House of Commons Journal Volume 6: 17 February 1649

Die Sabbati, 17 Februarii, 1648.

Prayers.

Justices of Peace, &c.

AN Act for further enabling and authorizing Justices of Peace, Sheriffs and other Ministers of Justice therein named, to act and proceed in the Execution of their Offices and Duties, until their several Commissions shall come to them, was this Day read the First and Second Time; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be forthwith printed and published.

Dissents to the Vote 5 Dec.

Mr. Challener reports from the Committee appointed to take the Dissents and Disapprovals to the Vote of 5 Decembris last, That Colonel Fenwick doth dissent to the said Vote.

Courts of Justice.

An Act for better Settling of Proceedings in Courts of Justice, according to the present Government, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be forthwith printed and published.

Seals of Courts.

Ordered, That the Time for continuing the Seals of the Upper Bench, of the Common Pleas, of the Court of Exchequer, of the Duchy Court, of the County Palatine of Chester, and of the original and judicial Seals for the Counties of Wales, be enlarged until the Tenth Day of March next.

Ordered, That the old Seal of the Court of Exchequer be made use of for Sealing of the Writs, Process, and Proceedings of the said Court, until the Tenth Day of March next.

Great Seal.

An Act for settling competent Salaries upon the Commissioners of the Great Seal of England was this Day read the First and Second Time; and, upon the Question, passed.

* * * * (fn. 1).

Grant to Thorpe.

Ordered, That the Committee of Revenue be required forthwith to pay unto Mr. Serjeant Thorpe the Sum of Two hundred Pounds, in Consideration of his Expence in the former Service of the State; and for defraying his Charges in the Northern Circuit for this next Assizes.

Absent Members.

Ordered, That the Committee that are to consider of the Matter touching absent Members, be required to meet this Afternoon; and consider, What is fit further to be done; and report it to the House on Monday Morning.

Cirencester Election.

Colonel Harvey reports from the Committee appointed to consider of the Business of the Burgesses chosen for Cirencester, That the Clerk of the Crown, by Certificate dated the Twenty-eighth of January 1646, and filed with the Clerk of this House, did certify, "That Sir Thomas Fairefax Knight, and Nathanael Rich Esquire, are chosen Burgesses for the Borough of Cirencester in the County of Gloucester, as may appear by Three several Indentures in my Custody, one under the Sheriff's Hand of the said County, another under the Bailiff's Hand, and the Third under the Burgesses and Townsmen of the said Borough, to serve in this present Parliament, in the room of Sir Theobald Gorges, and John George Esquire, disabled to sit any longer in the House of Commons during this present Parliament."

Ordered, That the Clerk of the Crown be required to take off the Indentures now affixed to the Writ for election of Burgesses for Cirencester: And that he do affix the Indenture returned unto him for the Election of Sir Thomas Fairefax and Colonel Rich, unto the said Writ: And that the said Burgesses, so returned, be required to attend the Service of this House, according to their Duties, and the Votes of this House touching the Rights of their Elections.

Council of State.

Mr. Lysle reports from the Committee that were to bring in Names for a Council of State, several Particulars touching the Act; viz. The Title of the said Act, in these Words, "An Act of this present Parliament for constituting a Council of State for the Commonwealth of England:" Which was read, and agreed.

And some new Instructions: Which, with some Amendments offered at the Table, were read; and, upon the Question, assented unto.

Resolved, &c. That every Instruction shall go in the general "You are hereby authorized;" without Mention of any Quorum in each Instruction.

Army.

Ordered, That the Regiment of Horse under Colonel Reynolds, being entertained, and to be sent, for the Service of Ireland, shall, in the mean time, be paid by Assignment from the Committee of the Army, as other Forces of the Army, that they may be taken off from Free Quarter: And the Committee of the Army are to take care, and give Order, accordingly.

Watermen's Petition.

Ordered, That a Copy of the Petition of the Watermen, for a personal Treaty with the late King, be sent to the High Court of Justice; with the Names of the Petitioners.

Scotch Affairs.

Commissary General Ireton reports a Declaration in Answer to the Scotts Letters and Papers: Which was read by Parts; and, every Paragraph thereof being severally put to the Question, was assented unto; and ordered to be forthwith printed and published.

Council of State Seal, &c.

Ordered, That the Council of State do prepare Two Seals, a greater and a less, for the Use of the Council, each of them to have for Impression the Arms of England and Ireland; the Impression to be, "The Seal of the Council of State, appointed by the Parliament of England."

Ordered, That Whitehall be prepared for the Council of State: And that the Committee of Whitehall may be appointed to see it accommodated for that Purpose.

Harrison's Claims.

The humble Petition of Colonel Ralph Harrison, Citizen and Merchant of London, was this Day read.

Ordered, That the said Petition of Colonel Ralph Harrison be recommended to the Lord Pawe, Ambassador Extraordinary to the States General; to recommend it to the High and Mighty Lords the States General, to take it into Consideration; and to take some Course, that Right may be speedily done to the Petitioner.

Ordered, That Lieutenant General Cromwell and Major General Skippon do, from this House, wait on the Lord Pawe with this Petition and Recommendation.

Scotch Affairs.

Ordered, That the Declaration in Answer to the Scotts Letters and Papers, be sent to the Scotts Commissioners: And that it be printed and published. And the especial Care hereof is recommended to Commissary General Ireton.

Prince Elector.

Ordered, That Mr. Speaker do present the Prince Elector's Letter to the House, the first Business, on Monday Morning.