House of Commons Journal Volume 6: 31 December 1650

Die Martis, 31 Decembris, 1650.

Prayers.

Mergan's, &c. Nat.

MR. Garland reports Amendments to an Act for naturalizing Dame Anne Morgan, now Wife of Walter Strickland Esquire, Mary Skippon, Wife of Philip Skippon Esquire, and Major General of the City of London, Anne and Mary, Daughters of the said Philip and Mary, Dederick alias Richard Comes, and Anna Catherinæ Comes: Which were this Day read the First and Second time: and, upon the Question, assented unto.

And the said Bill, upon the Question, was ordered to be ingrossed.

Grant to Gen. Skippon.

A Bill for settling Manors, Lands, and Tenements, upon Major General Skippon was this Day read the First and Second time; and, upon the Question, committed to Mr. Garland, Lord Commissioner Whitelock, Mr. Bond, Mr. Lechmere, Colonel Marten, Mr. Necill, Mr. Dove, Mr. Dormer, Alderman Allen, Mr. Hill, Sir Wm. Masham, Mr. Challoner, Mr. Trenchard, Sir Henry Mildmay, Major Salwey, Colonel Bossevile, Colonel Inglesby Mr. West, Mr. Say, Mr. Hayes, Mr. Holland, Lord Howard, Mr. Carew, Sir Tho. Wroth, Mr. Hodges, Mr. James Challoner, Mr. Heveningham, Mr. Whittacre; or any Five of them: With Power to appoint Surveyors to survey the Lands, upon Oath; and give them Oath accordingly: And the said Committee are to meet this Afternoon at Two of the Clock; and so de die in diem.

Ministers of Religion.

A Bill for the present Investing of Ministers in Benefices, and better Payment of First-Fruits and Tenths, was this Day read the First time; and, upon the Question, ordered to be read the Second time on This-day-sevennight.

Surrender of Edinburgh Castle.

A Letter from the Lord General Cromwell, from Edinburgh, the Four-and-twentieth of December 1650, touching the Surrender of Edinburgh Castle; with several Papers, inclosed, of the Passages between the Lord General and the Governor of the said Castle, touching the Surrender thereof; and the Articles upon the Surrender; together with a List of the Ordnance, Arms, and Ammunition, in the Castle; were this Day read.

Resolved, That the Thirtieth Day of January next be set apart for a Day of publick Thanksgiving, to be observed through the whole Nation, for the great Morcies of God vouchsafed to this Commonwealth, both by Sea and Land, and carrying on the Affairs of this Commonwealth with so great Success; and, in particular, in the Rendition of the Castle of Edenburgh; the Defeat of the Scottish Forces in the West of Scotland, by the Parliament Forces under the Command of Major General Lambert; as also in the Discovery of the late horrid Design, here at home, to raise a new War: And that a Committee be appointed to prepare a Declaration, upon the Debate of the House; with an Act for that Purpose: Sir Henry Vane, Mr. Gurdon, Major Salwey, Major General Harrison, Mr. Millington, Mr. Challoner, Sir Peter Wentworth; or any Three of them: And this Committee are to meet this Afternoon at Two of the Clock, in Mr. Speaker's Chamber; and to bring it in on Friday Morning next.

Ordered, That Mr. Carell be, and is, desired to preach before the Parliament, at Margaret's, Westminster, on the Thirtieth of January next, being a Day set apart for Publick Thanksgiving.

Sir Henry Vane is to give Notice to Mr. Carell.

Ordered, That Mr. Vening be, and is, desired to preach before the Parliament, at Margarett's, Westminster, on the Thirtieth Day of January next, being a Day of publick Thanksgiving.

Major General Harrison is to give Notice to Mr. Vening.

Ordered, That the Letter sent from the General, from Edenburgh, dated the Four-and-twentieth of December 1650, together with the several Papers therein inclosed, together with the Articles for the Rendition of the Castle of Edenburgh, and a List of the Ordnance and Ammunition taken there, be forthwith printed and published.

Ordered, That Fifty Pounds be given to Nicholas Hill, who brought these Letters: And that he Council of State be authorized to give Order, and do take care, for Payment thereof accordingly.

Letter from Ld. General.

A Letter from the Lord General, from Edenburgh, the Seventeenth of December 1650, concerning the Inhabitants of the City of Cork, was this Day read.

Ordered, That the said Letter, with the Inclosed, directed to the General, be referred to the Council of State; to consider what is sit to be done therein; and to report their Opinion therein to the Parliament forthwith.

Letter read.

A Letter from Mr. Henry Middleton, from Norfolk, of the Six-and-twentieth of December 1650, was this Day read.

Embassy from Spain.

Mr. Speaker reports the Passages of the particular Proceedings of Don Alonso de Cardenas, Ambassador from the King of Spaine, upon Audience given him in Parliament, on the Four-and-twentieth of December Instant; viz.

The Speech of Don Alonso de Cardenas, Lord Ambassador from the King of Spaine, upon Audience given him in Parliament, in the Spanish Tongue.

A Translation of his said Speech into English, sent to Mr. Speaker by the Ambassador.

A Copy of Letters of Credence, from the said Ambassador of the King of Spaine, in Latin.

A Copy of his said Letters of Credence, from the Ambassador of the King of Spaine, in English.

A Relation of what hath passed in Veles Malaga, and Cartagena, between the Ships of Prince Rupert and those of the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England, mentioned in the said Ambassador's Speech.

A Copy of his Catholick Majesty's Letter of the Fourand-twentieth of November 1650, to the Admiral Robert Blague.

Which were all this Day read.

Ordered, That it be referred to a Committee, to prepare an Answer, upon the Debate now had in the House, to be returned to the Lord Ambassador from the King of Spaine: Sir Henry Vane, Mr. Challoner, Colonel Marten, Major Salwey, Mr. Nevill, Mr. Ralegh, Lord Lisle, Mr. Boone, Mr. Strickland, Colonel Sidney, Mr. Bond, Sir Henry Mildmay, Sir John Danvers, Sir Wm. Brereton, Mr. Love, Colonel Morley, Colonel Thompson; or any Five of them: And the said Committee are to meet, Tomorrow Morning at Eight of Clock, in the Speaker's Chamber.

And the more particular Care hereof is referred to Mr. Marten.

Sheriff of Duresme.

Ordered, That Clement Fulthorpe Esquire be, and is hereby, discharged from being Sheriff of the County of Duresme.

Ordered, That Thomas Shadford Esquire be, and is nominated and approved of to be, Sheriff of the County of Duresme for the Year ensuing: And that the Lords Commissioners for the Great Seal of England do issue forth a Commission for him to be Sheriff of the said County, accordingly.