House of Commons Journal Volume 6: 6 April 1649

Die Veneris, 6 Aprilis, 1649.

Prayers.

Oxfordshire Petition.

THE House being informed, That divers Gentlemen of the County of Oxford were at the Door.

They were called in: And, after a short Preamble, made by Mr. Butler, to this Effect; viz.-" We are desired, from divers Gentlemen and well-affected Persons of the County of Oxon, to present both our Grievances, and divers Requests, unto this Honourable House: Truly, they are not a little sensible of the great Blessing of God on them, in you, and your unwearied Labours of Love and Pains, and many good Fruits of your unpartial Justice, by that Remnant that God hath pleased to reserve to this Day: And we may say, Had there not been a Remnant, we had been as Sodom and we had been as Gomorah: And we hope, that, as God hath preserved you, so he will still preserve and continue you faithful: And we desire these Grievances and Requests may be read; and such a speedy and effectual Answer thereto, as, to your Wisdom, shall seem meet;"-he delivered a Petition: Which (after the Petitioners were withdrawn) was read; and was intituled, "The humble Representation and Petition of divers well-affected Gentlemen, Freeholders, and others, of the County of Oxon.

Ordered, That the humble Representation and Petition of divers well-affected Gentlemen, Freeholders, and others, of the County of Oxon, be referred unto Sir Arthur Hesilrige, Sir Thomas Wroth, Mr. Ash, Mr. Allen, Mr. Salwey, Sir Gregory Norton, Alderman Wilson, Mr. Millington, Mr. Oldesworth, Sir James Harrington, Sir John Danvers, Mr. Whitelock, Mr. Hum. Edwards, Mr. Dove, Mr. Whittacre, Mr. Say, Sir John Hippesly, Mr. Smyth, Mr. Leman, Mr. James Challener, Mr. Tho. Challener, Colonel Ven, Colonel Moore, Lord Grey, Mr. Fenwick, Mr. Scott, Mr. Garland, Mr. Love, Mr. Masham, Mr. Boone, Mr. Bossevile, Mr. Blackiston, Mr. Pury, Mr. Weaver, Mr. Gurdon, or any Three of them; to hear what shall be further presented to them by the Petitioners, and such as are authorized by them: And this Committee are to meet this Afternoon at Two of the Clock, in the Duchy Chamber: And this Committee have Power to look on the former Votes; and to present some way to the House, for Reception of Ministers to supply the Places that are unsupplied; and to have the same Powers which the Committee for itinerant Ministers had: And Mr. Garland is to have especial Care hereof.

Resolved, &c. That Mr. Speaker do return . . . Thanks of this House unto the Petitioners.

Oxford City Petition.

The House being informed, That there were other Gentlemen of Oxfordshire at the Door;

They were called in: And the Mayor of Oxford presented a Petition to the House. Which (after the Petitioners were withdrawn) was read; and was intituled, "The humble Petition of the Mayor, Aldermen, Burgesses, and Commonalty of the City of Oxon in the County of Oxon."

Ordered, That the Consideration of the Petition of the Mayor, Alderman, Burgesses, and Commonalty of the City of Oxon, and the Particulars thereunto annexed, be referred to the same Committee to whom the Petition of the Inhabitants of the County of Oxon is referred.

The First Petitioners being again called in; Mr. Speaker, by Command of the House, gave them this Answer:

Gentlemen, You of the County of Oxford; The House hath read your Petition; and do likewise take notice of the discreet and moderate Expressions of it, the fair and modest Delivery of it; which, they conceive, did proceed from a good Intention; and the Matters themselves shew it: And they have appointed a Committee to meet this Afternoon, in the Duchy Chamber, to consider thereof; and to hear what you shall further present to them: Many of the Particulars of your Petition are taken into Consideration already; others will be taken into Consideration by this Committee: And the Expressions and Explanation you made to me, the House hath taken notice of; and have commanded me to return you hearty Thanks for your good Affections: And I do return you the hearty Thanks of this House accordingly.

The other Petitioners being called in: Mr. Speaker, by Command of the House, gave them this Answer;

Mr. Mayor of Oxford, and you the Aldermen, and others; The House hath read your Petition; and are sensible of any Grievance . . . . may happen to the People, and, in particular, of any Grievance that may happen to you: And have appointed a Committee to sit this Afternoon, in the Duchy Chamber, to take your Petition into Consideration: And, for the manner of Delivery of your Petition, they take notice of your modest and good Affections; and have commanded me to return you Thanks: And I do, in their Names, return you Thanks for your good Affections.

Artificers Wages.

Ordered, That the Lord Mayor, for the Time being, of the City of London, and all Justices of Peace within the said City, and Liberties thereof, be required, and are hereby injoined, forthwith to put in Execution the several Statutes of 5 Eliz. Cap. 4, and 1 Jacobi, Cap. 6, made and enacted for the Rating and Settling of the Wages of the several Artificers within the Limits aforesaid, for their better Relief and Subsistence in these dear Times: And that no Person or Persons presume to hinder the putting the same in Execution: And that Care be taken annually to do the same, if need require, according to the Tenor of the said Laws: And all Justices of Peace, in the several Counties of this Commonwealth, and Dominion of Wales, are, in like manner, required to do the same in their respective Counties, Cities, and Places, for the Ends and Purposes aforesaid.

Sequestered Estates.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth declare, That the Vote of the Seventeenth of March last, That all the Rents and Profits of all sequestered Estates (except the Persons before excepted), growing due at Our Lady Day next, shall be stayed and detained in the Tenants Hands, until the First Day of June next, doth not extend to the Estates of Papists: And that the Rents of the Estate, allotted by Order or Ordinance of Parliament to the Prince Elector, be forthwith paid, notwithstanding the said Vote.

Admission of a Member.

Mr. Lisle reports from the Committee concerning absent Members, That Sir Peter Wentworth hath attended the Committee; and given them full Satisfaction.

Ordered, That Sir Peter Wentworth be admitted into the House.

Magistrates.

Ordered, That Mr. Garland do bring in an Act for Amoving of all Magistrates, and others, that have been malignant and ill-affected, from bearing any Office or, Place in the Commonwealth.

Members not to depart.

Resolved, &c. That the Members of this House do not depart out of the House, without the Leave of this House.

Weavers Company.

Ordered, That the Petitions of the Bailiffs, Wardens, Assistants, and Commonalty of the Company of Weavers, London, with the whole Matter therein contained, be referred unto the Lord Grey, Alderman Pennyngton, Colonel Marten, Mr. Smyth, Colonel Ven, Colonel Morley, Colonel Harvey, Mr. Fenwick, Mr. Garland, Mr. Allen, Mr. Carey, Mr. Pury, Mr. Leman, Mr. Dove:

This Committee, or any Five of them, are to meet in the Exchequer Chamber, To-morrow at Two of Clock in the Afternoon: And Mr. Garland is to take care of it.

Navy appointments.

Colonel Wauton reports from the Council of State, Persons to be employed at Sea.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth approve of Captain James Moulton to carry the Ship Victory to Captain Robert Moulton, his Father: And that the said Captain James Moulton do command the Ship Leopard.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth approve of Captain Lane to command the St. George.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth approve of Captain Zachary Browne to command the Hercules.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth approve of Captain Richard Piddock to command the Galliott Hoy.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth approve of Captain Samuel Howett to command the St. Cleere.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth approve of Captain William Wheatley to command the War Spight.

Assessments.

Resolved, &c. That these Words; viz. "whereof One Eighth Part only shall be charged on the Borough of Southwark;" be added in the Act for the Assessments for the Army.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Mr. Ashe and Mr. Gurdon have Leave to go out of the House.

Ordered, That Sir John Danvers have Leave to go out of the House.

Ordered, That Mr. Whitelock have Leave to go out of the House.

Commissioners of Assessments.

Resolved, &c. That, where there is a Deficiency of Names of Commissioners for Assessments, the Justices of Peace of the said Counties last named be put in, and nominated Commissioners in the Act for Assessments for the Army.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Sir Thomas Walsingham have Leave to go out of the House.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Sir Arthur Hesilrige have Leave to go out of the House.

Ordered, That Colonel Jones have Leave to go out of the House.