House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 14 January 1652

Wednesday, the 14th of January, 1651.

Prayers.

Comrs of Assessments.

ORDERED, by the Parliament, That Thomas Walgrave and Robert Gurdon, Esquires, be added Commissioners for the Assessments of 90,000£ a Month, for the County of Suffolk; and that they be, and are, impowered and required to act accordingly.

Ordered, That John Trafford of Low-layton, Esquire, be added a Commissioner for the Assessments of 90,000£. a Month, for the County of Essex; and that he be, and is hereby, impowered and required to act accordingly.

Ordered, That John Wade Esquire be added a Commissioner for the Assessments of 90,000£. a Month, for the County of Gloucester; and that he be, and is hereby, impowered to act accordingly.

Ordered, That the Mayor of the Town of Darby, for the time being, be added a Commissioner for the Assessments of 90,000£. a Month, for the County of Dorby; and that he be, and is hereby, impowered and required to act accordingly.

Ordered, That Sir Thomas Widdrington be added a Commissioner for the Assessments of 90,000£. a Month, for the County of York; and that he be, and is hereby, impowered and required to act, accordingly.

Ordered, That Isaac Jones Esquire, be added a Commissioner for the Assessments of 90,000£. a Month, for the County of Middlesex; and that he be, and is hereby, impowered and required to act accordingly.

Navy.

Colonel Thompson reports from the Committee of the Navy;

Their Opinion, That the Parliament be moved, to declare and appoint what Persons shall take Care for providing of Ordnance, Arms, Ammunition, and other Gunners Stores, for the Use and Service of the Fleet.

Resolved, That the Committee of the Navy be authorized and required to take Care for providing of Ordnance, Arms, Ammunition, and other Gunners Stores, for the Use and Service of the Fleet.

Colonel Thompson likewise reports from the said Committee; viz.

At a Conference had by this Committee, with the Committee of the Admiralty, in Pursuance of an Order of Parliament of 31th of October 1650;

Resolved, as their Opinion, That besides the Eight Ships already appointed for the Streights, the Ship Mermaid be added to go along with the Worcester; the Number of Men, in the said Nine Ships, being 1,390. It is necessary, that 26 other Ships be prepared to be set forth for Convoys for the ensuing Year, with 2,640 Men; the whole Number being 4,030 Men: The said Number of Men to be continued for the Space of Twelve Months; with Power to abate, change, or increase the Number of Ships, or Men, as the Emergency of the Affairs shall require; so as such Increase do not exceed the Abatements within the said Twelve Months.

An Estimate of the Charge of fitting and settingforth to the Seas 35 Ships, to be manned with 4,030 Men, for 12 Months Service, to the Streights, for the ensuing Year 1652.

The Charge of the Office of the Ordnance is included in this Demand.

Resolved, upon the Question, by the Parliament, That this House doth agree with the Committee, that besides the Eight Ships already appointed for the Streights, the Ship Mermaid be added to go along with the Worcester; the Number of Men in the said 9 Ships being 1,390.

Resolved, That this House doth agree with the said Committee, that 26 other Ships be prepared to be set forth for Convoys for the ensuing Year, with 2,640 Men; the whole Number being 4,030 Men: The said Number of Men to be continued for the Space of Twelve Months; with Power to the said Committee of the Navy to abate, change, or increase, the Number of Ships, or Men, as the Emergency of the Affairs shall require; so as such Increase do not exceed the Abatements within the said 12 Months.

Captures by Turkes.

Colonel Thompson likewise reports from the said Committee; viz.

In Pursuance of an Order of Parliament of the 28th of November 1651, whereby it is referred to this Committee to consider how to prevent the Taking of our Men by the Turkes; and to present their Opinion to the Parliament;

This Committee, upon Consideration thereof, finding that none of the Vessels or Mariners of this Commonwealth have been surprised by the Men of Argier, since the Confirmation of the Peace in 1646; but not only by those of Tripoli, Tunnis, and Salley; and the Worcester being now appointed for Argier, Tunnis, and Tripoli, to free the English Captives in those Places; this Committee are of Opinion, that some fit Person may be appointed to go along with the Worcester, to let those of Tripoli and Tunnis know; and that the like Advertisement may be given to those of Salley; that if, for the future, they shall surprize any of the Ships, Mariners, or others of the good People of this Commonwealth Nation, contrary to the Imperial Capitulations made with the Grand Seignor, Reparations will be taken upon all such Ships and Vessels of theirs, as shall be met withal by any of our Men of War.

For the better preventing of the Surprizal of any of the Ships or People of this Nation, by any Turkish Pyrates; as also for the Convoy and Preservation of all Merchants Ships of this Nation, trading into the Levant Seas, both outwards and homewards bound;

This Committee are also of Opinion, That it is fit a Fleet of Ships be appointed constantly to remain within the Streights, and to ply to and fro upon the Christian and Turky Shores: And that Three or Four Ships of the said Fleet do every Four Months return into England, and convoy such Ships as shall be homewards bound: And that the like Number of Ships may be sent in their Rooms back, and be a Convoy to all such Merchant Ships as shall be bound within the Streights: And so successively, as any Number of Ships shall come in, the like Number to be sent forth.

Navy.

Resolved, by the Parliament, That a Fleet of Ships, not exceeding the Number of Twelve, be appointed constantly to remain within the Streights, and to ply to and fro upon the Christian and Turkey Shores: And that Three or Four Ships of the said Fleet do every Four Months return into England, and convoy such Ships as shall be homewards bound: And that the like Number of Ships may be sent in their Rooms back, and be a Convoy to all such Merchants Ships as shall be bound within the Streights: And so successively, as any Number of Ships shall come in, the like Number to be sent forth.

Resolved, That it be referred to the Committee of the Navy, to put this Vote in effectual Execution; with Power to them to add unto the former 35 Ships, some others for that Purpose, not exceeding the Number of Three Ships.

General Blake reports from the Council of State,

A LIST of such Ships and Vessels as already are, and may in convenient Time be, fitted out to Sea, as a Guard for the Summer ensuing, for the Coasts of England, Ireland, and Scotland; together with their Commanders Names, Number of Men and Guns.

Navy.

These Ships following are now forth at Sea, upon the Charge of the State; and is doubtful whether any of them will return Time enough to be fitted forth for the next Summer-guard.

Ships under the Command of Captain Wm. Penn, now in the Streights.

Under the Command of Sir George Aiscue, gone to the Barbadoes.

Ships under the Command of Captain Robert Dennis, gone for Virginia.

Convoys to several Merchants Ships in the Mediterranean Seas, under the Command of Captain Henry Apleton.

Convoys to several Ships for the Streights, under the Command of Captain Richard Badeley.

Ordered to go Convoys to several Merchants Ships in the Streights in January, under the Command of Captain Thorowgood.

Resolved, That this House doth approve of and agree with the Council of State, in the List now presented; and that the Council of State have Power to change, from time to time, the Commanders or Ships, as they shall see Cause for the Service of the State.

Resolved, That it . . left to the Council of State, to set out the Ship Sovereign to the Sea for this Summer, if they shall see Cause.

Mr. Aldworth reports from the Committee of the Navy;

That the Committee hath received Complaints against several of the Officers of the Navy in the State's Yard at Chatham, of divers Abuses by them committed in the Imbezziling of the State's Provisions, and other Misdemeanors.

Ordered, That Power be given to the Committee of the Navy, and to any Two or more of them, to examine upon Oath, and to hear all Abuses, that are or shall be committed by any of the Officers of the Navy.

Ordnance Office.

Resolved, That it be referred to the Council of State, to consider of the Offices of the Ordnance, Stores, and Armories, within the Tower; and what Officers, belonging thereunto, and what Fees to such Officers, are necessary to be continued, and what are fit to be taken away: And report the same, with their Opinions therein, to the House, with all Speed.

Report deferred.

Ordered, That Mr. Solicitor General do make the Reports in his Hands, on Friday Morning next, the first Business; and nothing to intervene.

Navy.

Ordered, That the Reports from the Navy be made on this Day Sevennight.

Dover Pier.

Ordered, That the Report touching the Pier of Dover be made To-morrow Morning, after the Report touching Mr. Prymate.

Worcester.

Ordered, That the Report touching Worcester be made To-morrow Sevennight, the first Business; nothing to intervene.

E. I. Company.

Ordered, That the East India Company have Leave to transport Twenty-five thousand Pounds in foreign Coin, and Bullion.

Tuskany.

Ordered, That Mr. Thomas Challoner do report an Answer to be given to the Letters from the Grand Duke of Tuskany.

Regulating the Law.

The House resumed the Debate upon the Report made from the Committee, of the Names of Persons out of the House, to consider of the Inconveniences in the Law, &c.

Resolved, That the Persons to be appointed for this Work, shall not exceed the Number of One-and-twenty.

Resolved, That Mathew Hales Esquire be one of the Persons for this Service.

Resolved, That Wm. Steele Esquire, Recorder of London, be one of the Persons for this Service.

Resolved, That Charles George Cock Esquire be one of the Persons for this Service.

Resolved, That Thomas Manby Esquire be one of the Persons for this Service.

Ordered, That the Residue of the Paper be re-committed to the same Committee; with Power to them to present, out of these Persons in this Paper, or any other Persons whom they shall think fit, the Number of Seventeen to make up the Number of One-and-twenty: And the Committee are to meet this Afternoon, at Two of the Clock, in Mr. Speaker's Chamber.