House of Commons Journal Volume 3: 26 September 1644

Die Jovis, Septembris 26, 1644.

PRAYERS.

Advance from Excise.

WHEREAS the Commissioners of Excise have undertaken to advance Fifteen thousand Pounds for the furnishing of Arms and Cloaths for my Lord General's Foot; and have thereof paid in Five thousand Pounds; and have undertaken to pay in the Ten thousand Pounds in Arrear at Six Months, and Nine Months: The House doth declare, that the said Ten thousand Pounds in Arrear is chargeable only upon the Receipts of the Excise, and not upon the Persons of the Commissioners of Excise.

Earl of Manchester's Association.

An Ordinance for continuing the Ordinance for the Earl of Manchester's Association for Four Months longer, was this Day read the First time; and, by Vote upon the Question, assented unto; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

Propositions for Peace.

The House proceeded to the Consideration of the Propositions for a safe and well-grounded Peace; and to fill up the Blanks in the First Qualification of the Fourteenth Proposition, concerning the Excepting of such as shall expect no Pardon; and have Resolved, That Sir Francis Windebank, Sir Rich. Grenvile, Mr. Edw. Hide, Colonel Ware, Sir John Strangewayes, Sir John Colpeper, Sir Rich. Lloyd, Mr. John Bodevile, Mr. David Jenkins, Lord Pawlett, Sir Geo. Strode, Sir Alexander Carew, shall be excepted in the First Qualification of the Propositions, among those that shall expect no Pardon for Life or Estate.

The House proceeded to a Review of those they had excepted by former Votes in the first Qualification of the Fourteenth Proposition.

And the Question being put, Whether the House would adhere to their former Vote, for the Excepting of Prince Rupert and Prince Maurice;

It was resolved Affirmatively.

The Question being put, for adhering to the former Vote concerning the Excepting of the Lord Goring from Pardon for Life and Estate, according to the first Qualification of the Fourteenth Proposition;

It was resolved Negatively.

The Question being put, for adhering to the former Vote concerning the Excepting of Sir John Banks out of the Pardon for Life and Estate, according to the first Qualification of the Fourteenth Proposition;

It was resolved Negatively.

The Question being put, for adhering to the former Vote concerning the Excepting of Sir Edw. Herbert, Attorney General, out of the Pardon for Life and Estate, according to the first Qualification of the Fourteenth Proposition;

The House was divided.

The Noes went forth.

So that the Question was resolved Negatively.

Resolved, &c. To adhere to the former Vote for the Excepting of Sir Marmaduke Langdale.

Resolved, &c. To adhere to the former Vote for Excepting of Sir John Hotham.

Resolved, &c. To adhere to the former Vote for excepting of Captain Jo. Hotham, the Son of Sir John Hotham.

The Question being put, Whether Sir Edw. Ford should be excepted amongst those that should expect no Pardon, according to the first Qualification of the Fourteenth Proposition.

It was resolved Negatively.

The Question being put, Whether Sir Wm. Crofts shall be put into the First Qualification of the Fourteenth Broposition, among those that shall expect no Pardon;

The House was divided.

The Yeas went forth.

So that the Question passed with the Negative.

Resolved, &c. To adhere to the Vote for excepting Colonel Ware.

Resolved, &c. To adhere to the Vote for excepting of the Lord Pawlett.

Resolved, &c. That, if any Motion be made for any Addition to the First Qualification of the Fourteenth Proposition, it shall be moved between the Hours of Ten and Twelve; and not moved without the Leave of the House.

Army Cloathing.

A Letter from my Lord General, from Portesmouth, of Septembris 25, 1644, relating, that Thirty Carts of Cloaths for the Foot Soldiers were come to Portesmouth, &c.

Ordered, That this Letter be referred to the Consideration of the Committee of both Kingdoms.

Waller's Fine, &c.

Ordered, That the Ten thousand Pounds Fine set upon Mr. Waller, be paid to the Committee of the Militia: And that so much of it as is now in ready Money, be forthwith paid to the said Committee, or to such as they shall appoint to receive the same: And that their Acquittance shall be a sufficient Discharge to Mr. Waller for the Payment thereof: And that it be referred to Sir Robert Harley and Mr. White, to see this Order put in Execution: And that they desire the Committee of the Militia, that the City Forces, that are now to be set forth, may speedily advance as they respect the Safety of the Kingdom.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Mr. White, Keeper of the Lord Petre's House, and a Captain of one of the City Companies, who is forthwith to advance upon the present Expedition into the West, shall have Liberty to absent himself from his Charge of being Keeper of Peterhouse; putting in such a Deputy as shall be approved of by the Committee for Prisoners.

Army Affairs.

Ordered, That my Lord General's Letter, and the Propositions brought up to the Committee of both Kingdoms, by divers Officers of his Army, be taken into Consideration To-morrow Morning, the first Business.

Advance from Excise.

The Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, having, by an Ordinance of the One-and-twentieth of September last, ordered, That Fifteen thousand Pounds should be paid by the Commissioners of Excise, at Three Payments, for Cloaths and Arms for the Lord General's Army; whereof the Commissioners have furnished and lent the Sum of Five thousand Pounds, the first Payment; do Declare, That Ten thousand Pounds the Residue, is not, by the said Ordinance of the 21 Septembris, intended or meant as Monies to be advanced by the said Commissioners themselves, but out of the Monies by them to be received in the Office of Excise, at the Times in the said Ordinance mentioned; and that the Receipt of Mr. Edward Ashe, in the said Ordinance named, shall be a sufficient Discharge to the said Commissioners, as well for the said Five thousand Pounds advanced, as also for the Ten thousand Pounds the Residue, in that Behalf. And it is further Ordered, That the Commissioners of Excise shall reimburse themselves the said Five thousand Pounds so advanced, together with Interest for the same, after the Rate of Eight Pounds per Centum, for so long time as the same, or any Part thereof, shall be forborne, out of the Monies coming in upon the Excise, either in such Intervals of Time as other Payments shall not happen to fall due; or, for want of such Intervals, then as the same shall follow in Course; and shall not, by any Order or Ordinance of one or both Houses of Parliament, be excluded for reimbursing themselves accordingly.

Excise on Spirits.

Whereas by Ordinance of Parliament, dated the 11th of September Anno 1643, there is Eight-pence upon every Gallon, laid, by way of Excise, upon all Strong Waters and Aqua Vitæ imported, or to be imported or made or distilled, within the Realm of England, Dominion of Wales, or Town of Barwick, to be paid by the First Buyer, or Maker, or Distiller, respectively; which Sum of Eight-pence upon the Gallon, being raised upon the Strong Waters and Aqua Vitæ made within the Kingdom, is found to have something intermitted Trade in that Commodity within the Kingdom: And forasmuch as by the said Ordinance of the Eleventh of Sept. 1643, there was no Provision made for the levying of Excise upon all Spirits imported; whereby the true Intent of the said Ordinance might be avoided: Be it Ordained, by the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, and by Authority of the same, for the Encouragement of the Maker and Distiller of Strong Waters, and for the better Receipt of the Excise upon this Commodity, That all Aqua Vitæ, or Strong Waters, made in the Kingdom of England, Dominion of Wales, or Town or Port of Barwick, do pay Two-pence upon every Gallon by way of Excise; and so, after that Rate, for a greater or lesser Quantity; to be paid by the first Maker thereof: That all the Spirits made of French and Spanish Wines, commonly called Brand Wine, imported, do pay Two-pence upon every Gallon Excise; and so, after that Rate, for a greater or lesser Quantity; to be paid from the first Buyer by the said Importer: That all Strong Waters, perfectly made, whatsoever, imported from beyond the Seas, shall pay Eightpence upon every Gallon Excise; to be paid by the first Buyer from the said Importer: That for such Foreign Spirits, as aforesaid, as any Distiller shall use, and make into perfect Strong Waters, that such Maker or Distiller shall pay only One Peny upon every Gallon more; it first appearing unto the Commissioners of Excise, or their Deputies, in the several Offices respectively, by sufficient Testimony, that the Two-pence aforesaid was duly paid at the first Sale thereof, as Spirits: That, for all Aqua Vitæ, or Strong Waters, made in the Kingdom, which shall be again exported for any Parts beyond the Seas, or out of the Realm of England, &c. whether into Plantations, or other . . . . . whatsoever (having first paid the several Excises before-mentioned); the Commissioners of Excise for the Time being, or their Deputies, unto whom the several Excises have been paid, as aforesaid, being sufficiently satisfied therein, as aforesaid, shall and may allow and repay the several Excises aforesaid, except only the One Peny laid upon Foreign Spirits made here into perfect Strong Waters. Provided always, That all Spirits, both Foreign and Domestick, that shall fraudulently be sold, by any Person or Persons, to Chapmen or others, to retale in Kind, instead of Aquæ Vitæ, or Strong Waters, before the same be distilled and made into perfect Aquæ Vitæ, or Strong Waters, shall pay for every Gallon so sold after the Rate of Eight-pence per Gallon Excise. And Provided always, That no Distillers, or other Dealers in Spirits, Aquæ Vitæ, or Strong Waters, as aforesaid, shall have any Benefit of the Rates or Abatements aforesaid, but only such as shall clear the Excise, according to the said several Rates, for Spirits, Aqua Vitæ, and Strong Waters, made, bought, or sold, respectively, since the Eleventh of September One thousand Six hundred and Forty-three, by such Testimony as shall satisfy the Commissioners, or their Deputies, by an Account under their Hands, to be brought in within One Month after the Date hereof; but to pay Excise, and to be proceeded against, without Favour, according as is expressed in the said Ordinance of the Eleventh of September in that Behalf.