House of Commons Journal Volume 6: 6 November 1649

Die Martis, 6 Novembris, 1649.

Prayers.

Fens.

ORDERED, That the Act touching the Fens be read This-day-fortnight.

Private Business.

Resolved, upon the Question, by the Parliament, That all private Business be forborn for One Month now next coming; to the end the publick Business may be dispatched, and not interrupted.

Ordered, That this Vote be posted up at the Door, that Suitors may take Notice of it.

Preacher thanked.

Ordered, That the special Thanks of this House be given to Mr. Bond, for his great Pains taken in his Sermon, preached Yesterday before the Parliament, at Margarett's, Westminster: And that he be desired to print his Sermon: And that he have the like Privilege in Printing, as others in like case have usually had.

Ordered, That Mr. Bond do give him Thanks accordingly.

Navy.

A Letter from aboard the President Frigate, the Twentyninth of October, 1649, from Nathaniel Fearmes, to the Council of State, was this Day read.

A Letter from Colonel Venables, to Colonel Birch, of the Twenty-fourth of October, 1649, was this Day read.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Council of State, to take care for some Ships to lie so at Sea, as to prevent the Mischiefs to Merchants and Trade, by Pirates, about the Isle of Silly.

Publick Revenue.

Mr. Trenchard reports from the Commissioners for Compounding with Delinquents, according to an Order of Parliament, of the Second of November instant, referring it to that Committee, to make an Estimate what may arise out of the Revenue of the Treasury of that Committee for the certain Pay of the Army, in order to abate the Assessments;

That, for the first Three Months, the Committee do not see any Probability of making Abatement of the present Ninety thousand Pounds per Month; but that, on the contrary, there is required out of this Treasury, and the other Receipts hereafter mentioned, One hundred ten thousand Nine hundred Seventeen Pounds, more than the said monthly Assessments of Ninety thousand Pounds, to make up the full Pay for those first Three Months, there being Three Weeks between the Tenth Day of December next, and the Twenty-fifth of that Month, from which Day the said first Three Months Tax must commence, which the Assessments do not reach, which will come to Seventy-six thousand One hundred Eighty-three Pounds; and to supply the said Three Months Assessments, from the Twenty-fifth of December to the Twentyfifth of March, besides the Ninety thousand Pounds, being the monthly Tax, and the Seventy-six thousand One hundred Eighty-three Pounds for the Three Weeks unprovided for, there is required Thirty-four thousand Seven hundred Thirty-four Pounds: Which together makes up the Sum of One hundred ten thousand Nine hundred Seventeen Pounds.

For the second Three Months, if a Third Part of the present Tax be abated, and the Assessments brought to Sixty thousand Pounds per mensem, there is required, from the said Twenty-fift Day of March, to the Twentyfifth of June next ensuing, over and above the said Sixty thousand Pounds per mensem, One hundred twenty-four thousand Seven hundred Thirty-four Pounds; and, for the Nine Days, of which the Assessments come short, in those latter Three Months, Thirty-two thousand Six hundred Fifty Pounds: So that there must be raised, in the Whole, to supply the Assessments, from the said Tenth Day of December, to the Twenty-fifth of June, Two hundred Sixty-eight thousand Three hundred One Pounds.

Towards the Providing whereof the State of this Treasury and Recepts stands thus:

Together with the Profits of sequestred Estates, which this Committee cannot at present estimate, until Surveys have been taken, and Returns made: Neither can they depend upon the Certainty of any considerable Part of the last-mentioned Sum of One hundred Fifty-six thousand Four hundred Forty-seven Pounds, and much less upon the Time of receiving the same.

Besides which there is a Charge of Sixty-one thousand Five hundred Eighty Pounds certain upon those Receipts, over and above the incident Charges of the Council of State, and the Army; of which this Committee cannot give an Estimate.

And, for the next Six Months, this Committee cannot propose any probable Way of Supply, but by new-modelling the Excise, and clearing of it from the Charges now upon it, and the Reserving of the Two hundred thousand Pounds growing due thereupon, in Course, in or about August next: and by the Surplussage of the One hundred thirty thousand Pounds out of the Deans and Chapters Lands not yet disposed of; as also by the Sale of the Estates of some Papists who have been in Arms; and by keeping all the said Receipts free from Anticipations, and further Charges.

The Question being propounded, That there be an Assessment made for the Pay of the Army in England and Ireland, for Six Months, from the Twenty-fifth of December next; viz. at the Rate of Ninety thousand Pounds per mensem, for the first Three Months; and at the Rate of Sixty thousand Pounds per mensem, for the latter Three Months;

The Question being put, That this Question be now put;

It passed with the Affirmative.

And the main Question being put;

It was Resolved, That there be an Assessment made for the Pay of the Army in England and Ireland, for Six Months, from the Twenty-fifth of December next; viz. at the Rate of Ninety thousand Pounds per mensem, for the first Three Months; and at the Rate of Sixty thousand Pounds per mensem, for the latter Three Months.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of the Army, to bring in a Bill to that Purpose.