House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 19 January 1657

Monday, the 19th of January, 1656.

Union with Ireland.

MR. Robinson reports from the Grand Committee upon the Bill for Uniting Ireland into one Commonwealth with England, That the said Grand Committee do desire the House will appoint another Day for the said Grand Committee to sit.

Ordered, That the House be resolved into a Grand Committee, upon the said Bill for Uniting Ireland into one Commonwealth with England, on Wednesday Morning next.

Union with Scotland.

Ordered, That the House be resolved into a Grand Committee, upon the Bill for Uniting Scotland into one Commonwealth with England, on Friday Morning next.

Buck's Petition.

The humble Petition of John Buck Esquire, was this Day read.

Ordered, That this Petition be referred to the Committee to whom the Petition of Mr. Scott is referred: And that this Committee, as to this Business, have Power to send for Persons, Papers, Witnesses, and Records: And that it be referred to this Committee to prepare a Bill, and present it to this House, concerning Divorces and Alimony; and in whom it is fit to place the same.

Oxford University.

The humble Petition of the University of Oxford, was this Day read.

Ordered, That this Petition be referred to the Committee to whom the Petition of Corpus Christi College in Oxford is referred.

Conspiracy against the Protector.

Mr. Secretary made a Relation of a wicked Design to take away the Lord Protector's Life, and to fire Whitehall; and presented the Examinations of John Cecill and John Toope, taken upon Oath before Francis White and William Jesop Esquires, Two of his Highness's Justices of the Peace for the Liberty of Westminster: Which were read.

Mr. Secretary also made another Relation of another Design; and presented the Examination of John Rogers, of the Tower of London, Gentleman, taken upon Oath the Eighth Day of December 1656, before Sir John Barkstead Knight: Which was read:

And the Examination of Sir Thomas Peyton, taken the Eighth of December 1656: Which was also read: Which Examinations were delivered back to Mr. Secretary, by Order.

Resolved, That a Day be appointed for publick Thanksgiving to God for this Discovery and great Deliverance.

The Question being propounded, That To-morrow Sevennight be the Day for London, Westminster, and the late Lines of Communication;

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

It passed with the Negative.

Resolved, That Friday come Three Weeks being the Thirteenth of February next, be the Day for publick Thanksgiving for England, Scotland, and Ireland.

Resolved, That the Place for Keeping of the Day of publick Thanksgiving by this House shall be at Margarett's, Westminster.

Resolved, That Mr. Gelaspy be desired to preach before this House at Margarett's, Westminster, on Friday Three Weeks; being a Day set apart for publick Thanksgiving.

Ordered, That the Lord Cockram be desired to give him Notice hereof.

Ordered, That Mr. Warren be desired to preach before this House at Margarett's, Westminster, on Friday Three Weeks, being a Day set apart for publick Thanksgiving.

Ordered, That Major-General Haynes do give him Notice hereof.

Ordered, That a Committee be appointed, to prepare a Narrative of the Grounds and Reasons for setting apart Friday Three Weeks a Day for publick Thanksgiving: Viz. Mr. Secretary, Lord Commissioner Whitelock, Sir Wm. Strickland, Lord Commissioner Fiennes, General Disbrow, Sir Charles Wolsley, Lord Broghill, Colonel Philip Jones: And that this Declaration be brought in on Wednesday Morning next.

Resolved, That this House do wait upon his Highness the Lord Protector, to congratulate with his Highness for this great Mercy and Deliverance.

Resolved, That the Committee appointed to prepare the Narrative of the Grounds and Reasons for setting apart Friday Three Weeks for publick Thanksgiving, do attend his Highness the Lord Protector, to desire his Highness to appoint a Time when this House may attend on his Highness upon this Occasion.

Militia.

Resolved, That the Debate upon the Bill for Continuing and Assessing of a Tax for Maintaining of the Militia Forces, formerly adjourned to this Day, be adjourned until To-morrow Morning, the first Business; nothing to intervene.