House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 20 May 1657

Wednesday, the 20th of May, 1657.

Grant to Dr. Owen.

A BILL for settling Lands in Ireland on Doctor John Owen, in lieu of Lands formerly ordered to him in England by Parliament, was this Day read the Third time; and, upon the Question, passed.

Ordered, That the Lord Protector's Consent be desired to this Bill.

Lincoln's Inn-Fields.

The humble Petition of several Owners and Lessees of Houses in Lincoln's-Inn-Fields, was this Day read.

Ordered, That this Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the Bill for Buildings is referred.

Tithes.

Ordered, That the Bill for Tithes be read To-morrow Morning.

Catechism.

A Bill, enjoining Ministers, and others, to perform the Duty of Catechising, was this Day read the Third time.

A Proviso was tendered to this Act, in these Words; viz. "Provided also, and be it hereby enacted, by his Highness the Lord Protector, and this present Parliament assembled, That it be recommended; and it is hereby recommended, to the several Ministers and Pastors of the several Congregations within this Commonwealth, That they take Care also of the Souls of such Persons within their several and respective Parishes and Charges, that are, or shall be, above the Age of One-and-twenty Years, where they shall find it needful, by instructing and catechising them in the Principles of the Christian Religion, as well as by publick Preaching: And that it be also recommended to all such Persons, That they do submit to be personally instructed and catechised, by their several and respective Ministers, as aforesaid: Which was read the First and Second time.

The Question being put, That these Words, "of the Souls" do stand in this Proviso;"

It passed in the Negative.

The Question being put, That these Words, "Provided also, and be it hereby enacted, by his Highness the Lord Protector, and this present Parliament assembled, That it be recommended," do stand in this Clause;

It passed in the Negative.

The Question being put, That these Words, "That it be," do stand;

It passed in the Negative.

Resolved, That these Words, "It is hereby" be inserted instead thereof: And the Clause, so amended, was ordered to be Part of the Bill.

Fitz-James' Claims.

Ordered, That the Order made 31th of March 1657, upon the humble Petition of John Fitz-James Esquire, be enlarged, and these Words therein inserted; viz. "And that the Trustees for Sale of the late King, Queen, and Prince's Lands, be authorized and required to pass the said Accompts so stated, into a Bill or Bond: Which said Bill or Bond is to be allowed, upon the Purchase of any Lands already appointed, or to be appointed, for Satisfaction of the Arrears of the Army 1647."-

Catechism.

Another Proviso was tendered to this Bill, in these Words: "Provided, That nothing in this Act contained, shall extend to compel any Person or Persons to come to the publick Congregation to be catechised, who are, or shall be, Members of Congregated Churches, but to the Congregation whereof they are Members; or to any married Person or Persons, although under the Age of Oneand-twenty Years; nor yet to the levying of any Penalty upon any Master or Mistress, for any Default of their Servants, unless such Servants be their Houshold Servants."

Which was read the First time.

And the Question being put, That this Proviso be read the Second time;

The House was divided.

The Yeas went forth.

So it passed with the Negative.

Another Proviso was tendered to this Bill, in these Words, viz. "Provided, That this Act, or any Thing therein contained, shall not extend, or be construed to extend, to compel any Person or Persons, being Members of particular Congregated Churches, or Children of such Members, or Persons married, who, upon private Examination by the Minister of such Parish Church, shall be found to be competently instructed in the Principles of the True Christian Reformed Protestant Religion, to come to be catechised in publick at the Parish Church, albeit he or they be under the Age of One-and-twenty Years;" was read the First time...

And the Question . . . put, That this Proviso be read the Second time;

The House was divided.

The Yeas went forth.

So it passed in the Affirmative.

The said Proviso was read the Second time.

The Question being put, That the Word "Private," in this Proviso, do stand;

It passed with the Negative.

The Question being propounded, That these Words, "In the Presence of Two or more credible Persons of that Congregation whereof he is a Member," be added;

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

The House was divided.

The Noes went forth.

So it passed with the Negative.

Resolved, That this Debate be adjourned till To-morrow Morning, at Eight of Clock; and nothing to intervene.

Recusants.

Ordered, That the Amendments to the Bill for Recusants, be reported on Saturday Morning next.

Fitz-James' Claims.

Ordered by the Parliament, That it be referred to the Commissioners for stating Accompts at Worcester-House; and the said Commissioners are hereby impowered and authorized, to state the Accompts of Colonel John FitzJames, and to give him Debentures for such Arrears as shall appear to be due upon the said Accompts so stated: And that the Trustees for Sale of the late King, Queen, and Prince's Lands, be authorized and required to pass the said Accompts so stated, into a Bill or Bond: Which said Bill or Bond is to be allowed upon the Purchase of any Lands already appointed, or to be appointed, for Satisfaction of the Arrears of the Army: notwithstanding the said Colonel Fitz-James was not in the Service in 1647.