House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 19 January 1655

Friday, the 19th of January, 1654.

Prayers.

Joplyn's Petition.

THE humble Petition of John Joplyn, Tenant to the late Bishop of Durham, on the Behalf of himself and several Hundreds of Families, Tenants to the said Bishop, within the County of Durham, was this Day read.

The Question being propounded, That this Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the Petition of the Lord Craven is referred;

The House was divided.

The Yeas went forth.

So it was Resolved, That this Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the Petition of the Lord Craven is referred.

Settling the Government.

Resolved, That the Act, declaring and settling the Government of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and the Dominions thereunto belonging, be now read.

An Act, declaring and settling the Government of the Commonwealth of England, Scotland, and Ireland, and the Dominions thereto belonging, was this Day read the Third time.

Resolved, That, after the Word "City," and before the Words "of Norwich," these Words, "and County of the City," be added.

Resolved, That the Blank, in the Thirty-fourth Chapter, be filled up with these Words, "Nine-and-twentieth."

A Proviso was tendered to this Bill touching Electors.

And the Question being propounded, That this Proviso be received at this Time;

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

It passed in the Negative.

Eodem Die, post Meridiem.

Settling the Government.

A PROVISO was tendered to this Bill, in these Words; "Provided always, and it is Enacted and Declared, by the Authority aforesaid, That this Act extend not, nor be construed to extend, to abrogate, alter, or diminish, any the Charters, Customs, Liberties, or Franchises, of the City of London, or of any other Cities, Boroughs, Towns Corporate, or Places, within this Commonwealth, saving in such Things wherein any Alteration is hereby particularly made; but that the said City of London, and all other the said Cities, Boroughs, Towns Corporate, and Places, shall and may have and enjoy their said Charters, Customs, Liberties, and Franchises, as aforesaid; this Act, or any thing therein contained, notwithstanding:" Which was read the First and Second time; and ordered to be Part of the Bill, before the last Chapter.

A Proviso was tendered to this Bill, in these Words; "Provided, that any Person, qualified as aforesaid, who is or shall be seized or possessed of any Estate, either Leasehold or Copyhold, in Lands and Tenements, to his own Use, of the clear yearly Value of Twenty Pounds, to be discovered upon Oath, in case it shall be required; such Person shall have a Vote in the Election of Members to serve in Parliament for that County where such Estate doth lie:" Which was read the First and Second time.

Resolved, That these Words, "Be it Enacted," be added to this Provso.

The Question being propounded, That these Words, "or customary Estates," be added to this Proviso;

The House was divided.

The Yeas went forth.

So it passed with the Negative.

The Question being put, That this Proviso be Part of the Bill;

The House was divided.

The Yeas went forth.

So it passed with the Negative.

A Clause was tendered to this Bill, in these Words; viz. "That the Lord Protector, the Parliament sitting, shall dispose and order the Militia and Forces, both by Sea and Land, for the Peace and Good of the Three Nations, by Consent of Parliament; and that the Lord Protector, with the Advice and Consent of the Major Part of the Council, shall dispose and order the Militia for the Ends aforesaid, in the Intervals of Parliament:" Which was read the First time.

The Question being put, That this Clause be read the Second time;

The House was divided.

The Yeas went forth.

So it passed with the Negative.

A Proviso was tendered to this Bill, in these Words; "Provided, that whereas the Militia of this Commonwealth ought not to be raised, formed, or made use of, but by common Consent of the People assembled in Parliament; Be it therefore Enacted, that the said Militia, consisting of Trained Forces, shall be settled as the Lord Protector, and the Parliament shall hereafter agree, in order to the Peace and Safety of this Commonwealth; and not otherwise:" Which was read the First time.

Resolved, That this Proviso be read the Second time.

The said Proviso was read the Second time, accordingly.

The Question being put, That the Debate of this Business be now adjourned till To-morrow Morning;

The House was divided.

The Yeas went forth.

So it was Resolved, That the Debate of this Business be adjourned till To-morrow Morning.