House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 14 July 1659

Thursday, the 14th of July, 1659.

Prayers.

Embassy from Portugall.

ORDERED, That Mr. Ralegh do attend the Lord Ambassador from the King of Portugall, to his Audience this Day, in the Place and Stead of the Lord Whitlock.

Tower Hamlets Militia.

A Bill, ingrossed, for settling the Militia in the Hamlets of the Tower of London, was this Day read the Third time.

Resolved, That Sir Henry Vane be one of the Commissioners in this Act.

Resolved, That the Words "or Ammunition" be inserted in this Bill, next after the Word "Arms," in the One hundred and Third Line; and that the Word "or," before the said Word "Arms," be omitted; and that the Words "or Ammunition" be inserted after the Word "Arms," in the One hundred and Sixth, One hundred and Eighth, One hundred and Ninth, and One hundred and Eleventh Lines.

And the said Bill so amended, was, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be printed and published.

Militia Commissioners.

Ordered, That Mr. Serjeant Hill, Colonel White, Mr. Garland, Mr. Say, and Colonel Lister, or any Three of them, do withdraw; and bring in a Bill touching the Powers to be given to the Commissioners for the Militia in Westminster.

Southwark Militia.

A Bill, ingrossed, for settling the Militia in the Borough of Southwark, and Parts adjacent, was this Day read the Third time.

Resolved, That, after the Word "Arms," in the One hundred and Tenth Line, these Words, "or Ammunition," be added; and in the One hundred and Twelfth, One hundred and Fifteenth, One hundred and Sixteenth, and One hundred and Seventeenth Lines.

And the said Bill, so amended, was, upon the Question, passed: And it is

Ordered, That the said Act be forthwith printed and published.

Delinquents Estates.

Ordered, That Mr. Dormer and Mr. Leman be added to the Committee touching Second Moieties: And that the said Committee have further Power to receive any Propositions that shall be offered to them, touching raising Monies for the Service of the Commonwealth.

Militia Commissioners.

The Names of Commissioners for the Militias in the several Counties were reported; and read; And the Names of Persons to be Commissioners for the Militia of the County of Berks were read; and, upon the Question, agreed unto.

The Names of Commissioners for the County of Bedford were read.

Resolved, That Major John Barker be added a Commissioner of the Militia in the County of Bedford: And the said Commissioners Names were agreed unto.

The Names of the Commissioners for the Militia for the City of Bristoll, were read.

Resolved, That John Stephens Esquire be one of the Commissioners for the Militia in Bristoll.

The Question being put, That Captain George Bishop be one of the Commissioners for the Militia in Bristoll;

The House was divided.

The Yeas went forth.

So it passed with the Negative.

And the rest of the Commissioners Names were agreed unto.

Commissioners Names for the County of Bucks were read.

The Question being put, That Mr. Richard Hampden be a Commissioner in this Bill;

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

It passed with the Negative.

Resolved, That Tho. Challoner Esquire be a Commissioner for the Militia in the County of Bucks.

Ordered, That this Debate be adjourned until To-morrow Morning: And that the House do then proceed upon the rest of the Names of the Commissioners for the Militia.

Probate of Wills.

Colonel Morley reports from the Council of State, That, for Prevention of all Inconveniences for want of due Process and Proceedings, in such Causes as are depending, and Matters to be executed, in the Court of Admiralty, and Probate of Wills; to restore the said Courts, as formerly, for some time.

Ordered, That an Act be brought in, for Settling of the Court of Admiralty, and the former Powers of the said Court, as formerly, for some time: And that the Commissioners for the Admiralty, Members of this House, do bring in the said Act.

Ordered, That an Act be brought in for settling the Court for Probate of Wills, and Granting of Administrations, with the former Powers, for some time.

Ordered, That another Act be prepared and brought in, for settling the Probate of Wills, and Granting of Administrations, in the several Cities and Counties of this Commonwealth: And that it be referred unto Sir Tho. Widdrington, Colonel Lister, Mr. Cawley, Mr. Robinson, Mr. Darley, Sir John Bourchier, Colonel Morley, Mr. Wild, Sir Tho. Wroth, Mr. Christofer Martin, Colonel Bennett, Mr. Dormer, Sir John Trevor, Mr. Love, Colonel White, Mr. Anlaby, Mr. Strickland, Colonel Rich, Mr. Hay, Mr. Garland, Mr. Holdsworth, Colonel Purefoy, Mr. Brewster, Mr. Skynner, Mr. Fagg, or any Three of them, to bring in the said Bill: To meet this Afternoon, at Three of the Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Militia Commissioners.

Mr. Garland reports from the Committee ordered to withdraw, A Bill giving Powers to the Commissioners for the Militia of Westminster: Which was read the First and Second time:

Resolved, That these Words; viz. "within the said City and Liberties, and the Parishes and Places adjacent;" be added, in the Ninth Line, next after the Word "Authorities."

And the said Bill, so amended, being put to the Question, passed.

Army Commissions.

The House being informed, That some Officers of the Army were at the Door;

They were called in: And, coming to the Clerk's Table, in usual Manner, Mr. Speaker acquainted them with the great Trust the Parliament reposed in them; and that the Parliament did expect Faithfulness from them to the Parliament and Commonwealth of England: And thereupon delivered to them their Commissions; viz.

To Lieutenant-Colonel Wm. Arnop, his Commission to be Lieutenant-Colonel of Colonel Clerke's Regiment of Foot:

To Serjeant Major Geo. Owen, his Commission to be Serjeant-Major of the same Regiment:

To Serjeant-Major Samuell Bonnell, his Commission to be Serjeant-Major of Colonel Barrowe's Regiment of Foot.

Embassy from Portugall.

Sir Henry Mildmay reports from the Committee appointed to accompany the Lord Ambassador from the King of Portugall, That they have accompanied him to the Court of Wards; and that he was ready, and did attend, to present himself to the House.

The Serjeant, with his Mace, went to attend the Lord Ambassador to the House.

So soon as the Ambassador was entered, the Ambassador uncovered himself; and the Speaker, and all the Members, stood up bare.

When the Ambassador was come as far as the Bar, the Master of the Ceremonies and the Serjeant attending him, the one at the Right Hand, the other at the Left, until the Ambassador came to the Chair, which was placed, on the North Side of the House, upon a Turkey Carpet, with Two Cushions in it;

The Ambassador being sat, the Master of the Ceremonies stood on his Right Hand, and the Serjeant, with the Mace, on the Left.

The Bar being let down, and the Doors left open, for his Gentlemen, and others, to come in;

The Ambassador began his Speech in the Portugall Tongue; and, when the Members were covered, he proceeded in his Speech; and, as he named the Commonwealth of England, or the King his Master, he was uncovered, and the Members likewise.

And, having ended his Speech, the Speaker told him, He would acquaint the House with what he had offered.

After the Ambassador had had Audience, he delivered his Letters Credential in the Portugall Tongue, and a Copy of his Speech in Portugall and in English; and afterwards, making Obeisance several times, went out of the House: Sir Henry Mildmay, Mr. Scot, and Mr. Ralegh, attended him out of the House.

After the Lord Ambassador was withdrawn, his Speech, in English, was read.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Council of State, to hear what the said Lord Ambassador from the King of Portugall hath to propound; and to treat with him; and report their Proceedings therein to this House, as they shall see Cause, from time to time.

Ordered, That Sir Oliver Fleming, Master of the Ceremonies, do acquaint the said Lord Ambassador from the King of Portugall with the said Order.