House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 30 November 1652

Tuesday, the 30th of November, 1652.

Prayers.

Sheriff of Rutland.

ORDERED, That the Sheriff for the County of Rutland have Liberty to go out of his County, upon his necessary Occasions: he not neglecting the Duty of his Place.

Resolved, That the Sheriffs of the respective Counties, within this Commonwealth, have Liberty to go out of their respective Counties, upon their necessary Occasions, notwithstanding the Clause in their Oath, in that Behalf; they not neglecting the Duties of their Places.

Council of State.

An Act constituting a Council of State, from the 30th of November 1652, to the First of December 1653, and impowering them to put the Instructions given them, in Execution, was this Day read the First and Second time.

And the Question being put, That this Bill be ingrossed;

It passed with the Negative.

And the said Act, together with the Instructions, being put to the Question, passed.

Judges of Admiralty.

An Act for constituting Nathaniell Bacon, Esquire, William Stephens, and John Exon, Doctors of the Laws, Judges of the Court of Admiralty, was this Day read the First and Second time.

Resolved, That the Blanks be filled up with these Words; viz. "from the 30th of November 1652, to the First of December 1653."

The Question being put, That the said Act, so amended, be ingrossed;

It passed with the Negative.

The said Act so amended, being put to the Question, passed; and ordered to be forthwith printed and published.

Correspondence with Portugall.

Sir Henry Vane reports from the Council of State, the Paper sent the 23th of November 1652, unto the Council from the Lord Ambassador from the King of Portugall, together with such other Papers as have passed between the Council and the said Ambassador, in the Treaty now in hand: Which were this Day read.

Ordered, That the Parliament doth approve of the Proposals, Answers, Replies, and whole Proceedings of the Council of State, with the Lord Ambassador Extraordinary of the King of Portugall.

Resolved, That the Council of State for the Year ensuing do prepare, and draw into Articles, the Substance of the Answers of John Ginmaraes, late publick Minister of the King of Portugall, to the Preliminary Articles propounded by the Council of State: Which Answers were now read, with such Alterations as the Council have now thought fit to make, and present the same unto the Lord Ambassador Extraordinary from the said King of Portugall, to be by him agreed unto, and signed: Which Articles being agreed unto, and signed by him, and the Money paid, and Security given for Performance of what remains in those Articles to be yet performed, that then the Council of State be authorized and required to proceed in the Treaty of Peace with the said Lord Ambassador.

Resolved, That it be referred to the Council of State for the Year ensuing, and that they be authorized and required, upon the Agreement of the Lord Ambassador Extraordinary, as aforesaid, to take care of, and see to the putting in Execution, in the most speedy and certain way, those Articles that concern the Merchants.

Ordered, That the Clerk of the Parliament do send to the Council of State the original Paper, subscribed by John de Ginmaraes, late Publick Minister to the King of Portugall, being his Consent to the last Demands of the Council of State: And that the same be again returned to the Clerk of the Parliament.

Claims on Publick Faith.

Colonel Marten reports from the Committee, to whom the Consideration of the Business touching the Publick Faith was referred, A Bill for the better Satisfaction of the Monies due upon the Publick Faith: Which was this Day read the First time, and ordered to be read the Second time To-morrow-Sevennight, the first Business; nothing to intervene.

Ordered, That the same Committee touching the Publick Faith, be required to bring in a Bill, according to the former Directions.

Council of State.

Ordered, That the same Oath of Secrecy, that was appointed to be taken by every Member of the Council of State, and passed the 28th of November 1651, shall be taken by every Member of the Council of State appointed by Authority of Parliament for the Year now ensuing, before he or they shall sit, and act, as a Member or Members of the said Council.

Ordered, That the Council of State be authorized to administer the same Oath, to the Clerk of the said Council, which was passed by the Parliament the said 28th Day of November 1651, for the Secretary to the Council, mutatis mutandis; and likewise to administer the same Oath to such as the Council shall employ under them, as was then passed by the Parliament, for that Purpose.

Forfeited Estates.

Ordered, That the Bill for doubling the Sum of One hundred thousand Pounds, upon the first Act for Sale of several Lands and Estates forfeited to the Commonwealth for Treason, be read To-morrow Morning, the first Business.