Tuesday, the 2d
of September, 1651.
Prayers.
Commissioners of Assessments.
COLONEL Downes reports the Draught of a Letter to be sent to the Commissioners for the monthly
Assessment in the respective Counties of this Commonwealth: Which was this Day read; and, upon the Question, assented unto; and was in these Words;
Gentlemen,
The Parliament have, by their Act, herewith sent
you, continued the Assessments of 120,000£. a Month,
for Three Months, from the Nine-and-twentieth of September next; and ordered, That the same be at once
assessed, and the Collection thereof so disposed, and effectually prosecuted, that one Moiety, at the least, may be
paid in to the Treasury on or before the Twentieth of
October next; and the other Moiety, on or before the
First of December next. And, in regard the punctual
Observance of their Order therein, so as timely Provisions may be made for the Forces that are now by the
Scotts Incursion drawn together, and streightened in
Quarters, and for other emergent Occasions, is of that
Importance, that the Safety of the whole Commonwealth
very much depends thereupon, they have commanded me
to recommend to you, who are chiefly concerned, in respect of your Trust, in the Management of this Work,
the Necessity for the Improvement of your utmost Endeavours therein. I shall not need to press you with
any Arguments, the publick Peace and Safety of this
Commonwealth being so highly concerned; and, at this
Season, requiring a more than ordinary Care and Diligence: Whereof not doubting, I rest,
Your very loving Friend.
Ordered, That such Letters be written to the Commissioners for the Assessments in the respective Counties
of this Commonwealth; and that Mr. Speaker do sign
the said Letters.
Militia.
An Act for enabling the Commissioners of the respective Militias within this Commonwealth to raise Money
for the Maintenance of the Forces by them respectively
raised, for the present Service; was this Day read the
third time.
Resolved, That these Words, "Cities and Places" be
added next after the Word "Counties."
Resolved, That these Words, viz. "Parliament or,"
be added next to the Words "by the."
Resolved, That this be the Title of the Act, viz. An
Act enabling the Commissioners of the Militia to raise
Monies for the present Service of the Commonwealth.
And the said Act, so amended, being put to the
Question, passed: And it is Ordered, That the said Act
be forthwith printed and published; and that the Council of State do take Care to send the same forthwith to
the several Militia of the respective Counties, Cities,
and Boroughs.
Scandalous Pamphlets.
Ordered, That the Lord Mayor of London, and the
Sheriffs of London and Middlesex, do give Order, and
see, that the several scandalous Pamphlets, called the
King's Proclamations, be burnt by the Hand of the
common Hangman.
Potter's List.
Ordered, That the Business touching Potter's List be
taken into Consideration To-morrow Morning.
Grant for Navy.
An Act, charging 100,000£. upon the Receipt of the
Grand Excise, for the Use of the Navy, was this Day
read the first and second Time.
And the Question being put, That this Act be ingrossed:
It passed in the Negative.
And the said Act, being put to the Question, passed.
Excise.
Ordered, That the Information given to the Parliament, that some Persons who have constantly paid their
Excise are called to an Accompt for Six or Seven Years
past, when as the Monies have been received by the
Officers of the Commissioners for Excise, who are not
called to an Accompt for the same, be referred to the
Committee of Excise to examine the Business, and give
Redress herein, or to report it to the Parliament.
Letters read.
A Letter from the General near Worcester, August the
last, 1651; and a Letter from Robert Stapylton, from
Spiksley, August the 31st, 1651; were this Day read.