Wednesday, the 24th of August, 1653.
Publick Debts.
MR. Sadler reports from the Committee for Publick Debts, An Act for Accounts, and clearing of
Publick Debts; for Discovery of Frauds or Concealments of any thing due to the Commonwealth: Which was
this Day read the First and Second time; and, upon the
Question, committed to the same Committee.
He also reports from the same Committee, their Desires
to know the Pleasure of the House concerning Payment
of Pensions, as some Part of Publick Debts, formerly
granted by the late Parliament: As also concerning Claims
of publick Debts, stated by other Committees; to which
the Parliament referred them: As likewise concerning
Grants under the Great Seal, before the Wars, whether
they shall be allowed as publick Debts, or not.
Resolved, That the yearly Pension of One hundred
Pounds formerly granted to Mr. Peter du Moulin, and
charged upon Goldsmiths-Hall, be paid and continued
unto the said Peter du Moulin, or his Assigns, during his
Life, together with the Arrears thereof, incurred since
the 25th of March 1652; and that the Commissioners for
Compounding be required to issue their Warrants to the
Treasurers of that Receipt, to pay the said Arrears, and
the said Pension, from time to time, as the same shall
become due unto the said Mr. Peter du Moulin, or his
Assigns: And the Acquittance and Acquittances of the
said Mr. Peter du Moulin, or his Assigns, shall be a
sufficient Discharge to the said Treasurers, for Payment
thereof, accordingly.
Resolved, That the Pension of Four Pounds a Week
be continued unto Dame Alice Burlace, together with the
Arrears thereof since the time the same was paid to her,
out of the Treasury of Haberdashers-Hall, upon Account:
And that the Commissioners for compounding do issue
their Warrants to the Treasurers of that Receipt, to make
Payment thereof unto the said Dame Alice Burlace, or her
Assigns, until the Parliament shall take other Order: And
the Acquittance and Acquittances of the said Dame Alice
Burlace, or her Assigns, shall be a sufficient Discharge to
the said Treasurers for Payment thereof, accordingly.
Registering Marriages.
The Bill touching Marriages, and the Registering
thereof; and touching Birth and Burials; was this Day
read the Third time.
A Clause was tendered to this Bill, in these Words;
viz. "And be it further Enacted, by the Authority
aforesaid That, from and after the Time wherein this
Act is to take Effect, as aforesaid, if any Person heretofore married or hereafter to be married, according to
the Intent of this Act, shall either of them make Proof,
by one or more credible Witnesses, upon Oath, before the
Judges by this present Act mentioned and intended for
determining the Cases arising thereupon, which Oath the
said Judges are hereby authorized to administer accordingly, that either of the said Parties, Husband, or Wife,
have, during their Intermarriage, violated his or her
Covenant of Marriage, by committing the detestable Sin
of Adultery; that then it shall and may be lawful to and
for the Judges, or any Three of them, to sentence and
adjudge the said Parties to be divorced from the Bond
of Marriage: And that, from and after the said Judges
Declaration, and pronouncing such Sentence of Divorce,
and delivering the same, under their Hands and Seals, to
the said Parties, or either of them, the said Parties shall
be, and are hereby declared to be, divorced from the Bond
of Marriage, to all Intents and Purposes whatsoever:"
Which was read.
And the Question being put, That the said Clause be
read the Second time;
It passed in the Affirmative.
And the Clause was accordingly read the Second time.
And the Question being put, That this Clause be
added, to be made Part of the Bill;
It passed with the Negative.
A Proviso was tendered to this Bill, in these Words;
" Provided always, That the aforesaid Parish-Register
shall not receive or take, of or from any Person or Persons living only by and upon his, her, or their daily
Labours, any Sum, or Thing, exceeding One Peny, or
the Value thereof, for Entry of the Birth or Burial of
any Child of such said daily labouring Person or Persons;
any thing in this Act to the contrary thereof in anywise
notwithstanding:" Which was read the First and Second
time; and, upon the Question, rejected.
Another Proviso was tendered to this Bill, in these
Words; " Provided always, That this Act, or any thing
therein contained, shall not extend to make null or void
any Marriage, or to make any Person or Persons liable to
any Penalty, Forfeiture, or Punishment, for or by reason
of any Marriage, unless the Person or Persons offending
against this Law shall be prosecuted for such Offence,
within one Year next after such Marriage:" Which was
read the First and Second time; and, upon the Question,
rejected.
The Question being put, That there be a Change of
the Years of Consent in this Bill;
It passed in the Affirmative.
Resolved, That there be One Year abated in the Years
of Consent.
The Question being put, That there be another Year
abated from the Years of Consent in this Bill;
It passed in the Negative.
So the Bill was amended, and made Sixteen Years for
the Man, and Fourteen for the Woman, to consent.
And the Act, so amended, being put to the Question,
passed: And was ordered to be printed and published.
The Mace.
Ordered, That the Speaker be attended with the Mace
To-morrow, to and from the Sermon.
The House adjourned itself to Friday Morning next
Eight of Clock.