House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 2 January 1660

Monday, January the 2d, 1659.

Sweden and Denmark.

ORDERED, That the King of Sweden's Letter be read on Friday next; and that Mr. Boone do then report the Proceedings in his Embassy to the King of Sweden and Denmark, to this House.

Council of State.

Colonel White reports, The Names of the Persons which are no Members of the Parliament, who had most Names, to be of the Council of State, as followeth; viz. Sir Anthony Ashley Cooper, Josiah Berners, General Monck, Vice-Admiral Lawson, Alderman Love, * Terryll, Lord Fairfax, Alderman Foote, Robert Roll, Slingsby Bethell.

And the said Persons being severally put to the Question; It was

Resolved, That Sir Ant. Ashley Cooper, be one of the Council of State.

Resolved, That Josias Barners be one of the Council of State.

Resolved, That General Monck be one of the Council of State.

Resolved, That Vice-Admiral Lawson be one of the Council of State.

Resolved, That Alderman Love be one of the Council of State.

Resolved, That * Tirrill be one of the Council of State.

Resolved, That the Lord Fairfax be one of the Council of State.

Resolved, That Alderman Foote be one of the Council of State.

Resolved, That Robert Roll be one of the Council of State.

Resolved, That Slingsby Bethell be one of the Council of State.

Ditto.

An Act, with Instructions to be given to the Council of State, was this Day read.

Resolved, That the Quorum of the Council of State be Nine; whereof Six to be Members of Parliament.

The Question being propounded, That the Time of the Continuance of the Council be from the First Day of January 1659, until the First Day of April 1660;

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

It passed with the Affirmative.

And the main Question being put; It was

Resolved, That the Time of the Continuance of the Council of State be from the First Day of January 1659, until the First Day of April 1660.

Council of State.

Resolved, That an Addition be made to the Oath to be taken by the Council of State.

Resolved, That this be Part of the Oath to be administered to the Council of State; viz.

"I A. B. do hereby swear, That I do renounce the pretended Title or Titles of Charles Stuart, and the whole Line of the late King James, and of every other Person, as a Single Person, pretending, or which shall pretend, to the Crown or Government of these Nations of England, Scotland, and Ireland, or any of them, and the Dominions and Territories belonging to them, or any of them: And that I will, by the Grace and Assistance of Almighty God, be true, faithful, and constant to the Parliament and Commonwealth; and will oppose the bringing in, or setting up any Single Person, or House of Lords, and every of them, in this Commonwealth."

Resolved, That the Council of State do sit this Day; and that the Blank, in the Fourteenth Article, be so filled up, accordingly.

Resolved, That the Blank, in the Twentieth Article of Instructions, be filled up with these Words; viz. last Day of March next."

The Act, with Instructions for the Council of State, was this Day read the Second time.

An additional Instruction was tendered to the said Act, in these Words; viz.

"And you are hereby impowered to have and exercise all Powers and Authorities, heretofore used or exercised by any Lord Wardens or Commissioners of the Cinque-Ports, Two ancient Towns, and their Members; or by the Constable of Dover-Castle, or any of them, to all Intents and Purposes, in as full and ample Manner, as any of the said Lord Wardens, Commissioners of the Cinque-Ports, or Constable of Dover-Castle, lawfully did heretofore use or exercise:"

Which was read the First and Second time; and, upon the Question, ordered to be Part of this Bill.

Another Instruction was tendered, to be Part of this Bill, in these Words; viz. "You are also authorized and impowered to disband any Militia, or Volunteer-Forces, raised by Authority of the former Council of State, or that have been raised since the Twelfth of October, by any other Order, or pretended Authority whatsoever."

Which was read the First and Second time; and, upon the Question, ordered to be Part of this Bill.

And the said Bill, so amended, was, upon the Question, passed.

Resolved, That a Bill be brought in To-morrow Morning, for enjoining all such Members of the House that now sit, or shall sit, in the Parliament, to take the aforesaid Engagement; and that Sir Arthur Hesilrig do bring in the said Bill.

Letters read.

Mr. Speaker acquainted the House, That he had received Letters from Colonel Crompton, Colonel Saunders, and Colonel Hacker; and with the Effect of the said Letters.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Commissioners for the Army, to prepare Letters to be sent in Answer to the Letters of Colonel Crompton, Colonel Saunders, and Colonel Hacker: And that Mr. Speaker do sign the said Letters.

Proceedings at Lyme.

A Letter from the Mayor and Burgesses of the Town of Lyme in the County of Dorset, of the 30th of December 1659, was read.

Resolved, That the Parliament doth approve of what hath been done by the Mayor and Burgesses of the Town of Lyme, in disarming the Forces raised against the Parliament; and in taking away their Arms and Ammunition: And that Letters of the Thanks of this House be sent to the said Mayor and Burgesses of Lyme, for their good and faithful Service done for the Parliament.

Ordered, That Mr. Weaver bring in the Letter; and that Mr. Speaker do sign the said Letter.

Ordered, That the Letter from the Mayor and Burgesses of Lyme be referred to the Council of State.

Letter read.

A Letter from Vice-Admiral John Lawson, from aboard the James, off Gravesend, the 31st of December 1659, was read.

Proceedings at Lyme.

Ordered, That Mr. Weaver and Mr. Boone, do go out; and give the Thanks of this House to the Gentlemen that brought the Letter from Lyme.

Monies raised.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Inspections, to examine, What Monies have been raised and taken in the several Counties of this Commonwealth; and by whom; and what is become of the same: With Power to send for Persons, Papers, and Witnesses.

Information communicated.

The House being informed by Colonel Harvey, That he had received Information of something concerning the Safety of the Parliament, which required present Examination;

Ordered, That Colonel Harvey, Sir James Harrington, and Mr. Weaver, do forthwith withdraw, and examine the Matters: With Power to send for such Persons, Papers, and Witnesses, as they shall think fit; and to keep the said Persons, or any of them, in Custody, until the Parliament or Council of State shall think fit to release them.

Resolved, That the Door be locked.

Irish Brigade.

A Letter from the Irish Brigade, from Rippon, of the 30th of December 1659, directed unto Sir Arthur Hesilrig, and Mr. John Weaver, with an Engagement of the said Brigade, were this Day read.

Resolved, That all the Officers who have signed this Engagement, and all the Non-commissioned Officers and private Soldiers of this Brigade, shall be, and are hereby, indemnified.

The House adjourned until Two of the Clock.

Monday Afternoon, January the 2d, 1659.

Answer to Vote of Thanks.

MR. Reynolds reports from the Committee that went from this House with Letters of Thanks to Vice-Admiral Lawson, That they did repair to Vice-Admiral Lawson, and the rest of the Fleet; and delivered the Letters from the Parliament: And that they returned their hearty Thanks; and declared unanimously their hearty Affections and Readiness, with all Faithfulness, to serve the Parliament.

City of London.

Sir Arthur Hesilrig reports, from the Committee appointed to confer with the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen, about the Safety of the City of London, That, according to the Command of the Parliament, they had Conference with the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen; and that they did declare, That it was contrary to the Mind of the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Common-Council, to have any Posts or Chains to be set up; and that they should be taken down: And that they did own this Parliament; and expressed a great and hearty Desire to close with the Parliament, under whom God had blessed them with Peace, when there was War throughout the whole Nation; and to yield Obedience to their Authority.

Votes of Indemnity.

The Question being propounded, That all Officers who were in Commission on the Eleventh of October 1659, and all other Officers and Soldiers in the late Defection and Rebellion, who have already submitted, and such as shall hereafter submit themselves, and have returned, or shall return, to their Duty and Obedience to the Parliament before the Ninth Day of this instant January, shall be, and are hereby, pardoned and indemnified for Life and Estate; provided that this Vote shall not extend to the Pardoning of wilful Murder: And it is Ordered, That all such of the said Officers and Soldiers, who shall so return to their Duty and Obedience to the Parliament, shall be disposed of by the Council of State, Commissioners for Management of the Army, or General Monck;

And the Question being put, That John Lambert Esquire shall be included within this Vote;

The House was divided.
The Yeas went forth.

So it was Resolved, That John Lambert Esquire shall be included within this Vote.

And the main Question being put; It was

Resolved, That all Officers who were in Commission on the Eleventh of October 1659, and all other Officers and Soldiers in the late Defection and Rebellion, who have already submitted, and such as shall hereafter submit themselves, and have returned, or shall return to their Duty and Obedience to the Parliament before the Ninth Day of this instant January, shall be, and are hereby, pardoned and indemnified, for Life and Estate; provided that this Vote shall not extend to the Pardoning of wilful Murder. And it is

Ordered, That all such of the said Officers and Soldiers, who shall so return to their Duty and Obedience to the Parliament, shall be disposed of by the Council of State, Commissioners for Management of the Army, or General Monck.

The Question being put, That the Word "Liberty" be added to the Question, next after the Word "Life;"

The House was divided.
The Yeas went forth.

So it passed with the Negative.

Resolved, That this Vote be forthwith printed and published.

Ordered, That the Council of State do see the said Vote put in Execution.

Letters, &c. read.

A Letter directed to Mr. Salmon, of the 28th of December 1659, from Newcastle, from Edward Salmon, was read.

Another Letter from Colonel Salmon to Wm. Cuirer, from Newcastle, of the 28th of December 1659, was read: In which Letter was a Letter inclosed in Characters.

A Warrant, signed in the Name, and by Order of the Committee of Safety, to furnish Sir Henry Vane, and Major Richard Salwey, and their Servants, with Post-Horses: Which Warrant was made use of by Christopher Cope; and was read.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Council of State, to make further Examination of the Person who was apprehended with the said Letters and Warrant; and, if they shall think fit, to free and discharge him: And that, in the mean time, he be kept in Custody where now he is.

Ordered, That the Letter in Characters be referred to Mr. Scott, to decypher the same.