House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 2 January 1655

Tuesday, the 2d of January, 1654.

Prayers.

Equal Assessments.

RESOLVED, That the House be resolved into a Grand Committee touching the Equality of the Assessments, on this Day Sevennight.

Settling the Government.

The House this Day resumed the Debate upon the Bill touching the Government.

The Six-and-thirtieth Chapter was read; and, being thus amended, was, upon the Question, agreed in these Words; viz. "That the Council be hereby impowered to examine upon Oath, as touching any Charge of Popery or of Delinquency, mentioned in the Chapter against any Person or Persons returned for Members of Parliament, and if they shall find such Charge to be true, and shall certify the same to the Parliament, the First Day of the Sitting of the Parliament, then such Members shall not sit, until the House hath adjudged the same"

Colonel Mathews reports from the Committee to whom it was referred Yesterday to draw up a Clause, upon the Debate of the House, A Clause: Which was read; and, upon the Question, re-committed to the same Committee, upon the whole Debate of the House: And that the Lord Commissioner Whitelock, Colonel Morley, and Mr. Turnor, be added to that Committee. This Committee is to meet in the Speaker's Chamber at Two of Clock this Afternoon; and to report it To-morrow Morning.

The Seven-and-thirtieth Chapter was read; and, upon the Question, agreed unto.

The Eight-and-thirtieth Chapter was read; and, upon the Question, agreed unto.

The Question being propounded, That the Distribution of Members to serve in Parliament for the County of Kent, do stand as it is in the Bill;

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

It passed with the Affirmative.

And the main Question being put;

The House was divided.

The Yeas went forth.

So it passed with the Negative.

The Question being put, That Quinborough continue to have a Burgess to serve in Parliament, as formerly;

The House was divided.

The Yeas went forth.

So it passed in the Negative.

The Question being propounded, That the Town and Port of Hyde do send a Burgess to serve in Parliament;

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 Town and Port of Hyde shall be inserted to send One Burgess to serve in Parliament.

And, accordingly, the Bill was amended, by inserting these Words, "For the Town and Borough of Hyde, One;" and next after these Words, "For the County of Kent," instead of the Word "Twelve," the Word "Eleven;" was inserted.

The Question being propounded, That the Distribution of Members upon the several Counties, and the Cities, Towns and Places within the same, as it is in the Bill now amended, do stand;

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

It passed in the Affirmative.

And the main Question being put; It was

Resolved, That the Distribution of Members upon the several Counties, and the Cities, Towns, and Places within the same, as it is in the Bill now amended, do stand.

Post Meridiem.

Settling the Government.

THE Nine-and-thirtieth Chapter was now read; And upon the Question, the Clause touching the Members of Parliament for Scotland, was agreed.

The House being informed, That the Grand Committee had referred to a Sub-Committee, the Distribution of the Members for Scotland, which remains in the Hands of Commissary-General Whaley; and was ready to have been reported to the Grand Committee;

Resolved, That the Sub-Committee do make the Report to the House touching the Distribution of the Members of Parliament for Scotland: And that Commissary General Whaley do make that Report.

Commissary-General Whaley, accordingly, reports, The Resolutions of that Sub-Committee: Which were now read.

The Question being put, That the House doth agree to this Distribution of the Members for Scotland, now reported;

It passed in the Negative.

The latter Clause of this Chapter was now read, concerning the Number of Members to serve for Ireland; and was, upon the Question, agreed.

The Fortieth Chapter being read; and, upon the Question, That this Clause stand;

It passed in the Negative.

The One-and-fortieth Chapter being read, was, upon the Question, agreed.

The Two-and-fortieth Chapter being read; the First Clause was, upon the Question, agreed.

The Second Clause was, upon the Question, agreed.

The Third Clause was, upon the Question, agreed.

The Fourth Clause being read; and the Question being put, That that Clause be now put to the Question;

It passed in the Affirmative.

And the Clause, being put to the Question, was agreed.

The Three-and-fortieth Chapter was now read; and the Debate adjourned till To-morrow Morning.