House of Lords Journal Volume 6: 4 March 1644

DIE Lunæ, videlicet, 4 die Martii.

PRAYERS, by Mr. Greene.

Lords present this Day:

Ds. Grey de Warke, Speaker.

Answer from the H. C.

Sir Rob't Rich and Mr. Page, sent on Saturday last with a Message to the House of Commons, return with this Answer:

That to the Ordinance concerning the not receiving of the Members of either House, which are gone from the Parliament without Consent of both Houses, and concerning the taking off the Sequestration of the Earl of Holland's Estate, they will send an Answer by Messengers of their own.

Earl of Middlesex's Assessment.

Upon reading the Petition of the Earl of Midd. concerning the Abatement of the Six Hundred Pounds for the Twentieth Part assessed upon (fn. 1) him by this House: It is Ordered, That the Consideration of the whole Petition is hereby referred to the Consideration of these Lords Committees following, to hear both Sides, and report the same to this House:

Any Three, to meet To-morrow Morning, at Nine a Clock; and the Gentleman Usher to give the Earl of Midd. Notice to attend the Committee.

Ordinance concerning the King's Children.

The Lord Admiral reported, "That the Committee have considered of the List of the Servants of the King's Children at St. James; and they find that the

"These the Committee thinks an unnecessary Charge.

"That Mrs. Lee is thought fit to supply the Cofferer's Place to both Children.

"That Ann Gwin, that was put out from being a Rocker to the Duke of Glocester, be restored.

"That Rotery be put out.

"The Semptress put out, as unnecessary.

"To leave the Apothecary to be approved of by Dr. Mayherne.

"The Farrier to be put out.

"Henry Morris to be kept in.

"Dr. Chambers, that is gone into Scotland, to stand.

"In the Orders to insert the Committees of both Houses of Parliament for the regulating that Family;

"To ask the Advice of the Assembly concerning these to be Chaplains:

Ordered, To communicate this to the House of Commons, at a Conference.

Message to the H. C. for a Conference about it.

A Message was sent to the House of Commons, by Sir Edward Leech and Dr. Aylett:

To desire a Conference, touching the King's Children at St. James.

Message from thence, about the Archbishop of Canterbury's Trial;

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Mr. Serjeant Wylde and others:

1. To desire their Lordships would be pleased to appoint a certain Day for the Trial of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

and with Ordinances.

2. To desire Concurrence in divers Ordinances:

1. An Ordinance concerning the Custom upon Tobacco. (Here enter it.)

Read Thrice, and Agreed to.

2. An Ordinance for upholding the Trade of Merchants in The Levant, of Cloathing, and other Manufactures, &c.

Read Twice, and Ordered to be committed to these Lords:

Any Three to meet To-morrow Morning, at Nine of the Clock.

3. An Order to pay One Hundred Pounds out of Habberdashers Hall to Colonel Carr, upon Accompt; and likewise Forty Pounds to be paid upon Accompt unto Captain Bushell and Captain Cromwell, in Part of their Arrears for (fn. 2) their Entertainment in Ireland.

Ordered, To be referred to the Committee for the Revenue, to pay these Sums out of the Money which comes in upon the Revenue.

4. The House of Commons desires their Lordships Concurrence, That Michaell Baker, Thomas Parker, John Guidott, and Andrew Durand, nominated and approved of by the Commissioners of the Great Seal, to be the Four Messengers of the Great Seal, for which several Patents are to be granted unto them for Life under the Great Seal of England.

Agreed to, provided their Patents be, Quam diu se bene gesserint.

5. An Order concerning Eccleshall Castle. (Here enter it.)

Agreed to.

6. An Order to add divers Gentlemen to the Committees of Sussex, South'ton, and Surrey.

(Here enter it.)

Agreed to.

7. An Order for raising of Three Thousand Foot, and Twelve Hundred Horse, and Five Hundred Dragoons, to be under the Command of Sir Wm. Waller, out of the associated Counties of Kent, &c.

Read Once.

Archbishop of Canterbury's Trial.

Ordered, That the Trial of the Archbishop of Cant. upon the First and further Articles against him, shall be on Tuesday come Sevennight, at Nine of the Clock in the Morning.

The Answer returned to the Messengers was:

Answer to the H. C.

That this House hath appointed Tuesday come Sevennight for the Trial of the Archbishop of Canterbury; and that this House agrees to the Ordinance touching Tobacco, and to the Order concerning Eccleshall Castle; and also to the Order for adding the Persons to be Committees for Sussex, South'ton, and Surry: To all the rest of the Particulars now brought up, this House will send an Answer by Messengers of their own.

Message from thence for a Conference on the Oath of Secrecy to be taken by the Committee of both Kingdoms.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, concerning a Conference about the Ordinance touching the Oath of Secrecy to be taken by the Committees of both Kingdoms.

The Answer returned was:

Answer.

That this House will give a present Conference, as is desired, in the Painted Chamber.

Dixon released.

Ordered, That Dixon, sent for concerning Bickley's Business, is to (fn. 3) be discharged of his Restraint.

Order for Maintenance of Eccleshall Castle and Garrison.

"Whereas there is no established Pay for the Maintenance of Eccleshall Castle, and the Garrison there: It is therefore thought fit, and Ordered, That the said Garrison be paid and maintained out of the West Division of Pyruhill Hundred, adjoining to the said Castle, whereof Mr. Lutwich is High Constable; and that the said Hundred of Pyrahill shall be exempted and freed from the Payment of any other Contributions towards the War during the Time of that Garrison; and that Sir William Brereton shall be accountable to both Houses of Parliament for such Monies as are levied by virtue of this Order."

"An Ordinance for the regulating of the Rates on the Customs and Excise of Tobacco.

Ordinance to regulate the Duty on Tobacco.

"Forasmuch as the Lords and Commons assembled in Parliament have taken Notice of the Rates, Customs, and Excise, laid and imposed on Tobacco of all Sorts, to be greater and higher than it will now well bear, in regard of the Disturbance of Trade in Foreign Parts, and present Distractions of this Kingdom: For the regulating whereof, and for the Encouragement and Ease as well of the Importer as Ingrosser and Seller of Tobacco, it is Ordained by the said Lords and Commons, That all Tobacco of the English Plantation imported, or remaining in the Hands of the Merchant or Importer, or the Ingrosser or Buyer thereof, shall be liable to such Rates for the Excise, and such Rules observed for the same, as are set down and prescribed in a late Ordinance of the 23th of December, 1643; and for all Spanish Tobacco, not of the English Plantation, imported, and remaining in the Hands of any Merchant or Importer, or the Ingrosser or Buyer thereof, at the Day of the Date of this Ordinance, there shall be paid only Six Pence for every Pound Excise for the same: Provided always, That no Person shall have any Benefit of this Moderation, but only such as shall within Fourteen Days after the Publication of this Ordinance make his Personal Appearance at such Office of Excise under which his Dwelling-place shall be, and there deliver in a true particular Accompt of all such Spanish Tobaccos, not of the English Plantations, as were remaining in his Hands at the Date of this Ordinance, and for which the Excise hath not been paid as aforesaid; and shall presently, according to the respective Rate of Six Pence upon a Pound Weight, pay and clear the said Duty of Excise for all such Tobacco as he had, at or before the Day of the Date hereof, remaining in his Hands; but be proceeded against without Favour or Pardon, according to the said former Ordinance of Excise of the 11th of September last: And it is further Ordained, by the said Lords and Commons, That for all Tobaccos which have not before this Ordinance paid the Custom and Excise, or shall from the Day of the Date hereof be imported, by any Merchant or others, into the Kingdom of England, Dominion of Wales, and Port and Town of Barwick, the Importer or Ingrosser thereof shall pay Custom and Excise for the same as followeth; videlicet, for all Spanish and other Tobacco, not of the English Plantation, the Importer shall pay Six Pence for every Pound Weight for Custom, and the Ingrosser or First Buyer One Shilling Excise for the same; and for all Tobaccos of the English Plantations which shall be imported as aforesaid, the (fn. 4) Importer shall pay One Penny per Pound Custom, and the Ingrosser or First Buyer Two Pence per Pound, for Excise of the same; which respective Sums of One Shilling and Two Pence are to be paid by the Ingrosser or Buyer upon Sale thereof, as is prescribed in the said Ordinance of the 11th of September last: And lastly, it is Ordered and Ordained, by the said Lords and Commons, That no Part of the Customs or Subsidy paid by the Merchant or other, at the Time of the Importation of his Tobacco, as is expressed in the Second Article in the Book of Rates, shall be allowed by the Commissioners of the Customs, or other Officer or Officers of the several Customhouses, to any Merchant or others, upon the Exportation of any Tobaccos; any Order (fn. 5) or Ordinance heretofore made to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding.

"Provided, That this Ordinance shall continue in Force for the Space of One whole Year from the Day of the Date of this Ordinance, and no longer."

Committee for Sussex.

"It is this Day Ordered, by the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, That Denzill Hollis Esquire, Thomas Luxerford of Windmill Hill Gentleman, John Fagge Esquire, Anthony Cruttenden Gentleman, Thomas Aynscombe Esquire, Sir Will'm Colepeper Baronet, William Newton the Elder Esquire, Ambrose Traylon Esquire, Henry Bridger Gentleman, Robert Dike Gentleman, Steven Humfrey Alderman, and Nathaniell Studley, be added to the Committee nominated in the Ordinance of the Fourth of November, for Sussex; and that Sir Thomas Henly Knight be left out of that Committee.

Committee for South'ton.

"That John Woolridge, Tho. Cole, Thomas Chandelier, Esquires, be added to the Committee nominated in the Ordinance of the Fourth of November, for the County of South'ton; and that James Tutt, Wm. Carrick, John Hook, Francis Rivett, and Wm. Collins, Esquires, be left out of the Committee.

Committee for Surrey.

"That Denzill Holles Esquire, Sir William Elliott, Sir Richard Bettenson, John Yates Gentleman, be added to the Committee nominated in the Ordinance of the Fourth of November for the County of Surrey."

Adjourn.

House adjourned till 9^a cras.