House of Commons Journal Volume 5: 24 May 1648

Die Mercurii, 24 Maii, 1648.

Prayers.

Duke of York.

ORDERED, That, on Saturday Morning next, the Report concerning the Duke of York be made.

Tumults in Kent.

Several Letters and Informations out of the County of Kent were read, giving notice of Risings in divers Parts of that County.

Ordered, That the Letters, Informations, and Desires, out of Kent, be referred to the Committee at Derby House; and likewise the Desires and Informations of Colonel Temple, Captain of Tilbury Fort, be referred to the Consideration of the Committee at Derby House: Who are presently to withdraw, and give Order for some present Force to be sent into that County, for a speedy Remedy and Redress of those Evils and Risings; Consideration being had to the Business of the North.

The Gentlemen of Kent, and Colonel Temple, are likewise to repair to the Committee, to give their best Advices in this Business.

Defence of Sussex.

Resolved, &c. That all the Gentlemen of this House, that are of the County of Sussex, be desired forthwith to go down into that County, to employ their best Endeavours for the Defence and Preservation of that County, and the Peace thereof.

Declaration of Kent, &c.

A printed Paper, intituled, "The joint Declaration of the several Counties of Kent, Essex, Middlesex, and Surrey, unto the Soldiers of the Army now under the Command of the Lord Fairefax," was read; and ordered to be referred to the Consideration of the Committee at Derby House.

It is further Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee for Printing, to consider, and find out, Who was the Printer, Contriver, and Promoter of this printed Paper.

Temple's Petition.

Ordered, That the Petition now delivered in, concerning Colonel James Temple, be read on Saturday Morning next.

Tumults in Kent.

A Message from the Lords, by Mr. Hakewell and Mr. Page;

The Lords have received these Reports from the Committee at Derby House, touching the appeasing the Stirs in Kent: The Lords have declared their Sense upon it; and desire the Concurrence of this House therein.

The Report from the Committee at Derby House, and the Paper presented to that Committee this Day by the Earl of Thanett, concerning Means to appease the Tumult in Kent, being the same with that reported by Sir Gilbert Gerard, were read.

The Lords Sense upon this Report was likewise read.

The Paper presented by the Earl of Thanett to the Committee of Derby House, for the appeasing the Tumult now in Kent, and reported from that Committee, was in hæc verba; viz.

1. That they have Liberty to present their Petition to the House.

2. That the greatest Cause of this Concourse and Rising is, because some have affirmed, and given cut, that, of such as shall have subscribed the Petition, there shall Two in a Parish be hanged: And therefore, if some Course were taken to give Satisfaction unto them, that no such Thing was affirmed by the House, nor no Authority given any Person by the House, for to affirm so much; and that if it be made good against any Man, he should be called in Question for it, or for such Words of that Nature; it would be a great Means to settle their Distractions there.

3. That, upon their immediate Disbanding, and Departing home quietly, there shall be an Act of Indemnity for them all.

The Lords Sense upon this Paper, reported from the Committee at Derby House, sent in this Message, was read; and, upon the Question, assented unto; and was in hæc verba; viz.

"That the Lords do think sit that these Disorders in Kent may be quieted in a fair Way, if it be possible: In order to which, they do approve of the sending down of the Earl of Thanett into Kent: And that Instructions be given him in pursuance of these Heads: And that it be referred to the Committee at Derby House, to draw up the Instructions accordingly."

Treaty with the King.

The Question was propounded, That, Religion and the Militia being first settled, and the Declarations, &c. being recalled, then a Treaty to be had with the King upon other the Propositions sent to the King at Hampton Court: And that the House do consider, To-morrow Morning, How Religion and the Militia shall be settled; and the Declarations recalled.

And the Question being put, Whether this Question should be now put;

It passed with the Affirmative.

The Question being put, That, Religion and the Militia being first settled, and the Declarations, &c. being recalled, then a Treaty to be had with the King, upon the Propositions sent to the King at Hampton Court; and that the House do consider, To-morrow Morning, How Religion and the Militia shall be settled, and the Declarations recalled;

The House was divided.

The Yeas went forth.

Resolved, &c. That Religion and the Militia being first settled, and the Declarations, &c. being recalled, then a Treaty to be had with the King, upon other the Propositions sent to the King at Hampton Court: And that the House do consider, To-morrow Morning, How Religion and the Militia shall be settled, and the Declarations recalled.