Wednesday, June the 22d, 1659.

Prayers.

Bedford Petition.

THE House being informed, That divers Gentlemen of the County of Bedford were at the Door; They were called in: And being come to the Bar of this House, one of the Petitioners said, "That many of the well-affected of the County of Bedford do, by us their Substitutes, humbly present this their humble Petition: And thereupon delivered the Petition: Which, after the Petitioners were withdrawn, was read; and was intituled, "The humble Representation and Petition of many Hundreds of the Well-affected of the County of Bedford, Justices of the Peace, Ministers, Freeholders, and other Inhabitants of the same."

Resolved, That the Petitioners have the Thanks of this House for their Petition.

The Petitioners were again called in: And Mr. Speaker gave them this Answer:

"Gentlemen,"

"The House hath read your Petition; and they find in it much Sobriety and Temperance, and many Expressions of good Affections: Those Things that concern the Publick, they are upon settling, as may be most for the Publick Good: And, for your good Affections and Expressions, I am commanded by the House to give you Thanks: And, in their Names, I do give you the Thanks of this House, for your good Affections and Expressions."

Fire at Blunham.

The humble Petition of divers poor Inhabitants of Blunham in the County of Bedford; and a Certificate, thereunto annexed, of the Justices of Peace of the said County, were both this Day read.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Commissioners for the Great Seal, to grant a Patent under the Great Seal, in usual Form, for a Charitable Contribution within the Cities of London and Westminster, and the Four next adjacent Counties, for Relief of the Petitioners, who have suffered great Loss by Fire.

Wilts Petition.

The humble Representation and Petition of divers well-affected Inhabitants of the County of Wilts was this Day read.

Resolved, That the Petitioners be called in: And that they have the Thanks of this House.

The Petitioners were called in, accordingly: And, being come to the Bar, Mr. Speaker gave this Answer to their Petition:

"Gentlemen,"

"The House hath read your Petition; and find a great deal of Sobriety and Wisdom in it, and many Expressions of good Affection: And they have commanded me to give you the Thanks of this House for your Petition, and your good Affections and Expressions: And I do give you the Thanks of this House for your good Affections and Expressions, accordingly.

Contribution of Offices.

Ordered, That it be referred to a Committee, to confer with the Ministerial Officers of the several Offices in the Courts about Westminster, the Prerogative Courts, and other Courts, about advancing a Year's Profit of the respective Offices, for the present Supply of the Service of the State; to be repaid out of the Profits that shall come to the Publick out of the Offices now void, or that shall become void, and be in the Gift of the Commonwealth; and to consider, What Offices are void, and now in the Gift of the Commonwealth; and report them to this House: Viz. unto Mr. Nevill, Sir Arthur Hesilrig, Mr. Weaver, Major Salway, Colonel Bennett, Mr. Say, Colonel Martyn, Mr. John Goodwyn, Mr. Trenchard, Mr. Lowrey, Mr. Solicitor Reynolds, Colonel Barker, Mr. Smith, Mr. Richard Darley, Sir Richard Lucy, Colonel Purefoy, Mr. Leman, Sir Henry Vane, Mr. Hallowes, Colonel Hutchinson, Mr. Pigot, Mr. Nelthrop, Mr. Challoner, Sir Henry Mildmay, Mr. Scot, Mr. Weston, Sir James Harrington, Mr. Dormer, Mr. Ralegh, Mr. Pury junior, Mr. Blagrave; or any Five: And are to meet, in the Speaker's Chamber, this Afternoon, at Three of the Clock.

New Buildings.

Colonel Martyn reports from the Committee appointed to consider, What ready Cash was in the Hands of the Commissioners, Collectors, or Treasurers, for New Buildings;

Excise, &c.

Ordered, That Colonel Martyn, Colonel White, Major Salwey, Major Lister, Mr. Robinson, Baron Thorpe, Mr. Say, do withdraw upon the Bill concerning the Excise and Customs.

Impresting Seamen.

A Bill for Impresting of Seamen was this Day read the First time.

Resolved, That this Bill be now read the Second time.

The said Bill was now read the Second time, accordingly; and, upon the Question, committed unto Mr. Robinson, Lord Whitlock, Mr. Martin, Colonel Morley, Colonel Bennet, Colonel Rich, Alderman Atkins, Colonel Sydney, Mr. Smith, Colonel Waite, Mr. Leman, Colonel Peter Temple, Mr. Trenchard, Mr. Harby, Colonel Morley, Mr. Rich. Darley, Colonel Walton, Mr. Strickland, Sir Henry Mildmay, Sir Wm. Strickland, Major-General Skippon, Alderman Pennington, Mr. Fagg, Major Salwey, Earl of Penbrooke, Colonel Thompson, Sir John Bourchier, Mr. Christopher Martin, Mr. Hallowes; or any Five of them: And are to meet in the Duchy-Court this Afternoon, at Three of the Clock.

Col. Jones.

Ordered, That Mr. Hallowes be added to the Committee touching Colonel Jones.

Sheriff of Kent.

Resolved, That Thomas Plummer Esquire be High Sheriff of the County of Kent for the rest of this Year.

Excise, &c.

Colonel White reports, from the Committee ordered to withdraw, The Amendments to the Bill intituled, An additional Act for bringing in all Arrears, and also the growing Duty of Excise, New Impost, Customs, Subsidies, and Prize-Goods, until the First Day of October 1659.

Resolved, That instead of the Words "continued and established," in the Eighth Line, the Word "enacted" be inserted.

Resolved, That, in the Twelfth Line, these Words, "and Authorities," be omitted; and the Word "and" be inserted in the same Line, next after the Word "Ordinances;" and that, in the same Line, the Word "Authority" be left out.

A Proviso was tendered to this Act, in these Words; viz. "Provided always, That this Act, nor any thing herein contained, shall not extend to the Raising or Levying of any Excise or Custom, upon the Transportation of any Horses, Cattle, Goods, or Commodities, of the Growth or Manufacture of Ireland into England; nor of any Horses, Cattle, Goods, or Commodities, of the Growth or Manufactory of England, transported into Ireland; all which are hereby declared to be free from all manner of Excise and Customs, as those that go from Port to Port in any other Part of this Commonwealth; any Law, Act, or Ordinance to the contrary in anywise notwithstanding;" Which Proviso was read the First time.

And the Question being read, That this Proviso be read the Second time;

It passed with the Negative; and, upon the Question, rejected.

Another Proviso was tendered to the Bill; To take off Excise and Customs imposed upon Fish; and to deliver up Bonds or Recognizances entered into for Payment thereof.

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

It passed with the Negative.

Another Proviso was tendered to this Bill; To take off Excise and Custom from Tin.

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

It passed with the Negative.

And the said Bill, being put to the Question, passed.

Ordered, That this Act be printed and published.

Irish Commissioners.

Ordered, That Colonel Sydney do report the Instructions to be given to the Commissioners for managing the Government of Ireland, To-morrow Morning, the First Business, next after Mr. Speaker taketh the Chair.

Petition from Middlesex.

The House being informed, that divers Gentlemen of the County of Middlesex were at the Door;

They were called in:

And, being at the Bar, Mr. Hobert, one of the Petitioners, said, "I am commanded, by many of your Friends, to tender their real Affections to this House; with their humble Petition:" Which, after the Petitioners were withdrawn, was read; and was intituled, "The humble Address of divers of the Inhabitants of the County of Middlesex, in the Name of themselves, and others well-affected in the said County."

Resolved, That Mr. Speaker do give the Petitioners the hearty Thanks of this House.

The Petitioners were again called in: And Mr. Speaker gave them this Answer:

"Gentlemen,"

"The House hath read your Petition; and do observe it to be a sober, discreet, and judicious Petition; and it expresseth many good Affections to them: And they have commanded me to give you their hearty Thanks: And, in their Names, I do give you hearty Thanks."

Navy Commissions.

The House being informed, that some Officers of Ships were at the Door;

They were called in; And came to the Clerk's Table, in usual Manner: And, standing there, Mr. Speaker did acquaint them with the great Trust the Parliament did repose in them; and that the Parliament doth expect their Faithfulness to the Parliament, and the Commonwealth: And thereupon did deliver unto Captain Robert Makey his Commission to be Captain of the Yarmouth Frigat.

To Henry Tearne, his Commission to be Lieutenant of the James Frigat.