House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 23 February 1659

Wednesday, the 23d of February, 1658.

Prayers.

Duke of Buckingham.

THE House being informed, that, in pursuance of the Order of this House, of Monday last, the Duke of Buckingham attended, to make his Engagement to this House;

He was called in: And was brought to the Bar by the Serjeant at Arms, standing by him, without the Bar; and by his Keeper, a Servant to the Governor of WindsorCastle, coming with him into the House.

Mr. Speaker acquainted the Duke, That a Petition having been delivered from him to this House on Monday last, by a Person of Honour, one of the Members thereof, and nearly related to him; the House had taken into a due Consideration the Duke's Demerits, which had been very great to this Commonwealth; but had overbalanced them with the high Merit of his Relations: And, of their Goodness, had ordered, That, upon his own Engagement upon his Honour, and of the Lord Fairfax in Twenty thousand Pounds, that he should not abet any the Enemies of this Commonwealth, either at Home or Abroad, he should have his Enlargement: Which Engagement they now expected from him.

The Duke, standing at the Bar, said, He accounted it his great Happiness to come before this Assembly: And that, in pursuance, and according to the Order of this House, he did here now engage himself to this House, upon his Honour, to demean himself peaceably and quietly, and not to join with, or abet, or have any Correspondence with, any the Enemies of this Commonwealth, either at Home or Abroad, for the future: And further, gave the House his most humble Thanks for their high Favour towards him; and professed, he should be ready to lay down his Life and Fortune for their Service.

After the Duke's Engagement, made as before, he was commanded to withdraw: And withdrew, accordingly.

Resolved, &c. That George Duke of Buckingham, upon this his Engagement upon his Honour, made to this House this Day at the Bar, be forthwith freed and discharged from the Imprisonment and Restraint he is now under.

Privilege.- Assault on a Member.

The House being informed, that a most insolent Assault had been made in the common Highway near Tottenham, on Saturday last in the Evening, upon Major General Packer, one of the Members of this House, as he was going homewards to his own House, and upon one Captain Gladman, then in Company with him, by one Mr. Henry Wroth, otherwise called Sir Henry Wroth, without any Cause given on their Parts;

Resolved, &c. That Mr. Henry Wroth, otherwise called Sir Henry Wroth, of Durans in the Parish of Enfield in the County of Middlesex, be forthwith sent for, as a Delinquent; and that he be brought to the Bar of this House, by the Serjeant at Arms attending on this House, to answer for the Violence and Assault informed to have been offered by him to Major General Packer, one of the Members of this House, in the common Highway, on Saturday last in the Evening.

Sweden and Denmarke.

The House, according to the Order on Monday last, took into Consideration the Matters then in Debate, upon the Narrative then made to the House by Mr. Secretary Thurloe.

Resolved, &c. That a very considerable Navy be forthwith provided, and put to Sea, for the Safety of this Commonwealth, and the Preservation of the Trade and Commerce thereof.

Resolved, &c. That this Debate be adjourned till To-morrow Morning, at Eight of the Clock; and that nothing else do then intervene.

Respecting another House.

Resolved, &c. That the Debate appointed to be taken up To-morrow Morning, by the Order made Yesterday, be further adjourned until Friday Morning next; and be then proceeded in, according to the former Order.

Leave of Absence.

Resolved, &c. That Colonel William Ayres shall have Leave to go into the Country for Ten Days.

Huntingdon Writ.

Mr. Secretary Thurlse, being chosen to serve as a Member of this present Parliament for the University of Cambridge, the Town and Borough of Wisbech in the same County, and for the Borough of Huntingdon in the County of Huntingdon, declared, that he made Choice to serve for the University of Cambridge; and waved his Election for the Boroughs of Wisbech and Huntingdon.

Resolved, &c. That a new Writ be issued, for the Election of a Burgess to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Huntingdon in the County of Huntingdon: And that Mr. Speaker do send his Warrant to the Clerk of the Commonwealth in Chancery, for the Issuing of a new Writ, for the Election of a Burgess to serve for the Borough of Huntingdon, accordingly.

Bossiny Writ.

The House being informed, that Anthony Nicholl, Esquire, who was returned to serve for the Borough of Bossiny in the County of Cornewall, was lately dead;

Resolved, &c. That a new Writ be issued for the Election of a Burgess to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Bossiny in the County of Cornewall, in the place of Anthony Nicholl Esquire deceased: And that Mr. Speaker do send his Warrant to the Clerk of the Commonwealth in Chancery, for the issuing of a new Writ, for the Election of a Burgess to serve for the Borough of Bossiny accordingly.