House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 26 May 1657

Tuesday, the 26th of May, 1657.

Arthur's Claims.

THE House, according to former Order, resumed the Debate upon the Bill for satisfying of Captain John Arthur, for divers Sums of Money disbursed by him for the Service of this Commonwealth, out of forfeited Lands, Houses, or Leases, in Ireland.

Resolved, That the said Bill be committed unto Mr. Bond, Colonel Fitz-James, Lord Chief-Justice Glyn, Col. Grosvener, Mr. Mason, Major-General Whalley, Doctor Clerges, Major-General Boteler, Sir John Trevor, Mr. Tymbes, Mr. Grove, Mr. Bampfeild, Col. Wood, Col. Gorges, Major-General Berry, Mr. Moody, Mr. Fowell, Mr. Thyn, Alderman Geldart, Mr. Lloyd, Mr. Downing, Mr. Crofts, Captain Hatsell, Colonel Shapcott, and the Gentlemen that serve for Ireland: And are to meet this Afternoon, at Two of Clock, in the Duchy Chamber.

E. of Salisbury's Claims.

Ordered, That the Report touching the Earl of Salisbury, be made To-morrow Morning, the first Business.

Louthian's Petition.

The humble Petition of James Louthian was this Day read.

Ordered, That this Petition be referred to the Commissioners for stating Accompts at Worcester-house, to examine and state the Petitioner's Accompts, according to the Instructions of the 24 of December 1647; and to give him Debentures for such Arrears as shall appear to be due: And that the Trustees for Sale of the Lands of the late King, Queen, and Prince, be authorized and required to pass the said Accompts, so stated, into Bills or Bonds: Which said Bills or Bonds are to be allowed upon the Purchase of any Lands, already appointed, or to be appointed, for Satisfaction of the Arrears of the Army.

Forrett's Petition.

Ordered, That the Petition and Appeal of John Forrett, be read To-morrow Morning.

Privilege.

Ordered, That Mr. Denn's Business, a Member of this House, be heard To-morrow Morning.

Protector's Speech reported.

Mr. Speaker, according to former Order, made Report of his Highness' Speech Yesterday, after his Consent to the humble Petition and Advice; which was to this Effect:

Mr. Speaker,

I desire to offer a Word or two unto you; which shall be but a Word. I did well bethink myself, before I came hither this Day; that I came not as to a Triumph, but with the most serious Thoughts that ever I had in all my Life, to undertake one of the greatest Tasks that ever was laid upon the Back of a human Creature. And I make no Question, but you will, and so will all Men, readily agree with me, that, without the Support of the Almighty, I shall necessarily sink under the Burden of it; not only with Shame and Reproach to myself, but with that that is more a Thousand times, and in Comparison of which I and my Family are not worthy to be mentioned; with the Loss and Prejudice of these Three Nations. And, that being so, I must ask your Help, and the Help of all those that fear God, that, by their Prayers, I may receive Assistance from the Hand of God. His Presence, going along, will enable to the Discharge of so great a Duty and Trust as this is; and nothing else. Howbeit, I have some other Things to desire you, I mean of the Parliament; That, seeing this is but, as it were, an Introduction to the Carrying-on of the Government of these Nations; and forasmuch as there are many Things which cannot be supplied, for the enabling to the Carrying-on of this Work, without your Help and Assistance; I think it is my Duty to ask your Help in them. Not that I doubted; for I believe the same Spirit that hath led you to this, will easily suggest the rest to you. The Truth is, and I can say in the Presence of God, that nothing would have induced me to have undertaken this insupportable Burden to Flesh and Blood, had it not been that I have seen in this Parliament, all along, a Care of doing all those Things that might truly and really answer the Ends that have been engaged: For you have satisfied your Forwardness and Readiness therein very fully already. I thought it my Duty, when your Committee, which you were pleased to send to me, to give the Grounds and Reasons of your Proceedings, to help my Conscience and Judgment, I was then bold to offer to them several Considerations; which were received by them, and hath been presented to you: In Answer to which, the Committee did bring several Resolves of yours, which I have by me. I think those are not yet made so authentick and authoritative as was desired; and therefore, though I cannot doubt it, yet I thought it my Duty to ask it of you, that there may be a Perfecting of those Things. Indeed, as I said before, I have my Witness in the Sight of God, that nothing would have been an Argument to me, howsoever desirable great Places may seem to be to other Men; I say nothing would have been an Argument to me, to have undertaken this; but, as I said before, I saw such Things determined by you, as makes clearly for the Liberty of the Nations, and for the Liberty, and Interest, and Preservation, of all such as fear God, of all that fear God under various Forms; and, if God make not these Nations thankful to you for your Care therein, it will fall as a Sin on their Heads: And therefore I say, That hath been one main Encouragement. I confess there are other Things that tend to Reformation, to the Discountenancing of Vice, to the Encouragement of good Men, and Virtue, and the Completing of those Things also, concerning some of which you have not yet resolved any thing; save to let me know, by your Committee, That you would not be wanting in any thing for the Good of these Nations. Nor do I speak it, as in the least doubting it; but I do earnestly and heartily desire, to the end God may crown your Work, and bless You, and This Government, that, in your own time, and with what Speed you judge fit, these Things may be provided for.

Debate adjourned.

Ordered, That the Debate upon this Business be adjourned until To-morrow Morning, the first Business; nothing to intervene.

Recusants.

Ordered, That the Report of the Amendments to the Bill of Recusants, be made on Thursday Morning next; nothing to intervene.

Tythes.

Ordered, That the Bill for Tythes be read on Friday Morning next.

Assessments of Ireland.

Ordered, That the Bill for the Assessments of Ireland, be read on Friday.

Irish Adventurers.

Ordered, That the Bill for the Adventurers for Ireland, be read on Friday Morning.

Report deferred.

Ordered, That the Report touching the Soldiers for Ireland, be made on Friday.

Owse River.

Ordered, That the Bill to make the River at Yorke navigable, be read on Saturday.

Grant to Bastwick.

Ordered, That Mrs. Bastwick's Bill be read on Saturday Morning next.

Lord Craven's Estate.

According to former Order, Counsel attending at the Door on the Behalf of Wm. Lord Craven, whose Case was appointed to be heard at the Bar;

They were called in: And, being come to the Bar, the Petition, formerly read on the First of April last, was again read; being intituled, The humble Petition of Wm. Lord Craven.

And being directed to withdraw;

They were again called in; and demanded, Whether they had given Notice to the Counsel for the Commonwealth, or any other Persons concerned;

He saith, That Mr. Attorney-General is a Member of this House; and the Purchasers have taken a Copy of the Order whereby the Business was appointed to be heard this Day: And thereupon did withdraw.

Resolved, That this Business of the Lord Craven be heard at the Bar of this House on Saturday next: And that the Counsel for the Commonwealth, and also for the Purchasers, may then attend, if they think fit.

Proceedings concerning Cole, &c.

Resolved, That the Petitions of Rodney and Cole be now read.

The said Petition of the said Rodney was read, accordingly; and was intituled, The humble Petition of George Rodney, and Sarah his Wife, Plaintiff, against John Cole, Defendant.

The said Petition of John Cole was read, accordingly; and was intituled, The humble Petition of John Cole, of Odiam in the County of Southampton, Esquire.

Ordered, That the Matter of these Petitions be referred to a Committee: And that the Committee to whom the Petition of George Rodney and his Wife was referred, be revived, as to these Two Petitions: Who are to examine the Matter of Fact in both the Petitions; and to report their Opinions therein to the House: With Power to send for Persons, Papers, Witnesses, Records: And are to meet in the Duchy-Court, on Friday at Two of the Clock in the Afternoon.

Nayler.

Ordered, That the President and Governors of Bridewell, London, do assign a Keeper to James Nayler, now in Bridewell.

Ordered, That the President and Governors of Bridewell, London, do permit a Minister or Ministers to have Recourse to James Naylor, to confer with him.

Private Business.

Resolved, That no new private Business be received for Fourteen Days.

Col. Washburne.

Resolved, That Colonel Zanchy, Colonel Carter, Sir John Trevor, and Mr. Cor. Holland, be added to the Committee for Colonel Washburne.