House of Commons Journal Volume 5: 20 August 1647

Die Veneris, 20 Augusti, 1647.

Prayers.

Martin's in the Fields Poor.

ORDERED, &c. That the Committee of the Revenue do forthwith advance and pay unto the Collectors of the poor visited People, of the Parish of Martin's in the Fields, in which Parish Two of the King's Houses are, the Sum of One hundred Pounds; to be employed for the Relief of the poor visited People of the said Parish.

Church Collections.

Ordered, &c. That there be a Collection in all the Churches and Chapels within the Cities of London, Westminster, Lines of Communication, and Weekly Bills of Mortality, on Tuesday next come Sevennight, being the Day of Publick Thanksgiving for the great Victory in Ireland: And that there be likewise a Collection on Tuesday next come Fortnight in all the Churches and Chapels through England: And that the Money so collected be returned to the Treasurers at Christ Church; to be disposed and employed for the Relief of poor Irish Protestants that are come out of Ireland, and are about the Cities of London and Westminster: And Mr. Knightley is to bring in an Ordinance to this Purpose: Wherein Care is to be taken for the orderly Distribution hereof, that these charitable Intentions of good People herein may not be abused and misemployed.

Resident in Holland.

Resolved, &c. That Mr. Walther Strickland, Resident for the Parliament with the States of the United Provinces, shall, upon his own Desire, have Leave, for a convenient Time, to come home, for Dispatch of his own Occasions: And that it be referred to the Committee for foreign Affairs, to give him notice hereof; and to the Committee for the Admiralty, to give Order for a Ship for his Convoy.

Report deferred.

Ordered, &c. That, on Tuesday next, the Report in Mr. Challoner's Hand, concerning some Gentlemen of Ireland, be made.

Ministers of Religion.

A Letter from the General, from Kingston, of 19 Augusti 1647, with a Copy of a Petition, and other Informations, of Ministers put in by Authority of Parliament, that are turned out and dispossessed by malignant Ministers was read.

Mr. Scott, Mr. Ball, Mr. Jo. Corbett, Mr. Ashhurst, Mr. Knightley, Sir Wm. Brereton, or any Three of them, are appointed presently to withdraw, to prepare an Order, upon the Debate of the House, for keeping godly Ministers in their Livings, that are placed there by Authority of Parliament.

Southwarke Petition.

Ordered, &c. That, To-morrow, the Petition of the Borough of Southwarke, now tendered by Mr. Marten, be read.

Mr. Bowyer.

Ordered, &c. That To-morrow Morning, next after the Petition of the Borough of Southwarke, the Report concerning Mr. Jeremy Bowyer, now in Mr. Nelthorpe's Hand, be made.

Raising Money.

An Ordinance for charging the Sum of Twenty thousand Pounds upon the Receipts of the Grand Excise, in Course, with Interest for the same, after the Rate of Eight Pounds per Cent. payable every Six Months, from the Time of the Advance thereof, until the same shall be reimbursed, was read; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

Sir John Temple is appointed to carry it to the Lords.

Ordinance to be prepared.

Mr. Boys, Sir Jo. Evelyn of Wiltes, Mr. Prideaux, Mr. Rous, Mr. Wm. Pirrepont, Mr. Greene, Sir Henry Vane, Mr. Ashhurst, Mr. Clerke, Mr. Lisle, Mr. Swynfen, Mr. Solicitor, Mr. Gewen, Sir Arth. Hesilrige, Mr. Bulkeley, Mr. Dodderiche, Sir Gilbert Gerrard, Mr. Nath. Fiennes, Mr. Morley;

This Committee, or any Five of them, is appointed to meet presently in the Court of Wards, to prepare an Ordinance, upon the whole Debate concerning the Subject Matter of the Ordinance brought in Yesterday.

Resolved, &c. That the House do meet this Afternoon at One of Clock.

Message to Lords.

Sir Robert Pye is appointed to go to the Lords, to desire them to sit this Afternoon, by reason this House shall have Occasion to come unto them, upon Matters of great Importance.

He likewise carried to the Lords an Ordinance for restoring Wm. Billers, Clerk of the Deliveries, to his Place: And an Order concerning Dartmouth Castle.

Post meridiem.

Acts passed since Violence to Parliament.

AN Ordinance for declaring null and void all Votes, Orders and Ordinances, passed in either or both Houses of Parliament since the Force on both Houses on Julii 26, until the Sixth of this present August, was this Day read the First and Second time.

The Question being put, Whether these Words, "and consenting," shall be added in this Ordinance after the Word "knowing;"

The House was divided.

The Yeas went forth.

So that the Question passed with the Negative.

Resolved, &c. That the Word "and," between the Words "present . ." and "knowing," shall be made "or;" and that these Words shall run thus, "present at or knowing of."

Resolved, &c. That this Ordinance shall pass so amended: Being, upon the Question, agreed unto;

It was sent to the Lords, for their Concurrence, by Sir John Evelyn.

Answer from Lords.

Sir John Temple brings Answer, That the Lords do agree to the Ordinance for appointing the Days of Publick Thanksgiving for the great Victory obtained against the Rebels in Ireland; and to the Ordinance for Twenty thousand Pounds upon the Excise, for the Service of the Forces under the Command of Colonel Jones.

Relief of Chester.

An Ordinance for Relief of the poor visited Inhabitants of the City of Chester, by a voluntary Collection in the Parishes and Chapels in several Counties and Places of this Kingdom, named in the said Ordinance, was read; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

Mr. Wheeler is appointed to carry it to the Lords.

Ministers of Religion.

An Ordinance for keeping in godly Ministers, put into Livings by Authority of Parliament, was this Day read the First time; and ordered to be read the Second time To-morrow Morning, the first Business.

Answer from Lords.

Sir John Evelyn brings Answer, That the Lords do agree to the Ordinance carried by him, as it was sent up.

Leave to attend the King.

Resolved, &c. That Sir John Hippesley shall have Leave to attend the Person of the King.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, &c. That Sir John Corbett shall have Leave to go into the Country, for the Recovery of his Health.

Violence offered to Parliament.

WHEREAS there was a visible, horrid, insolent, and actual Force, upon the Houses of Parliament, on Monday the Twenty-sixth of July last; whereupon the Speakers, and many Members of both Houses of Parliament were forced to absent themselves from the Service of the Parliament: And whereas those Members of the Houses could not return, to sit in Safety, before Friday the Sixth of August: It is therefore Declared, by the Lords and Commons, in Parliament assembled, That the Ordinance of Monday the said Twenty-sixth of July, for the revoking and making void of the Ordinance, of the Three-and-twentieth of the said July, for the Settling of the Militia of the City of London, being gained by Force and Violence; and all Votes, Orders, and Ordinances, passed in either or both Houses of Parliament since the said Ordinance of the Twenty-sixth of July to the said Sixth of August are null and void; and were so at the Making thereof; and are hereby declared so to be; the Parliament being under a Force, and not free. Provided always, and be it Ordained, That no Person or Persons shall be impeached or punished for his or their Actings, by, or upon, or according to, the aforesaid Votes, Orders, or Ordinances, unless he or they shall be found guilty of contriving, acting, or abetting, the aforesaid visible and actual Force; or, being present at or knowing of the said Force, did afterwards act upon the Votes so forced; or were guilty of entering into or promoting the late Engagement for bringing the King to the City, upon the Terms and Conditions expressed in his Majesty's Letter of the Twelfth of May last.