House of Commons Journal Volume 6: 1 March 1650

Die Veneris, 1 Martii, 1649.

Prayers.

Preachers thanked.

ORDERED, by the Parliament, That the Thanks of this House be given to Mr. Powell, for his great Pains taken in his Sermon preached Yesterday before the Parliament, at Margarett's Westminster, being a Day set apart for Publick Humiliation: And that he be desired to print his Sermon: And that he have the like Privilege in Printing, as others in like Cases have usually had.

Ordered, That Colonel Harrison do give him the Thanks of this House accordingly.

Ordered, by the Parliament, That the Thanks of this House be given to Mr. Owen, for his great Pains taken in his Sermon preached Yesterday before the Parliament, at Margarett's, Westminster, being a Day set apart for Publick Humiliation: And that he be desired to print his Sermon: And that he have the like Privilege in Printing, as others in like Cases have usually had.

Ordered, That Sir William Masham do give the Thanks of this House to Mr. Owen accordingly.

Gospel in Northern Counties.

Sir Arthur Heslerigg reports Amendments to the Act for Propagation of the Gospel in the Four Northern Counties: Which were this Day read the First and Second time; and, upon the Question, assented unto.

Resolved, &c. That this Act continue for Three Years, from the First Day of March 1649, and no longer.

The Question being propounded, That this Bill be ingrossed;

The House was divided.

The Noes went forth.

So it passed with the Negative.

Resolved, That this Act pass as a Law.

Scandalous Publication.

A Letter from the Mayor of Sarum, dated 27 Februarii 1649, with a Book inclosed, intituled, "The Doctrine of the Fourth Commandment deformed by Popery, reformed and restored to its primitive Purity," &c.: Which was this Day read.

Ordered, That Thanks be given to the Mayor of Sarum, for his Care in seizing the said Books: And that he be required to keep them until further Order.

And Mr. Dove is to prepare a Letter: And Mr. Speaker is required to sign the same.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of plundered Ministers, to peruse the said Book; and state the Matter of Fact; and report it to the House on Thisday-sevennight: And this Committee have Power to send for Persons, Papers, and Witnesses.

Observation of Lord's Day.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of plundered Ministers, to consider of all the Acts and Ordinances made touching the Lord's Day; and, wherein they shall find the same to be defective, to bring in an Act for the better and more due Observation thereof; and to report the same to the House on This-day-sevennight.

Petition to be read.

Ordered, That the Petition of sundry Frenchmen, Inhabitants in Westminster, be read on This-day-sevennight, the first Business.

Navy Appointments.

Colonel Wawton reports a List of the Captains to command the Parliament Ships, appointed for the next Service, &c.: Which was this Day read.

Ordered, That the Debate on this Report be taken up To-morrow Morning, the first Business.

Gospel in Ireland.

Lord Commissioner Whitelock reports Amendments to a Bill for Advancement of the Gospel, and Learning, in Ireland: Which were twice read; and, upon the Question, agreed unto; and ordered to be ingrossed, and brought in on This-day-sevennight.

Poor Laws.

Ordered, That it be referred to a Committee, to peruse all former Laws made touching the Poor; and to reduce them into one Body, if it may be; and to consider what other effectual Ways may be taken for setting them on Work throughout the Commonwealth, and preventing the Increase of Poor; and report the same to the House: Viz. unto Mr. John Corbett, Sir Henry Vane, Mr. Weaver, Mr. * Salwey, Mr. Holland, Mr. Scott, Lord Commissioner Whitelock, Lord Commissioner Lisle, Colonel Downes, Mr. Aldworth, Colonel * Jones, Mr. Leman, Sir James Harrington, Mr. Raleigh, Major General Skippon; or any Five of them: And all that come to have Voices: And they are to meet To-morrow in the Exchequer Chamber; and to report on This-daysevennight: And the special Care hereof is referred to Sir James Harrington, Mr. John Corbett, and Colonel Jones.

Gospel in Ireland.

Ordered, That the Committee that hath Power to take Propositions for the best Way of propagating the Gospel throughout this Commonwealth, shall also have Power to receive, and consider of, such Propositions as shall be offered to them, for the better propagating and preaching the Gospel in Ireland; and to report it to the House: And all that come are to have Voices.

Dr. Twisse's Children.

Ordered, That the One thousand Pounds, formerly given to the Children of Dr. Twisse, and ordered to be paid out of the Moiety of the Grand Excise, in Course, be paid out of the Sequestrations or Fines of such Delinquents as they shall discover, at Haberdashers Hall: And that the Committee of Haberdashers Hall be authorized and required to give Order and Warrant for the Payment thereof accordingly: And that the Acquittance and Acquittances of the said Children, their Assignee or Assigns, for Receipt thereof, or any Part thereof, shall be a sufficient Discharge to the said Committee, or to any that shall pay the same.

Grant to General Skippon.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Commissioners of Goldsmiths Hall, who are hereby authorized and required, to pay, unto Major General Philip Skippon, the Sum of One thousand Pounds, in Course, out of the first Monies which shall come into that Committee, out of the Profits of the Lands formerly appointed to the Prince Elector, as soon as the same shall come in, in Discharge of the One thousand Pounds formerly settled on him by Act of Parliament, to be paid out of a Mortgage made by Wolston Paston, of the Manor of Chambury Hall in the County of Norfolk: And that the Acquittance or Acquittances of the said Major General Skippon, his Assignee or Assigns, shall be a sufficient Discharge to the Commissioners of Goldsmiths Hall, or to any that shall pay the same.

Ordered, That the Committee appointed to bring in a Bill for settling Lands of One thousand Pounds per Annum, on Major General Philip Skippon, be revived, and required to sit this Afternoon; and so de die in diem; and to bring in the Bill To-morrow-sevennight.

Grant to General Cromwell.

Ordered, That the Bill concerning the Lands formerly settled on the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, be read the Second time on Monday Morning next, the First Business.

Business to be done.

Ordered, That the former Order for the publick Business only to be taken up in the House, be continued for a Month longer; and that no private Business be taken up for that Time.