House of Commons Journal Volume 8: 23 July 1661

Martis, 23 Julii, 13° Car. Regis.

Prayers.

Lord's Lease.

UPON reading the Petition of John Lord and Elizabeth his Wife, on the Behalf of herself and her Children by Thomas Godfry her former Husband; complaining that the Dean and Chapter of Ely refused to make the Petitioner a Lease of the Demesnes and Manor of Mepell, and a Frish called Mapell Holt, notwithstanding the said Godfry purchased from Miles Carter, the former Tenant, his Lease of the Premises, and a Right of Pre-emption therein; and the Petitioner had a Recommendation from the Commissioners appointed by his Majesty for Relief of Purchasers to the Dean and Chapter, to renew his Lease, and admit him Tenant;

Ordered, That a Copy of the Petition be delivered to the Dean and Chapter of Ely, to whom it is specially recommended by this House to renew the Lease of the Premises to the Petitioner upon reasonable Terms, according to the ancient Use; or else they are to return their Answer therein to this House at the First Sitting of the Parliament after this Recess.

Milward's Estate.

Sir Richard Lloyd reports from the Committee to whom the Bill for enabling the Sale of some of the Lands of William Milward Esquire, for Payment of some of his Debts, was committed, several Amendments to the said Bill: Which he read, with the Coherence, in his Place: and after delivered in the same, with the Bill, at the Clerk's Table: Which said Amendments being severally twice read;

Resolved, That this House doth agree to the said Amendments: And that the said Bill, with the said Amendments, be ingrossed.

Bengworth Bridge.

A Bill for repairing Bengworth Bridge in the County of Worcester, was this Day read the First time.

Ordered, That this Bill be read the Second Sitting of the next Meeting of the Parliament after this Recess.

Curates Allowance.

A Bill for competent Allowance to be made to such Curates as shall officiate in Livings, where the proper Incumbents do not reside, was this Day read the Second time.

Resolved, That the same be committed to Mr. Fane, Mr. Knight, Mr. Churchill, Mr. Newton, Mr. Geo. Clerke, Mr. Clifton, Mr. Phillips, Sir Lanc. Lake, Sir Rich. Lloyd, Lord Richonson, Mr. Smith, Sir Hen. Worsley, Dr. Burwell, Mr. Price, Mr. Pryn, Sir Wm. Doyley, Mr. Henley, Mr. Morris, Sir Phill. Manwaring, Sir Phill. Musgrave, Mr. Crouch, Mr. Ashburnham, Sir Geo. Sonds, Mr. Tomkins, Mr. Dalston, Mr. Taylor, Mr. Milward, Mr. Spencer, Mr. Collins, Sir Hen. Newton, Mr. Lowther, Mr. Wm. Sandis, Sir Ralph Ashton, Sir Jo. Brampston, Sir Tho. Dolman, Sir Hen. North, Colonel Windham, Mr. Clifford, Sir Herbert Price, Mr. Vaughan, Sir Edw. Mosley, Mr. Gaudy, Mr. Jay, Mr. Manwaring, Sir Courtney Poole, Mr. Chetwind, Sir Phill. Warwick, Sir Antho. Irby, Sir Cha. Cornwallis, Sir Hen. Herbert, Mr. Puckering, Sir Tho. Fanshaw, Mr. Edw. Seymour: And they are to meet in the Speaker's Chamber this Afternoon, at Two of the Clock: And to send for Persons, Papers, and Records.

Vane and Lambert.

Upon Information that the Fanaticks make mention of Lambert and Sir Henry Vane in their Meetings; and have great Hopes to disturb the Publick Peace, if they could procure their Escape;

Ordered, That Mr. Attorney General have Notice to speed the Prosecution against Vane and Lambert, and prepare the Evidence against them.

And Mr. Speaker is desired to acquaint Mr. Attorney therewith.

Discharging Loyalists of Interest.

Mr. Churchill reports from the Committee to whom the Bill for discharging the loyal Party of all Interest Money exceeding Three Pounds per Cent. was committed, several Amendments to the said Bill: Which he read, with the Coherence, in his Place; and afterwards delivered in the same, with the Bill, at the Clerk's Table: And the said Amendments being severally twice read;

Resolved, That this House doth agree to the said Amendments; and that the said Bill be ingrossed.

Ld. Scudamour's Endowments.

A Bill for the Endowment of several Churches by the Lord Viscount Scudamour and his Son, was this Day read the Second time.

Resolved, That the same be committed to the same Committee to whom the Bill for Curates is committed, and to all the Members who serve in this House for Herefordshire and Gloscestershire: And they are to meet this Afternoon in the Speaker's Chamber, at Three of the Clock: And to send for Persons, Papers, and Records.

Hereford Election.

Serjeant Charleton made Report from the Committee of Privileges and Election, touching the Election for the City of Hereford, That Sir Henry Lingen was agreed to be duly elected; and that the Question was between Sir Edward Hopton and Mr. Westphaling, which of them were duly chosen; That Mr. Westphaling had Two hundred Thirty-and-three Voices, which were all Freemen, and had Voices; That Sir Edward Hopton had caused a Poll to be taken of Two hundred and Fifty-one Voices for him; but that their Names were gotton a Week or a Fortnight after the Election; and some of them doubly set down some Alms-men, some Minors, some were not upon the Place at the Reading of the Writ, nor upon the Day of the Adjournment; so as the Persons against whom there was just Exception being taken out of that List, Mr. Westphaling had the Majority of Voices; and the Opinion of the Committee, That Sir Henry Lingen's Election was unquestionable, he having all Mr. Westphaling's Voices, besides his own; and that Mr. Westphaling, having a greater Number of clear Voices than Sir Edward Hopton, was duly elected a Citizen for the said City of Hereford, and ought to sit: But that there was a very strange Carriage, and some Disturbance in the Elections, which proceeded either from the Fear in the Mayor, or was done by Design.

And the Question being put, That this House doth agree with the Committee;

It passed in the Negative.

And it was then Resolved, upon the Question, That the whole Election was void. And

It was Ordered, That Mr. Speaker do make a Warrant to the Clerk of the Crown, to issue out a Writ for a new Election of Citizens for the City of Hereford.

And the Question being put, That the Mayor of Hereford should be sent for in Custody;

It passed in the Negative.

Excise Revenue.

Mr. Milward reports from the Committee of the whole House, That, upon their Debate of the Increase of his Majesty's Revenue, on Saturday last, it was resolved at the Committee, Nemine contradicente, That the Excise should be advanced to Four hundred thousand Pounds a Year, if it be now short of that Value: Which the House taking into Consideration;

Resolved, upon the Question, That this House doth agree with the Vote of the Committee, That the Excise of Beer and Ale, and all other Liquors, be advanced to Four hundred thousand Pounds a Year, if it be short of that Value: And

Ordered, That the Lord Treasurer be desired to procure and send Commissions into all the Counties of England and Wales and Town of Berwick upon Tweed, directed to the Members of this House, and Justices of the Peace in the several Counties, and Places aforesaid, to inspect the Revenue of the Excise upon Beer and Ale, and other Liquors; and to inform themselves, against the next Meeting of the Parliament, how the Excise came to fall short in the Proportion of Three hundred thousand Pounds per Ann. and how, for the future, it may be advanced with the most Ease to the People, and collected with the least Charge to his Majesty.

Public Revenue.

And then the House resolved itself into a Committee of the whole House, to resume the Debate of the Increase of his Majesty's Revenue.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair: And

Mr. Milward took the Chair of the Committee: And, after some Debate upon the further Increase of his Majesty's Revenue,

Mr. Speaker again took the Chair: And

Mr. Milward made Report from the Committee, That the Committee had voted, That his Majesty's Revenue should be advanced by a Duty to be imposed upon sealed Paper and Parchment for publick Use: And that a Bill be brought in for raising the said Duty upon sealed Paper and Parchment, and ascertaining the several Rates of the said sealed Paper and Parchment.

And the House thereupon taking the said Votes into their Debate;

Resolved, upon the Question, That a Bill be brought in for laying an Imposition, towards the Advance of his Majesty's Revenue, upon sealed Paper and Parchment.

And it is referred to Mr. Solicitor General, Mr. Vaughan, Mr. Churchill, Mr. Milward, Sir Charles Harbord, Sir Henry Bennett, Sir Richard Ford, Mr. Sandis, Mr. Sprye and Mr. Pryn, or any of them, to prepare and bring in the said Bill at the next Meeting of the Parliament after this Recess.

Ordered, That this House do again resolve itself into a Committee of the whole House, To-morrow at Nine of the Clock, to resume the Debate of the further Increase of his Majesty's Revenue.

And then the House adjourned till To-morrow Morning, at Eight of the Clock.