House of Commons Journal Volume 6: 26 June 1650

Die Mercurii, 26 Junii, 1650.

Prayers.

Door shut.

RESOLVED, That the Door be shut.

Resolved, That the Room without be cleared.

Resolved, That all the Members of Parliament be called out of Westminster Hall.

Expedition into Scotland.

The Lord Commissioner Whitelock reports from the Council of State, That, in pursuance of the Order of Parliament of the Ninth of April last, the Council hath put an Army in Readiness, and have given them Order to march Northward; of which they have formerly given the House an Account: And that, upon mature Consideration of what is required by the said Order, it is the Opinion of this Council, That they cannot prevent an Invasion from Scotland, but by the Marching of an Army into that Kingdom: The Justice and Necessity of which Expedition is set forth in a Declaration, a Draught whereof is prepared to be offered to the Consideration of the Parliament.-

Leave of Absence.

Resolved, That Sir Henry Vane senior have Leave to go out of the House.

Expedition into Scotland.

A Declaration setting forth the Justice and Necessity of an Expedition into Scotland, was this Day read the First and Second Time.

Resolved, upon the Question, nemine contradicente, That it is just for the Army of England to enter into Scotland.

Resolved, upon the Question, nemine contradicente, That it is necessary for the Army of England to enter into Scotland.

Resolved, upon the Question, nemine contradicente, That the Army do march into Scotland forthwith.

The said Declaration was afterwards read by Parts, and every Part being put to the Question, was, with some Amendments at the Table, assented unto, nemine contradicente.

Resolved, That the last Paper of the Scotts Commissioners, dated the Twenty-fourth of February 1648, subscribed Lothian, Jo. Chiesley, Wm. Glendoning; the Parliament's Declaration thereupon, the Letter of the Parliament of England to the Parliament of Scotland, dated at Westminster, the Three-and-twentieth of May, and the Answer of the Parliament of Scotland, from Edenburgh, 26 Junii 1649; be printed and published, together with this Declaration, at the End of this Declaration.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Council of State, to see this Declaration forthwith printed and published.

Ordered, That it be also referred to the Council of State, to consider whether the Declaration of the Parliament of England, &c. printed 14 Junii 1649, be sit to be printed, together with this Declaration; and to give Order therein accordingly.

Resolved, That it be referred to the Council of State, to see the Vote touching the speedy March of the Army into Scotland, be forthwith put in Execution.

Resolved, That it be referred to the Council of State, and that they be authorized and enjoined to take care to prevent and make Stop of all Correspondency, Intelligence, Traffick or Commerce, between England and Scotland, as they shall see Cause.

Ld. Fairefax.

The Earl of Pembrok reports from the Committee appointed to attend the General with the Vote of the House Yesterday, That the Committee did, accordingly, attend the General: and read unto him the Vote: And that his Lordship did return his humble Thanks to the Parliament for their great Favour and Respects to him.

The House being informed, That Mr. Rushworth, Secretary to the Lord General, was at the Door:

He was called in: And, being come to the Bar, he acquainted Mr. Speaker, That the Lord General had commanded him to present, from him, unto the Parliament, the last Commission he received from the Parliament, and likewise his first Commission, if the Parliament please to command it: And accordingly the last Commission was delivered in: And Mr. Rushworth being withdrawn;

It was Resolved, That Mr. Speaker do command Mr. Rushworth likewise to deliver in the Lord General's first Commission.

Mr. Rushworth being again called in; Mr. Speaker commanded him, from the House, to deliver up the Lord General's first Commission.

Which he delivered in accordingly.

An Act for repealing the Ordinance and Act of Parliament for constituting Thomas Lord Fairefax Captain General and Commander in Chief of all the Forces raised by Authority of Parliament, and for continuing the Commissions granted by the said Lord Fairfax in Force, was this Day read the First and Second time; and after some Amendments at the Table, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be forthwith printed and published.

Gen. Cromwell to be Commander in Chief.

Resolved, That Oliver Cromwell Esquire be constituted Captain General and Commander in Chief of all the Forces raised, and to be raised, by Authority of Parliament, within the Commonwealth of England.

An Act for ordaining and appointing Oliver Cromwell Captain General and Commander in Chief of all the Forces raised and to be raised, within the Commonwealth of England, was this Day read the First and Second time; and, upon the Question, passed.

Ordered, That the Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal do issue forth a Certiorari to the Clerk of the Parliament, to certify the Act for constituting Oliver Cromwell Esquire Captain General and Commander in Chief of the Forces raised, and to be raised, by Authority of Parliament, within the Commonwealth of England, into the Court of Chancery: And the Lords Commissioners for the Great Seal are hereby authorized and required to pass an Exemplification of the said Act for the General, under the Great Seal of England.

Government of Ireland.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Council of State, to consider how the Government of Ireland, and the Affairs there, may be managed and carried on to the best Advantage of the Commonwealth, the Parliament having appointed the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland Captain General of the Forces of England; and forthwith to report their Opinion to the House.