House of Commons Journal Volume 6: 17 April 1650

Die Mercurii, 17 Aprilis, 1650.

Prayers.

Representation and Elections.

THE House this Day (according to former Order) was resolved into a Grand Committee touching an equal Representative, and regulating Elections.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

Mr. Say took the Chair.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Mr. Say reports from the said Grand Committee, That the said Committee have adjourned until This-day-sevennight; and desire the Leave of this House to sit then.

Resolved, That, on This day-sevennight, the House be resolved into a Grand Committee, upon an equal Representative, and for regulating Elections: And that Mr. Speaker do then forbear to take the Chair.

London, &c. Petition.

The House being informed, that divers Citizens of London, and others, were at the Door;

They were called in: And, being come to the Bar, they presented a Paper in form of a Petition.

And thereupon Mr. Speaker demanded their Names, and Places of Abode; and whether they had subscribed the said Petition, and would avow and justify the same: Who gave in their Names and Places of Abode: Which were as followeth; viz.

Wm. Tenant, at Cripplegate.
John Cooper, in Stepney Parish.
Charles Collins, at Bishopsgate.
William Leasenby, in Fleet-street.
Thomas Gunn, in Chesle-street.
Thomas Moulson, in Abchurch-lane.
Thomas Fletcher, in Cripplegate-without.
Thomas Bennett, a Soldier in Colonel Lilborne's Regiment.
John Thomas, in Capion-lane, in Thames-street.
James Minge, in Cripplegate a Soldier under Lord Brook's Regiment, and after in Colonel Scroope's Regiment.
John Allen, in Bishopsgate-street.

And they did all avow the Petition, and acknowledged that their Hands were subscribed thereunto.

Which Paper (after the Petitioners were withdrawn) was read; and was intituled, "The humble Petition of divers free-born People of England, inhabiting in the City of London and Westminster, the Borough of Southwark, Hamlets, and Places adjacent."

Resolved, upon the Question, by the Parliament, That the Parliament doth declare, That the Scope of the Paper, now presented to the Parliament, in form of a Petition, is to bring Scandal and Reproach upon the just and necessary Laws and Proceedings of the Parliament for the Welfare and Safety of the Commonwealth; and to weaken the present Government, thereby to give Advantage to the common Enemy, and to raise new Tumults and Troubles in the Nation.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Council of State, to examine the indirect Practices and Ways in Contriving and Setting on foot of this Petition; and the Manner how it was obtained; and by whom the same hath been done.

The Persons that presented the said Paper were again called in: And Mr. Speaker told them, That the Paper by them presented, in the Form of a Petition, hath been read, and considered of, by the House: "And I shall read unto you their Sense thereupon."

Whereupon the Clerk was commanded to read the aforesaid Votes unto them.

A Person committed.

Ordered, That the Order of the 26th of December 1649, That Philip Chetwin do continue committed during the Pleasure of this House, in Warwick Castle; and that he be removed thither by Warrant under Mr. Speaker's Hand; be forthwith effectually put in Execution.

Sutton's Hospital.

The Question being propounded, That such of the present Governors of Sutton's Hospital, who have subscribed the Engagement, or the major Part of them, do proceed on, in all the Business of the Hospital, till the Parliament take further Order;

The Question being put, That that Question be now put;

It passed with the Affirmative.

And the main Question being put;

It was Resolved, That such of the present Governors of Sutton's Hospital, who have subscribed the Engagement, or the major Part of them, do proceed on in all the Business of the Hospital, till the Parliament take further Order.

Resolved, That this Report be taken up on Thursdaynext-come three-weeks.