House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 5 October 1659

Wednesday, October the 5th, 1659.

Prayers.

Middleton's &c. Petitions.

A PETITION, intituled, "The humble Petition of Thomas Middleton, eldest Son of Sir Thomas Middleton;" another Petition, intituled, "The humble Petition of Robert Broughton Esquire;" and another Petition, intituled, "The humble Petition of Richard Lloyd, John Doulben, Richard Dutton, John Edwards, Thomas Brereton, William Brereton, Foulk Lloyd, Richard Middleton, and John Edwards senior;" were this Day read.

Resolved, &c. That these several Petitions, together with Two other Petitions; the one, intituled, "The humble Petition of Richard Middleton, Charles Middleton, and Tymothy Middleton," younger Sons of Sir Thomas Middleton;" and another, intituled, "The humble Petition of Richard Lloyd, John Doulben, Richard Dutton, John Edwards, Thomas Brereton, William Brereton, Foulk Lloyd, Richard Middleton, John Edwards senior, and Edmond Manwaring;" be taken into Consideration on Tuesday next: And that no Advantage be taken to the Prejudice of the Persons of any the Petitioners, till the Parliament hath delivered their Resolutions concerning them.

Mayor of Plymouth.

Resolved, &c. That the Mayor of Plymouth, and his Case, be referred to the Council of State, to do and order therein, as they shall think fit.

Scotch Commissioners.

Mr. Scott also reports from the Council of State, Several Instructions for Commissioners to be appointed for Manageing of the Affairs of Scotland: . . . . were this Day read.

Courts of Justice in Ireland.

Mr. Scott also reports from the Council of State, That it be humbly offered to the Parliament, How that, by a Letter from their Commissioners in Ireland, to the Council of State, dated the 17th August last, the Council are informed, That a very great Detriment accrues to the Publick Revenue, and to every Man's private Concernment there, for want of Courts of Justice; by reason whereof, no Suits nor Action can be had in any Case where the Commonwealth, or any private Person, is concerned; nor any Persons now in Gaol for Murders, or other Felonies, capable of Tryal; nor any Justices of Peace, nor Sheriffs, capable to act upon any other Foundation, than by Virtue of the late Act for continuing Sheriffs and Justices: And that therefore the Parliament will be pleased to make Provision for a speedy Erecting of Courts of Justice in Ireland; and give Order, that a great Seal and Seals, for the said respective Courts, may be made; and the Seals, formerly used in that Behalf, may be broken; And that the Parliament will give Order for a Seal to be made and used for such Publick Affairs as require a Seal, and are to be transacted immediately by the Commissioners of Parliament in Ireland.

Resolved, &c. That it be referred to the Council of State, to consider of what may be fit for the Settling of Courts of Justice in Ireland; and to report their Opinion therein to the House.

Letter to Gen. Monck.

Ordered, That a Letter be prepared, to be signed by Mr. Speaker, to General Monck in Scotland; taking Notice of the Parliament's good Acceptance of his Faithfulness, and Expressions of the same, by his Letters, and otherwise: And that the Lord Whitlock be desired to prepare a Letter to that Purpose.

Irish and Scotch Seals.

Resolved, &c. That all the Publick Seals, for the Nations of Ireland and Scotland, do bear the same Arms with the Publick Seals of England; with this Alteration, in point of Order, that, in the Seals of Ireland, there be, first, the Arms of England; then those of Ireland; then those of Scotland: And that, in the Seals of Scotland, there be, first, the Arms of England; then those of Scotland, and next those of Ireland.

Resolved, &c. That it be referred to the Council of State to prepare a Model for the Great Seal, and other Publick Seals, for Scotland and Ireland.

Resolved, &c. That the Circumscriptions for the Great Seal for the Nation of Ireland be, "The Great Seal for Ireland;" and that the Circumscription for the Great Seal for the Nation of Scotland be, "The Great Seal for Scotland;" and the like for the Seals for their Courts of Justice respectively.

Resolved, &c. That it be referred to such of the Council of State as are Members of Parliament, to consider of the Names of such Persons as may be thought fit to be Commissioners for the Managing of the Affairs of Scotland; and to be Judges for the several Courts in Scotland and Ireland; and to report such Names; and what Numbers they conceive proportionable for every Place respectively, unto the House.

Irish Adventurers.

Ordered, That the Bill ingrossed, for settling Lands on Adventurers and Creditors in Ireland, be read on this Day Sevennight.

Ordered, That the several Petitions of the Countess of Thumond, Robert Williams, Captain Zachary's Executor, and of Sir Thomas Soames, be referred to the Committee to whom the Bill for Ireland is referred, to take Consideration of them; notwithstanding any former Order to the contrary; and to report to the House: And that Committee to have Liberty to sit in the mean time.

Petition from Officers.

The House being informed, That some Officers of the Army were at the Door;

They were called in: And Major-General Desborough, in the Name of the rest, at the Bar of the House, said,

"Mr. Speaker,"

"I am ordered, by the General Council of the Army, with the rest of these Gentlemen, to wait upon you, to present unto you their humble Representation and Petition; and they humbly desire, that you would accept it, as that which proceeds from the Hearts of those who desire nothing more than that the Lord would strengthen your Hearts in carrying on that good Work of Settling these Nations upon the Foundation of a free Commonwealth, whereby the Religious and Civil Liberties of the good People thereof may be preserved and secured."

Ordered, That this Petition and Representation, and the Particulars thereof, be taken into further Consideration on Saturday next.

The Officers being called in again, Mr. Speaker, by the Direction of the House, gave them this Answer;

"Gentlemen,"

"The Parliament hath read your Representation and Petition; and, taking Notice of the good Expressions of your Affections and Faithfulness to this Parliament and Commonwealth, which are therein, have commanded me to return you the Thanks of the House: And, in their Name, I give you Thanks accordingly."

"I am likewise commanded to let you know that the Parliament hath already taken into Consideration the Relief of the poor Widows, Orphans, and maimed Soldiers, to whom Pensions have been formerly allowed, and a Way for Satisfaction of the Arrears due to the Officers and Soldiers; and shall endeavour to bring the same to speedy Effect. The other Matters of your Petition are appointed to be taken, on Saturday next, into Consideration."

Invalid Soldiers, &c.

A Certificate from the Trustees and Contractors at Worcester-House, touching the maimed Soldiers, Widows, and Orphans at the Savoy and Ely-House, was this Day read.

Resolved, &c. That the Power of the said Trustees and Contractors, in reference to the maimed Soldiers, &c. be and is hereby continued for Three Months longer: And that it be referred to Lieutenant-General Fleetwood to confer with the said Trustees, or such others as he shall think fit; and to take care, that such of the said maimed Soldiers, as the said Trustees shall from time to time nominate, be disposed in Garisons, for the Ease of the publick Charge of the Commonwealth.

Resolved, &c. That the Trustees and Contractors at Worcester-House have Power to dispose of such others of the maimed Soldiers, and others, at the Savoy and Ely-House, as are not fit to be placed in Garisons, in such other Hospitals of this Commonwealth where they may be comfortably provided for, as they shall think fittest for the further Ease of the Publick Charge. And that they confer with the Governor of the Hospital under the Dispose of the Corporation for the Poor, about the Placing and Settling of the Orphans in the Savoy and Ely-house; and take care for the Settling of them accordingly.

Ordered, That Mr. West, Mr. Leman, Mr. Lister, Mr. Holland, Mr. Wilde, Colonel Bennet, and Alderman Pennington, be added to the Committee for Hospitals.

Resolved, &c. That such Monies as come next in upon Discoveries, to the Committee for Inspections, shall be disposed of towards the Payment of the Six Weeks Pay ordered to the maimed Soldiers and Widows at Ely-House and the Savoy.

Resolved, &c. That it be referred to the Committee of Inspections, to confer with Mr. Freeberry; and to take care that the Monies in his Hands, in the Right of a Delinquent, be forthwith brought in to the Publick Treasury.

The House adjourned till Friday next.