Friday, the 30th of September, 1653.
Publick Debts.
MR. Sadler reports, from the Committee of Debts,
Further Amendments to the Bill for Accompts,
and clearing of publick Debts, &c. Which were twice
read, and put to the Vote one by one; and several
Amendments made at the Table.
Resolved, That the Number of the Commissioners in
this Bill be Seven.
Resolved, That the Quorum shall be Four.
Resolved, That Symon Cressy be one of the Commissioners.
Resolved, That Mark Coe be one of the Commissioners.
Resolved, That Robert Perwich be one of the Commissioners.
Resolved, That Philip Tandy be one of the Commissioners.
Resolved, That Wm. Maddison be one of the Commissioners.
Resolved, That John Greensmith be one of the Commissioners.
The Question being propounded, That James Freeze
be one of the Commissioners;
And the Question being put, That that Question be
now put;
It passed in the Negative.
Resolved, That Richard Wilcox be one of the Commissioners.
And the rest of the Amendments, after several Amendments at the Table, being put to the Question, were
agreed.
Resolved, That Worcester-House be the Place for these
Commissioners to sit.
A Clause was tendered to be inserted into this Bill in
these Words; viz. "And to the end, That the Northern
Counties may be put in an equal Capacity of receiving
Satisfaction with all the other Counties within this Commonwealth, for what was by them raised upon the Propositions of Parliament; Be it Enacted, by the Authority
aforesaid, That the Receipts or Certificates given by the
late Ferdinando Lord Fairfax, or the now Thomas Lord
Fairfax, or by such Treasurers or Receivers as were
employed by them, or either of them, for receiving such
Money, Plate, Horse, or Arms, or any thing else for the
Use of the Publick, as was raised in the said Northern
Counties, shall engage the Publick Faith for Repayment
as well as the Receipts or Certificates of the Treasurers
or Receivers, in all or any the other Counties of this Commonwealth:" Which was twice read, and laid aside.
And the Act, with these Amendments, was ordered to
be ingrossed.
Lawson's Estates.
Resolved, That the Payment of the Second Moiety
for the Purchase of the Lands of John Lawson of Brough
in the County of York Esquire, be respited for Twenty
Days now next coming; and no Advantage taken for
Nonpayment thereof in the mean time:
And that the Trustees for Sale of the Lands and Estates
forfeited to the Commonwealth for Treason, and the
Treasurers, and other Officers, are to take Notice hereof.
Dick's Claims.
Resolved, That Sir Wm. Dick's Report be made Tomorrow Morning, the first Business.
Customs.
Mr. Strickland reports from the Committee appointed
for that Purpose, Powers to be given to the Committee
for the better Preservation of the Customs, and preventing the Deceits and Abuses to the State therein; viz.
THAT the Committee for the Preservation of the
Customs, and preventing the Deceits and Abuses to the
State therein, or any Three of them, shall have Power,
and hereby are authorized, to take Cognizance of all
Causes relating to the Customs; and of all Persons which
shall be transmitted unto them by the Commissioners for
the Customs, in the Custody of the Messengers; as also
to receive such Charge or Charges, together with such
Examinations, or Proofs taken by the said Commissioners
for the Customs, or their Deputies authorized under their
Hands and Seals, as shall be transmitted by the said Commissioners unto the said Committee against such Persons,
concerning any Fraud, Force, or Misbehaviour, practised
or done in the Revenue of the Customs, or relating to
any of the Officers, or Affairs thereof.
And the said Committee are hereby authorized, upon
hearing the said Charges and Examinations taken as aforesaid, or such other Proofs as shall be made before them,
to punish all such Persons as they shall see Cause, either
by Imprisonment, or otherwise by Fine, not exceeding
the double Value of the Goods, about which the Fraud,
Force, or Misbehaviour, was exercised: And in case of
Contempt or Refusal, the said Committee shall, and
hereby are impowered to, commit such Person or Persons
to Prison, until they shall conform thereunto.
And the said Committee, or any Three of them, are
hereby likewise impowered to administer an Oath to any
Person or Persons, in pursuance of Execution of their
Trust, as they shall judge meet.
Ordered, by the Parliament, That the Committee for
the Preservation of the Customs, and preventing the
Deceits and Abuses to the State therein, or any Three of
them, shall have Power, and hereby are authorized, to
take Cognizance of all Causes relating to the Customs,
and of all Persons which shall be transmitted unto them
by the Commissioners for the Customs in the Custody of
their Messengers; as also to receive such Charge or
Charges, together with such Examinations or Proofs
taken by the said Commissioners for the Customs, or their
Deputies authorized under their Hands and Seals, as shall
be transmitted by the said Commissioners under the said
Committee, against such Persons, concerning any Fraud,
Force, or Misbehaviour, practised or done in the Revenue
of the Customs, or relating to any of the Officers or Affairs
thereof.
And the said Committee are hereby authorized, upon
hearing the said Charges and Examinations, taken as
aforesaid, or such other Proofs as shall be made before
them, to punish all such Persons as they shall see Cause,
either by Imprisonment, or otherwise by Fine, not exceeding the double Value of the Goods, about which the Fraud,
Force, or Misbehaviour was exercised: And in case of
Contempt or Refusal, the said Committee shall, and
hereby are impowered to commit such Person or Persons
to Prison, until they shall conform thereunto.
And the said Committee, or any Three of them, are
hereby likewise impowered to administer an Oath, to any
Person or Persons, in pursuance of the Execution of their
Trust, as they shall judge meet.
Leave of Absence.
Ordered, That Mr. Broughton have Leave to go into
the Country for a Week.