House of Commons Journal Volume 8: 21 May 1661

Martis, 21 Maii, 13 Car.

Prayers.

Members taking Oaths.

ORDERED, That the former Order be revived to the Members of this House, who were appointed Commissioners by the Lord High Steward to administer the Oaths of Supremacy and Allegiance, or any Three or more of them, to meet this Day in the Speaker's Chamber, to the end that they, being attended by the Clerks with the Book of Returns, and the Notes of the Names of such Members as have taken the said Oaths, may compare the same, and give an Account to this House, so soon as they can, whether any Members do sit who have not taken the said Oaths; to which Purpose they are to sit from Day to Day, till that Business be completed.

Milward's Estate.

The Petition of William Milward Esquire, and Robert Milward his Brother, was this Day read.

A Bill to enable the Sale of the Lands of the said William Milward, for Payment of some of his Debts, was this Day read the First time.

Resolved, That this Bill be read again the Second time on this Day Sevennight: And all Persons concerned are to have Notice against that Time.

Hunt's Estate.

A Bill to enable the Sale of some of the Lands of Thomas Hunt Esquire, and John Hunt Gentleman, for Payment of their Debts, was this Day read.

Resolved, That this Bill be read again the Second time on this Day Sevennight.

Solemn League and Covenant.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir William Child and Dr. Wolrich;

The said Messengers being brought in, delivered this Message;

Mr. Speaker, In answer to the Message sent Yesterday to the Lords, for burning the Covenant, the Lords have sent back this Order.

The Contents of which Order were as followeth:

Die Lunæ, 20 Maii, 1661.

"The Lords, in Parliament assembled, having considered of a Paper, sent unto them from the House of Commons, for burning of an Instrument or Writing, called, The Solemn League and Covenant, by the Hands of the common Hangman, do order, that the Instrument or Writing, called, The Solemn League and Covenant, be burned by the Hand of the common Hangman, in the New Palace at Westminster, in Cheapside, and before the Old Exchange, on Wednesday the Twoand-twentieth of this Instant May; and that the said Covenant be forthwith taken off the Records in the House of Peers, and in all other Courts and Places where the same is recorded; and that all Copies thereof be taken down out of all Churches, Chapels, and other publick Places in England and Wales, and the Town of Barwick upon Tweede, where the same are set up."

"Ordered, That this Order be forthwith printed, and published."

Haslemere Return amended.

The Bailiff of Haslemere being brought, by the Serjeant at Arms, to the Table of this House; and the Clerk of the Crown's Deputy attending with the Returns made for the said Borough of Haslemore; the Return of the Burgesses was taken off the File; and the Return of the Bailiff was amended, by the rasing out of the Names of Mr. Chute and Master Gresham, and by inserting of the Names of Mr. Evelin and Master Morris.

Privilege- a Person discharged.

And the said Bailiff being then taken to the Bar of this House, Mr. Speaker did reprove him for his Offence; and did let him know, that he was worthy of severe Punishment, and liable to be sued at Law for his false Return:

And the said Bailiff, appearing to be a very ignorant Person, and craving the Mercy of this House, was commanded to withdraw.

And the said Bailiff, being again brought in to the Bar of this House by the Serjeant at Arms, and humbly craving the Mercy and Pardon of this House upon his Knees;

Ordered, That he be discharged from the Custody of the Serjeant at Arms, paying his Fees.

Securing the King's Person, &c.

The Proviso, to be added to the Bill for securing and preserving his Majesty's Person and Government against traiterous and seditious Practices, and Attempts, which was directed to be penned by Mr. Serjeant Maynard, Mr. Solicitor General, Mr. Serjeant Charleton, Mr. Serjeant Keeling, and Mr. Swinfen, was this Day brought in, and read the First time.

Resolved, That the said Proviso be read the Second time.

Which being done accordingly;

Resolved upon the Question, That the same should be read the Third time.

Upon which Reading thereof;

Resolved, That the Word "and," before the Words "Bodies Politick," should be struck out in the said Proviso.

Which being done at the Table accordingly;

Resolved, upon the Question, That the said Proviso be annexed and made Part of the said Bill.

And the same was annexed accordingly.

And Two other Provisoes being then brought in to be added to the said Bill, the same were severally thrice read; and Resolved, upon the Question, to be both annexed, and made Part of the said Bill.

Which was done accordingly.

And a Question being put, That the Title of the said Bill should be, An Act for securing and preserving his Majesty's Person and Government against treasonable and seditious Practices and Attempts;

The same passed in the Affirmative, that this should be the Title of the said Bill.

And the Question being then put, That the said Bill for securing and preserving his Majesty's Person and Government against traiterous and seditious Practices and Attempts, with the said Three Provisoes, which had been every of them thrice read, and annexed, and made Part of the said Bill, should pass;

Resolved, That the said Bill, with the said Provisoes added thereunto, and made Part thereof, as aforesaid, should pass: And

Ordered, That Sir Heneage Finch, his Majesty's Solicitor General, accompanied by the Members of this House, do carry up the said Bill to the Lords.

Which was done accordingly.

Restoring Loyalists.

A Bill for the Indemnity of his Majesty's faithful Subjects, and to restore them to their Estates wrongfully taken from them, was this Day read the First time:

Ordered, That this Bill be taken into Consideration in the first Place To-morrow Morning.

Silk-dying.

A Bill for preventing Abuses in dying Silk was this Day read the First time, and laid aside: And

Ordered, That the Committee of Trade do prepare and bring in a Bill to prevent Abuses and Miscarriages in dying of Silk.

Public Revenue.

The House taking into Consideration the great Things his Sacred Majesty hath been pleased to do for his People, which deserved great Acknowledgments; and that although a Revenue was appointed, it was to be feared the same was not sufficient:

Resolved, That the Business touching his Sacred Majesty's Revenue, and his present Supply, be resumed, and taken into Consideration in the first Place To-morrow Morning.

Anniversary of Restoration.

Ordered, That the Anniversary Commemoration of his Majesty's Birth and Restoration on the Twenty-ninth Day of this Instant May, be observed, by the Members of this House, in St. Margaret's Church in Westminster; and that Dr. Peirce be desired then to preach; whereof his Majesty's Solicitor General is desired to give him notice: And the Members of this House are here to meet at Nine of the Clock that Day, to accompany Mr. Speaker to Church to Divine Service, and to hear the Sermon.

Militia.

The Bill for ordering the Forces in the several Counties of this Kingdom, was this Day read the Second time.

Resolved, That the Debate of the Matter of the said Bill be resumed, and taken into further Consideration To-morrow Morning, at Ten of the Clock.

Privilege.

Mr. George Weld, one of the Members of this House, making Complaint of an Abuse which he received from one Skinner, an Officer belonging to the Lords, when he went up to the Conference Yesterday;

Ordered, That the said Mr. Weld do reduce into Writing, under his Hand, the Manner of the said Abuse done to him, that Complaint may be made thereof to the Lords, to the End the Offender may be punished.

And then the House adjourned till Eight of the Clock To-morrow Morning.