Die Mercurii, 23 Maii, 1649.

Prayers.

Mennes' Marriage.

THE Form of a Commission to Delegates, to hear and determine the Case of Margaret Mennes, Daughter of Sir Matthew Mennes, touching a Pretence of Marriage or Nullity, was this Day read.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee appointed to consider of what is fit to be done in the Business of Probate of Wills, Administration, Marriages, and Divorce: Who are required to meet; and to bring in the Act To-morrow Morning.

Alimony.

Ordered, That it be referred to the same Committee, to consider likewise of Cases of Alimony; and report their Opinions to the House with Speed.

Alnage.

Ordered, That Sir Henry Myldmay do make Report of the Business touching Alnage To-morrow Morning.

Commissioners of Assessment.

Ordered, That the several and respective Persons, hereafter named, be authorized and appointed to be Commissioners, with others already appointed, for the Assessment of the Ninety thousand Pounds per mensem, for the several Counties, Cities, and Places, hereafter named, respectively: and be hereby impowered to act therein, according to the several Powers and Authorities given to the Commissioners for the said Assessment, in an Act of this present Parliament, intituled, An Act for raising of Ninety thousand Pounds per mensem, for the Maintenance of the Forces raised by Authority of Parliament for the Service of England and Ireland, for Six Months, from the Twenty-fifth of March 1749, to the Twenty-ninth of September 1649, together with the Commissioners named in that Act: and one other Act of this present Parliament, intituled, An additional Act for Commissioners in the several Counties, for the Assessment of the Ninety thousand Pounds per mensem; viz.
Com' Oxon,

John Carey of Ditchly, Robert Standard, John Palmer of Bampton, Thomas Hinton, Mr. Lancelot Graynger, Mr. Henry Marten of Moore, John Crispe, John Cartwright, John Wilmer, William Goodwyn, Nicolas Harman High Sheriff, William Woodward of Stratton Audeley, John Garrard, Thomas Butler, Sir Thomas Peniston.

For the City of Exeter,

Mr. Thomas Ford Merchant, Mr. John Doone, Mr. Henry Prig, Major James Pearce, Major Thomas Sanders, Governor of Exon.

For the Town and County of Haverford West,

Arnold Thomas Esquire, Maurice Canon Esquire, William Williams Esquire, William Bowen Esquire, John Milward Gentleman.

Lincolne,

The Alderman of Grantham for the time being.

The City and County of Litchfeild,

That the Commissioners appointed for the County of Stafford * * * *.

Rutland,

Benjamin Norton Esquire.

Delinquents Fines.

Mr. John Ash reports from the Commissioners for compounding with Delinquents, divers Resolutions of that Committee: Which were read. And accordingly,

It was Resolved, &c. That the Reports of all such Fines as have not passed either House, shall be forthwith drawn up, and presented to the Commissioners mentioned in the Act, intituled, An Act prescribing certain Times to Delinquents, for perfecting their Compositions for their Approbation, in order to a final Discharge.

Resolved, &c. That the said Reports shall be made to the Commissioners aforesaid, in Order of time as they were set; and not otherwise.

Resolved, &c. That, such Reports being made, and the Fines allowed and confirmed by the said Commissioners, a final Discharge shall issue forth to every such Compounder, according to the Authority and Directions expressed in the said Act: And, if any Compounder shall not pay in his whole Fine within Six Weeks after his Composition shall be allowed and confirmed as aforesaid, that then he shall incur the full Penalties expressed in the aforesaid Act.

Resolved, &c. That the Cases of all Delinquents Compounders, who have petitioned for Mitigation of their Compositions, and all such whose Reports are not yet made to this House, and are ordered to be specially reported, except all such as are secluded by the Vote made the Nineteenth of May 1649, shall be, and hereby are, referred unto the Commissioners at Goldsmiths Hall; to hear and determine all the said Cases; the said Commissioners proceeding therein according to the Rules for Compositions given them by the House; and according to such Articles as the Compounder hath just Right unto; the said Articles being allowed and confirmed by both or either House of Parliament.

Ordered, That these Votes be forthwith printed and published.

Delinquents.

Major Salway reports from the Committee of Goldsmiths Hall, certain Resolutions of that Committee: Which were read.

Ordered, That it be referred back to the same Committee, to prepare an Act to the Purpose of these Resolutions; and to bring it in to the House with all Speed.

Ordered, That the Clerk of this House do forthwith peruse the Journals and Records of either House respectively, concerning such Fines as have been immediately imposed upon any Person, by both or either House: And that the same be forthwith transmitted and certified to the Commissioners for Compositions, sitting at Goldsmiths Hall.

Tower Hamlets Militia.

The Act for settling the Militia of the Hamlets within the Tower of London was this Day read the Third time; and some Additions and Amendments offered at the Table: Which were, upon the Question, agreed.

And the Act, so amended, was, upon the Question, passed.

Ordered, That this Act be forthwith printed and published.

Castles in Kent.

Mr. Heveningham reports from the Council of State, the Opinion of the said Council, touching the repairing and fortifying the Three Castles in the Downes.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of the Revenue, to make Payment of the Monies already disbursed, in repairing the Three Castles in the Downes: And that it be referred to the Council of State, to give Order for the Repairing of the said Castles, to make them defensible, and fit for the Soldiers to lodge in; so as the Charge thereof do not exceed the Sum of One thousand Pounds.

Ordered, That the said Sum of One thousand Pounds be charged upon the public Revenue, to be paid out of the Portion formerly appointed to the Queen of Bohemia, before Midsummer next.

Late King's Children.

Ordered, That the Business touching the Earl of Northumberland, and the Children of the late King, be taken into Consideration To-morrow Morning.

Prisoners.

Ordered, That Mr. Lechmere do report the Bill for Prisoners on Saturday next.

Soldiers Widows.

Ordered, That the Petition of the Widows of Soldiers and Officers be taken into Consideration on Saturday next: And that Mr. Speaker do put the House in mind thereof.

Dutch Officers.

Ordered, That Sir Wm. Brereton do make Report touching the Dutch Officers on Friday next.

Deans and Chapters Lands, &c.

Mr. Allen reports from the Committee for removing Obstructions in the Sale of the Deans and Chapters Lands, some Obstructions in bringing in Money, presented in an humble Representation of the Trustees for Dean and Chapters Lands: Which was read.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee for removing Obstructions in the Sale of Bishops Lands, to consider of the Monies lent by Sir Thomas Soame, now owing to Nathaniel Parker, of Graies Inn, Esquire, touching the Allowing of the same out of the Sale of Deans and Chapters Lands.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee for removing Obstructions in the Sale of Bishops Lands, to take into Consideration, and propound unto the House, some Instructions and Rules to be given to the Trustees for Sale of Dean and Chapters Lands, directing what Monies, Horse, Arms, &c. lent and advanced to the Use of the Publick, shall be admitted to double upon the Act; to the end the Three hundred thousand Pounds, intended to be raised on that Act, may most speedily be advanced for the Service of England and Ireland: And all the Members of the House that come to this Committee, as to this Purpose, are to have Voices.

Ordered, That it be likewise referred to the same Committee, to take into Consideration the Sums of Monies raised by Colonel Bingham, for the Service of the Garison of Poole; and report their Opinion to the House, touching the admitting the respective Persons, by whom those Monies were advanced, to double upon the Act for Deans and Chapters Lands.

Ordered, That it be likewise referred to the same Committee, to take into Consideration the Sum of Nine hundred Pounds, alledged to be lent by the City of Sarum, for which there were Bills given for the Public Faith, which were plundered by the Forces raised against the Parliament; and to report their Opinion to the House touching the Admitting of the City of Sarum to come in, upon Doubling, upon the Act for Sale of Dean and Chapters Lands.

Ordered, That it be likewise referred to the same Committee, to consider of the Monies lent for the publick Use, in the County of Devon; and report the Opinions to the House, touching the Admitting of the several Persons to come in, by way of Doubling, on the Act for Sale of Dean and Chapters Lands.

Ditto.

Mr. Scott reports from the Council of State, a Paper brought in to them, by the Trustees for the Sale of Dean and Chapters Lands.

Ordered, That it be referred back to the Council of State, to consider of the said Paper; and to give Order for Payment of such Monies as they shall think fit, for the carrying on the Service, not exceeding the Sum of Five hundred Pounds per Week, for Twenty Weeks.

Letter to the General.

Commissary General Ireton reports the Form of a Letter, to be sent from the House, signed by Mr. Speaker, to the General: Which was read; and, upon the Question, assented unto.

Universities.

Mr. Challenor reports from the Committee for Reformation of the Universities of Oxon and Cambridge, the Names of Four Visitors, to be added for carrying on the Work of Reformation in the University of Oxon; viz. That Colonel Scroope be added, in the place of Mr. Wm. Packer; Lieutenant Colonel Kelsey, in the place of Mr. Wm. Prymme; Mr. Thomas Appletree, in the place of Sir Wm. Cobbe, and Mr. Christopher Goad.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth concur with the Committee therein.

Ordered, That Colonel Scroope, Lieutenant Colonel Kelsey, Mr. Thomas Appletree, and Mr. Christopher Goad, be added to be Visitors of the University of Oxon.

Oxford University.

A Letter from the General and General Officers of the Army, touching the setting up of a Lecture in the University of Oxon, for Exposition of Scriptures, was this Day read.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee for regulating the Universities, to consider of the said Letter; and how such Lecture may be settled in the University; and propound it to the House.

Acts to be reported.

Ordered, That the Three several Acts, now in Commissary General Ireton's Hands, be reported To-morrow Morning, next after the Business formerly appointed for that Day.