House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 12 January 1655

Friday, the 12th of January, 1654.

Prayers.

Settling the Government.

THE House this Day resumed the Debate upon the Bill, intituled, An Act declaring and settling the Government of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and the Dominions thereunto belonging.

Resolved, That the Proviso, in the Six-and-fortieth Chapter, be amended in these Words; viz. "Provided that such Bills as shall be agreed upon by the Parliament, for restraining damnable Heresies, particularly to be enumerated by the Lord Protector and Parliament; and also such Bills as shall be agreed upon by the Parliament, for restraining of Atheism, Blasphemy, Popery, Prelacy, &c."

A Clause was tendered to this Bill, in these Words; viz. "That nothing expressly contained in this Act of Settlement, shall be altered, without the Consent of the Lord Protector and Parliament:" Which was read the First and Second time; and, upon the Question, committed, upon the whole Debate of the House, to Sir Anthony Ashley Cooper, Serjeant Glyn, Colonel Fines, Mr. Bulkley, Mr. Attorney-General, Sir Richard Onslow, Mr. Bainton, Mr. Downing, Mr. Bois, Mr. Francis Bacon, Mr. York, Mr. Turnor, Colonel James, Sir Wm. Strickland, Sir Ralph Hare, Mr. Garland, Lord Broghill, Sir Charles Woolsley, Colonel Morley, Mr. Nath. Bacon, Colonel Rous, Colonel Birch, Mr. Solicitor-General, Mr. Lechmere, Mr. Guyn, Mr. Recorder, General Desbrow, Sir John Witterong, Alderman Gibbs, Mr. Hobart, Mr. Fryer;

This Committee are to meet presently, in the Speaker's Chamber; and to bring it in To-morrow Morning.