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  1. Diaries of Thomas Burton, Esq
  2. Diary of Thomas Burton Esq: Volume 1, July 1653 - April 1657
  3. The Diary of Thomas Burton: 13 January 1656-7

The Diary of Thomas Burton: 13 January 1656-7

Pages 344-345

Diary of Thomas Burton Esq: Volume 1, July 1653 - April 1657. Originally published by H Colburn, London, 1828.

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In this section

Tuesday, January 13, 1656–7.

This day the House sat again in a Grand Committee upon the Bill for the Excise, and proceeded till one.

Resolved, that the Parliament shall name commissioners for the excise, as it seems it always was in the customs, tonnage, and poundage.

Mr. Robinson said, this was subsidium, an aid, a tax upon the people, wherein the Protector had no negative.

The House divided. The Yeas 37. The Noes 29. Colonel White, Teller.

In the Speaker's chamber sat the Committee for high-ways, where the Surveyor-general, an old minister, (fn. 1) was examined as to all his mysteries in draining and mending highways, for which it seems he has a patent from his Highness: suspended to do any thing in it, a Parliament being so near to be called. The gentleman seems to deny himself much in it, and that he respects not gain, but for the common good. He would gratis discover his art, which, it seems, is experienced upon Sir — Penruddock's highways in the way to HamptonCourt.

In the middle room sat the Committee for the borders. (fn. 2) Mr. Fenwick in the chair; we dispatched it, and ordered Mr. Downing to report it.

In the duchy chamber sat the Committee of trade, where (if possible) Mr. Lloyd and Sir Christopher Pack would have had unvoted what was voted the 6th of January (fn. 3) for a free trade, and seemed to dispute the power of that Committee to present a Bill to the House in a matter of that consequence; till they first acquainted them with the vote that passed.

With much ado, it was resolved, that a Committee be appointed to bring in a Bill for a free trade, &c.

The business of Aulnegers, came into examination, and their mala-administration at Colchester, upon a petition thence. Council was there, but I could not stay the result.

In the Exchequer chamber sat the Committee for fens, Mr. Pedley.

(Whitehall, January 13.)

This day James Nayler was conveyed from Newgate to Bristol, there to receive the remainder of his sentence. (fn. 4)

Footnotes

  • 1. See supra, p. 294.
  • 2. See supra, p. 12, note.*
  • 3. See supra, p. 308.
  • 4. The divines (see supra, p. 183.) as might have been expected, effected nothing in their conferences with this harmless visionary, a subject for Christian compassion from a professedly Christian legislature, rather than for cruel punishment. The Parliament, therefore, as appears by the following document, proceeded again to assert their jurisdiction, notwithstanding the late embarrassing interference of the Protector:— "From Bristol, Saturday, January 17th. "This day the order of Parliament was executed here upon James Nayler, in manner as is described by the following order;— "Mr. Roach, cause James Nayler to ride in at Lamford's gate, upon a horse, bare-ridged, with his face backward, from thence along Wine Street, to the Tolzey; thence, down High Street, over the Bridge, and out of Rockley Gate; there let him alight, and bring him into St. Thomas's Street, and cause him to be stripped, and made fast to the cart-horse; and there, in the market, first whipped; from thence, to the foot of the bridge, there whipped; thence to the end of the bridge, there whipped; thence to the middle of High Street, there whipped; thence, to the Tolzey, there whipped; thence, to the middle of Broad Street, there whipped; and thence, turn into Tailor's Hall; thence release him from the cart-horse, and let him put on his clothes, and carry, him from thence to Newgate, by Tower Lane, the back way." "There did ride before him, bare-headed, Michael Stamper, singing most part of the way, and several other friends, men and women; the men went bare-headed by him, and Robert Rich, (late merchant of London) rode by him, bare-headed and singing, till he came to Redcliffe Gate, and there the magistrates sent their officers, and brought him back on horseback to the Tolzey, all which way he rode, where the magistrates were met, singing very loud."—Mercurius Politicus, No. 34. January 15—22.