House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 4 April 1659

Monday, the 4th of April, 1659.

Prayers.

Taunton Election.

Mr. Scott reports, from the Committee for Privileges and Elections, The Opinion of the said Committee concerning the Election of Sir William Windham Baronet, and Colonel Thomas Gorges, to serve as Members in this present Parliament for the Borough of Taunton in the County of Somerset: And that the Committee had taken into Consideration the Petition of divers Inhabitants of the said Borough, on the Behalf of themselves, and others: That an Indenture was produced to the said Committee, subscribed for the Election of Dr. John Palmer, and Richard Bovett, Esquires, to serve for the said Borough as Members in this present Parliament; but not returned, nor filed: That in the said Petition, it was complained of, That the Mayor of the said Town of Taunton, who, by another Indenture, filed and returned, had returned the said Sir Wm. Wyndham, and Colonel Gorges, as Members, duly elected, for the said Borough: Finding, at the Election, by the Voices of the People, that Dr. Palmer, and Mr. Bovett, had the greater Number of Electors; did, by translating the Poll from one Place to another, without the Petitioners and others Consent, discourage them from Prosecution of their Right in Electing: And that the said Mayor refused to take the Names of divers of the Petitioners, and others, then present, who voted for Dr. Palmer, and Mr. Bovett; and to insert them into the Poll, tho' often called upon, and desired to do it: That, upon Two Days Hearing of Counsel, and Examination of Witnesses, on both Sides, before the Committee, it was resolved, upon the Question, by the Committee, and ordered to be reported to the House, as the Opinion of the said Committee, That, notwithstanding any thing to them appearing to the contrary, upon the whole Matter, Sir William Wyndham, and Colonel Thomas Gorges, are duly elected, and duly returned, to sit and serve as Members in this present Parliament for the Borough of Taunton.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth agree with the Committee, That Sir William Windham, and Col. Thomas Gorges, are duly elected, and duly returned, to serve as Members in this present Parliament for the Borough of Taunton.

The humble Petition of Hugh Gunston, Mayor of the Town of Taunton in the County of Somerset, was presented to the House to be read.

And the Question being propounded, That this Petition be now read;

The House was divided.

The Yeas went forth.

So it was Resolved, upon the Question, That this Petition be now read.

The said Petition was read accordingly: And,

It is Resolved, &c. That the Petitioner Hugh Gunston be left to take his Remedy at Law, for the Matters complained of by him in this Petition.

Publick Fast.

In pursuance of the Order made on Saturday last, the House resumed the Debate, then adjourned, upon the Declaration for a Publick Fast.

The Eleventh Paragraph was read; and was in these Words; viz. "For which Purpose, His Highness the Lord Protector, and the Parliament, do appoint, That in all Places within England, Scotland, and Ireland, and the Dominions thereto belonging, the Day of be set apart, and observed as a Day of solemn Fasting, and Humiliation, in all Churches, Chapels, and Congregations within the same."

Resolved, &c. That the Blanks, in this Paragraph, be filled up with these Words respectively; viz. "Twelfth;" and "May next."

The Blanks were filled up at the Table, accordingly; and the whole Eleventh Paragraph, so amended, upon the Question, resolved to be Part of the said Declaration.

The Twelfth Paragraph was read; and was in these Words; viz. "And we do will and require all Ministers and Pastors of Congregations to read this Declaration in their several Churches, Chapels, and Congregations, on the Lord's Day next before the said Day of Publick Fasting; to the end the same may be the better taken notice of.

Resolved, &c. That these Words, "or cause to be read," be added, in this Clause, next after the Word "read."

Resolved, &c. That these Words, "will and require," shall stand in this Paragraph.

And the Paragraph being amended at the Table; and the Words "or cause to be read," inserted; was assented to; and, upon the Question, resolved to be Part of this Declaration.

The Thirteenth and last Paragraph was read; and was in these Words; viz. "And we do also hereby will and require all Justices of the Peace and other Officers, to see that the said Day be duly observed: And do prohibit all Fairs, Markets, ordinary Labours, and Employments, and all Recreations, upon the said Day."

Resolved, &c. That the Word "we" be added, in this Paragraph, between the Word "and," and the Words "do prohibit."

Resolved, &c. That these Words, "Opening of Shops, and other," be added, after the Word "Markets," and before the Word "ordinary," in this Paragraph.

The Amendments were accordingly made at the Table; and then the whole Paragraph assented unto; and, upon the Question, resolved to be Part of this Declaration.

Resolved, &c. That, in the Eleventh Paragraph, already passed, after the Words "For which Purpose," these Words; viz. "as also, to implore a Blessing from God upon the Counsels and Proceedings of this present Parliament; be added, and made Part of this Declaration.

Resolved, &c. That this Declaration, thus amended, be ingrossed.

Resolved, &c. That this Declaration, ingrossed, be read To-morrow Morning, the first Business; and that nothing else do then intervene.