposition of Excise shall continue to be paid after the Rates, Rules, and Proportions, by which the same is now due and payable; and upon the same Goods and Merchandize whereupon the same are now levied and collected, until the Twenty-fourth of July which shall be in the Year of our Lord 1660; before which Time one Act is intended to be passed for the Settlement and Regulation thereof:

That the Lords Concurrence be desired in these Votes: And Mr. Pryn is to carry them to the Lords.

Marten surrenders.

Mr. Speaker acquaints the House, That Colonel Henry Marten, who sat as one of the Judges upon the late King's Majesty, had rendered himself this Day, in Conformity to his Majesty's Proclamation; and that he had ordered the Serjeant at Arms attending this House, to take him into his Custody.

Ordered, That this House doth approve of the Commitment of Colonel Henry Marten to the Serjeant at Arms attending this House; and that he so continue, till this House take further Order.

Waller surrenders.

He also acquaints the House, That Sir Hardres Waller, one other of the said Judges, did Yesterday render himself, in Conformity to his Majesty's Proclamation.

Ordered, That the Serjeant at Arms attending this House do take him into his Custody; and that he so continue him, till this House shall give further Order.

Dixwell surrenders.

He also acquaints the House, That, upon Request made unto him on Behalf of Colonel John Dixwell, one other of the said Judges, he had granted a Pass for his coming to London, in order to his rendering himself, in Conformity to his Majesty's Proclamation; which, by reason of his late Sickness, he may not be able to do within the Time thereby limited.

Ordered, That, upon his rendering himself as aforesaid, Mr. Speaker do receive him, as if he had come within the Time limited by the said Proclamation.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Leave be given to Sir Wm. Whitmore Baronet, a Member of this House, to go into the Country.

King's Message.

Ordered, That his Majesty's gracious Message to this House, delivered by Mr. Secretary Morris on the 18th of June Instant, and then read, be forthwith printed and published.

Scroope liberated.

Ordered, That Colonel Adrian Scroope, who sat as one of the Judges upon the late King's Majesty, being now in the Custody of the Serjeant at Arms attending this House, be set at Liberty, upon giving his Promise and Engagement to Mr. Speaker, to appear and render himself to this House, at such time as they shall require his Attendance.

Blagrave's Petition.

The humble Petition of Elizabeth Blagrave, Wife of Daniel Blagrave, was this Day read.