House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 24 March 1659

Thursday, the 24th of March, 1658.

Prayers.

Petition against a Member.

MR. Serjeant Waller reports from the Committee of Privileges and Elections, The special Matter of Fact concerning Mr. Streete, as, upon the Examination thereof, it appeared to the Committee, upon Two several Petitions presented to the House, and read the Fifth Day of February last, and then referred to the said Committee; the one of them intituled, The humble Petition of the well-affected Inhabitants of the City of Worcester; the other of them intituled, The humble Petition and Certificate of many of the well-affected and substantial Citizens of the City and County of the City of Worcester.

The which Report was read.

And it is Resolved, &c. That this Report, concerning Mr. Streete, be re-committed upon the Debate now had thereupon in the House.

Articles against Petty.

Sir Hierome Sankey presented to the House a Paper, signed with his own Hand, concerning Dr. Petty, one of the Members of this House.

Resolved, &c. That the Paper presented to the House by Sir Hierome Sankey, under his Hand, concerning Dr. Petty, be now read.

The Paper was read, accordingly: And was subscribed, "Hie. Sankey;" and was intituled, Articles of Misdemeanor and Breach of Trust, against Dr. William Petty, elected to serve in this House as a Member of Parliament.

Resolved, &c. That William Petty, Doctor of Physick, a Member of this House, be appointed to attend this House on this Day Month.

Resolved, &c. That a Copy of the Articles now brought in against Dr. Petty, be sent unto him into Ireland: And that Mr. Speaker do sign a Letter, directed to Dr. Petty, with a Copy of the Articles to be inclosed therein, and sent to him.

Resolved, &c. That Sir Hierome Sankey, or such as he shall think fit to employ in that Behalf, shall have recourse to such Records as are in Ireland; and may have true and authentick Copies of such of them as shall be desired, and thought necessary, to make good the Articles now brought in against Dr. Petty.

Hertford Election.

Resolved, &c. That Mr. Serjeant Waller do now go on with the Reports from the Committee of Privileges and Elections.

Mr. Serjeant Waller reports from the Committee of Privileges and Elections, The State of the Case concerning the Election of Burgesses to serve in this present Parliament for the Borough of Hertford in the County of Hertford: Wherein it appeared to the Committee, That Isaack Puller Esquire was clearly chosen one of the Burgesses to serve for the said Borough, in the first place: That James Cooper Esquire was elected the other Burgess by the major Part of such as had Vote in the said Election, he being not Resident, nor Free of the said Borough, at the Time of the said Election: And that William Packer Esquire, who was Resident, and Free at the Time of the said Election, was chosen by a lesser Number of Voices than Mr. Cooper was: That the Mayor of Hertford hath returned the said Isaack Puller and William Packer to serve in this present Parliament as Burgesses of the said Borough: And that it is the Opinion of the Committee, That Mr. Cooper is duly elected Burgess of the said Borough, and ought to sit in Parliament; and that the Mayor of the said Borough should forthwith amend his Return, accordingly.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth agree with the Committee, That James Cooper Esquire is duly elected to serve for the Borough of Hertford, in the County of Hertford, as a Member of this present Parliament: And that he ought to sit in Parliament.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth agree with the Committee, That the Mayor of the Borough of Hertford do forthwith amend the Return, accordingly.

Ordered, That the Mayor of the Borough of Hertford do attend at the Bar of this House, to amend the Indenture returned, upon the Election of Burgesses to serve in this present Parliament for the said Borough: And that the Name of William Packer Esquire be put out of the said Indenture; and the Name of James Cooper Esquire, who is duly elected to serve for the said Borough, be inserted into the said Indenture, instead of the Name of the said William Packer: And that the Clerk of the Commonwealth in Chancery do attend, with the said Indenture, at the Bar of this House, together with the Mayor of Hertford, to amend the said Indenture, accordingly.

Privilege to a Petitioner.

Resolved, &c. That a Protection of Privilege be granted to Mr. Gratian de Perinaut for Two Months, to attend the Grand Committee of the House for Grievances, to prosecute his Petition exhibited unto, and depending before, the said Committee: And that Mr. Speaker do sign a Protection for the said Gratian de Perinaut, accordingly.

Leave of Absence.

Resolved, &c. That Hunt Greenewood Esquire shall have Leave to go into the Country; and to be absent for One Month, to attend his Occasions; and look after his Family, now visited with Sickness.

Resolved, &c. That Colonel Herbert Morley, one of the Members of this House, shall have Leave to go into the Country for Ten Days.