House of Commons Journal Volume 6: 13 February 1650

Die Mercurii, 13 Februarii, 1649.

Prayers.

Representation and Elections.

THE House was this Day resolved into a Grand Committee, upon the Heads of a Bill for an equal Representative, and regulating the Elections.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Mr. Say took the Chair.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Mr. Say reports from the Grand Committee for the equal Representative, and regulating their Elections, That the said Committee hath adjourned itself till Thisday-sevennight; and desire the Leave of the House for the Committee to sit then.

Resolved, That the House be resolved into a Grand Committee on This-day-sevennight, upon the Heads of a Bill for an equal Representative, and regulating the Elections.

Sheriff of Norfolk.

Lord Commissioner Whitelock acquaints the House with a Return of a Commission, which issued to Commissioners to administer an Oath to Francis Neve Esquire, to be High Sheriff of the County of Norfolk; that he is so weak and infirm, in Body and Mind, that they think not fit to administer an Oath of that Nature to him.

A Letter from Mr. Thomas Allen and Mr. Roger St. John, dated 9 Februarii 1649. was this Day read.

Resolved, That Francis Neve Esquire be discharged from being High Sheriff of the County of Norfolk for the Year ensuing.

The Question being propounded, That Hugh Audley Esquire be, and is hereby constituted and appointed to be, High Sheriff of the County of Norfolk for this present Year; and that the Lords Commissioners for the Great Seal of England do issue a Commission to him to be High Sheriff of the said County accordingly;

The Question being put, That that Question be now put;

It passed with the Affirmative.

And the main Question being put;

It was Resolved, That Hugh Audley Esquire be, and is hereby constituted and appointed to be, High Sheriff for the County of Norfolk for this present Year: And that the Lords Commissioners for the Great Seal of England do issue forth a Commission to him to be High Sheriff accordingly.

Ordered, That the Lords Commissioners for the Great Seal be required forthwith to issue forth a Commission, for Hugh Audley Esquire to be High Sheriff of Norfolk for this present Year: And to take care that the same be forthwith sent to him.

Sheriff of Surrey.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Gentlemen that serve for Surrey, to consider of, and present the Names of, some fit Persons to be Sheriff for the County of Surrey: And that they do presently withdraw, and bring in the same to the House forthwith.

Customs and Excise.

Ordered, That the Petition of the Commissioners of the Customs be read To-morrow Morning; and taken into Consideration with the Business of the Excise.

Council of State.

The House according to former Orders, proceeded in the Debate of the Powers of the Council of State.

The Powers of the Council of State, in the former Instructions, were read; and, each of them being, one by one, put to the Question, were agreed; and are as followeth:

. . . YOU are hereby authorized and required to oppose and suppress whomsoever shall endeavour, or go about, to set up or maintain the pretended Title of Charles Stewart, eldest Son of the late King, or any other of the said late King's Issue, or claiming under him or them, or the pretended Title or Claim of any other Single Person whomsoever to the Crown of England or Ireland, Dominion of Wales, or to any of the Dominions or Territories to them, or any of them, belonging.

. . . You are hereby authorized and impowered to order and direct all the Militias and Forces, both by Sea and Land, of England and Ireland, and the Dominions to them, or either of them, belonging, for preserving the Peace and Safety thereof, and for preventing, resisting, and suppressing, all Tumults and Insurrections that shall happen to arise in them, or either of them, or any Invasions of them from Abroad: and also, upon any Emergencies, to raise and arm such Forces as you shall judge necessary for the Ends above expressed; and to give Commissions, under the Seal of the Council, to such Officers as you shall judge necessary for the Leading, Conducting, and Commanding, of the said Forces, and for the Prosecution and Pursuance of these Instructions, or of any other Instructions you shall receive from the Parliament.

3. You are hereby authorized and required to use all good Ways and Means for the Reducing of Ireland, the Isles . . Jersey, Guernsey, Silley, and the Isle of Man, and all other Parts and Places belonging to the Commonwealth of England, not yet reduced.

4. You shall take care, that the Stores and Magazines of all military Provisions, both for the Land Service and for the Sea, be, from time to time, well and sufficiently furnished; and that the same be issued as you shall by Warrant direct: And you are also, from time to time, to take care of the Repair of the Shipping belonging to the Commonwealth, and to build such others as you shall judge necessary for the Defence and Safety thereof.

5. You are to use all good Ways and Means for the Securing, Advancement, and Encouragement, of the Trade of England and Ireland, and the Dominions to them belonging; and to promote the Good of all Foreign Plantations and Factories belonging to this Commonwealth, or any of the Natives thereof.

6. You shall advise, order, and direct, concerning the Entertaining, Keeping, Renewing, or Settling, of Amity, and a good Correspondence, with Foreign Kingdoms and States, and for preserving the Rights of the People of this Nation in Foreign Parts, and Composing of their Differences there: And you are hereby authorized to send Ambassadors, Agents, or Messengers, to any Foreign Kingdom or State, and to receive Ambassadors, Agents, . . Messengers, from them, for the Ends aforesaid.

7. You are to advise and consult of any thing concerning the Good of this Commonwealth; and report your Opinions concerning the same, as you find Occasion, to the Parliament.

8. You are hereby authorized to send for any Person or Persons whatsoever to advise with them, in pursuance of these, or any other, Instructions that shall be given unto you.

9. You have hereby Power, and are authorized, to send for any Records, Writings, Accompts, Books, or Papers, that you shall think fit for your Information, in any Cause, Matter, or Thing, in Agitation before you, in pursuance of these, or any other, Instructions that shall be given unto you by the Parliament.

10. You have hereby Power, and are authorized, in case of Danger to the Commonwealth, to administer an Oath to any Person or Persons, for the Discovery of the Truth.

11. You are hereby authorized and impowered to send and imprison, or otherwise to secure, by taking, bound in Recognizance, any such Person or Persons as shall be Offenders against these, or any other, Instructions which you shall receive from the Parliament, and all such as shall contemn, or be refractory to, any your Commands, Directions, or Orders, in pursuance of the said Instructions.

12. You have hereby Power, and are authorized, to charge the publick Revenue, by Warrant under the Seal of the Council, with such Sum and Sums of Money, from time to time, as you shall find necessary for defraying all Charges of Foreign Negotiations, Intelligence, and other Incidences, and for the Salary of such subordinate Officers and Attendants as you shall judge fit to employ; and for the effectual Carrying on of the Service by these Instructions committed to you, or by any other Instructions hereafter to be given you from the Parliament.

13. You are also to observe, and put in Execution, such further Orders as you shall receive, from time to time, from the Parliament.

14. You have also hereby Power to appoint Committees, or any other Person or Persons, for Examinations, Receiving of Informations, and Preparing of Business, for your Debates or Resolutions.

15. You are to meet at Whitehall on Monday next, being the Sixteenth of February instant, and so from time to time, and from Place to Place, as you shall see Cause, and in such manner as you shall think fit, for the Execution of your Instructions.

* * * *

An Act constituting a Council of State, was this Day read the First and Second time; and, upon the Question, passed.

Resolved, That Gualter Frost Esquire be Secretary to the Council of State for the Year ensuing.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee, touching the best Way of Electing Four Persons more for the Council of State, be made To-morrow Morning, the first Business.

Sheriffs.

Resolved, That John Carpenter Esquire be discharged from being High Sheriff for the County of Surrey for this present Year.

Mr. Snelling reports from the Committee appointed for that Purpose, Names of fit Persons to be Sheriff of the County of Surrey.

Resolved, upon the Question, by the Parliament, That Thomas Woodward Esquire be nominated and approved of to be High Sheriff of the County of Surrey for this present Year: And that the Lords Commissioners for the Great Seal of England do issue a Commission to him to be High Sheriff of the said County accordingly.

Resolved, &c. That Owen Wood Esquire be nominated and approved of to be High Sheriff of the County of Anglice for this present Year: And that the Lords Commissioners for the Great Seal of England do issue a Commission to him to be High Sheriff of the said County accordingly.

Resolved, That John Carter Esquire be nominated, and approved of, to be High Sheriff of the County of Carnarvon for this present Year: And that the Lords Commissioners for the Great Seal of England do issue a Commission to him to be High Sheriff of the said County accordingly.

Resolved, That Robert Amvil, of the Park, Esquire, be nominated and approved of, to be High Sheriff of the County of Merioneth for this present Year: And that the Lords Commissioners for the Great Seal of England do issue a Commission to him to be High Sheriff of the said County accordingly.