House of Commons Journal Volume 6: 6 December 1648

Die Mercurii, 6 Decembris, 1648.

PRAYERS.

Secluded Members.

THE House, being informed That divers Members, coming to attend the House, were staid, and carried to the Queen's Court, or Court of Wards, commanded the Serjeant to go to them to require them to attend the House.

Mr. Serjeant brings Answer, That he signified to the Members in the Queen's Court; viz. That it was the Pleasure of the House, That they should forthwith come and attend the House.

The Members seemed willing to consent: But an Officer there gave him this Answer:

"That he could not suffer them to come, till he had received his Orders: Which he had sent for."

Tumults in the City.

Resolved, &c. That Major General Skippon do forthwith go into the City, to employ his best Endeavours to appease any Tumults that may happen there.

Committee to attend the General.

Ordered, That the Committee, appointed to go Yesterday to the General, do presently go upon that Employment: And that the said Committee, or any Three of them, be a Quorum; and have Power to act upon That Service: And that Sir Thomas Widdrington be desired to go as one.

Message from the General.

The House being informed, That there was a Message at the Door, from the General;

It is Resolved, &c. That the Messengers from the General be called in.

And they were called in: And Lieutenant Colonel Axtell informed the House, That he, and the rest of the Gentlemen with him, were commanded, by the General and General Council of the Army, to acquaint them, That the General had somewhat to present unto you; which will be ready for your present View.

Resolved, &c. That Lieutenant Colonel Axtell, and the rest of the Gentlemen, employed from the General, be again called in: And that Mr. Speaker do desire them to acquaint the House again with their Message; and that if they have any thing to deliver, that the House will be ready to receive it.

Lieutenant Colonel Axtell, and the other Gentlemen, were again called in; and do acquaint the House, That his Excellency the Lord General, and the General Council of Officers, had commanded them to acquaint this House, That they had something to deliver to this House, this Morning, of very high Concernment; which will be presently ready for their View.

Mr. Speaker accordingly did return them Answer, That the House will be ready to receive it, and consider of it.

Mr. Pierrepont reports, that himself, and some others of the Committee, had been with the General last Night: That the Officers not being then with him, he desired them to come To-morrow Morning: That, accordingly, divers of the Committee did now attend the General: That, by Word of Mouth, he did offer something in Answer to the Order: That the Committee did desire to have the Answer in Writing; and did insist to have it in Writing: And then they were desired to stay a little. Which they thinking might be some Half an Hour, at least, thought it fit to come to attend the House in the mean time, to give you an Account: And that, if the House commanded them, they would give an Account of what passed, by Word of Mouth: And so much they had signified to the General.

The Officers from the General were called in:

And Colonel Whaley acquainted the House, That they were commanded by his Excellency the Lord General, and the General Council of the Officers, to present something to this House.

The which (the Officers being withdrawn) was read; and was directed, "To the honourable the Commons of England, in Parliament assembled;" and intituled, "The humble Proposals and Desires of his Excellency the Lord Fairfax, and the General Council of Officers, December the 6th, 1648, in order to a speedy Prosecution of Justice, and the Settlement formerly propounded by them; and, by the Appointment of his Excellency the Lord Fairefax, Lord General, and his General Council of Officers, December the 6th, 1648, signed "Jo. Rushworth."

Secluded Members.

Resolved, &c. That the Committee do confer with the General, for the Discharge of the Members.