House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 18 April 1659

Monday, the 18th of April, 1659.

Prayers.

Door shut.-Members not to go out.

RESOLVED, &c. That the Door of the House be now shut: And that none of the Members of the House do go out of the House, without Leave in that Behalf first obtained.

Colonel Bennett, one of the Members of the House, being gone out of the House before the Putting of the beforegoing Question; It was

Resolved, &c. That Colonel Bennett be required forthwith to attend the Service of the House.

Colonel Bennett, being returned into the House, stood up in his Place; and informed the House, That he went out of the House for the Dispatch of some private and particular Affairs of his own, which required some Haste: And that, having given a Dispatch thereunto, he returned of his own Accord, to attend his Duty and Service in the House, without any Knowledge or Notice of the Order of the House for his Attendance: With which Account the House rested satisfied.

Resolved, &c. That Sir William Doyley, one of the Members of this House, shall have Leave to go out of the House.

Leave to go out.

Resolved, &c. That Sir Walter Earle, one of the Members of this House, shall have Leave to go out of the House.

General Council of Officers.

The Question being propounded, That, during the Sitting of the Parliament, there shall be no General Council or Meeting of the Officers of the Army, without the Direction, Leave, and Authority, of his Highness the Lord Protector, and both Houses of Parliament;

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

The House was divided.

The Noes went forth.

So the Question passed with the Affirmative.

And the main Question being put; It was

Resolved, &c. That, during the Sitting of the Parliament, there shall be no General Council or Meeting of the Officers of the Army, without the Direction, Leave, and Authority, of his Highness the Lord Protector, and both Houses of Parliament.

Test for Persons in Trust.

Resolved, &c. That no Person shall have or continue any Command or Trust in any of the Armies or Navies of England, Scotland, or Ireland, or any the Dominions or Territories thereto belonging, who shall refuse to subscribe, That he will not disturb nor interrupt the free Meetings in Parliament of any the Members of either House of Parliament, or their Freedom in their Debates and Counsels.

Resolved, &c. That the Concurrence of the Other House be desired to these Votes: And that Mr. John Stephens do carry the same to the Other House for their Concurrence.

Army and Navy Arrears.

Resolved, &c. That the House will take into Consideration, To-morrow Morning, How the Arrears of the Armies and Navies may be speedily satisfied.

Suspected Persons.

The House being informed, that divers that have been in Arms against the Parliament, and other dangerous Persons, have resorted of late to the City of London, and Parts adjacent;

Resolved, &c. That it be referred to a Committee, to propose some effectual Way, How his Highness, the Parliament, and the Nation, may be secured against any Attempts from them.

Colonel Birch, Sir Charles Coote, Mr. Henry Hungerford, Mr. Trenchard, Mr. Trevor, Mr. Godfrey, Mr. Swinfen, Mr. Bodwrda, Mr. Grove, Colonel White, Mr. Edw. Turnor, Sir Henry Vane, Mr. Readeing, Sir Wilfrid Lawson, Lord Falkland, Mr. Ralph Bankes, Major General Kelsey, Mr. Richard Lucy, Mr. Hele, Mr. Solicitor General, Sir George Booth, Mr. Annesley, Mr. William Eyre, Colonel Edw. Cooke, Sir Robert Pye, Mr. Attorney General, Mr. Hewley, Mr. Whaley, Mr. Howard;

This Committee, or any Three of them, are to consider, and to propose, What may be effectual to secure his Highness, the Parliament, and the Nation, against any Attempts from such as have been in Arms against the Parliament, and other dangerous Persons, resorting of late to the City of London, and Parts adjacent: And are to meet, about the same, at Six of the Clock this Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Bill of Indemnity.

Resolved, &c. That it be referred to Mr. Serjeant Maynard, Mr. Attorney General, and Mr. Solicitor General, to prepare and bring in a Bill for the indemnifying of such Persons as have served the Commonwealth.