House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 28 July 1659

Journal of the House of Commons: Volume 7, 1651-1660. Originally published by His Majesty's Stationery Office, London, 1802.

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'House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 28 July 1659', in Journal of the House of Commons: Volume 7, 1651-1660, (London, 1802) pp. 736-738. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/commons-jrnl/vol7/pp736-738 [accessed 25 March 2024]

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In this section

Thursday, July the 28th, 1659.

Scotch Indemnity.

SIR Henry Vane reports, A Bill for indemnifying the Persons of the Nation of Scotland: Which was read the First time.

Ordered, That this Bill, and the Bill of Union of Scotland with England, be both read the Second time Tomorrow Morning: And that then the Report touching Major-General Overton be made: And that Colonel Marten do then report the Declaration in his Hands; and that the same be then read.

Letter read.

Sir Henry Vane reports from the Council of State, A Letter from General George Moncke from Dalkeith, of the One-and-twentieth of July 1659: Which was read.

Ordered, That this Letter be referred back to the Council of State, to take such Course in this Business, as shall be for the best Advantage of the Commonwealth.

Correspondence with Sweden.

Mr. Chaloner reports from the Council of State, a Translate of a Letter from the King of Sweden, from Cronenburgh, dated the Thirtieth Day of June 1659: Which was read.

Ordered, That this Letter be referred back to the Council of State, forthwith to prepare a Letter, to be signed by Mr. Speaker, in Answer to this Letter.

Information against Mordant.

Whereas Information hath been given against John Mordant Esquire, Son of the late Earl of Peterborough, of his being engaged, on the Part of Charles Steuart, to disturb the Peace of this Nation; that he was lately sent to Charles Steuart, to advise and solicit his coming into England; and upon other traiterous Designs against this Commonwealth;

Resolved, That the said John Mordant do, on or before the Seventeenth Day of August 1659, render himself to the Parliament; or otherwise, that it be taken pro confesso, that he is guilty of the Crimes and Offences informed against him; and that his Estate be confiscate to the Use of this Commonwealth: And that the Lord Whitlock, Mr. Attorney-General, and Lord St. John do withdraw, and bring in a Proclamation forthwith to that Effect.

Ranking Officers.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Commissioners for Nomination of Officers of the Army, to consider of the Ranking of Officers according to the Seniority and Course of the Army, notwithstanding the Dates of their Commissions.

Proscribed Persons.

Ordered, That it be referred to Mr. Attorney-General forthwith to search out the Names of the Proscribed Persons, and of Persons excepted from Pardon; and present their Names, with the Form of a Proclamation, for their rendering themselves to the Parliament, to this House.

Suspected Persons.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Council of State, to give such Order for the present, as is requisite, according to Law, for preventing the Going of some Persons out of this Land, without Licence; or the Coming in of dangerous Persons: And, where they find any Defect in the Law, the Members of the House of the Council of State are to present a Bill to this House, for Supply thereof.

Army Commissions.

The House being informed, That divers Officers of the Army, and of the Militia of the City of London, were at the Door;

They were called in: And, being come up to the Clerk's Table, Mr. Speaker acquainted them with the great Trust reposed in them; and that the Parliament and Commonwealth expected Faithfulness from them to the Parliament and Commonwealth: And thereupon Mr. Speaker delivered them their Commissions; viz.

To Major George Smithson, his Commission to be Major of Colonel Lilburne's Regiment of Horse:

To Captain Tho. Strangewaies, his Commission to be Captain of a Troop in that Regiment:

To Captain Francis Wilkinson, his Commission to be Captain of a Troop in the same Regiment:

To Lieutenant Ralph Kendall, his Commission to be Lieutenant of a Troop in Colonel Ireton's Regiment:

To Lieutenant Richard Middleton, his Commission to be Lieutenant of a Troop in the same Regiment:

To Captain-Lieutenant Richard Orum, his Commission to be Captain-Lieutenant of a Troop of Horse in the same Regiment:

To Cornet Henry Wharton, his Commission to be Cornet of a Troop in this Regiment:

To Cornet Edmund Hiller, his Commission to be Cornet of a Troop in this Regiment:

To Cornet Robert Pascall, his Commission to be Cornet of a Troop in this Regiment:

To Lieutenant-Colonel Dennis Pepper, his Commission to be Lieutenant-Colonel of Colonel Salmon's Regiment:

To Mr. Tho. Moore, his Commission to be Chaplain to Colonel Salmon's Regiment:

To Major Robert Osley, his Commission to be Major of Colonel Owen's Regiment.

Public Revenue.

Sir Henry Vane reports from the Council of State, The State of the Revenue, as it stands at present, within View, for the present Pay of the Armies and Navies of the Commonwealth, unto the First Day of December 1659: Which was read; and is as followeth; viz.

£. s. d.
To pay off the Army in England, including their Increase of Numbers, and their additional Pay, amounts to 33,038£. 9s. 4d. a Month, for Four Months; which, with the Two Months Pay already assigned to the said Forces out of the Twelve Months Assessment, makes up Six Months Pay, and comes to 198,230 16 -
The Pay of the Army in Ireland for for Six Months, being estimated at 25,607£. 19s. 4d. a Month, amounts unto 153,647 16 -
The Pay of the Army in Scotland for Six Months, being 20,818£. 14s. 2d. the Month, amounts unto 124,912 5 -
Remains to be applied to the Navy, which will balance this Account 503,941 18 10
£. 980,732 15 10
The Monies for the Navy will thus arise:
Out of the Assessments upon England 167,977 18 10
By growing Customs, if continued till the First of December next, estimated at 130,000 - -
By the growing Excise in England, if continued till the First of December next, estimated at 205,964 - -
£. 503,941 18 10
The Net Assessment of England for Twelve Months, commencing 24 June 1659 411,768 15 10
The Customs for England, in case they be continued as now they are (but, in case they expire the First of October, then there must be a proportionable Defalcation to be considered), estimated at 130,000 - -
The Excise for England, in case it be continued as now computed at, to the First of December; but, if it expire the First of October, then there must be a proportionable Defalcation to be considered 205,964 - -
The Twelve Months Assessment for Ireland, at Nine thousand Pounds a Month, commencing the 24 June 1659 108,000 - -
The Excise and Customs for Ireland, if continued till the First of December 28,000 - -
The Twelve Months for Scotland, at Six thousand Pounds a Month, commencing 24 June 1659 72,000 - -
The Excise and Customs for Scotland, if continued till the First of December 1659; otherwise a proportionable Defalcation must be had 25,000 - -
£. 980,732 15 10

Memorandum: That neither the Revenue, which comes into the Exchequer by Delinquents and Papists Estates, by Post-Fines, Post-Office, Wine-Licences, and Sheriffs Accompts, and otherways; the Arrears of Farms of Excise, the Monies arising by Sale of Somerset-House, and other Lands; are not included in this Accompt; but are to be considered towards the Councils Contingencies, Dunkirk, the Payment of those Warrants which are charged upon the Farmers of Excise of Beer and Ale, and upon the New Buildings, and are not yet satisfied, the Militia Troops, and Foreign Negotiations.

Army and Navy Arrears.

He also reports, An Estimate of the Arrears of the Army and Navy to the First of December 1659: Which was also read; and is as followeth; viz.

£. s. d.
There is due in Arrear to the Treasurers at War, of the Money charged by Warrants on the Farms of Excise and New Buildings, the Sum of 52,747 16 7
The Pay of the Army in England including their additional Pay and Increase of Numbers over and above the Sum of 188,631£. 5s. 1d. required to pay them up to the Eighteenth of July 1659, will, for Five Months, ending the Fifth of December 1659, amount to 165,192 6 8
The Pay of the Army in Scotland, over and above the Sum of 166,549£. 13s. 4d. being Eight Months Arrear, unto the Eighteenth of July 1659, will, for Five Months, to wit, from the said Eighteenth of July to the Fifth of December 1659, amount unto 104,093 10 10
The Pay of the Army in Ireland, over and above the Sum of 332,903£. 11s. 4d. being Thirteen Months Arrears estimated to the Eighteenth of July 1659, will, for Five Months, viz. from the said Eighteenth of July to the Fifth of December 1659, amount unto 128,039 16 8
The Debts of the Navy, to the First of July instant, estimated at 703,703 16 9
The growing Charge of the Navy, if continued to the Force and Number of Shipping they now are, until the First of December next, estimated at 549,490 - -
£. 1,703,267 7
£. s. d.
Allowed for the Pay of the Forces in England, out of the Twelve Months Assessment in England, commencing the 24 June 1659 198,230 16 -
Allowed for the Pay of the Forces in Ireland; viz.
£. s. d.
Their own Assessments 108,000 - -
Out of the Assessments of England 17,647 16 -
Out of the Customs and Excise for Ireland 28,000 - -
In all, the Sum of 153,647 16 -
Allowed for Pay of the Forces in Scotland; viz.
The Assessments in Scotland 72,000 - -
Out of the Assessments in England 27,912 5 -
The Customs and Excise in Scotland 25,000 - -
In all, the Sum of 124,912 5 -
Allowed to the Navy, out of the Twelve Months Assessment upon England 167,977 18 10
Allowed, out of the Customs of England 130,000 - -
Allowed, out of the growing Excise of England 205,964 - -
980,732 15 10
Remains to balance this Accompt, and to be provided 722,534 11

Resolved, That, upon this Estimate, it be referred to the Council of State, to take care, how the Affairs of the Armies, Navy, Incidents, and Contingencies, may be equally distributed out of the Monies already in Arrear, so as may best consist with publick Service.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Council of State, further to consider of this Estimate; and what they find wanting therein of the Debts owing by the Commonwealth to the Army and Navy, or otherwise; and present the same to the Parliament To-morrow Morning: And that this Debate be taken up To-morrow Morning.

Excise, &c.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee for Inspections, to prepare a Bill, or several Bills, touching the Excise and Customs, upon the Debate of the House; With Power to confer with Persons acquainted with such Affairs: And that the said Committee do consider of the Rates, and of the best Way of bringing in the Excise and Customs with most Ease to the People, and Advantage to the Publick; and to bring in the said Bill or Bills one Day the next Week: And all that come to have Voices, as to this Business.

Dangerous Words.

Colonel Morley acquainted the House with dangerous Words spoken by Cornet Day, in the Abbey at Westminster, where his Regiment had heard a Sermon: And that he had committed him to a Captain of his Regiment, until he had acquainted the House therewith.

Resolved, That this House doth approve of what Colonel Morley hath done, as to the Safe-keeping of Cornet Day: And It is

Ordered, by the Parliament, That Colonel Morley do give Order, That Cornet Day be delivered over to the Serjeant at Arms attending the Council: And that the Council of State do examine the Matter of Fact; and report it to this House.