House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 15 April 1659

Friday, the 15th of April, 1659.

Prayers.

Death of Mr. Speaker.

THE Members being met in the House this Morning, and the Mace placed below under the Table; They were informed, that Mr. Chalenor Chute, who, at the first Meeting of the Parliament, was chosen their Speaker, was dead. Mr. Cooper, the Minister appointed to perform the Duty of Prayer with the House on Mornings, was called in to Prayers: And Prayer being ended, and the Minister withdrawn, the several Members, sitting in their Places, consider of the Choice of a new Speaker: And, upon Consideration of the Experience the House had, of the great Integrity and Ability of Mr. Thomas Bampfield, who was called to the Chair, to supply the Speaker's Place during the Absence and Indisposition of Mr. Chute, the late Speaker, now dead; and what good Service he had done the House; especially in the Preservation of the ancient Orders thereof; it was propounded to the House, that Mr. Bampfield might be continued in their Service; and that he might be chosen Speaker, accordingly.

Mr. Bampfield chosen Speaker.

Mr. Bampfield, standing up in his Place, first acknowleged to the House the great Honour that was put upon him, in calling him to the Chair before, upon Mr. Speaker Chute's Sickness and Indisposition; and endeavoured to excuse himself, upon the Reasons of the Experience the House had of his Unfitness for their Service; and desired Mr. Edward Turner, a Person of great Abilities, and Fitness for their Service, might be chosen their Speaker: But Mr. Thomas Bampfield being generally called on by the House, he was brought to the Chair by Sir Walter Earle, and Mr. Carew Raliegh: And, being sat in the Chair, and the Mace placed on the Table by the Serjeant, as is usual, the House proceeded in their Business, as formerly.

ParishClerks Petition.

The humble Petition of the Company of Parish-Clerks within the City of London, and Bills of Mortality, was this Day read. And it is

Ordered, That the same Course be observed for certifying and ascertaining the Number of the Dead weekly, and the Diseases they do severally die of, within the Parish of Margaret's, Westminster, and other the Out-Parishes in the Counties of Middlesex and Surrey, within the weekly Bills of Mortality, and late Lines of Communication, as is observed within the Parishes in the City of London: And Major General Browne, Sir William Wheeler, Colonel Grosvenor, Mr. Sherwyn, Mr. Annesley, Colonel Thompson, and Mr. Francis Gerard, are to take care, that this Order be put in effectual Execution.

Excise.

The House resumed the Debate upon the Declaration concerning the Excise.

The Question being put, That this Declaration be re-committed;

The House was divided.

The Yeas went forth.

So it was Resolved, &c. That this Declaration be recommitted.