House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 23 February 1660

Thursday, 23d February, 1659.

Persons liberated.

ORDERED, That Sir William Man, now in Prison in Dover-Castle, and Sir John Boys, Mr. Wm. Sumner, and all other Persons who stand committed only for tendering an Address or Declaration for a free Parliament, be discharged of their Imprisonment: And that all Warrants for apprehending Persons for making any such Declarations or Addresses be null and void.

Private Business.

Resolved, That no private Business be admitted, during the Sitting of this Parliament.

Militia.

Resolved, That all the Militias in the respective Counties, and the Powers given to them, be, and are hereby, revoked; and that the levying of any Men, Monies, Horses, or Arms, be forborne: And that this Vote be forthwith printed and published, and sent down into the respective Counties, Cities, and Boroughs: And that the respective Members of the several Counties do send them into the several Counties, by the Post, this Night.

Resolved, That a Committee be appointed to bring in an Act for settling the several Militias in their respective Counties; The Knights, Lord St. John, Lord Ancrome, Mr. Ralegh, Sir Roger Burgoyne, Colonel Robert Harley, Colonel John Birch, Mr. * Goodwin, Sir Richard Onslow, Sir Peter Wentworth, Colonel Dove, * Harbert, Mr. Trevor, Mr. Pryn, Colonel Mountague, Sir John Holland, Sir Gilbert Gerrard, Mr. Hay, Sir Anthony Irby, Colonel Fagg, Serjeant Glyn, Colonel Rosseter, Sir Anth. Ashley Cooper, Major Harley, Mr. Foxwist: And all that come to have Voices: And that the Lord St. John, and Colonel Birch, do bring in the said Act.

Assessments.

A Draught of a Letter, to be signed by Mr. Speaker, and sent to the Commissioners for the Assessments, to expedite the Bringing in of the Assessments, was read and approved: And, It is

Ordered, That Mr. Speaker do sign the same.

Council of State.

The House, according to former Order, proceeded in Election of the Council of State.

Mr. Speaker nominated Colonel Norton, Lord Ancrame, Colonel Hutchinson, Colonel Harley, to tell the House.

Resolved, That the Door be shut.

The Tellers report the Number of Names of the Members in the House to be 113.

Mr. Serjeant Maynard, Mr. Wrey, and Sir Gilbert Gerrard, came in after the House was told.

Two Glasses were prepared, for every Member to put in his Paper of Names of the Persons whom he would have to be of the Council of State.

The Clerk of the Parliament, and Clerk-Assistant, thereupon went to the several Members, with the Glasses; and received from every of them, respectively, a Paper of Names for the Council of State: And so both the Glasses were brought, and set upon the Table.

Mr. Speaker appoints Tellers of the Papers; Colonel Norton, Lord Ancrome, Colonel Feilder, Colonel Harley:

They report the Number of the Papers to be 114.

Mr. Gold and Sir Gilbert Pickering, put in no Papers.

And the Four Members opened each Paper in the Glass; and caused the Clerk to read each Name, distinctly, and to write down each Name, and, with a strait Line drawn against that Name, to give one Stroke of the Pen cross the said Line; and, as often as any Name was repeated, the Clerk did make another Stroke cross the said Line.

The Lord Ancrome reports from the Gentlemen appointed to tell the Papers, these Gentlemen to have the greatest Number of Voices; viz. William Peirpoint, John Crew, Colonel Rosseter, Richard Knightley, Colonel Popham, Colonel Morley, Lord Fairfax, Sir Anthony Ashley Cooper, Sir Gilbert Gerrard, Lord Chief Justice St. John, Lord Commissioner Widdrington, Sir John Evelyn of Wilts, Sir Wm. Waller, Sir Richard Onslow, Sir Wm. Lewis, Colonel Edward Mountague, Colonel Edward Harley, Richard Norton, Arthur Ansley, Denzell Hollys, Sir John Temple, Colonel Geo. Thompson, John Trevor, Sir John Holland, Sir John Potts, Colonel John Birch, Sir Harbottle Grimston, Mr. John Swinsen, Mr. John Weaver, Serjeant Maynard.

Whereupon the Question being put upon each of the aforesaid Names distinctly; It was

Resolved, That Wm. Peirpoint be one of the Council of State.

Resolved, That John Crew be one of the Council of State.

Resolved, That Colonel Rosseter be one of the Council of State.

Resolved, That Richard Knightley be one of the Council of State.

Resolved, That Colonel Popham be one of the Council of State.

Resolved, That Colonel Moreley be one of the Council of State.

Resolved, That the Lord Fairfax be one of the Council of State.

Resolved, That Sir Anthony Ashley Cooper be one of the Council of State.

Resolved, That Sir Gilbert Gerrard be one of the Council of State.

Resolved, That the Lord Chief-Justice St. John be one of the Council of State.

Resolved, That the Lord Commissioner Widdrington be one of the Council of State.

Resolved, That Sir John Evelyn of Wilts be one of the Council of State.

Resolved, That Sir Wm. Waller be one of the Council of State.

Resolved, That Sir Richard Onslow be one of the Council of State.

Resolved, That Sir Wm. Lewis be one of the Council of State.

Resolved, That Colonel Edward Mountague be one of the Council of State.

Resolved, That Colonel Edward Harley be one of the Council of State.

Resolved, That Richard Norton be one of the Council of State.

Resolved, That Arthur Ansley be one of the Council of State.

Resolved, That Denzell Hollis be one of the Council of State.

Resolved, That Sir John Temple be one of the Council of State.

Resolved, That Colonel Geo. Thompson be one of the Council of State.

Resolved, That John Trevor be one of the Council of State.

Resolved, That Sir John Holland be one of the Council of State.

Resolved, That Sir John Potts be one of the Council of State.

Resolved, That Colonel John Birch be one of the Council of State.

Resolved, That Sir Harbottle Grimston be one of the Council of State.

Resolved, That John Swinfin be one of the Council of State.

Resolved, That John Weaver be one of the Council of State.

Resolved, That Serjeant Maynard be one of the Council of State.

Ordered, That Mr. Ansley do bring in the Instructions for the Council of State, To-morrow Morning.

Loan by the City.

Sir Richard Onslow reports, That the Committee, Yesterday appointed, did, according to the Command of the Parliament, go to the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of the City of London; and acquainted them with the Votes of the Parliament: And that the City was so forward to express their Affections to the Parliament, that notwithstanding the great Decay of Trade, and Poverty of the City, they did offer to advance Sixty thousand Pounds towards the present Supply of the Army and Navy: And did therefore humbly request the Parliament to appoint some of the Aldermen of the City to receive the Assessments, that they may be reimbursed out of the said Assessments.

Address from the City.

The House being informed, That divers Aldermen of the City of London were at the Door;

They were called in: And, being come to the Bar, Mr. Alderman Fowke acquainted the House, That the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Common-Council of the City of London, being sensible of the Goodness of God, in uniting the Parliament, and restoring the Members to the Discharge of their Trust, thought it their Duty, upon their first Meeting, to give Glory to God; and had set apart Tuesday next for a Day of Thanksgiving: That they acknowledge it their Duty, to return their humble Thanks for the Favour of the Parliament, expressed in their late Votes; and the Seasonableness of it: That though they had been laid low, and not fully answered what had been expected from them; and had been looked upon as Persons disaffected to the Parliament; though they were, in some things, dissatisfied, yet they were ever Well-willers to the Parliament: He did, with Thankfulness, own the Resolutions of the Parliament, in restoring the Members that were imprisoned; and in ordering their Gates, Portcullices, Posts, and Chains, to be set up, at the publick Charge of the State: That the Confidence the Parliament put in the City, would not be misplaced, nor their Expectations frustrated: That the City did congratulate the happy Return of the Parliament: That they found some Persons for a Monarchical; some for a Commonwealth; some for No Government at all: The last they did dislike: For the other, they would not presume to direct; but should acquiesce, and submit to the Determination of Parliament: And concluded with an humble Desire, That the Militia of the City might be put into such Hands as the City might confide in: And to that End, tendered a List of Names of Commissioners for their Militia; yet with humble Submission to the Judgment of the Parliament. And also delivered a Petition: Which (after the Petitioners were withdrawn) was read; and was addressed to The Parliament of England, and intituled, "The humble Petition of the Mayor, Aldermen, and Commons of the City of London, in Common-Council assembled."

London Militia.

The aforesaid presented List of Names of the Commissioners for the Militia of the City was also read; and is as followeth; viz. The Right Honourable Tho. Alleyn, Lord Mayor; the Lord Mayor and Sheriffs for the Time being; Sir Tho. Atkin, Sir Tho. Foote, Alderman Fowke, Sir Thomas Vyner, Alderman Thompson, Alderman Robinson, Alderman Bateman, Alderman Lawrence, Alderman King, Alderman Bolton, Alderman Wale, Colonel Bromfeild, Mr. Richard Ford, Major Chamberleyn, Wm. Bateman Esquire, Wm. Vincent Esquire, John Jolly Esquire, Major Taylor, Mr. Antrobus Esquire, Deputy Steyne, Mr. Winne, Theophilus Biddulph Esquire, Captain Storey, Deputy Johnson, Mr. Sanders, Tho. Bludworth Esquire, Maximilian Beard Esquire, Major Cox, Major Eareley, Major Alsop, Deputy Lenthall, Colonel Gower, Peter Mills, Mr. Nicholas Penninge, Captain Cleggatt.

Resolved, That the Parliament doth approve of, and agree to, the List of the Names of Persons presented to be Commissioners for the Militia for the City of London.

The Petitioners being again called in; Mr. Speaker gave them this Answer:

"Gentlemen,"

"If we may measure Affections by the Number of the Persons that came to present your Petition, we may say you brought the Affections of the whole City with you: Your Expressions at the Bar intimate no less; and you may rest assured of the like from the Parliament; you acknowleging that Duty and Respect which is due from you to the Parliament. They have read your Petition; and have also already read your List; and passed it, as you desired. The Members of Parliament, who were Yesterday with the Lord Mayor and Aldermen, have made a Report of the great Readiness of the City to advance Money for the present Supply of Army and Navy. Whatever Mistakes have been formerly, it cannot but be an happy Day to all but our Enemies, in that all the Affections of the City and Parliament are joined together. You have shewed yours, as well by your Words, as Actions: And the Parliament have commanded me, for your good Affections and Actions, to give you hearty Thanks: And, in their Names, I do give you very hearty Thanks."

Thanksgiving Day.

Resolved, That Tuesday next be set apart for a Day of Thanksgiving to the Lord, to be observed by the Parliament, in Margarett's Church, Westminster, for the happy Union of the Parliament; and the Return of the Members of Parliament to the Discharge of their Trust.

Preacher appointed.

Ordered, That Mr. Calamy be desired to carry on the Work of Thanksgiving, at Margarett's Church, Westminster, before the Parliament, on Tuesday next.

And Mr. Ansley is desired to give Mr. Calamy Notice hereof.