House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 25 May 1659

Wednesday, May the 25th, 1659.

Prayers.

Southwold Brief.

MR. Brewster reports, The Draught of a Brief for a charitable Contribution for the Inhabitants of Southwold, alias Soulbay, in the County of Suffolk, for their Losses: Which was this Day read.

Ordered, That Mr. Speaker, Keeper of the Great Seal, be, and is hereby, authorized to pass this Brief, ingrossed in Parchment, under the Great Seal of the Commonwealth of England: And this Order shall be his Warrant in that behalf.

London Militia.

A Bill for settling the Militia of the City of London was this Day read the Second time; and, upon the Question, committed to the former Committee to whom the Bill for settling the Militia of Westminster is committed; and all that come to have Voices.

Names of the Commissioners for the City of London were tendered to the House; and read the First and Second time; and committed; with the Bill, to the same Committee.

Southwark Militia.

A Bill for settling the Militia of the Borough of Southwark, and Parishes adjacent, was this Day read the Second time; and, upon the Question, committed to the aforesaid Committee.

Names of Commissioners for the Militia of the Borough of Southwark; were tendered to the House, and twice read; and committed to the same Committee.

Ordered, That Mr. Pury, junior, Mr. Darley, Mr. West, Mr. Hallowes, Colonel Marten, Colonel Dixwell, Mr. James Temple, Mr. Nelthrop, Mr. Cawley, Mr. Andrewes, Mr. Challenor, Mr. Peter Temple, Mr. Barker, be added to that Committee: And that this Committee have Power to consider of the Names and to add such Names as they shall think fit: And all that come to have Voices.

Tower Hamlets Militia.

Names of Commissioners for the Militia, within the Hamlets of the Tower of London, were tendered to this House; and twice read; and committed, with the Bill, to the same Committee.

A Bill for settling the Militia, within the Hamlets of the Tower of London, was this Day read the Second time; and, upon the Question, committed to the same Committee.

Richard Cromwell's Renunciation.

Sir Gilbert Pickering acquaints this House, That he, and the Lord Chief-Justice St. John, did, according to the Command of this House, repair to the Eldest Son of the late Lord General Cromwell; and acquaint him with the Sense of this House, touching his subscribing a Paper sent by him to the Committee formerly appointed to communicate to him a Declaration and Order of this House: And that he did thereupon, in their Presence, sign the said Paper, with his Name; and presented the said Paper to this House, subscribed Richard Cromwell.

The said Paper was this Day read; and also a Schedule, containing a true State of his Debts; and how they were contracted: Which Paper and Schedule were as followeth; viz.

I HAVE perused the Resolve and Declaration, which you were pleased to deliver to me the other Night; and, for your Information touching what is mentioned in the said Resolve, I have caused a true State of my Debts to be transcribed, and annexed to this Paper: Which will shew what they are, and how they were contracted.

As to that Part of the Resolve, whereby the Committee are to inform themselves, How far I do acquiesce in the Government of this Commonwealth, as it is declared by this Parliament; I trust, my past Carriage hitherto hath manifested my Acquiescence in the Will and Disposition of God; and that I love and value the Peace of this Commonwealth much above my own Concernments: And I desire, that by this, a Measure of my future Deportment may be taken; which, thro' the Assistance of God, shall be such as shall bear the same Witness; having, I hope, in some degree, learned rather to reverence and submit to the Hand of God, than to be unquiet under it: And, as to the late Providences that have fallen out amongst us, however, in respect of the particular Engagements that lay upon me, I could not be active in making a Change in the Government of these Nations, yet through the Goodness of God, I can freely acquiesce in it, being made; and do hold myself obliged, as (with other Men) I expect Protection from the present Government, so to demean myself with all Peaceableness under it; and to procure, to the uttermost of my Power, that all in whom I have any Interest, do the same.

Richard Cromwell.

R. Cromwell's Debts.

Which is incumbered with 3,000 l. Debt by me contracted in my Father's Life-time, and, as yet, unpaid.

The Parliament having this Day read and considered a Paper, subscribed Richard Cromwell, expressing his free Acquiescence in the present Government of these Nations; and expecting, with other Men, Protection from the same; and holding himself obliged, not only to demean himself with all Peaceableness, under it, but to procure, to the utmost of his Power, that all in whom he hath Interest, do the same;

The Parliament do thereupon declare, That they do accept, in good Part, what is expressed in the said Paper; and, in Testimony thereof, are willing, and do put in Oblivion, all Matters past in reference to the said Richard Cromwell; and to take upon them his just Debts, not exceeding the Sums contained in the Schedule of them, this Day presented to the Parliament: And do think fit, That the said Richard Cromwell do retire from Whitehall; and to dispose of himself as his private Occasions shall require, in a peaceable Demeanour of himself, under the Protection of the Parliament.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee for Inspection of the Treasury, to state the said Debt in the Schedule mentioned; and to consider, how, and in what manner, the same shall be paid; and report it to this House.

Resolved, That the Sum of Two thousand Pounds be forthwith advanced for the present Occasions of Richard Cromwell, Eldest Son of the late Lord General Cromwell, in his Removal.

Resolved, That it be referred to the Council of State, to see the said Two thousand Pounds paid, accordingly.

The Question being propounded, That it be referred to a Committee, to consider, What is fit to be done, as to the Settlement of a comfortable and honourable Subsistence on Richard Cromwell, Eldest Son of the late Lord General Cromwell; and how, and in what manner, the same may be done;

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

It passed with the Affirmative.

And the main Question being put; It was

Resolved, That it be referred to a Committee, to consider, What is fit to be done, as to the Settlement of a comfortable and honourable Subsistence on Richard Cromwell, Eldest Son of the late Lord General Cromwell; and how, and in what manner, the same may be done: Viz. to Sir Henry Vane, Mr. Pury the elder, Lord Chief-Justice St. John, Mr. Dormer, Lord Fleetwood, Mr. Scot, Mr. Robinson, Mr. Ralegh, Colonel Sydney, Mr. Holland, Sir James Harrington, Mr. Cawley, Mr. Lister, Mr. Reynolds, Colonel Pyne, Mr. Henry Smith, Mr. Lechmere, Colonel Jones, Sir Gilbert Pickering, Lord Monson, Lord Whitlock, Mr. Goodwyn, Colonel Sydenham, Colonel Martyn, Sir Arthur Hesilrig, Colonel Downes, Mr. West, Lieutenant-General Ludlow, Mr. Boone, Major Salway, Mr. Wallop, Major-General Skippon, Mr. Piggot, Colonel Sydenham, Colonel Morley: And are to meet To-morrow in the Afternoon, at Two of the Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber: And that Colonel Jones do take care of it.

Customs, &c.

A Bill for levying and bringing in the Arrears due for Customs, Excise, and Prize-Goods, was this Day read the Second time; and, upon the Question, committed to the Committee for Inspection of the Treasuries.

Colonel Downes reports, The Names of Commissioners, to be inserted into this Bill: Which are committed, with the Bill.

Ordered, That Lieutenant-General Ludlow, Mr. Robinson, Mr. Boon, Mr. Lechmer, Mr. Dormer, Mr. Nevill, Mr. Holland, Mr. Pury junior, Mr. Smith; be added to that Committee, as to this Business.