House of Commons Journal Volume 6: 19 March 1651

Die Mercurii, 19 Martii, 1650.

Prayers.

Worcester City.

THE Lord Grey reports from the Council of State; "That the Parliament be moved to give Order for making the City of Worcester untenable, for preventing the Danger that may come to the Commonwealth thereby."

Ordered, That it be referred to the Council of State, to take care that the City of Worcester be forthwith made untenable.

Ordered, That the Lord Chief Baron Wilde, and Mr. Lechmere do take special and effectual Care to fee the City of Worcester made untenable accordingly.

Relief of Tenants.

Ordered, That the Bill concerning Relief of Tenants against malignant Landlords, be reported This-daysevennight.

Army and Navy Supply.

The House this Day resumed the Debate upon the Report made Yesterday by Major Salwey, touching the State of the Treasury of the Commonwealth, for desraying the Charge of the Army and Navy; and other publick Business.

The Question being propounded, That a Bill be brought in for Renewing of the Assessment of One hundred and Twenty thousand Pounds by the Month, to continue until the Nine-and-twentieth Day of September next ensuing;

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 a Bill be brought in for Renewing of the Assessment of One hundred and Twenty thousand Pounds by the Month, to continue until the Nineand-twentieth Day of September next ensuing.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of the Army, to prepare and bring in the said Bill accordingly.

Resolved, That the House be resolved into a Grand Committee To-morrow Morning, to take into Consideration the rest of this Report, and the Regulating of the Treasuries, and likewise the Bills touching Issues and Receipts; and report their Opinion therein to the Parliament.

Castles and Garisons.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Council of State to consider what Castles and Garisons are sit to be demolished and disgarisoned; and how, and when; and what Walled Towns are sit to be dismantled; and report their Opinion therein to the House.

Cooke's Escape.

Sir Arthure Hesilrig reports from the Council of State; "That Thomas Cooke Esquire, being apprehended and brought before the Council; and there charged with High Treason, both upon Information received out of Scotland concerning him, and also by Testimony, taken upon Oath, at the Council; that thereupon he was commanded to withdraw: And, being committed to the Custody of the Serjeant's Man, after the usual Manner, he made from them an Escape: That the Council hath taken Order for the present Pursuit of him, as far as in them is: And, for that the Council conceives him a very dangerous Person, and one principally trusted and employed by the Enemies of this Commonwealth; it is therefore the Opinion of this Council, That it be offered to the Parliament, that they would publish a Proclamation for his Apprehansion: and propound a Reward to such as shall bring him in; and set a Penalty upon those who shall willingly receive harbour, or conceal, him: And that they will also give some Order concerning his Estate."

Resolved, That a Declaration be made for Apprehending of Thomas Cooke Esquire; who, being apprehended for Treason, hath made an Escape; and making all Persons, who shall willingly receive, harbour, or conceal, him, liable to the Penalty of Treason, and propounding a Reward to such as shall bring him in: And that the Council of State do prepare the Declaration, and bring it in To-morrow Morning.

The Question being propounded, That the Reward, to such Person or Persons as shall discover and bring in the said Thomas Cooke, be Five hundred Pounds;

And the Question being put, That that Question be now put;

It passed with the Affirmative.

And the main Question being put;

It was Resolved, by the Parliament, That the Reward, to such Person or Persons as shall discover and bring in Thomas Cooke Esquire, be Five hundred Pounds.

Removing Delinquents.

An Act for continuing an Act, intituled, An Act for Removing of all Papists, and all Officers and Soldiers of Fortune, and divers other Delinquents, from London and Westminster, and consining them within Five Miles of their Dwellings; and for Encouragement of such as shall discover Priests and Jesuits, their Receivers and Abettors.

Which was this Day read the First time.

Resolved, That the said Act be now read the Second time.

Resolved, That the Time for the Continuance of the said Act be, until the First of November 1651.

The Question being put, That this Act be Committed;

It passed with the Negative.

The Question being put, That this Act be Ingrossed;

It passed with the Negative.

And the said Act, being put to the Question, passed. And

It is Ordered, That the said Act be forthwith printed and published.