Die Jovis, 19 Septembris, 1650.

Prayers.

Letter to French King.

COLONEL Morley reports from the Council of State, A Letter to be sent to the French King.

Which was this Day read.

Resolved, That the Door be shut till Twelve a Clock.

Ordered, That it be referred back to the Council of State, to consider of the whole Proceedings of Mr. Osier; and what hath been done, both at Derby House and the Council of State, in that Business touching the Demand of Reparation to be made by the State of France, for the Damages sustained by the Merchants of this Commonwealth, and by the State; and state the whole Matter of Fact; and that they report the same to the House on Tuesday next.

Volunteers.

Major General Harrison reports from the Committee, Amendments to the Bill for the Encouragement and Indemnity of such Persons as voluntarily engage themselves in the Service of the Parliament, in this Time of common Danger: Which were twice read.

The Question being put, To agree to the Amendments in the Title;

It passed with the Negative.

All the other Amendments, being put to the Question, were assented unto.

The Question being put, That the said Act be ingrossed;

It passed with the Negative.

And the said Act, so amended, being put to the Question, passed: And

It is Ordered, That the said Act be forthwith printed and published.

Ordered, That Captain John Owen, Mr. John Greensmith, Captain John Stone, Nathaniel Andrewes, Wm. Allen, Henry Brawdreth, Jonathan Read, James Haies, Captain John Foach, Captain Roe, Wm. Tredwell, Richard Hutchinson, and Richard Lloyd, be added to the Militia of the City of London, as to the Powers given by this Act to the several Militias, for indemnifying the Persons mentioned in this Act only.

Ordered, That Matthias Valentine, Noah Bancks, and Wm. Dashwood, be added to the Militia of the City of Westminster, as to the Powers given by this Act to the several Militias, for indemnifying the Persons mentioned in this Act only.

Ordered, That Isaac Dewry be added to the Militia for the Borough of Southwark, as to the Powers given by this Act to the several Militias, for indemnifying the Persons mentioned in this Act only.

Ordered, That Edward Warnetts, Captain Tayler, Captain John King, Richard Lowton, Lieutenant Colonel Levetts, and Thomas Hall, be added to the Militia for the Hamlets of the Tower, as to the Powers given by this Act to the several Militias, for indemnifying the Persons mentioned in this Act only.

Universities.

Ordered, That Major Salwey, Mr. Cawley, Mr. Strickland, Mr. Holland, Lieutenant General Ludlow, Mr. Moyle, Mr. Hill, Mr.Carey, and Mr. Hallowes, be added to the Committee for regulating the Universities.

Militia.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Council of State, to consider how the Business of the Militias in the several Counties may be ordered and managed for the best Profit and Safety of the Commonwealth; and to report the same to the House on Tuesday next.

Excise.

Colonel Thompson reports from the Committee of the Excise, Amendments to the Act for the Excise; which was only an Omission of the Proviso for reimbursing the present Commissioners before they be removed.

He likewise reports from the Committee for regulating the Excise; viz.

THAT about Three Months since an Overture was made, from certain Members of the Right honourable the Council of State, in the Behalf of the Commonwealth, to the Commissioners of Excise now being, for the Loan of Twenty thousand Pounds, for carrying on the Publick Affairs, upon the Security of Two Acts of Parliament, of the Twenty-ninth of June 1649; and 15 Maii 1650, for Securing of Monies to Lenders out of the Excise.

That the said Commissioners did demur upon the same: However, considering the Emergency of the Occasion, it being for and towards the providing Two Months Pay for the Marching Army, they did consent; and accordingly did lend Ten thousand Pounds thereof upon the Credit, as Commissioners of Excise; being very confident, that, if their Time should expire before the Cause thereof should come, that Care would be taken for their Reimbursement, as in the Case of the former Ten thousand Pounds, lent for the Service of the Navy: Both which Sums being lent as Commissioners of Excise, they humbly conceive it most equal and reasonable they should be reimbursed the same before Removal; there being divers other large Sums which they have freely lent to the Parliament, as in their particular Capacities, which are not included in either of the Two Ten thousand Pounds.

"In answer to your Honours Proposition of 23 Augusti, for Advance of Ten thousand Pounds for reimbursing the old Commissioners for Excise;"

"It is offered to Consideration, That, with all Thankfulness, we do acknowledge the Parliament's Favour, in committing so great a Trust into our Hands; assuring our utmost Endeavours to answer their Expectations in this Service."

"And although the Proposition is altogether unexpected by us, and that we have laid out and suffered very much upon the Publick Account, &c.; yet to shew our Readiness to comply with the Parliament's Desire in raising the said Sum, we are willing to advance the same, so as we may have the same Salary and Security they had; and not to be removed, until we shall be reimbursed, in the same manner as the old Commissioners are to be."

"Nevertheless we do humbly offer and desire, rather to serve the State for the Salary propounded by the Parliament for the new Commissioners, than to lend the Money upon the former Salary and Security."

In pursuance of an Order of Parliament, of the Twoand-twentieth of this instant August, this Committee sent for the present Commissioners for the Excise; who, on Friday last, appearing, this Committee asked them Two Questions:

"1. Whether or no, in case the Parliament should think fit to appoint new Commissioners of Excise, they would be content to receive their first Ten thousand Pounds, in Course, upon the Security of the Orders of Parliament, as it now stands, with Interest after the Rate of Eight Pounds per Centum, till the same should be paid."

To which they answered, That they desired to be reimbursed their Money, according to the Order of Parliament, before they were removed from the Receipts.

2. This Committee asked them, "Whether, upon their lending of the last Ten thousand Pounds, they had any particular Engagement from any Persons, that they should not be removed from the Receipts, till they were reimbursed the same."

In Answer whereunto, they produced this annexed Paper; and further added, That they had no particular Engagement from any Persons upon lending the last Ten thousand Pounds; but did conceive, inasmuch as it was lent for Supply of the pressing Occasions of the State, they should have been paid the same also before Removal.

This Committee having likewise summoned the new Commissioners for the Excise, they were called in; and this Proposition made unto them; viz.

"Whether they would furnish the Ten thousand Pounds for Reimbursement of the old Commissioners:" Who desired time to consider thereof, until Tuesday following.

At which Time they gave in this annexed Paper, by way of Answer:

Resolved, as the Opinion of this Committee, That the same be reported to the Parliament.

The Question being put, that the Salary to the new Commissioners, upon this Proposition, be increased;

It passed with the Negative.

And the Bill, so amended, ordered to be ingrossed; and brought in To-morrow at Eleven of Clock.

Ordered, That it be referred back to the Committee of the Excise, to confer with the Persons named for new Commissioners this afternoon; and report their Answer to the House To-morrow Morning.

Trade to Scotland.

Mr. Thomas Challoner reports from the Council of State, An Act prohibiting Trade to Scotland.

Which was read the First time; and ordered to be read the Second time, the first Business, To-morrow Morning.