House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 16 May 1659

Monday, May the 16th, 1659.

Judges.

MR. Speaker gave an Account to the House, That he had sent for the Judges nominated by this House, on Saturday last; and acquainted them with the Order of this House, touching their Sitting on this Day.

That their Answer was, That they disputed not the Reasons thereof; they were satisfied in their Judgments; and, if the Parliament would please to give them Commissions, they would sit and act in Execution of the said Commissions: Whereupon he sealed Commissions to them: And the said Mr. Speaker, as Keeper of the Great Seal, and the Judges, sat and acted this Day, accordingly.

Ordered, That the Writs of Covenant and Original Writs, dated before Mens. Pasc. this Term, be passed under the Great Seal: And the Keeper of the Great Seal is hereby impowered and authorized to pass the said Writs under the Great Seal of England, accordingly.

Serjeant at Arms.

At the humble Desire of Edward Birkhead Esquire, Serjeant at Arms attending this House, That, in regard of his great Indisposition in Health, he may have his Assistant, for the better carrying on the Service of the House, and Discharge of the Duty and Attendance incumbent on his Office;

Ordered, That Henry Middleton, Esquire, Serjeant at Arms, be Assistant to the said Edward Birkhead, Serjeant at Arms attending this House; and that he do supply the Place of the said Serjeant, and attend for him, as Occasion shall require, during Serjeant Birkhead his Absence by reason of his Indisposition of Health: And the said Serjeant his Absence is therefore dispensed withal; and hath Liberty to retire into the Country for his Health-sake.

Invalid Soldiers.

The humble Petition of above Two thousand Five hundred sick and maimed Soldiers belonging to ElyHouse and the Savoy Hospitals on the Behalf of themselves, and above Four thousand Widows and Orphans, who receive Pensions from thence, was this Day read.

Ordered, That this Petition, and all other Petitions of the like Nature, be especially referred to the Council of State, to take care for the Relief of the Petitioners; and to consider of some convenient healthful Place, for the Residence and Habitation of such Petitioners.

Council of State.

The Tellers, formerly appointed, did this Day proceed in counting the Number of Votes, for electing Three Persons, not Members of Parliament, to be of the Council of State: Who counted the Papers, and found them to agree with the Number of the House, reported on Saturday.

Whereupon the Tellers opened each Paper; and caused the Clerk to read each Name distinctly, and to write down each Name, and with a strait Line drawn against that Name, to give one Stroke of the Pen cross the said Line; and, as often as any Name was repeated, the Clerk did make another Stroke cross the said Line: And all the Names being read; Colonel Sydney, Mr. Ralegh, Sir Arthur Hesilrig, Mr. Scot, reported, That there are, in the said Papers, these Three Persons who have the greatest Number of Subscriptions; viz. Josiah Barners, Sir Archibald Johnson, Sir Robert Honywood.

Whereupon the Question being put, upon every one of them distinctly:

Resolved, That Josiah Barners be one of the Council of State:

That Sir Archibald Johnson be one of the Council of State:

That Sir Robert Honywood be one of the Council of State.

Scotch Records.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Council of State, to examine, What Records were brought into the Tower, out of Scotland; and how many are since taken thence: and by what Authority; and where the same do now remain; and what they are in particular; and for what Cause they were so removed; and what are yet left in the Tower: And to report to the Parliament.

Council of State.

Ordered, That the Tellers of the Papers of the Three Members, voted this Day for the Council of State, do forthwith burn the said Papers in the Speaker's Chamber.

Adjournment.

Resolved, upon the Question, That the Parliament do adjourn to Two of the Clock in the Afternoon.

Monday, 16th of May, 1659. Afternoon.

Prayers.

Army Arrears.

COLONEL Sydenham reports from the Committee of Safety, The Exigences of the Army for Want of Pay; and the great Arrears of Pay now due unto them; as followeth; viz.

Monday, 16 May 1659.

By the Committee of Safety.

THAT it be humbly offered to the Parliament, as the Opinion of this Committee, That they would take into Consideration the Arrears of the Army; and, in regard the One Peny per diem, and Three-pence per diem, were taken off, upon the Consideration of certain and constant Payment from thenceforward, that some Course may be taken for the speedy Payment of the Arrears: And that the Parliament will be pleased to put it into some effectual and certain Way, that the Army may be duly paid for the future.

Resolved, by the Parliament, That speedy and effectual Care be taken for Payment of the Arrears of the Army.

That effectual Care be taken for the certain Payment of the Army, from time to time, for the future.

That speedy and effectual Care be taken for Payment of the Arrears of the Navy:

That effectual Care be taken for the certain Payment of the Navy, from time to time, for the future.

That it be referred to the Committee of Inspection, to consider, How these Votes may be made effectual; and to report their Opinion to the Parliament.

That it be referred to the Committee of Inspection, to make Inquiry, Where, and in whose Hands, any Monies belonging to the Commonwealth, are; and to require the Bringing in of the same into the Publick Treasury, forthwith; and to make Report thereof to the Parliament.

Richard Cromwell.

That it be referred to the Members of Parliament, that are of the Committee of Safety, to take into Consideration the present Condition of the eldest Son of the late Lord General Cromwell; and to inform themselves, What his Estate is, and what his Debts are; and how they have been contracted; and how far he doth acquiesce in the Government of this Commonwealth, as it is declared by this Parliament: And to offer, upon the Whole, What they conceive expedient, in his Behalf, to the Parliament.

Whitehall, &c. to be sold.

That Whitehall, with all and every the Appurtenances, be forthwith exposed to Sale, and improved to the best Advantage of the Commonwealth, for and towards the Satisfaction of the great Arrears and Pay due unto the Army.

That Sommerset-House, with all and every the Appurtenances, be forthwith exposed to Sale, and improved to the best Advantage of the Commonwealth, for and towards the Satisfaction of the great Arrears and pay due unto the Army.

That a Bill be brought in for Sale of the said Houses accordingly: And that Mr. Garland do bring in the said Bill.

That Westminster Buildings and Houses, with their Appurtenances, belonging to the Commonwealth, be reserved, ordered, and disposed, for the Convenience and Accommodation of the Parliament and Council, from time to time, during their Attendance and Service; and also for other publick Judicatures.

That a Committee be appointed, to consider, How this Vote may be forthwith put in Execution; Viz. Mr. Scot, Sir Arthur Hesilrig, Sir Hen. Vane, Mr. Pury senior, Colonel John Jones, Colonel Thompson, Dr. Palmer, Mr. Holdsworth, Mr. Holland, Mr. Nevill, Sir Gilbert Pickering, Mr. Blagrave, Mr. Tho. Chaloner, Mr. Pury junior, or any Two of them: And they are to meet To-morrow Morning, at Nine a Clock, in the PaintedChamber:

Council of State.

That the Council of State do sit at Whitehall, in the mean time.

Ordered, by the Parliament, That Mr. Lechmer, Mr. John Corbet, Mr. Scot, Colonel Sydney, Colonel Rich, Mr. Strickland, Mr. Holland, Mr. Marten, Colonel Sydenham, Sir Gilbert Pickering, Mr. Lister, Mr. Fagg, Sir Henry Mildmay, Mr. Bennett, or any Three of them, do prepare a Bill for constituting a Council of State, filled up with the Names of the Members chosen for the said Council: And are to meet To-morrow Morning, at Eight of the Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Council Oath.

The Draught of an Oath to be taken by the Members of the Council of State, was read.

Ordered, That the same be likewise committed to the aforesaid Committee, to be brought in again in the Bill: And the said Committee are to report the said Bill to the Parliament, on Wednesday Morning next.

Sir T. Armstrong, &c.

Mr. Scot reports from the Committee of Safety, as followeth; viz.

Monday the 16th of May 1659.

By the Committee of Safety.

Ordered, That it be reported to the Parliament, That Sir Thomas Armstrong, and Mr. John Weston, who were Prisoners in the Isle of Jersey, are brought to this Town: And that this Committee, in Discharge of their Duty, in order to the Safety of the Commonwealth, have thought fit to commit them into the Custody of the Serjeant at Arms attending the Parliament, until the Pleasure of the House be known therein.

Resolved, That Sir Thomas Armstrong, and Mr. John Weston, brought Prisoners from the Isle of Jersey, and now in the Custody of the Serjeant at Arms, be referred to the Council of State; to examine the true State of their Cases; and report the same to the Parliament: And they are to continue in the Custody of the Serjeant at Arms, in the mean time.

Adjournment.

Resolved, &c. That the House adjourn till Wednesday Morning next, at Ten of the Clock.