House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 16 April 1652

Journal of the House of Commons: Volume 7, 1651-1660. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1802.

'House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 16 April 1652', in Journal of the House of Commons: Volume 7, 1651-1660, (London, 1802) pp. 121-123. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/commons-jrnl/vol7/pp121-123 [accessed 26 April 2024]

Friday, the 16th of April, 1652.

Prayers.

Claims on Publick Faith.

ORDERED, That the Committee to whom the Business touching the Publick Faith is referred, do make Report thereof this Day Sevennight: And that Sir James Harrington do take care that the Report be prepared, and made fit to be reported, in the mean time.

Eastland Merchants.

The humble Petition of the Eastland Company of Merchants residing in Dantzigh was this Day read.

State of the Navy.

Colonel Thompson reports, from the Committee of the Navy, the State of the Navy.

An ESTIMATE of the Charge of the Fleet and Convoys for this Year's Service; and for Building of Ships, Providing of Ordnance, and of such Monies as stands charged on the Committee for the Navy.



	£.	s.	d.
BY so much proper to the last Year's Service, for Service done, and Provisions received into the Stores before the 25th of December 1651, which was then unpaid	100,000	-	-
The Charge of the Summer's Guard, with the several Fleets abroad, and of 4,030 Men for Convoys, according to Estimates thereof, already delivered into the Parliament, is	613,704	-	-
For Fitting and Setting-forth the Sovereign and James to Sea, with 900 Men, for Six Months,	21,600	-	-
For Building of Eleven Ships; viz. One of the Second Rate, One of the Third Rate, Six of the Fourth Rate, and Three of the Sixth Rate; and for Fitting the same;	65,000	-	-
For Buying of 335 Pieces of Ordnance, which the Sovereign, and other Ships, wants; if of Brass, will cost 67,200 l.; if of Iron,	13,520	-	-
Monies charged upon the Customs, by Order of Parliament, for Provision of Powder not proper to the Navy,	13,666	13	4
Monies payable to the Judges of the Admiralty,	1,500	-	-
Payable to the Earl of Nott.	500	-	-
Sum is	£.829,490	13	4
Memorandum. There is due, for Freight of Shipping, in the Years 1644, 1645, 1646, &c.
Towards which the Committee have
only the Assignations following; viz.




The Receipts of the Customs, which, besides the Argiere Duty, and the Impost upon Coals, received for the Use of the Poor, are estimated to be, clear of all Charges	250,000	-	-
Excise of Salt	15,000	-	-
Additional Excise	6,000	-	-
More, receivable out of the Excise, by Order of Parliament of the Second of September 1651,	100,000	-	-
More by Estimate, that may arise out of Discoveries that have been made by the Lord Baltemore and Mr. Maidwell	5,000	-	-
Prize-Goods per Estimate,
Sum is	£. 376,000	-	-
So, remains to be provided for Carrying on of the said Service, £. 453,490	-	-

Ordered, by the Parliament, That this Report be recommitted to the Committee of the Navy, to consider how this Sum of Money may be raised and provided for carrying on this Business; and report their Opinion therein to the Parliament, on this Day Fortnight.

Resolved, That it be referred to the Committee of the Navy, to take a particular Accompt of the Prize-Goods; and report to the House the State of that Accompt on this Day Month.

Navy Auditors.

Colonel Thompson also reports from the Committee of the Navy:

WHEREAS, by an Act of Parliament, passed the 8th of August 1649, for taking the Accompts of the Navy and Customs, all Persons who, since the Sitting of this Parliament, have been, and hereafter shall be, Commissioners of the Customs, Collectors for Prize-Goods, Treasurers and Victuallers for the Navy, Lieutenants and Officers for the Ordinance, &c. are required forthwith to accompt, before the Auditors of the Prests, that now are, or shall be, appointed by Parliament: And whereas, by an Order of Parliament, dated the same Day, it was referred to this Committee, to consider who were Auditors of the Prests, and the Number of them; and whether it were necessary to increase their Number, and to nominate such others as they should think fit, if there were Cause; and to present their Names, and what Allowances are fit to be made unto them, to the House; this Committee, in pursuance of the said Order, did call before them Mr. George Bingley, and Mr. Bartholomew Beale, the present Auditors of the Prests; and, upon examining of them, and their Abilities, on the 30th of the said Month of August, passed these ensuing Votes:

Resolved, That the said Mr. Bingley and Mr. Beale be continued Auditors of the Prests, in relation to the Accompts mentioned in the said Act.

Resolved, That the said Auditors, for and in respect of their Service, shall have Five hundred Pounds per Ann. apiece allowed unto them for themselves and their Clerks; including all Charges for House-rent, Pens, Ink, Paper, and Parchment, and all other incident Expences; to be paid quarterly unto them by the said Treasurer of the Navy: And shall have no other Fee or Salary from the Commonwealth, or of any other Person, for any Accompts by them to be made, in relation to the said Act.

Upon Consideration whereof had by the Parliament, it was on the 14th of September 1649, resolved, That the said George Bingley and Barth. Beale should be the Auditors of the Prests, in relation to the said Accompts.

That the Parliament not having appointed any Salary to the said Auditors, on the 16th of July 1650, they presented their Petition to this Committee, praying an Allowance of Salary for themselves and Clerks, for the Carrying on of this Service; they having entered upon several great Accompts, and since dispatched some of them.

Whereupon this Committee imprested unto them 500 l. and 500 l. more upon their Petition in July.

And the said Auditors having now again presented their humble Desires for a certain yearly Salary to be appointed unto them, to enable them to proceed on in the said Service; upon Consideration thereof had, It is

Resolved, as the Opinion of this Committee, That the House be moved to consider of That Part of their former Report, of the 30th of August 1640, touching the Allowances for the said Auditors: And that the same may commence from the 14th of September 1649.

Resolved, That it be reported to the Parliament, as the Opinion of this Committee, That Mr. Wm. Scott be one of the Auditors of the Prests, in the room of Mr. Bingley, deceased.

Resolved, by the Parliament, That a yearly Salary of Five hundred Pounds be allowed unto each of the Auditors of the Prests, for and in respect of their Service, for themselves and their Clerks; including all Charges for House-rent, Pens, Ink, Paper, and Parchment, and all other incident Expences: And shall have no other Fee or Salary from the Commonwealth, or of any other Person, for any Accompt by them to be made, in relation to the Act for taking the Accompts of the Navy and Customs.

Resolved, That the said yearly Salaries of Five hundred Pounds apiece to the Auditors, be paid quarterly by the Treasurer of the Navy, by Warrant from the Committee of the Navy.

Resolved, by the Parliament, That Mr. Wm. Scott be one of the Auditors of the Prests, in the room of Mr. Bingley, deceased.

Resolved, That a Time be limited for the Continuance of the Auditors of the Prest.

Resolved, That Mr. Bartholomew Beale and Mr. Wm. Scott be Auditors of the Prest for the Space of Three Years.

Treaty with Holland.

Resolved, That the Council of State be required to expedite the Treaty with the United Provinces to Effect, with Speed, and to give an Account thereof to the Parliament.

Lady Gorges' Claim.

The Question being put, That the Business touching the Title of the Lady Gorges to the Office of the Sixpeny Writs in Chancery, be referred to the Commissioners for Compounding, to hear and determine the same;

The House was divided.

The Yeas went forth.



Lord Gray,	Tellers for the Yeas:	26.
Mr. Challoner,	With the Yeas,	26.
Ld. Com. Whitelock,	Tellers for the Noes:	13.
Sir Henry Mildmay,	With the Noes,	13.

So it was Resolved by the Parliament, that the Business touching the Title of the Lady Gorges to the Office of the Sixpeny Writs in Chancery, be referred to the Commissioners for Compounding, to hear and determine the same.

The Question being propounded, That Sir Wm. Allenson be desired to go to the Commissioners for Compounding, to inform them with what he knows, for the Advantage of the Commonwealth, in the Business touching the Lady Gorge's Title to the Office of Sixpeny Writs in Chancery;

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

The House was divided.

The Noes went forth.



Lord Grey,	Tellers for the Noes:	18.
Earl of Pembroke,	With the Noes,	18.
Lord Mounson,	Tellers for the Yeas:	19.
Mr. Bond,	With the Yeas,	19.

And the main Question being put;

The House was again divided.

The Yeas went forth.



Lord Com. Lisle,	Tellers for the Noes:	21.
Colonel Rich,	With the Noes,	21.
Lord Mounson,	Tellers for the Yeas:	16.
Sir Henry Mildmay,	With the Yeas,	16.

So it passed with the Negative.

Lord Lovelace's Fine.

The humble Petition of John Lord Lovelace was this Day read.

Resolved, That the Sum of Four hundred Pounds, Part of the Fine of Seven thousand Three hundred Seventy-two Pounds, set upon John Lord Lovelace, for his Composition, be abated: And that Three Months further Time be given to the said John Lord Lovelace, for the Payment in of the Remainder of his said Fine upon his said Composition.

The House, according to former Order, adjourned itself to Tuesday Morning next, Eight of Clock.