House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 18 January 1660

Wednesday, January the 18th, 1659.

Envoy to Holland.

MR. Nevill reports, A Draught of Letters Credential for George Downing, Envoy Extraordinary from the Parliament to the Lords the States-General of the United Provinces: Which was read and approved.

Ordered, That this Letter be signed by Mr. Lenthall, Speaker of the Parliament, and sealed with the Seal of the Parliament.

Clerk of Parliament.

Mr. Millington reports, Amendments to the Bill for settling the Office of Clerk of the Parliament on Thomas St. Nicholas Esquire: Which were twice read; and, upon the Question, agreed unto.

Ordered, That this Bill be ingrossed.

Clerk-Assistant.

Mr. Millington reports, A Bill for settling of the Office of Clerk-Assistant to the Parliament on Ralph Darnall Esquire: Which was this Day read the First time.

Ordered, That this Bill be read the Second time on this Day Sevennight.

Army Appointments.

Colonel Morley reports from the Commissioners for Government of the Army, That Colonel Henry Markham be humbly reported to the Parliament, as a fit Person to be made Colonel of that Regiment of Horse whereof Colonel Cooper, deceased, was Colonel, now in Ireland; and that the said Colonel Markham may forthwith have his Commission, and be speedily dispatched into Ireland, to take Charge of that Regiment, accordingly: And that Mr. John Lenthall, Son to the Speaker of the Parliament, be humbly reported to the House, as a fit Person to be trusted with the Command of Windsor-Castle; and to be made Governor thereof: And also, That the said Mr. Lenthall may have the Command of a Regiment of Foot, and have a Commission for Colonel prepared accordingly.

Judges, &c.

Mr. Lenthall reports from the Committee to whom it was referred to consider of Names of fit Persons to be Commissioners for the Great Seal, Judges of the several Courts of Justice in Westminster-Hall, and AttorneyGeneral, and of Judges for the Courts of Admiralty, and Probate of Wills;

For the Chancery.

Sir Thomas Widdrington, Mr. Serjeant Terryll, Mr. Serjeant Fountaine.

For the Upper-Bench.

Mr. Serjeant Newdigate, Chief-Justice; Mr. Serjeant Hill, one other of the Justices; Mr. Serjeant Maynard, one other.

For the Common-Pleas.

Mr. Serjeant St. Johns, Chief-Justice; Mr. Serjeant Windham, one other of the Court; Mr. Serjeant Archer, one other of the Justices.

For the Exchequer.

That these Three Persons, Mr. Serjeant Wild, Mr. Serjeant Thorpe, and Mr. Serjeant Nicholas, having Commissions formerly granted them by the Parliament, and not appearing to the Committee but that they may be still in Force; and that they being Members of the House; it is the Opinion of the Committee, That they are particularly reported to the House.

For the Attorney-General.

Mr. Solicitor Reynolds be Attorney-General: And that it is humbly submitted to the House, That Mr. Wadham Windham is thought to be a fit Person for SolicitorGeneral.

For the Court of Probate, and Admiralty.

Wm. Cawley the younger, for Probate; Dr. Walker to be one of the Judges; Dr. Turner to be the other Judge.

Resolved, That this Report be taken into present Consideration.

Resolved, That Sir Thomas Widdrington be one of the Commissioners for Custody of the Great Seal.

Resolved, That Mr. Serjeant Tirrill be one other of the Commissioners for Custody of the Great Seal.

Resolved, That Mr. Serjeant Fountaine be one of the Commissioners for Custody of the Great Seal.

The Question being propounded, That Mr. Serjeant Newdigate be Chief-Justice of the Upper-Bench;

The Question being put, That the Word "Chief" do stand in the Question;

Resolved, That the Word "Chief" do stand in the Question.

And the main Question being put; It was

Resolved, That Mr. Serjeant Newdigate be Chief Justice of the Court of Upper-Bench.

Resolved, That Mr. Serjeant Hill be one of the Justices of the Upper-Bench.

Resolved, That Mr. Serjeant Nicholas be one other of the Justices of the Upper-Bench.

Resolved, That Mr. Serjeant St. John be Chief Justice of the Court of Common-Pleas.

Resolved, That Mr. Serjeant Windham be one of the Justices of the Court of Common-Pleas.

Resolved, That Mr. Serjeant Archer be another of the Justices of the Court of Common-Pleas.

Resolved, That Mr. Serjeant Wild be Chief-Baron of the Court of Exchequer.

Resolved, That Mr. Serjeant Thorpe be one of the Barons of the Court of Exchequer.

Resolved, That Mr. Serjeant Parker be one other of the Barons of the Court of Exchequer,

Resolved, That Mr. Solicitor Reynolds be AttorneyGeneral for the Commonwealth.

Resolved, That Mr. Ellis be Solicitor-General for the Commonwealth.

Resolved, That Dr. Walker be one of the Judges for the Court of Admiralty, and of the Court for Probate of Wills, and Granting of Administrations.

Resolved, That Dr. Turner be one of the Judges of the Court of Admiralty, and of the Court for Probate of Wills, and Granting of Administrations.

Resolved, That Mr. Wm. Cawley Esquire be one of the Judges of the Court of Admiralty, and of the Court for Probate of Wills, and Granting of Administrations.

Resolved, That a Writ do issue, for Constituting Mr. Serjeant Newdigate Chief-Justice of the Court of UpperBench accordingly, until the Parliament do take further Order.

Resolved, That Mr. Serjeant Earle be one of the Serjeants for the Commonwealth.

Resolved, That Mr. Serjeant Maynard be one other of the Serjeants for the Commonwealth.

Resolved, That Mr. Lechmere be one of the Council Learned for the Commonwealth.

Ordered, That several Patents be prepared for the said respective Judges, Barons, Attorney-General, and Solicitor-General, and other the Council of the Commonwealth, to hold the said Places, until the Parliament take further Order: And that Mr. Speaker be, and is hereby, authorized and required to sign a Docket for passing the said Patents, under the Great Seal: And that the Commissioners for the Great Seal do pass the Patents, under the Great Seal, accordingly.

Resolved, That the Great Seal be brought to this House To-morrow Morning: And that Mr. Lenthall and Mr. Love do bring the said Great Seal to the Parliament Tomorrow Morning.

Resolved, That the Persons nominated to be Commissioners for Custody of the Great Seal do attend the Parliament To-morrow Morning, to receive the Great Seal: And that Mr. Speaker do deliver unto them the Great Seal, accordingly.

Army Appointments.

A List of the Names of Commission-Officers in Colonel Eyre his Regiment of Foot was read.

A List of the Names of the Officers of the Regiment of Horse, whereof Sir Anthony Ashley Cooper is Colonel, was read.

A List of the Officers in the Regiment of Colonel Sydenham was read.

A List of the Officers in Colonel Hacker's Regiment was read.

A List of the Officers in Colonel Rich his Regiment was read.

Resolved, That Colonel Saunders be Colonel of a Regiment of Horse, which was formerly Colonel Swallowe's.

Resolved, That Major Nathaniell Barton be Major of that Regiment.

Army Commissions.

Sir Anthony Ashley Cooper, and Colonel Eyre, came from their Places in usual manner, up to the Clerk's Table: And Mr. Speaker acquainted them with the great Trust reposed in them by the Parliament; and that the Parliament expected Faithfulness from them to the Parliament and Commonwealth: And thereupon Mr. Speaker delivered,

To Sir Anthony Ashley Cooper, his Commission to be Colonel of a Regiment of Horse.

To Colonel Eyre his Commission to be Colonel of a Regiment of Foot.

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

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

To Thomas Savage, his Commission to be Lieutenant of a Troop in the Regiment of Colonel Valentine Walton:

To John Walpole, his Commission to be Cornet of that Troop:

To John Hawkes, his Commission to be Cornet of a Troop in that Regiment:

To Richard Winsemore, his Commission to be Cornet of a Troop in that Regiment:

To Richard Buston, his Commission to be Quartermaster of a Troop in that Regiment:

To Edward Mercer, his Commission to be Quartermaster of a Troop in that Regiment:

To Stephen Henbury, his Commission to be Captain of a Troop of Horse in that Regiment:

To Mathias Chalker, his Commission to be Quartermaster of a Troop in that Regiment:

To Henry Weblyn, his Commission to be Lieutenant of a Troop in that Regiment:

To John Boteler, his Commission to be Captain of a Troop of Horse in that Regiment.