House of Commons Journal Volume 6: 24 December 1650

Die Martis, 24 Decembris, 1650.

Prayers.

Embassy from Spaine

MR. Speaker, by way of Report, informs the House, That the Secretary to an Ambassador come from Spaine hath attended him; and delivered unto him, the Copy of his Letters Credential in Latin, with a Translation thereof in English.

Which were read.

Resolved, by the Parliament, That the Lord Ambassador of the King of Spaine have Audience in this House, on Thursday next, at Eleven of the Clock.

Resolved, That Sir Oliver Fleming Knight, Master of the Ceremonies, do attend the Spanish Ambassador to the House, on that Day.

Resolved, That Mr. Kinnersley do take care to provide the Court of Wards with all Necessaries for the Spanish Ambassador, to repose himself in on that Day: And that the Serjeants at Arms attending the House do see the same done accordingly.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Council of State, to consider of, and direct, how and . . what Manner the Spanish Ambassador be brought to his Audience; and to take care the same be done accordingly.

Resolved, That the Serjeant at Arms attending the House do prepare all Things in Readiness, in the House, on that Day, for the Ambassador's Audience.

Customs, &c. in Scotland.

Mr. Bond reports, A Letter from the General, dated at Edinburgh, December Sixteenth, 1650; touching the taking off Customs and Excise from such Commodities as shall be sold in Scotland, by the Commissioners, for the Use of the State.

Which was now read.

Ordered, That this Letter, and the Proposition therein, be referred to the Committee of the Navy and Excise, upon Conference together, to consider what is fit to be done therein, for the Advantage of the Commonwealth, and for the Service of the Army, both in the Matter of Custom and Excise on Salt, and other Commodities, that shall come from our Army in Scotland into England, or go from England to the Army in Scotland; and to give effectual Order therein, as they shall think sit, accordingly.

Correspondence with Spaine.

Mr. Bond reports from the Council of State, A Copy of a Letter of his Catholick Majesty, from Madrid, 24 Novembris 1650; to the Admiral Robert Blague.

Which was this Day read.

Relief of Tenants.

Ordered, That the Act for Relief of Tenants against the Oppressions of malignant and ill-affected Landlords, be read on Tuesday-sevennight.

East India Company.

Mr. Thomas Challenor reports from the Council of Trade;

"That, according to a Reference of the Parliament, of 3 Septembris last, to consider of the Desires of the East India Company, for transporting in the Ship Farewell, now bound for the Coast of Ckoromandell, Foreign Coin and Bullion, to the Value of Twenty thousand Pounds Sterling; and to report the same to the Parliament:"

"The Council having taken the same into their Consideration, and hereupon informed themselves of the Grounds of former Licences granted to the East India Company, both by their Charters, and by several Orders of Parliament, do humbly certify."

"That, in 43 Elizabeth, a License for to transport such Foreign Coin, or Silver, as they shall procure or get, not exceeding Thirty thousand Pounds Sterling, was inserted in their Charter: Provided, and it is there expresly covenanted, That the Company, upon every Return, shall bring, or cause to be brought, into England, from other Parts beyond the Seas, as great or a greater Value of Bullion, in Gold and Silver, or Foreign Coin, as they in any Voyage shall carry out: The same to be duly entered in the Custom-house at the Ports of London, Dartmouth, or Plymouth."

"A like Licence, with like Covenant, verbatim, was granted to the East India Company, in their Charter of 7 Jacobi: Which Licence was yet further explained, confirmed, and raised to the Allowance of Threescore thousand Pounds yearly, 14 Jacobi, upon the Experience that had been found of no Detriment or Inconvenience arising to the Commonwealth by such a Transportation as had for divers Years been permitted, Decimo quinto Jacobi, all former Charters, Grants, or Licences, were surrendered: And, by reason of the Enlargement of the Trade, settling a Factory in Persia, Increasing of the Strength, Shipping, Traffick, Customs, and Revenue, of the Nation; and because there was found, by Experience, for divers Years, no Detriment or Inconvenience that had grown to the Commonwealth, by such Transportation of Foreign Coin, as aforesaid; a Licence was granted to the East India Company, to transport all such Foreign Coin, or Bullion of Silver, as they, or any of them, within Ten Months before, had brought, or caused to be brought, or hereafter should bring, or cause to be brought, into England, from beyond the Seas, in the same Stamp or Form it was brought in, or being coined in any other Stamp or Coin at the Tower of London, at their own Pleasure, without any other Clause or Stipulation; provided it exceeded not a Hundred thousand Pounds Sterling."

"The like Method the Parliament hath observed in their Licences; ordering such Bullion only to be exported or allowed, as the East India Company themselves have caused to be brought in from Foreign Parts; as appeareth in their several Licences."

"That the East India Company's Desires, as expressed in their Petition, are only for Licence, according as hath been formerly accustomed; who having alledged, before this Council, the Twenty thousand Pounds in Bullion, now desired by them to be exported, hath been had or brought from their own Members; who have caused the same to be brought in: And that, without Leave to export it again, and thus to trade for it, and procure it, the Trade of this Nation to India for Spices, as now constituted, must be discouraged."

"That, for these Reasons, and because the Wisdom of Parliament hath thought fit lately to make a Grant, That the Trade to India, as it is at present managed, shall be yet continued; it is the humble Opinion of this Council,"

"That Licence for this Twenty thousand Pounds in Bullion may at present likewise be granted, if the Wisdom of the Parliament shall please to allow it, on the Conditions as hath formerly been accustomed."

Resolved, That the East India Company have Licence to export to the Value of Twenty thousand Pounds, in Foreign Coin and Bullion, on the Conditions formerly accustomed, in the Ship Welcome, now bound for the Coast of Coromandell.

Ordered, That the Reports in Mr. Thomas Challenor's Hand, from the Council of Trade, be made To-morrowsevennight, when Mr. Speaker takes the Chair.

Irish Commissioners.

Ordered, That Mr. Lechmere do report the Commissions for the Commissioners that are to go into Ireland.

City Officers.

The humble Petition of several Citizens of the City of London, was this Day read.

A Precept from the Mayor of London to the Alderman of the Ward of Dougate, touching Election of Common-councilmen, with a Postscript subscribed to the said Precept, was this Day read.

The Question being propounded, That the whole Election be void;

And the Question being put, That that Question be now put;

The House was divided.

The Noes went forth.

So it passed with the Negative.

Resolved, That the Parliament doth declare, that all Elections of any Officers within the City of London, for the Year ensuing, contrary to the Acts of Parliament in that behalf, and the Rules therein prescribed, are null and void: And that no Person or Persons so elected be admitted to sit, or to execute such Place or Office; but that, in such Cases, a new Election be had, according to the said Acts.

Skippon's &c. Nat.

Ordered, That, on Friday Morning next, a Bill be brought in, and read, for Naturalizing of the Wives of Major General Skippon and of Mr. Strickland, the first Business.

Letter read.

A Letter from the Lord General Cromwell, from Edenburgh, of 16 Decembris 1650, was this Day read.

Mr. Bond reports from the Council of State:

Army.

"That the Council find it necessary, for the Preserving of the Peace of the Southern Parts, that the Three Troops of Dragoons formerly raised for that Service, and added to the Establishment by Order of Parliament, should be continued for some longer time: That the Parliament be moved, that they may be continued upon the Establishment, for Three Months longer: And whereas there were Two Regiments of Foot likewise raised for that Service, and appointed to be commanded by Colonel Heane, and Colonel Bennett; the Council conceive it necessary, that they should be continued for Four Months longer: That it be reported to the Parliament, That Order may be given accordingly, if they shall approve thereof."

Resolved, That the said Three Trcops of Dragcons be continued for Three Months upon the Establishment of the Army.

Resolved, That Two Regiments of Foot, in that Report mentioned, be continued for Four Months longer.

Resolved, That the Committee of the Army be authorized and required to make Payment unto them accordingly.

Resolved, That the Committee of the Army do pursue the Instructions given by the Council of State to them, touching the Payment of those Three Troops of Dragoons; and to make Payment thereof accordingly.