Tuesday, the 16th of January, 1654.

Equal Assessments.

RESOLVED, upon the Question, That the Business touching the more equal proportioning the Assessments, be adjourned till Monday next.

Settling the Government.

The House resumed the Debate upon the Report made Yesterday by Dr. Stephens, for an Addition to the Bill for the Government.

And the whole Question, upon the Second Clause reported, with the Amendment of 1659 to 1656, being propounded;

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

It passed with the Affirmative.

And the main Question being put; It was, in these Words,

Resolved; And that the yearly Sum of Seven hundred thousand Pounds more, arising by Excise, or other publick Receipts, in England, Scotland, and Ireland, shall be provided by Parliament, and paid out of the Exchequer, by Warrant of the Lord Protector, and the Council, for the Maintenance and full Discharge of such Field Forces as shall be thought needful to be kept up for the Defence of this Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and the Dominions thereunto belonging; and for the Payment, and full Discharge of such Forces in Garisons, and Naval Charges, and all incident Charges belonging to every of them, as shall not be satisfied and paid out of the Four hundred thousand Pounds aforesaid; which said Seven hundred thousand Pounds shall continue, and be paid until the Five-and-twentieth of December One thousand Six hundred Fifty-and-six, unless the Lord Protector, and the Parliament, shall agree to lessen the said Sum before that Time.

And the Question being put, That this be Part of the Government;

The House was divided.

The Yeas went forth.

So it passed with the Negative.

Eodem die, post Meridiem.

Settling the Government.

THE Question being propounded, That the First Clause, touching the Four hundred thousand Pounds, shall be Part of the Gouernment;

Settling the Government.

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.

The Question being propounded, That the Sum of Four hundred thousand Pounds, arising by the Customs and other publick Receipts, in England, Scotland, and Ireland, shall be yearly paid out of the publick Receipts of the Exchequer, by Warrant of the Lord Protector and the Council, for and towards the Maintenance of a convenient Number of Ships, for Guarding of the Seas, and Securing and Encouragement of Trade, and the Maintenance of such Garisons as shall be necessary for the Defence of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and the Dominions thereunto belonging; which Revenue shall continue, and not be altered without Consent of the Lord Protector, and the Parliament: And that the yearly Sum of Seven hundred thousand Pounds more, arising by Excise, or other publick Receipts, in England, Scotland, and Ireland, shall be provided by Parliament, and paid out of the Exchequer, by Warrant of the Lord Protector and the Council, for the Maintenance and full Discharge of such Field-Forces, as shall be thought needful to be kept up for the Defence of this Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and the Dominions thereunto belonging; and for the Payment, and full Discharge, of such Forces in Garisons, and Naval Charges, and all incident Charges belonging to every of them, as shall not be satisfied and paid out of the Four hundred thousand Pounds aforesaid: Which said Seven hundred thousand Pounds shall continue and be paid until the Twenty-fifth of December 1656, unless the Lord Protector, and the Parliament, shall agree to lessen the said Sum before that Time;

And the Question being propounded, That the Time for Continuance of the Seven hundred thousand Pounds, in this Question, shall be One thousand Six hundred Fifty and Nine, instead of One thousand Six hundred Fifty and Six;

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

The House was divided.

The Noes went forth.

So it passed with the Affirmative.

And the main Question being put;

The House was again divided.

The Yeas went forth.

So it passed with the Affirmative.

And the First Question, so amended, being put; It was

Resolved, upon the Question, That the Sum of Four hundred thousand Pounds, arising by the Customs, and other publick Receipts, in England, Scotland, and Ireland, shall be yearly paid out of the publick Receipts of the Exchequer, by Warrant of the Lord Protector and the Council, for and towards the Maintenance of a convenient Number of Ships for Guarding of the Seas, and Securing and Encouragement of Trade, and the Maintenance of such Garisons as shall be necessary for the Defence of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and the Dominions thereunto belonging; which Revenue shall continue, and not be altered without Consent of the Lord Protector, and the Parliament: And that the yearly Sum of Seven hundred thousand Pounds more, arising by Excise, or other publick Receipts, in England, Scotland, and Ireland, shall be provided by Parliament, and paid out of the Exchequer, by Warrant of the Lord Protector, and the Council, for the Maintenance and full Discharge of such Field-Forces, as shall be thought needful to be kept up for the Defence of this Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and the Dominions thereunto belonging; and for the Payment and full Discharge of such Forces in Garisons, and Naval Charges, and all incident Charges belonging to every of them, as shall not be satisfied and paid out of the Four hundred thousand Pounds aforesaid: Which said Seven hundred thousand Pounds shall continue, and be paid, until the Twenty-fifth of December One thousand Six hundred Fifty and Nine, unless the Lord Protector, and the Parliament, shall agree to lessen the said Sum before that Time: And that this be Part of the Government.

A Proviso was tendered to this Bill, to declare, That this Act shall not prejudice the Government declared at Westminster, &c.; unless the Lord Protector shall give his Consent to the same.

And the Question being put, That the same Proviso be received;

It passed with the Negative.

The Question being put, That the House do now adjourn;

The House was divided.

The Yeas went forth.

So it passed with the Negative.

The Question being put, That there be a previous Vote or Declaration touching this Bill, before the Question for Ingrossing, That this Bill shall not be a Law, without the Lord Protector's Consent;

The House was divided.

The Yeas went forth.

So it passed with the Negative.

A Clause was tendered to the Bill, in these Words; viz. "That the Parliament sitting, the Lord Protector, by Consent of Parliament, shall dispose and order the Militia for the Peace and Good of the Commonwealth: and that, in the Intervals of Parliament, the Lord Protector, by Advice and Consent of the major Part of the Council, shall dispose and order the said Militia for the Ends aforesaid:" Which was read the First time.

And the Question being put, That it be read a Second time;

The House was divided.

The Yeas went forth.

So it passed with the Negative.