House of Commons Journal Volume 6: 24 March 1649

Die Sabbati, 24 Martii, 1648.

Prayers.

Assessments.

THE House, according to former Order, was this Day resolved into a Grand Committee, upon the Proportions for the Assessments for the Army.

And Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Sir Henry Vane junior was called to the Chair.

Sir Henry Vane left the Chair.

Mr. Speaker again resumed the Chair.

And the House resumed the Debate upon the Rates, brought in by the Committee of the Army, for every County, for the Assessment.

The Question being propounded, That these Rates shall be the Proportions to be charged on each County, for the last Three Months Assessment of the Six Months, with regard, out of the Two thousand Three hundred Thirty Pounds Overplus, to ease those Counties that the House shall think sit to be relieved, in the Proportions formerly laid on them;

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;

It was Resolved, &c. That these Rates shall be the Proportions to be charged on each County, for the last Three Months Assessment of the Six Months, with regard, out of the Two thousand Three hundred Thirty Pounds Overplus, to ease those Counties that the House shall think sit to be relieved, in the Proportions formerly said on them.

Resolved, &c. That Eight hundred Pounds, Parcel of the Two thousand Three hundred Thirty Pounds, be distributed in an Abatement of the Assessment on the Four Northern Counties; viz. Northumberland, Cumberland, Westmorland, and Durham.

Resolved, &c. That Three hundred Pounds, other Parcel of the Two thousand Three hundred Thirty Pounds, be abated out of the Assessment on the County of Lancaster.

Resolved, &c. That Two hundred Pounds, other Parcel of the Two thousand Three hundred Thirty Pounds, be abated out of the Assessment on the County of Chester.

Resolved, &c. That One hundred Pounds, other Parcel of the Two thousand Three hundred Thirty Pounds, be abated out of the Assessment on the County of Nottingham.

Resolved, &c. That One hundred Pounds, other Parcel of the Two thousand Three hundred Thirty Pounds, be abated out of the Assessment on the County of Wilts.

Resolved, &c. That Two hundred Pounds, other Parcel of the Two thousand Three hundred Thirty Pounds, be abated out of the Assessment on the County of Cornwall.

Resolved, &c. That One hundred Pounds, other Parcel of the Two thousand Three hundred Thirty Pounds, be abated out of the Assessment on the County of Salop.

Resolved, &c. That One hundred Pounds, other Parcel of the Two thousand Three hundred Thirty Pounds, be abated out of the Assessment on the County of Derby.

Resolved, &c. That One hundred Pounds, other Parcel of the Two thousand Three hundred Thirty Pounds, be abated out of the Assessment on the County of Leicester.

Resolved, &c. That One hundred Pounds, other Parcel of the Two thousand Three hundred Thirty Pounds, be abated out of the Assessment on the County of Dorsett.

Resolved, &c. That One hundred Fifty Pounds, other Parcel of the Two thousand Three hundred Thirty Pounds, be abated out of the Assessment on the County of Buck'.

Resolved, &c. That Fifty Pounds, other Parcel of the Two thousand Three hundred Thirty Pounds, be abated out of the Assessment on the Borough of Southwark.

Resolved, &c. That Thirty Pounds, other Parcel of the Two thousand Three hundred Thirty Pounds, be abated out of the Assessment on the City of Bristoll.

Resolved, &c. That the Proportions for the first Three Months, be such as they are in the last Bill, rata pro rata.

Ordered, That the Power of the Grand Committee upon this Bill be discharged: And that the same be resumed to the House.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of the Army, to insert Commissioners Names, and fill up the Blanks, and to perfect the Bill upon these Votes; and report it to the House: And all that come to that Committee for that Purpose, to have Voices.

Ordered, That the Proportion for the last Three Months shall be assessed in the several Counties, by a Pound Rate: And that the same Committee do insert a Clause into the Bill, to that Purpose.

Navy.

Colonel Wauton reports from the Council of State:

Right honourable,

WE have, according to your Lordships Order, returned our Opinions of such Increase of Wages as we conceive sitting to be given to the Officers above mentioned, for the time they are, or shall be, in Sea Service: Wherein, for the better Guiding of our Judgments, and your Lordships Approbation thereof, we have set down what the same Officers had respectively from the State, upon the former Rates: As for Rules for Payment of this Increase to such only as shall, upon their Return from Sea, deliver up their Accompts, without Imbezilment of the Stores, or other Abuse to the Commonwealth, we humbly offer to Consideration, That of these Officers there are none but the Boatswain, Gunner, and Carpenter, that have any Trust, with reference to Stores: And these indent for what they receive, to the Surveyor and Officers of the Ordnance, before their going to Sea; and their Places are a sufficient Tye upon them for their respective Fidelities, For the rest, viz. the Captain, Lieutenant, &c.; they are only employed for the Voyage; and there is no way to secure them, but by Security from themselves, or their Friends, to execute their Trusts with Fidelity to the State; or Command to the Treasurer, that he shall not pay them, or any of them, their Wages, till they have brought Testimonial from the Generals of the Fleet, that they have deserved the same, and no ways failed in the Trust reposed in them.

We have not always observed Proportion in these Allowances; though, so much as we could, we have endeavoured it: We allow no Master to a Ship of the Sixth Rate, as conceiving the Captain may, and most-an-end doth, supply both Places: In which regard we have made the Captain's Wages of the Sixth Rate Five Shillings per diem; and the Master's Mate Pay in the Sixth Rate equal to the Master's Mate of the Fifth Rate. We have also augmented the same, or very near the same Wages to Boatswains Mates, Carpenters Mates, Gunners Mates, Quartermasters, Quartermasters Mates, and Quarter Gunners, of the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Rates, in regard those Officers allowed in Ships of the First, Second, and Third Rate are generally double, or, at least, more in Number than the same Officers in Ships of the Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Rates; as you may perceive, if you consult the Rates. All which we leave to your grave Considerations; and remain at your Lordships Commands.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Council of State, to give the Rewards to the several Officers, at their Return home, as they shall think fit in their Discretions, not exceeding the Proportions contained in this Report.

Westminster Militia.

Ordered, That the Committee of the Militia for Westminster, and Parts adjacent, have the Use of such Rooms in Worcester House, for their Sitting, and to keep their Arms and Magazines in, as shall be thought fit for that Occasion, until this House take further Order.

Adjournment.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth adjourn itself until Tuesday Morning next.

Transporting Horses.

Ordered, That Sir Henry Withipoole have Leave to transport Two Horses beyond Sea, Custom and Impost free.