House of Commons Journal Volume 6: 27 June 1650

Journal of the House of Commons: Volume 6, 1648-1651. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1802.

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'House of Commons Journal Volume 6: 27 June 1650', in Journal of the House of Commons: Volume 6, 1648-1651, (London, 1802) pp. 432-433. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/commons-jrnl/vol6/pp432-433 [accessed 19 March 2024]

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In this section

Die Jovis, 27 Junii, 1650.

Prayers.

Window Screen for the House.

ORDERED, That the Committee of the Revenue do take care, That a Screen be forthwith made for the Window of the Parliament House.

Clerk's Oath

Mr. Corbett reports the Form of an Oath, to be administered to the Clerk of the Parliament, in hæc verba; viz.

"You shall be true and faithful to the Commonwealth of England, as it is now established, without a King, or House of Lords: You shall well and truly execute the Office of Clerk of the Parliament, according . . the best of your Skill, Power, and Knowledge."

Which was this Day read, and approved of.

Resolved, That the Clerk of the Parliament do take this Oath; and that Mr. Speaker, be, and is hereby impowered and authorized to administer the said Oath to him accordingly.

The Engagement.

Mr. Bond reports from the Council of State, That many Members of the Merchants Adventurers at Rotterdam have not taken the Engagement, when it was offered to them by Mr. Strickland, upon Order from the Council: That the said Mr. Strickland desires to have a Resolution, whether he may still receive such to Subscription now, if they shall be now willing to do it; and whether any who have not subscribed the Engagement be eligible to Offices in the Company; which Elections are now shortly to be made: And the Council also offers it to the Consideration of the Parliament, whether any of those Merchants there, who have not subscribed that Engagement, shall have Votes in those Elections: And that they will please to declare their Order therein.

Resolved, That Walter Strickland Esquire, now Resident in Holland, from the Parliament of England, and such other Agent for the Parliament there, for the Time being, have Power to receive the Subscriptions of such Merchants Adventurers of the English Company at Rotterdam, as shall subscribe the Engagement appointed by Act of Parliament.

Resolved, That no Merchant Adventurer, being a Member of the English Company at Rotterdam, who hath not subscribed the Engagement, shall be eligible unto any Office in that Company.

Resolved, That no Merchant Adventurer, being a Member of the English Company at Rotterdam, who hath not subscribed the Engagement, shall have any Vote in electing any Person or Persons to be now chosen to any Office in that Company, until he shall have subscribed the Engagement.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Council of State, to see these Votes put in Execution.

Treasurer of the Navy.

The humble Petition of Sir Henry Vane Knight, Treasurer of the Navy, was this Day read.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of the Navy, to consider of this Petition, and how the Office of Treasurer of the Navy, may be managed for the future, from the last of December 1650, for the best Profit, and least Charge of the Commonwealth; and what Salary is fit to be allowed for the Execution thereof; and also to consider what Compensation is fit to be given unto the Petitioner, out of that Office, or otherwise, in Consideration of his Right in the said Office; and to report their Opinion therein, with all Speed.

Publick Offices.

Ordered, That it be referred to a Committee to consider what Offices in this Commonwealth are burdensome to the People; and how the same, and other publick Offices in this Commonwealth may be either taken away, or regulated, for the Ease of the People, and employed for the Benefit of the Commonwealth: Viz. unto Mr. Weaver, Sir Thomas Wroth, Sir James Harrington, Colonel Harrison, Colonel Ven, Mr. Ralegh, Sir Richard Lucy, Mr. Bond, Sir Wm. Constable, Mr. Pury, Mr. Corbett, Mr. Hayes, Mr. Clement, Lord Grey, Sir Henry Vane, Mr. Holland, Lord Howard, Mr. Say, Mr. Garland, Major Lister, Sir Gilbert Pickering, Mr. Wilde, Sir Wm. Allanson, Mr. Longe, Colonel Philip Jones, Mr. Masham, Mr. Moyle, Sir Peter Wentworth; or any Five of them: And all that come, to have Voices: And are to meet To-morrow at Two of Clock, in the Afternoon: And that Sir James Harrington, Mr. Weaver, and Sir Thomas Wroth, do take care of it: And this Committee have Power to send for Persons, Papers, Records, and Witnesses.

Lilbourne's Claims.

Resolved, That the Petition of Lieutenant Colonel John Lilbourne be now read.

The humble Petition of Lieutenant Colonel John Lilbourne, was this Day read.

Ordered, That the said Petition be referred to a Committee, how the Petitioner may have Satisfaction according as was formerly ordered to him: Viz. to Alderman Allen, Colonel Ludlow, Colonel Wauton, Sir Michael Livesey, Colonel Marten, Mr. Scott, Mr. Long, Lord Grey, Mr. Weaver, Mr. Rowse, Colonel Popham, Alderman Penington, Sir John Danvers, Sir Wm. Constable, Colonel Thomson, Mr. Heveningham, Colonel Ven, Colonel Harrison, Sir John Bourchier, Mr. Nevill, Mr. Moyle, Mr. Garland, or any Five of them . . . are to meet To-morrow in the Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chamber: and so de die in diem.

And the special Care hereof is referred to Colonel Marten.

Ly. Fairfax.

Ordered, That the Lady Fairfax her Petition be read on Tuesday next, the first Business.

Swearing,&c.

Ordered, That the Act against Swearing be read Tomorrow Morning, the first Business: And that, next after that, the Amendments to the Act for Sale of Delinquents Estates be made.

Army.

Sir Wm. Armyn reports from the Council of State; "That it is necessary for the better Carrying on of this Service in the Expedition into the North, That there should be allowed to the Lord General Twenty Men to be Corporals of the Field; to desire the House, That Order may be given for the Taking of them into the Establishment, and for the Paying of them, according to the Allowance given usually in that Service."

Resolved, That there be allowed to the Lord General Twenty Men, to be Corporals of the Field: And that they be taken into the Establishment of the Army: And the Committee of the Army be authorized to give Warrant for Paying of them, according to the usual Allowance.

Colonel Jones reports from the Council of State; "That the Company of Captain Fissenden, which was formerly One hundred Men, and employed in Rye, is now, by Order, recruited to One hundred Thirty Men, and are armed; to desire the House, that they will take it into Consideration, how this Company may be paid, as well as the other Companies of Colonel Gibbons his Regiment."

Resolved, That the Thirty Men added to the Company of Captain Fissenden, to make up that Company, formerly consisting of One hundred Men, to the Number of One hundred Thirty, be taken into the Establishment of the Army: And that the Committee of the Army do take care for the Payment of them, with the rest of the Army, accordingly.

East India Company.

Colonel Thompson reports from the Committee of the Navy, as followeth:

In the Cause upon the Petition of the Governor and Company of the Merchants of London, trading to the East Indies, referred unto this Committee, by Order of Parliament of the Twenty-seventh of December last, to hear all Parties concerned; and to consider what is to be done further in this Business; and to present their Opinions to the House; This Committee, upon Consideration thereof, do order, That it be reported, as their Opinion to the Parliament, That the East India Company in their publick Capacity, and the Persons hereunder named, shall not be prosecuted or molested in the Publick Exchequer, or any other Court of Justice, for Buying or Selling of Spices, or other Goods garbable, which have been transported out of this Nation before the Twenty-eighth Day of August last: Provided that the said East India Company, in their said politick Capacity, and other the Persons hereafter named, against whom any Informations now are, or hereafter shall be, depending, do and shall make good Proof, before One or more of the Judges of the Court, where such Cause is or shall be depending, that the said Goods and Spices were really transported, and not expended within this Nation: And in all such Cases the said Judge and Judges to award unto the Informer double Costs.

Wm. Cockaine Governor, Wm. Methold Deputy, John Massingberd Treasurer, Abraham Reynerdson, Jacob Gerad, Rowl. Wilson, senior, Rowl. Wilson junior, John Holloway, John Langley, Sam. Moyer, Wm. Ashwell, Thomas Jennings, Tho. Burnell, Tho. Mann, James Man, Gilbert Morwood, Richard Shute, Gregory Clemens, Gilbert Keate, Robert Abdie, Thomas Andrewes, James Oyles, Thomas Rich, Wm. Bateman, Anthony Bateman, Hugh Norris, Thomas Bromfield, Richard Swinglehurst.

The humble Petition of Wm. Cutler, Deputy Garbler of the City of London, was this Day read.

The Question being put, That this House doth agree with the Committee in their Report;

The House was divided.
The Yeas went forth.

Mr. Bond, Tellers for the Yeas: 15.
Colonel Thompson, With the Yeas,
Alderman Allen, Tellers for the Noes: 31.
Colonel John Jones, With the Noes,

So it passed with the Negative.

Ordered, by the Parliament, That the said William Cutler, Deputy Garbler, be at Liberty to proceed to Tryal in the several Actions against the East India Company, and the Persons named in the Report: But that, after Verdict, no Judgment or Execution shall be had in any of them, until the Pleasure of the Parliament be further known.

Sir H. Waller.

Sir Gilbert Pickering reports from the Council of State, "That Sir Hardresse Waller, having been sent over into Ireland, for the Promoting and Advantage of that Service; and having thereby lost a certain Profit here; and besides having done very good Service to the Commonwealth, and suffered much for them; and having also a great Charge; may be taken into their Consideration for it."

Ordered, That the Possession of the Farm in * * in the County of Limerick, to which Sir Hardres Waller hath been a long time Tenant to the Lord of Ormond, be continued with Sir Hardres Waller, and his Assigns, to receive the Profits thereof, without rendering any Rent to the State, until the Parliament shall take other Order.