House of Commons Journal Volume 4: 26 November 1646

Die Jovis, 26 Novembris, 1646.

Prayers.

Ordered, That Colonel Alexander Popham, a Member of this House, shall have Leave to go into the Country.

Ordered, That Mr. Framlingham Gawdy, a Member of this House, shall have Leave to go into the Country.

Ordered, That Sir Richard Skevington, a Member of this House, shall have Leave to go into the Country.

Resolved, &c. That a Warrant be issued, under the Hand of Mr. Speaker, directed to the Clerk of the Crown in Chancery, for the Issuing of a Writ, for the Election of a Burgess to serve in Parliament for the County of the City of Litchfield, in the place of Sir Richard Cave, formerly chosen to serve for the said City and County, and sithence disabled, by Judgment of this House, to serve as a Member of this Parliament, and sithence deceased.

An Ordinance, and Instructions, for the taking the Solemn League and Covenant, was this Day read the Second time; and, upon the Question, committed to the Committee of the whole House.

Resolved, &c. That the House do meet in a Committee, To-morrow Sevennight, at Eight of the Clock, to take into Consideration the Ordinance, and Instructions, for the taking the Solemn League and Covenant, the first Business.

Mr. Nicoll, according to former Order, communicated to the Lords the Letter and Examinations sent from the Committee of Cornewall, from Truro.

He likewise carried to the Lords, for their Concurrence, the Ordinance for disposing Sir Richard Gurney's House to the Trustees for the Sale of the Bishops Lands: And the Ordinance concerning the Alteration of the Surveyor's Oath.

An Ordinance of further Explanation concerning Receipts and Tickets, for Money lent upon the Publick Faith, was read; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence:

And was carried to Mr. Nicoll by Mr. Francis Bacon.

Mr. Pierpoint reports from the Committee of Lords and Commons, formerly appointed to confer with the Scotts Commissioners, concerning the Disposal of the Person of the King,

"That, on Thursday the First of October, the Orders of the Houses, the Letter of the Scotts Commissioners, and the Order upon that Letter, were read in the Painted Chamber, before the Conference did begin: And, after the Reading of them, we told the Scotts Commissioners, if they had any thing to say, we are ready to confer with them, according to the Resolutions of both Houses. Then the Scotts Lords made several Speeches and Arguments concerning the joint Right of the Kingdom of Scotland to dispose the Person of the King. We said, That the Kingdom of Scotland had no Right of joint Exercise of Interest in disposing the Person of the King in England: Which was the Question before us. This Conference, at the Desire of the Scotts Commissioners, was twice adjourned, and debated Three Afternoons. The Scotts Commissioners agreed, That nothing concerning this Conference should be understood to be any Capitulation, in relation to the Retarding of the March of the Scotts Army and Forces out of this Kingdom: And that the Kingdom of Scotland had no Exercise of Interest in the Kingdom of England, but by the Treaties and Covenant: That the Scotts Commissioners declared, it was prejudicial to both Kingdoms, for the King to go into Scotland; and for the Good of both, to be in the Kingdom of England. They several times spake of the King's coming to them for Shelter and Defence: That they spake many Things not to the Matter of the Conference:..which we told them we were not to intermeddle. That, as we conceive, we gave full Answer to all their Objections; and cleared all Mistakes, that they alleged might be had, concerning those Votes. The Scotts Commissioners, at the End of the Conference, desired, nothing might be reported, but what they put in Writing. We engaged ourselves to report this their Desire, before we would make any other Report of that Conference; but we could not limit the Will of the Houses, whom we were to obey."

Mr. Wm. Pierrepont reports a Declaration, in Answer to the Scotts Commissioners Papers.

The which was read.

Ordered, &c. That the House doth meet in a Committee, on Monday Morning next, the first Business, to take into further Consideration the Ordinance for preventing the Growth and Spreading of Heresies and Blasphemies.

Ordered, &c. That the Answer to the Scotts Commissioners Papers be read, in Parts, the first Business, Tomorrow Morning.

Ordered, &c. That all the Members of this House, who have not taken the Covenant sithence their coming into the House, do take the Covenant on Saturday Morning next.