House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 21 May 1659

Saturday, the 21st of May, 1659.

Petition from Warminstrey.

THE humble Petition of divers well-affected Persons, in the Town of Warminstrey in the County of Wilts, was this Day read.

Ordered, That Lieutenant-General Ludlow do give the Thanks of this House to the Petitioners, for their good Affections for a Commonwealth; and acquaint them, That this House will take the Particulars of their Petition into Consideration, in due time.

Prisoners.

The humble Petition of Augustine Bates, late one of the Under-Keepers of the Lord Grey of his Walk of Westhag, in the Forest of Rockingham in the County of Northampton, was this Day read.

Ordered, That this Petition be referred to the Committee to whom it is referred to take into Consideration Prisoners imprisoned for Conscience-sake, to examine the Matter of Fact; and state the same; and report it to this House.

Loans at Weavers-Hall.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee for Inspection of the Treasuries, to consider of the Restraint laid upon Weaver's-Hall, touching Interest to be paid for Monies lent upon that Security; and present their Opinions to this House, what they think fit to be done therein.

Indemnity.

Ordered, That the Quorum of the Committee, for preparing a Bill for Indemnity and Oblivion, be reduced to any Five of them: And that Mr. Dormer, Mr. Pury, Mr. Robinson, Mr. West, Mr. Darley, Sir Henry Mildmay, Mr. Pury, junior, Lord St. John, Mr. Hallowes, Mr. Say, Mr. Cawley, be added to that Committee.

Petition and Address of Army.

According to former Order, this House did this Day take into Consideration the Petition and Address of the Army.

The said Petition and Address was this Day again read; the First time at large, and after by Paragraphs.

Resolved, That the Liberty of the Persons, and Property of the Estates, of all the Free People of these Nations, shall be maintained, preserved, and kept inviolable, according to Law; under the Government of a Free State and Commonwealth; without a Single Person or House of Lords.

Resolved, That there shall be such a just and due Regulation of Law, and Courts of Justice and Equity, as that they shall be a Protection, and not vexatious or oppressive, to the People of these Nations.

Indemnity.

Resolved, That the Bill of Indemnity and Oblivion be reported to this House, on Monday Morning next.

State of the Government.

Resolved, That it be referred to a Committee, to take into Consideration all Laws, Orders, Declarations, and Establishments, made in the several Changes and Alterations of Government, that have been in these Nations since the Nineteenth of April 1653, and not yet particularly repealed; and to present their Opinion to this House, what is fit to be done thereupon: And to bring in an Act, or several Acts, if they shall see Cause: Viz. unto Lieutenant-General Fleetwood, Baron Thorp, Mr. Lechmer, Sir Henry Vane, Sir Tho. Widdrington, Mr. Robinson, Colonel Sydney, Mr. Holland, Mr. White, Mr. Pyne, Serjeant Nicholas, Mr. Goodwyn, Sir Thomas Wroth, Mr. Barker, Mr. Corbet, Mr. Boone, Lord Whitlock, Mr. Attorney-General, Mr. Garland, Mr. Strickland, Mr. Say, Sir Gilbert Pickering, Colonel Thompson, Sir Rich. Lucy, Mr. Pury, Sir Arthur Hesilrig: And all that come to have Voices: And they are to meet on Monday next, in the Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chamber: With Power to send for Persons, Papers, and Records: And the especial Care hereof is referred to Mr. Baron Thorpe, and Sir Thomas Widdrington.

Publick Debt.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee for Inspections, to examine, What Debts have been contracted for the Publick Service, and Affairs of this Commonwealth, and for the Charges of the Government, since the Twentieth of April 1653; and to state the Matter of Fact; and report it to the House.

Resolved, That more be added to this Committee, as to this Business; viz. Mr. Marten, Mr. Robinson, Mr. Pury, Mr. Salway, Mr. Holdsworth, Mr. Say, Mr. Bennet, Mr. Corbet, Sir Tho. Widdrington, Mr. Boone, Mr. Smith, Mr. Dove.

Religion.

Resolved, That all Persons who profess Faith in God the Father, and in Jesus Christ his Eternal Son, the true God, and in the Holy Spirit, God coequal with the Father and the Son, one God blessed for ever; and do acknowlege the Holy Scriptures of the Old and New Testament to be the revealed or written Word or Will of God; shall not be restrained from their Profession, but have due Encouragement, and equal Protection, in the Profession of their Faith, and Exercise of Religion; whilst they abuse not this Liberty to the Civil Injury of others, or Disturbance of others in their Way of Worship; so that this Liberty be not extended to Popery or Prelacy, nor to such as shall practise or hold forth Licentiousness or Profaneness, under the Profession of Religion: And that all Laws, Statutes, or Ordinances, and all Clauses in any Laws, Statutes, Ordinances, to the contrary, shall be declared null and void.

Resolved, That a Godly, Faithful, and Painful Gospelpreaching Ministry, shall be every-where encouraged, countenanced, and maintained.

Resolved, That the Universities, and Schools of Learning, shall be so countenanced and reformed, as that they may become the Nurseries of Piety and Learning.

Resolved, That the Ninth Paragraph be referred to a Grand Committee of this House, to consider thereof.

Resolved, That forasmuch as no godly or other good Interest can be preserved or maintained, unless the Persons who are chiefly entrusted with the Management and Exercise of the Government, be of suitable Spirits to those Interests; that those who are or shall be intrusted therein, be such Persons as shall be found to be most eminent for Godliness, Faithfulness, and Constancy to the Good Cause and Interest of these Nations.

Resolved, That to the end the Legislative Authority of this Commonwealth may not, by their Long Sitting, become burdensome or inconvenient, there shall be effectual Provision made for a due Succession thereof.

Ordered, That the Thirteenth, Fourteenth, and Fifteenth Paragraphs of this Petition and Address be referred to a Grand Committee of this House.

Resolved, That this House be resolved into a Grand Committee on Wednesday Morning next, at Eight of the Clock, upon this Business: And that Mr. Speaker do then leave the Chair.

The House adjourned itself until Monday Morning next, at Eight of the Clock.