House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 17 January 1655

Wednesday, the 17th of January, 1654.

Prayers.

Settling the Government.

THE House proceeded in the Consideration of the Bill, declaring and settling the Government of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and the Dominions thereto belonging.

And the Question being propounded, That the Bill be ingrossed, in order to its Presentment to the Lord Protector, for his Consideration and Consent; and this House doth declare, that, without an Agreement thereunto by the Lord Protector and Parliament, it ought not to be, in Part, or in whole, made use of as a Law, or become binding to the People;

The Question being put, That these Words, "ought to be," stand in the Question;

It passed with the Negative.

The Question being put, That the Word "is" shall be in the Question, in place of the Word "ought;"

The House was divided.

The Yeas went forth.

So it passed in the Negative.

Resolved, That this Bill, intituled, An Act, declaring and settling the Government of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and the Dominions thereunto belonging, be ingrossed, in order to its Presentment to the Lord Protector, for his Consideration and Consent; and that if the Lord Protector and the Parliament shall not agree thereunto, and to every Article thereof, then this Bill shall be void, and of none Effect.

Ordered, That it be referred to the same Committee who brought in this Bill, or any Two of them, to examine the same with the Ingrossment thereof, before it come into the House: And that Sir Charles Wolsley be added to that Committee: And to be brought in on Friday Morning, the first Business.

Publick Debts.

Resolved, That the House be resolved into a Grand Committee on this Day Sevennight, touching publick Debts.