House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 4 February 1652

Wednesday, the 4th of February, 1651.

Prayers.

Pretended Honours.

MR. Henry Darley reports Amendments to the Bill for taking away pretended Honours: Which were twice read.

The Question being put, to agree to this Amendment; viz. " And be it further enacted, that all and every Person or Persons assuming to themselves the Stiles or Titles of Colonel, Lieutenant Colonel, or General Officer, under the Pretence of serving the late King, or any other, in the Wars against the Parliament; that all and every such Person or Persons, shall pay and forfeit for every such Offence, as in the Case of Baronets and Knights made null by this Act; And, for want of Ability to pay their Fines, to be made and stand committed for the Space of One Month, without Bail or Mainprize;"

It passed with the Negative.

Resolved, That the Time, in the 33d Line of the Bill, be from the 25th of March 1652.

The Amendment to the 46th Line of the Bill being in Debate;

The Question was put, Whether, in the Clause in the Bill to which the Amendment is made, the Words "or otherwise" do stand;

It was Resolved, That the Words "or otherwise" do stand.

Resolved, That the Word "knowingly" be put into that Clause.

And the Question being put, That the House doth agree to this Clause, so amended;

The House was divided.

The Yeas went forth.

So it passed in the Affirmative.

And the rest of the Amendments, being put . . the Question, were agreed.

A Clause was tendered to this Bill in these Words, " And be it further enacted, that all Dignities, and Titles of Honour, hereafter to be given or conferred on any Person or Persons within the Commonwealth of England, or any the Dominions or Territories thereof, by Charles Stuart, calling himself the King of Scotland; and all Grants and Patents, giving, granting, or conferring such Dignity, or Title of Honour, shall be, and are hereby declared to be, null and void: And the Person or Persons assuming to him or themselves the said Dignity, or Title of Honour, shall be subject to, and undergo, the respective Penalties aforesaid, in this Act mentioned:" Which was this Day read the First time; and, upon the Question, rejected.

A Proviso was tendered to this Act, in these Words; " Provided that this Act, or any thing therein contained, shall not extend, or be construed, to avoid or invalid any Fine, common Recovery, or Conveyance, acknowleged, suffered, or made, by or to any of the Persons aforesaid, by, with, or under, any Addition, Name or Title of Honour or Dignity taken away by this Act:" Which was this Day read the First and Second time; and, upon the Question, rejected.

Resolved, That "from henceforth" in the 17th Line in the Bill, be made "from and after the 25th Day of March 1652."

The Question being put, that this Bill, so amended, be ingrossed;

It passed in the Negative.

Resolved, That This be the Title of this Act, An Act to make void all Titles of Honours, Dignities, or Precedencies, given by the late King since the Fourth of January 1641.

The said Act so amended, being put to the Question, passed.

And it is Ordered, That the said Act be forthwith printed and published.

Navy.

Ordered, That Colonel Thompson do make Reports from the Navy on this Day Sevennight, the first Business; nothing to intervene.

Foulk's Claims.

Ordered, That the Petition and Report concerning Alderman Foulk, be taken into Consideration on Friday Morning next, the first Business: And that Mr. Speaker. do put the House in mind thereof.

Reports deferred.

Ordered, That the Reports from Goldsmiths-hall be made To-morrow Sevennight.