House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 22 August 1653

Monday, the 22d of August, 1653.

Embassy from Norway.

MR. Speaker acquaints the House, by way of Report, That there have been presented unto him Letters to the Parliament from Frederick Heir of Norway, Duke of Sleswick, Holstein, Stormarne, and Ditzmatz, Count of Oldenburg and Dolmenherst, dated at Gottorp, the 7th of July 1653; being Letters Credential to Colonel Paul Wirtz, together with the Copies of the said Letters Credential, both in English and Latin: Which were now read.

Resolved, That it be referred to the Council of State, to give Audience to the said Publick Minister; and to hear what he hath to offer: And make Report to the Parliament.

Resolved, That Sir Oliver Fleming Knight, Master of the Ceremonies, do acquaint the said Publick Minister herewith.

Bicks reprieved.

The humble Petition of Richard Bicks, Prisoner in the common Gaol in Southwark, was this Day read.

Resolved, That Richard Bicks, a condemned Prisoner in the Gaol of Southwark, for Horse-stealing, be reprieved until the Parliament shall take further Order: And that the Sheriff be required to take care that Execution be forborne accordingly.

Petition from Companies of London.

Colonel Rous reports from the Committee for Petitions, the humble Petition of the several Companies of the City of London; together with the humble Opinion of that Committee, That the same be referred to the Consideration of the Committee for Ireland; who, upon Examination of the whole Matter, may report the same to the Parliament.

Ordered, That the said Petition be referred to the Committee for Ireland, to examine the whole Matter, and report the true State thereof to the Parliament, with all convenient Speed: And the Committee are to hasten the Report for the Bill touching Ireland.

Petition from Jersey.

He also reports, The humble Petition of divers well affected Persons of the Isle of Jersey: Which was this Day read.

Ordered, That this Petition be referred to the Council of State, to consider what is fit to be done therein; and report it to the House.

Dalton's, &c. Losses by Fire.

He also reports, from the same Committee, The humble Petition of Thomas Dalton, John Burton, Samuell Sureties, Thomas Briggs, Samuell Jewell, and Margaret May, Widow, of St. Albans, in the County of Hertford, who suffered Loss by Fire, as appeareth by Certificates, to the Petition annexed, to the Value of One thousand Seven hundred Thirty-eight Pounds; with the Opinion of the Committee, That Collections be made for their Relief within the Counties of Hartford, Bucks, Berks, Oxon, Warwick, Cambridge, Middlesex, and the Cites of London and Westminster.

Ordered, That a Patent be prepared for a Collection to be made within the Counties of Hartford, Bucks, Berks, Oxon, Warwick, Cambridg, Middlesex, and the Cities of London and Westminster, for Relief of Thomas Dalton, John Burton, Samuell Sureties, Thomas Briggs, Samuel Jewell, and Margaret May, Widow, of St. Albanes, in the County of Hertford, for their Loss by Fire, mentioned in their Petition; and the Certificate thereunto annexed: And that the Lords Commissioners for the Great Seal of England be authorized and required to pass the same under the Great Seal accordingly.

Cox's Loss by Fire.

He also reports, A Petition of Thomas Cox, of Wilmington, in the County of Kent, Maltster, who suffered Loss by Fire, as appears by Certificate annexed to the Petition, to the Value of Four hundred and Eighty Pounds, at the least, besides the Malt-house, which cannot be rebuilded under Two hundred Pounds; together with the Opinion of the Committee, That Collections may be made for his Relief, within the Counties of Kent, Surrey, Middlesex, and Essex, and the Cities of London and Westminster.

Ordered, That a Patent be prepared for a Collection to be made within the County of Kent, for Relief of Thomas Cox of Welnington, in the County of Kent, Maltster, for his Loss by Fire, mentioned in his Petition, and Certificate thereunto annexed: And that the Lords Commissioners for the Great Seal of England be authorized and required to pass the same under the Great Seal accordingly.

Ly. Powell's Estate.

He likewise reports from the Committee for Petitions; viz.

IN pursuance of the Order of Parliament, of the 20th of July last, this Committee received, among many other Petitions directed to the Parliament, the Petition of Mary Countess of Sterling, John Blount, her Husband, Sir Robert Crooke, of Checquers in the County of Bucks, Knight, Dame Susan his Wife, Henry Alexander, alias Zinzan, and Jacoba his Wife, Sackvile Glemham, and Peter Glemham, complaining against Thomas Leviston Esquire, Ann his Wife, Wm. Hinson, and others, of Force, Fraud, and undue Practices, under Pretence of Right and Law, to take away the Estate of the Lady Mary Powell, late Wife of Sir Edward Powell: Which Petition this Committee judged fit to be examined, and presented to the Parliament: And for that end sent for Mr. Levingston, and his Wife, and Mr. Hinson: And, after the reading of the Petition, spent several Days in the Examination of Witnesses, upon Oath, in the Presence of the said Mr. Levinston, and Mr. Hinson, offering them Liberty both to take Exceptions against the Witnesses, if they had any, and to examine them themselves, at the same time, if they think fit.

This Committee examined every Particular of the said Petition apart, and there was full and large Testimony given to prove the same: And, being desirous further to inform themselves of the Truth of Things, as to Matter of Fact, desired Mr. Levingston to produce to this Committee, the Deeds and Writings mentioned in this said Petition alleged by the Petitioners to be gotten by Force and Fraud, as aforesaid; which, upon Tuesday the 9th of August, being present, he was ordered to do; and he promised this Committee to bring them upon Thursday after; but failed therein.

This Day being appointed for the further Hearing of the said Business, the Petitioners, and likewise the said Mr. Levingston, and Mr. Powell, appeared: And this Committee conceiving they could not proceed either for Matter or Manner, without the Sight of the said Writings, desired Mr. Levingston to produce them: Who not only denied the Order of this Committee for bringing them in before, and his own Promise for the same; but then, though he was three times affectionately pressed thereunto, that there might be no Exceptions taken upon his Contempt, nor he any ways surprized or prejudiced upon the whole Business, refused to produce them; answering, that the like was never yet desired by Men: Besides, he said, he had them not; but that they were in the Custody of his Wife, who laid Claim to the Estate: And said further, that where any claims Title by their Evidences, they are not bound to shew them to any Men living, without Consent: So that this Committee is at a Stand, and stopped from making any further Examination of the Business, until the Pleasure of the Parliament be known, what shall further be done therein.-

Resolved, by the Parliament, That Mr. Levingston be required by the said Committee, to bring unto the said Committee the Deed or Deeds for leading the Uses of the Fine pretended to be acknowledged by the Lady Powell, to be seen and perused by the Committee only.

Sufferers by Military Acts.

He also reports from that Committee, That there are divers Petitions directed to the Parliament, and delivered in to that Committee, by sundry well-affected Persons, some of whom are ready to perish for want of Subsistence, craving Relief and Satisfaction for the Loss and Damage they sustained by the Commanders in chief of the Parliament Party, in sundry Parts of the Nation, in the burning, pulling down, and destroying, of their Houses and Goods for to secure themselves and Garisons from the Prejudice they might receive by the Enemies possessing thereof, besides many others destroyed by the Enemy upon the like Account; desiring the Sense and Pleasure of the Parliament may be known therein.

Idiots, &c.

Colonel Rous likewise reports from the same Committee, the humble Petition of Peter Egerton, and others, on the Behalf of Idiots, Lunaticks, and Infants: Which was this Day read.

Resolved, by the Parliament, That a Bill be brought in, touching Idiots, Lunaticks, and Infants: And that the same Committee do prepare a Bill accordingly.

Call of the House.

The House, this Day, according to former Order, proceeded in calling the House.

Those that were present were marked with the Letter [P.]

Those absent with the Letter [A].

Those who had Leave or were excused, were marked accordingly.

Resolved, That the Members of the House who are now found to be absent without Leave, do attend the Service of the House on this Day Fortnight, to give an Account of their Absence.

Proceedings against Lilborne.

Ordered, That the Council of State be authorized and required to examine the whole Business of the late Trial of Lieutenant Colonel John Lilborne, and the Proceedings therein; and particularly to examine the Judges and Jury: And to report the State of the whole Matter of Fact to the House, with all Speed.

Ordered, That the Council of State be likewise required to examine touching any scandalous, seditious, or tumultuous Papers, which have been dispersed, or Words spoken, at the said Trial, or in relation thereunto, in Derogation of the Authority of Parliament; and report the same to the House.

Law of Treason.

Resolved, That it be referred to the Council of State, to revise the Acts declaring what Offences shall be Treason: And to bring in an Act for Supply of such things as that Act comes short in, in reference to this present Parliament, and Council of State: And that they do bring in the same To-morrow Morning.

Religion.

Resolved, That, on Friday next, the House do take into Consideration the Business of Religion.

Leave of Absence.

Resolved, That Sir Charles Wolseley have Leave to go into the Country, for a Fortnight, after Monday next.