House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 7 November 1654

Tuesday, the 7th of November, 1654.

Prayers.

Preachers thanked.

ORDERED, That the Thanks of this House be given to Mr. Vines, for his great Pains taken in preaching before the Parliament, at Margarett's, Westminster, on the last Lord's Day, being the Fifth of November: And that he be desired to print his Sermon: And that he have the like Privilege in printing the same, as others in like Case have usually had.

Ordered, That Colonel John Birch do give Mr. Vines the Thanks of this House, accordingly.

Ordered, That the Thanks of this House be given to Mr. Manton, for his great Pains taken in preaching before the Parliament, at Margarett's, Westminster, on the last Lord's Day, being the Fifth of November: And that he be desired to print his Sermon: And that he have the like Privilege in printing the same, as others in like Cases have usually had.

Ordered, That Sir William Strickland do give Mr. Manton the Thanks of this House, accordingly.

Ld. Craven, &c.

Ordered, That the Council for the State do attend the Committee to whom the Petitions of the Lord Craven and Sir John Stawell are referred, on the Behalf of the Commonwealth, both in the Lord Craven's Case, and Sir John Stawell's Case.

Register of Bishops Lands.

Ordered, That John Brewer Gentleman be, and is hereby, nominated and appointed Register for Sale of Bishops Lands, in the Place of Henry Elsynge Esquire, deceased.

Settling the Government.

Mr. Hoskins, according to the Order of the House, made Report of the Proceedings of the Committee of the whole House upon the Government: Which was read: Viz.

At the Committee of the whole House upon the Government;

19 Sept. 1654.

RESOLVED, That the Supreme Legislative Authority of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and the Dominions thereto belonging, is and doth reside in One Person, and the People assembled in Parliament; with this Declaration, That this Vote shall not be prejudicial to any further Debate or Resolution touching the Remainder of the Forty-two Articles.

Resolved, That the Stile of such Person, shall be, Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland.

20 Sept. 1654.

Resolved, That Oliver Cromwell, Captain General of the Forces of England, Scotland, and Ireland, is, and shall be, Lord Protector of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and the Dominions thereunto belonging, for his Life.

Resolved, That a Parliament shall be summoned once in every Third Year, to be accounted from the Dissolution of the next preceding Parliament.

Privilege-Seditious Publication.

While this was in Debate, Colonel Shapcott acquainted the House, that there is a printed Pamphlet scattered abroad, tending much to the Scandal of the said Colonel, to the Dishonour of the Lord Protector and of the Parliament: Which he delivered into the House; and was, by Command of the House, now read: And was intituled, The Speech of Colonel Shapcott a Knight of Devonshire.

Resolved, by the Parliament, That this printed Paper, now read, is treacherous, false, scandalous, and seditious.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee for Printing, to inquire after the Author, Printers, and Publishers of this Paper, and to suppress the same: With Power to the Committee, to send for, and secure, any Persons whom they conceive to be, or that shall appear to be, guilty of framing, contriving, printing, or publishing, the said Paper, until the same shall be examined, and reported to the House: And that the Quorum of that Committee be reduced to Five, as to the Dispatch of this Business.

These Votes being read; It was

Resolved, That the Word "treacherous," in the former Vote, shall be omitted; and the Word "treasonable," inserted instead thereof.

And so it was Resolved, That this Paper is treasonable, false, scandalous, and seditious.

Ordered, That the Serjeant at Arms attending this House do forthwith seize, or cause to be seized, all the printed Copies of the said Paper, intituled, The Speech of Colonel Shapcott Knight for Devonshire; and all such Persons as shall sell or publish the same; and to bring or cause such Persons to be brought, in safe Custody, to the Committee appointed to examine this Business.

Supply.

Resolved, That, on Saturday next, the House do take into Consideration the Necessity of the Charge of a Tax to be laid upon the People.

Resolved, That the Committee for Abatement of the Charges of the Commonwealth do meet this Afternoon, and prepare themselves to make their Report, in that Business, on Saturday next.

Settling the Government.

Resolved, That the Committee of the whole House do take into Consideration the 24th Article of the Government To-morrow Morning.

Resolved, That the Debate upon the Report from the Committee of the whole House upon the Government, be taken up on Thursday Morning next.