House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 3 October 1656

Friday, the 3d of October, 1656.

Jervis' Petition.

THE humble Petition of William Jervis Gentleman, was this Day read.

Resolved, That the Petitioner William Jervis be called in, to see if he will avow this Petition.

The said Wm. Jervis came to the Bar of this House, accordingly; and, being at the Bar, the Petition was shewed unto him: And being demanded, Whether it was his Name subscribed in the said Petition; he did avow the Petition, and the Matters therein contained: And thereupon was commanded to withdraw.

Ordered, That a Committee be appointed to examine the Matters complained of in this Petition: Viz. Mr. Bond, Major-General Boteler, Major-General Whaley, Colonel Fitz-James, Sir Sam. Sleigh, Sir Wm. Roberts, Major-General Goff, Mr. Williams, Colonel Rous, Mr. Bodurda, Colonel Bethell, Colonel Hatcher, Colonel Sidenham, Colonel Coker, Lord Evers, Sir Christofer Pack, Major Jenkens, Colonel Beamont, Colonel Shapcott, Mr. Bampfield, Colonel Grosvenor, Master of the Rolls, Captain Blackwell, Captain Hatsell, Colonel Winthorp, Mr. Fleetwood, Colonel Crompton, Mr. Waller, Major-General Disbrow, Lord Chief Justice Glyn, Captain Baines, Colonel Twisleton, Mr. Robinson, Mr. Cludd, Major-General Berry, Mr. Tho. Gorges, Alderman Foot, Colonel Blake, Mr. Wm. Lester: And they are to meet in the Star Chamber, at Two of the Clock this Afternoon: With Power to send for Persons, Papers, Witnesses, Records.

Ordered, That Power be given to this Committee, to examine the Actions of the Officers for Sale of the said Lands.

Ordered, That Mr. Attorney-General, Mr. SolicitorGeneral, and Mr. Whiteway, Captain Braddon, Captain Stone, and Mr. Recorder of London, be added to this Committee.

Confirming Sales.

Resolved, That a Committee be appointed to prepare a Bill to confirm the Sales of Estates made to Purchasers, in Pursuance of, and according to, Acts and Ordinances of Parliament.

Ordered, That the Committee to whom the Petition of Wm. Jervis was referred, shall be the Committee for this Purpose: And the Lord Whitelock, Mr. Den, Colonel Carter, Sir Gilbert Pickering, Lord Lambert, Mr. Ch. Lloyd, are added to this Committee.

Ordered, That the Abuses, and Breaches of Trust in the Sale of any Lands, sold by the Parliament, be referred to the same Committee, to examine the same.

War with Spain.

Resolved, That the Business touching the Manner of carrying on the Spanish War, and the Assistance therein, be taken into Debate on Thursday next.

Fines on Descent.

A Bill for ascertaining of arbitrary Fines, upon Descent or Alienation of Copyholds of Inheritance, was this Day read the Second time.

This Bill being brought in with a Clause that ascertains the Fine to be one Year's Value, Exception was taken against the same, as being contrary to the Orders of the House, that any Bill should be brought in to charge any of the People in their Inheritance; but the same ought to have been brought in with a Blank, and left to the Judgment of this House: And therefore moved to be rejected, that it may not appear, that a Bill was so brought in against the Rules and Orders of Parliament, and proceeded in.

During this Debate, a Member of the House, speaking to the retaining of this Bill, some Exception being taken to his mentioning the Gentlemen of the Long Robe, as was apprehended, in a Way of Reflection, was staid by Mr. Speaker, and several of the Members; and ordered to explain himself: Which he did.

And thereupon the same was passed by; and the Debate went on.

The Question being propounded, That this Bill be rejected;

The Question being put, That these Words, "for the Irregularity of it," be added to the Question.

The House was divided.

The Yeas went forth:

So it passed in the Negative.

And the Bill, upon the Question, was rejected.

Success of the Fleet.

Mr. Secretary Thurloe reports from the Committee, appointed to draw up a Narrative of the Success of Part of the Fleet, a Draught of a Narrative to be published: Which was by him read; and again read by the Clerk.

And the Question being put, That the Clause in the said Narrative, concerning the Kingdom of Peru and Lyma, do stand;

It passed in the Negative.

And the Words "to the Value" being added in one Place; the Narrative and Order, so amended, was put to the Question, and passed.

Thanksgiving Day.

The Lord Lambert reports from the Committee appointed to attend his Highness, that his Highness doth consent to the Day appointed for a Thanksgiving within the Cities of London and Westminster, and the late Lines of Communication.

Ordered, That the same Committee do attend his Highness, for his Consent to the Declaration passed this Day, touching the Thanksgiving: And are to meet at Whitehall, at Four of the Clock in the Afternoon.