House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 28 November 1651

Friday, the 28th of November, 1651.

Prayers.

Judges of Admiralty.

MR. Love reports from the Council of State:

That the Council have, in pursuance of their Order of the Twenty-sixth Instant, for the Nomination of Six Persons, out of which Judges of the Court of Admiralty are to be appointed, taken the same into Consideration; and do humbly offer to the Parliament, Doctor William Stephens, a Member of Parliament, Doctor Wm. Clerk, Doctor John Exton, Edward Heyward of the Inner Temple Esq; John Sadler Esq; and Doctor Walker, as fit Persons for that Imployment: And whereas the Council finds, upon Occasion, the great Paucity of Men fitly qualified for this Service, they do therefore humbly offer to the Consideration of the Parliament, Whether it may not be for the publick Advantage, that some such Encouragement may be propounded for the Professors of the Civil Laws, as may be a means to increase the Number of those that may be fit to serve the Commonwealth in that Quality.

The Question being propounded, That the Judges of the Admiralty shall be during Pleasure; and the Question being put, that That Question be now put;

It passed with the Negative.

Resolved, That the Judges of the Admiralty shall be for One Year.

Resolved, That Doctor Wm. Stephens be one of the Judges of the Admiralty, for One Year, now next ensuing.

Resolved, That Doctor Wm. Clerke be one of the Judges of the Admiralty, for one Year, now next ensuing.

Resolved, That Doctor John Exton be one of the Judges of the Admiralty, for one Year, now next ensuing.

Resolved, That the former Salary of Five hundred Pounds a Year apiece be allowed unto the Judges of the Admiralty: And that it be paid out of the Customs: And that the Committee of the Navy be authorized and required to give Order for Payment thereof, accordingly. -

Sheriff of Dorsetshire.

Resolved, That the Addition of Sir Hugh Wyndham, named Sheriff of Dorsetshire for the Year ensuing, be made Knight and Baronet: And that the Order be amended, accordingly.-

Judges of Admiralty.

Resolved, That the Arrears due to the Judges of the Admiralty be paid out of the Customs: And that the Committee of the Navy do give Order for Payment thereof, accordingly.

Probates of Wills.

Ordered, That the Bill for Probate of Wills be brought in on this Day Sevennight.

Surrender of Limerick.

A Letter from the Deputy General of Ireland, of the Third Day of November, from Lymerick, was this Day read.

A Copy of Conditions tendered to the Garison and City of Limerick, the 11th of June 1651, was this Day read.

Articles agreed upon the 27th Day of October 1651, by and between Henry Ireton, Esquire, Deputy General of Ireland, on the one Part; and Bartholmew Stackpooll, Recorder of the City of Limerick, Doctor Dominick White, Alderman of the same, Nicholas Haley Esquire, Lieutenant Colonel Peice Lacy, Lieutenant Colonel Donogh O Brien, and John Baggott Esquire, Commissioners appointed by and on the behalf of the Governor and Mayor of the said City, to treat and conclude for the Surrender thereof, on the other Part; together with an Account of the Ammunition and Arms received from the Soldiers and Inhabitants of Limerick on the 30th of October 1651; with a List of the Ordinance taken in Limerick, 30 October. 1651; were this Day read.

The Question being propounded, That this House doth approve of these Articles:

And 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 this House doth approve of these Articles.

Thanksgiving Day.

The Question being propounded, That the Ministers in the several Congregations within the Cities of London and Westminster, and the late Lines of Communication, and weekly Bills of Mortality, do, on the next Lord's Day come Sevennight, render solemn Thanks to Almighty God, for his great and seasonable Mercy to this Commonwealth, in delivering up into the Hands of the Parliament's Forces in Ireland, under the Command of the Deputy General, the strong and populous City of Limerick, with all the Artillery, Arms, and Ammunition therein, upon the 30th of October 1651: And in the Taking of the Isle of Jersey; and also the Isle of Man; with all the Castles and Forts, Ordnance and Ammunition, therein.

And the Question being put, that That Question be now put;

It passed in the Affirmative.

And the main Question being put;

It was Resolved, by the Parliament, That the Ministers in the several Congregations within the Cities of London and Westminster, and the late Lines of Communication, and weekly Bills of Mortality, do, on the next Lord's Day come Sevennight, render solemn Thanks to Almighty God, for his great and seasonable Mercy to this Commonwealth, in the delivering up into the Hands of the Parliament Forces in Ireland, under the Command of the Deputy General, the strong and populous City of Limerick, with all the Artillery, Arms and Ammunition therein, upon the 30th of October 1651: And in the Taking of the Isle of Jersey; and also the Isle of Man; with all the Castles and Forts, Ordnance and Ammunition, therein.

Ordered, That the Lord Mayor, and Committees of the Militias, be required to take Order for Notice of this Order to be given.

Thanks to Gen. Ireton, &c.

Ordered, That Letters of Thanks be written to the Deputy General: And that Sir Henry Vane do prepare the Letter; and that Mr. Speaker do subscribe it.

Ordered, That the Letter from the Deputy General of Ireland, and Articles, together with the Particulars inclosed, be forthwith printed and published; and read by the Ministers on the Day appointed for Thanks to be given in the several Congregations.

Ordered, That the Sum of One hundred Pounds be given to Mr. John Clieffe, who brought these Letters from the Deputy General: And that the Council of State be authorized and required to take order for the Payment thereof to him, accordingly.

Physicians for Ireland.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Council of State, to take Care for sending over Two Physicians into Ireland; and to give them such Encouragement as they shall think fit, for their speedy Dispatch.

Petition from Merchants.

The humble Petition of divers Merchants, Citizens of London, trading into the LowCountries, was this Day read.

Council of State.

An Act for Constituting a Council of State, was this Day read.

Resolved, That the Time be from the last of November 1651, to the First of December 1652.

And the said Act, so amended, with the Instructions, being put to the Question, passed.

The Oath of Secrecy to be taken by every Member of the Council of State, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, agreed unto.

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

The Oath to be administred to Gaulter Frost, Secretary to the Council of State, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, assented unto.

Ambassadors from Holland.

Mr. Strickland reports, from the Council of State:

That the Council having understood, that there are Three Ambassadors coming to the Parliament from the States General of the United Provinces; and that they are expected here with the first fair Wind; they have thereupon given Order, that all Things may be ready for their Entertainment; and have appointed Sir Oliver Fleming to be ready to go meet them with Barges at Gravesend, and bring them to Greenwich House, where some Rooms are to be made ready for them to repose in; or such as shall be appointed to meet them there: And from thence to be brought by Barge to Tower Wharf; and so by Coach to Sir Abraham William's House, where a Supper is to be prepared for them that Night; and they and their Retinue to be entertained there Four Days after, at the Charge of the State; for which, the Council have already given Order in all Things: And they humbly offer it to the Parliament, that the House would appoint Three of their own Members to meet the said Ambassadors at Greenwich, and accompany them to Sir Abraham William's House; if the Parliament shall so think fit.

Ambassadors.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Council of State, to consider how Ambassadors and Agents that come from Foreign Princes and States, may be fitly received and entertained; and to do therein as they shall think fit, in the mean time: And to report their Proceedings and Opinion therein to the House.

Delinquents Estates.

Ordered, That the additional Act, for Sale of Delinquents Estates, be brought in on Wednesday next, the first Business.

Captives in Argier, &c.

Colonel Thompson reports, from the Committee of the Navy; viz.

"This Committee having prepared Ten or Fifteen thousand Pounds in Pieces of Eight, intending to send the same in the Ship Worcester, for Redemption of English Captives in Argier, Tunnis, and Tripoli, do hold it their Duties, in regard the Sum is considerable, to acquaint the Parliament therewith.

Resolved, That the House do approve of the sending of Ten or Fifteen thousand Pounds in Pieces of Eight, in the Ship Worcester, for Redemption of English Captives in Argeer, Tunnis, and Tripoli.

Captives by Turkes.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of the Navy, to consider how to prevent the taking of our Men by the Turkes, and present their Opinions therein to the Parliament forthwith.

Letters read.

A Letter from Wm. Clerke from Leith, of the 23th of November 1651, was this Day read.

A Letter from Leith, of the 22th of November 1651, was this Day read.

Ordered, That on Thursday next the Instructions for the Commissioners to go into Scotland be brought in, and taken into Consideration.

Prisoners of War.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Council of State, to take into Consideration the Business of the Scotts Prisoners, that the common Soldiers have an Allowance of Four Pence per Day.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Council of State, to take into Consideration the Business of the Officers of the Scotts Nation, who are Prisoners; and to take Order for such Allowance to be made to them for their Subsistance, as they shall think fit.

Resolved, That it be referred to the Council of State, to consider whether the Merchants, who have contracted for the Transporting of common Soldiers of the Scotts Nation, have broken their Contract; and to take such Order therein as shall be fit.

Colonel Fielder reports, touching the English Prisoners at St. Jameses House, who were taken at the Battle of Worcester.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Council of State, to dispose of the Scotts Prisoners, in the several Counties and Places, as they shall think best, and as may tend to the Preservation of their Health; and for the Preventing of Danger and Infection to the People of this Commonwealth.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Council of State, to give Order for the Common Soldiers at St. Jameses, and in the Mewes, .. be sent over into Ireland; and there disposed of for the Advantage of the Commonwealth.

James, a Prisoner.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Council of State, to set Moses James at Liberty, if they shall think fit.

Council of State.

The Form of the Oath to be administred to every Member of the Council of State.

I, A. B. being nominated for the Year ensuing of the Council of State, by this present Parliament, do promise, in the Sight of God, that, through his Grace, I will be faithful in the Performance of the Trust committed come; and therein faithfully pursue the Instructions given to the said Council, by this present Parliament: And not reveal or disclose any thing, in Whole or in Part, directly or indirectly, that shall be debated or resolved upon in the Council, and ordered to be kept secret by the said Council; without the Command, Direction, and Allowance of the Parliament or Council.

The Form of the Oath to be administred to the Secretary of the Council of State.

I, A. B. being, by Order of Parliament, appointed Secretary to the Council of State, for the Year ensuing, do promise, in the Sight of God, through his Grace, I will be faithful in the Trust committed to me; and not reveal or disclose any thing, in Whole or in Part, directly or indirectly, that shall be debated or resolved upon in the Council, and ordered to be kept secret by the said Council; without the Command, Direction, and Allowance of the Parliament or Council.

The Form of an Oath to be tendered to such as the Council shall imploy under them.

I, A. B. do promise, in the Sight of God, that I will be true and faithful in the Trust committed to me, in my Employment under the Council of State; and that I will not reveal or disclose any thing in Whole or in Part, directly or indirectly, that shall be debated or resolved upon in the Council, and ordered to be kept secret by the said Council; without the Command, Directions, or Allowance of the Parliament or Council.

The House, according to former Order, adjourned itself to Tuesday Morning next, Eight of Clock.