House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 5 October 1654

Thursday, 5th October, 1654.

Prayers.

Navy.

MR. Lechmere reports from the Committee, to whom it was referred to consider of the Retrenching the Forces, &c. That, upon Conference with his Highness the Lord Protector, his Highness and the Committee are of Opinion, that Eight-and-twenty of the Ships, now out at Sea upon the Charge of the Commonwealth, be forthwith called in.

Resolved, That the House doth agree with the Opinion of the Committee, That the said Eight-and-twenty Ships be forthwith called in, accordingly.

Ordered, That the said Committee be impowered to send for Papers, Records, Persons, and Witnesses, as may tend to the Information of that Committee, in the Matters referred to them by the Parliament; and that Mr. Bond, Sir Richard Onslow, Sir Thomas Bowes, Mr. Boys, Colonel Purefoy, Colonel Thomas Birch, Colonel John Birch, Mr. Robert Fenwick, Capt. Stone, Mr. John Clarke, Sir Richard Pigott, Mr. Trenchard, Lord Commissioner Lisle, Sir John Witterong, and Mr. Hildesley, be added to that Committee.

Isle of Wight Writ.

Lord Commissioner Lisle, being returned and chosen to serve in this present Parliament for the Isle of Wight, and Town and County of Southampton, chooseth to serve for the Town and County of Southampton, and waves the Isle of Wight.

Ordered, That a Warrant issue forth, under Mr. Speaker's Hand, directed to the Clerk of the Commonwealth in Chancery, for a new Writ for electing of a Burgess to serve for the Isle of Wight, in the Stead of the Lord Commissioner Lisle, who waved his Election for that Place.

Religion.

Resolved, That there be a Committee of the whole House, for Religion: And that that Committee of the whole House do sit Two Days in each Week, viz. Wednesdays and Fridays, in the Afternoon.

Andever Writ.

Mr. John Dunch being returned to serve for the County of Berks, and for the Town of Andever in the County of Southampton, chooseth to serve for Berkshire, and to wave Andever.

Ordered, That a Warrant issue forth, under Mr. Speaker's Hand, directed to the Clerk of the Commonwealth, for a new Writ for electing of another Burgess for the Town of Andever, in the Stead of Mr. Dunch, who waved his Election for that Town.

Oxford, &c. Writs.

Lord Commissioner Whitelock, chosen to serve for the County of Bucks, and for the City of Oxford, and Town of Bedford, chooseth to serve for the County of Bucks, and waves his Election for the City of Oxford, and Town of Bedford.

Ordered, That a Warrant issue forth, under Mr. Speaker's Hand, directed to the Clerk of the Commonwealth, for the issuing a new Writ for electing of another Burgess for the City of Oxford, in the Room and Stead of the Lord Commissioner Whitelock, who waved his Election for that Place.

Ordered, That a Warrant do issue forth, under Mr. Speaker's Hand, directed to the Clerk of the Commonwealth, to issue a new Writ for electing another Burgess to serve for the Town of Bedford, in the Stead of the Lord Commissioner Whitelock, who waved his Election for that Place.

Irish Elections.

Mr. Stephens reported from the Committee of Privileges, the Opinion of that Committee touching the Complaints touching the Elections for Four Counties in Ireland, That the Parliament be desired to send, or order the Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal to send, a Commission to the Lord Deputy and Council of Ireland, for Examination of the Matter of Fact.

Resolved, That the Committee do proceed in Examination of the Question arising upon Elections in Ireland, in the same manner as they do for Elections in England; and according to the Course of Parliament.

Mr. Hildesley, Mr. Guys, Colonel Tho. Birch, Mr. Trevor, Colonel Read, Mr. Hoskins, Mr. Thelwall, Sir Tho. Rous, Sir Thomas Bowes, Major Morgan, Captain Ellis, Mr. Scudamore, Mr. Pitt, Mr. Eures, Colonel Baines, Mr. Walley, Lieutenant-Colonel Crowne, Colonel Jephson, Mr. Minors, Colonel Ireland, Captain Halstell, Mr. Richard Jones, Mr. Bainton, Mr. Downing, Mr. Whiteway, Colonel Chadwick, Mr. Swinton, Sir Wm. Strickland, Sir Richard Piggot, Colonel Popham, Mr. Manning, Mr. Gibbons, Captain Baines, Mr. Barkly, Sir Richard Lucy, Sir Theo. Jones, Alderman Dickenson, Mr. Holman, Mr. Barnard, Colonel Whetham, Mr. Porter, Mr. Lucy, Mr. Smith, Mr. Trenchard, Mr. How, Colonel Fitz James, Alderman Avery, Mr. Dunch, Mr. Hooper, Sir John Witterong, Colonel Madrin, Lieutenant-Colonel Kelstey, Mr. Tucker, Colonel Wastell, Major Saunders, Mr. Gwyn, Mr. Parker, Colonel Zanchy, Mr. Gorges, Lord Herbert, Mr. Beaumount, Sir John Temple, Mr. Solicitor, Mr. Yorke, Mr. James Ashe, Captain Harrison, Colonel Wood of Norfolk, Mr. James Hamilton, Lord Dacres, Colonel Crompton, Mr. Launce, Mr. Hall, Mr. Standish, Colonel Arthur Hill, Earl of Stamford, Mr. Halsey, Colonel Perry, Mr. Hutchinson, Mr. Mackworth, Colonel Mathewes, Colonel Lockart, Mr. Francis Ingoldsby, Mr. Jessey, Colonel Shapcott, Colonel Fry, Mr. Banks, be added to the Committee for Privileges.

Earl of Worcester.

The humble Petition of Edward Earl of Worcester was this Day read.

Resolved, That the Earl of Worcester have his Liberty for the present upon Bail, until the Parliament take further Order: And that the Lieutenant of the Tower do take sufficient Bail: And that a Warrant do issue, under Mr. Speaker's Hand, to that Purpose.

Monmouth Writ.

Colonel Jones, chosen to serve for Glamorgan and Monmouth, chooseth to serve for Glamorganshire, and waves his Election for Monmouth.

Ordered, That a Warrant do issue forth, under Mr. Speaker's Hand, directed to the Clerk of the Commonwealth, to issue forth a new Writ for a Knight to serve for Monmouthshire, in the Room and Stead of Colonel Jones, formerly returned to serve for that County, but waved his Election for that Place.

Privilege.

Complaint was made by Mr. Yorke, That Sir Robert Pye, a Member of this House, hath been arrested, contrary to the Privilege of this House, since he was returned: And that he acquainted the Bailiffs, he was returned a Member of Parliament.

Ordered, That the Bailiffs, that did arrest him, be sent for, and brought in Custody to this Bar, as Delinquents: And Mr. Speaker do issue a Warrant to the Serjeant at Arms attending this House, for apprehending them accordingly.

Mr. Trevors acquaints the House, He was present when Sir Robert Pye did claim his Privilege, as a Member of the House, to the Under Sheriff: And that he did enforce him to lay down Four hundred Pounds, before he could have his Liberty.

Ordered, That the Under Sheriff be also sent for, and brought in Custody to this Bar: And that Mr. Speaker do issue a Warrant to the Serjeant at Arms attending this House, for taking him, accordingly.

Uniting Parishes.

Ordered, That the Ordinance concerning Uniting of Parishes be referred to the Committee, to whom the Ordinance for ejecting scandalous, ignorant, and insufficient Ministers and Schoolmasters, is referred, to take the same into Consideration; and report their Opinion to the House.

Chancery Court.

Ordered, That the Ordinance for regulating and limiting the Jurisdiction of the Court of Chancery, and the Matters therein, be referred to a Committee: Viz. To Mr. Lechmere, Sir Charles Wolsley, Colonel Mackworth, Mr. Hoskins, Mr. Young, Lord Broghill, General Disbrow, Colonel Jones, Mr. Long, Mr. Mackworth, Sir Richard Lucy, Sir John Witterong, Mr. Foxwist, Colonel Ireland, Mr. Hobert, Mr. Minors, Major Beake, Mr. Yorke, Colonel Bright, Mr. Serjeant Glyn, Mr. Attorney General, Mr. Cleypoole, Sir Anth. Ashley Cooper, Sir Richard Onslow, Baron Thorp, Mr. Dunch, Mr. Parker, Mr. Pury, Mr. Gorges Colonel Mathews, Mr. Southby, Mr. Turnor, Captain Hatsell, Colonel Fitz James, Mr. Brisco, Colonel Goff, Lieutenant Colonel Worsley, Mr. Fryer, Lord Lambert, Mr. Norden, Colonel Shapcott, Mr. Gibbons, Mr. Vaughan, Mr. Thomas Gorges, Colonel Clerk, Alderman Foote, Sir Gilbert Pickering, Mr. Jones, Mr. Tucker, Colonel Jephson, Mr. Rich. Jones, Mr. Ellis, Captain Stone, Mr. Goddard, Mr. Ernley, Mr. Smyth, Major Morgan, Mr. Lucy, Mr. Bond, Mr. Strickland, Sir Wm. Strickland, Lord Commissioner Whitelock, Lord Commissioner Lisle, Mr. Recorder, Colonel Fines, Lord Commissioner Widdrington, Mr. Trenchard, Colonel Chadwick, Colonel Sanchy, Mr. Hooper, Sir John Hobart, Mr. Hollis, Mr. Bainton, Colonel Tho. Birch, Mr. Weld, Colonel Wilton, Major Saunders, Colonel Bridges, Commissary General Whaley, Colonel Hill, Mr. Barnard, Lieutenant Colonel Crowne, Lord Henry Cromwell, Sir Tho. Rous, Colonel Wastell, Lord Rich. Cromwell, Mr. Pitt, Alderman Richards, Mr. John Thompson, Mr. Garland, Mr. Solicitor, Sir Wm. Roberts, Mr. Wm. Lister, Mr. Newburgh, Colonel John Birch, Alderman Avery, Mr. Henry Cromwell, Colonel Dawkins, Mr. Price: With Power to consider of, and report to the House if it be fit, in Part or in Whole, to suspend the same: And are to meet this Afternoon, at Two of the Clock, in the Outer Court of Wards.

Letter read.

A Letter from his Highness the Lord Protector, dated this present Day, was this Day read.

Settling the Government.

The House, according to former Order, was resolved into a Committee of the whole House, upon the Government.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.
Mr. Hoskins was called to the Chair.
Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Mr. Hoskins reports the Desire of the said Committee, that the House would give Leave that the Committee may sit again To-morrow Morning.

Resolved, That the House be resolved into a Committee of the whole House To-morrow Morning, upon the Government, according to former Order.