House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 22 December 1654

Friday, the 22d of December, 1654.

Prayers.

Settling the Government.

MR. Francis Bacon reports from the Committee, to whom it was referred to prepare a Bill upon the Votes passed touching the Government, A Bill prepared upon the said Votes: Which was this Day read the First time.

Resolved, That this Bill be read the Second time Tomorrow Morning.

Court of Wards.

A Bill for taking away the Court of Wards was this Day read the Second time.

A Proviso was tendered to the Bill, in these Words; "Provided that this Act, or any thing therein contained, shall not extend to question, annul, impeach, or make void, any Estate of Inheritance, Grant, Lease, Term for Years, or Interest, of or in any Manors, Messuages, Lands, Tenements, or Hereditaments, granted, leased, vested, or settled in any Person or Persons whatsoever, by the Court of Wards and Liveries, by any Decree, Sentence, Grant, Lease, or Order, decreed, made, given, or ordered by the said Court, before the said 24th Day of February 1645, whereupon Possession hath been had and enjoyed, accordingly; but that all and every such Estate, Grant, Lease, Term and Interest, shall be, are, and shall continue as good, firm, and effectual in the Law, to all Intents and Purposes, to the said respective Person and Persons, Grantees, and Lessees, their Heirs, Executors, Administrators and Assigns, respectively, as if this Act had not been had or made; this Act, or any other Act, Order, or Ordinance, to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding:" Which was read the First time.

The Question being put, That this Proviso be read the Second time.

It passed with the Negative.

The Question being put, That this Bill be committed;

It passed with the Negative.

Resolved, That this Bill be ingrossed.

Post Meridiem.

Resolved,

Counsel assigned.

THAT Doctor Walker be, and is hereby assigned to be, of Counsel for the Commonwealth, in the Business concerning the Lord Craven.

Court of Wards.

Several Petitions of divers Officers of the late Court of Wards were presented to the House.

And the Question being put, That these Petitions be now read;

It passed with the Negative.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee, to whom the Act for taking away the Court of Wards and Liveries was referred, to consider how the Records, Deeds, Writings, and Evidences belonging to the late Court of Wards, remaining in the said Court, may be best disposed of for the Benefit of this Commonwealth; and what Place is most convenient to lay the same in; and to examine what Monies of other Persons are remaining in the Hands of Hugh Audley Esquire, which were deposited in his Hands, as Clerk of the said Court; and to whom the said Monies do belong; and to report the same, with their Opinions therein, to the House.

Court of Wards in Ireland.

An Act for taking away of the Court of Wards, and all Tenures in Capite, in Ireland, was this . . . read the First time.

Chancery Court.

Resolved, That the Act for Regulating the Court of Chancery be read the Second time on Tuesday next.

Union with Scotland.

An Act for Uniting of Scotland into one Commonwealth with England, was this Day read the First time.

Ordered, That the said Act be read again, the Second time, on Thursday Morning next.

Tenure of Wards in Scotland.

Colonel Lockhart reports from the Committee for the Affairs of Scotland, A Bill, intituled, A Bill for taking away the Tenure of Wards and Knights-Service in Scotland, and for changing the same into Free Blanch: Which was read the First time.

Ordered, That this Act be read the Second time on Thursday Morning next.

Purveyance.

A Bill for taking away of Purveyance, and Compositions for Purveyance, was this Day read the Second time; and committed to Mr. Recorder, Sir Wm. Masham, Sir Rich. Onslow, Serjeant Glyn, Mr. Turnor, Mr. Gewin, Mr. Barnard, Mr. Garland, Colonel Mathews, Mr. Attorney, Sir Wm. Strickland, Mr. Foxwist, Sir Anth. Ashley Cooper, Mr. Goddard, Mr. Vaughan, Mr. Hoskins, Mr. Lloyd, Mr. Moody, Colonel Lilburne, Alderman Foot, Alderman Avery, Alderman Gibbes, Sir John Witterong, Major Hale, Colonel Rous, Sir John Rivers, Sir Robert Dillington, Sir Thomas Rous, Sir Ralph Hare, Colonel Chadwick, Colonel Shapcott, Mr. Goodwin, Sir Richard Everard, Mr. Pitts, Mr. Brandling, Mr. Brisco, Colonel Birch, Sir John Hobart, Mr. Carter, Colonel Ireland, Mr. Long, Sir Thomas Honywood, Lord Richard Cromwell, Sir Richard Tempell; and all that come to have Voices: And are to meet To-morrow in the Speaker's Chamber, at Eight of the Clock in the Morning.

Resolved, That it be referred to the same Committee, to consider of the Inconveniences of the Act touching the Making of Saltpetre; and to present an Act for Repealing thereof, if they see Cause; and to present their Opinion how the Commonwealth may be best supplied with Powder: And that Colonel Hill, Colonel Clerk, Lieutenant-Colonel Worsley, and Alderman Avery, be added to that Committee.

Civil Law.

The humble Petition of the University of Cambridge was this Day read.

Resolved, That this Petition, and others of the like Nature, for the University of Oxford, be referred to a Committee, to consider how Encouragement may be given to the Profession of the Civil Law: Viz. to Lord Henry Cromwell, Mr. Attorney-General, Mr. Turnor, Sir Ralph Hare, Lord Broghill, Doctor Stephens, Lord Rich. Cromwell, Colonel Rous, Mr. Lucy, Sir Rich. Onslow, Major Morgan, Mr. Hobart, Alderman Gibbes, Lord Commissioner Widdrington, Sir Thomas Rous, Sir Charles Wolsley, Colonel Zanchy, Mr. Brandling, Mr. Rich. Jones, Colonel Shapcott, Colonel Mathews, Serjeant Glyn, Colonel FitzJames, Colonel Shuttleworth, Mr. Bacon, Colonel Fin e, Mr. Drake, Alderman Avery, Sir Thomas Rivers, Colonel Thomas Birch, Major-General Skippon, Lord Commissioner Whitelock, Sir Richard Lucy, Mr. Recorder, Mr. Garland, Mr. Trevor, Sir Richard Temple, Mr. Bish, Major Beake, Mr. Read, Colonel Purefoy, Mr. Bond, Mr. Grove, Mr. Solicitor General, Sir Anth. Ashley Cooper: And this Committee is to meet To-morrow, at Two of the Clock in the Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chamber.

Reduced Officers, &c.

The humble Petition of the Subscribers, on the Behalf of themselves, and all other reduced Officers and Soldiers therein concerned, was presented to the House.

Resolved, That this Petition be now read.

The said Petition was read, accordingly.

Resolved, That this Petition be referred to the Committee, to whom the One-and-thirtieth Article was referred, to whom the Committee for Scotts and Irish Affairs are joined.

Publick Debts.

Resolved, That it be referred to a Grand Committee of the whole House, to consider of the Satisfaction of the Publick Debts of the Nation.

Resolved, That the House be resolved into a Committee of the whole House, on Wednesday Sevennight next, on this Business.