House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 25 March 1652

Thursday, the 25th of March, 1652.

Prayers.

Regulating the Law.

THE Lord Commissioner Whitelock reports from the Committee appointed to receive what shall be offered unto them by the Persons appointed to consider of Inconveniencies in the Laws, an Act for taking away Fines upon Bills, Declarations, and original Writs: Which was this Day read the First and Second time; and, upon the Question, committed to the same Committee.

He also reports, from the said Committee, an Act for the more speedy Recovery of Rents: Which was this Day read the First and Second time; and, upon the Question, committed to the same Committee.

He also reports, from the said Committee, An Act against customary Oaths: Which was this Day read the First and Second time; and, upon the Question, committed to the same Committee.

Uniting of Scotland.

Sir Henry Vane junior reports, from the Council of State, a Declaration of the Parliament of England, in order to the Uniting of Scotland into one Commonwealth with England: Which was this Day read the First time at large.

Resolved, That the said Declaration be read by Parts.

And the said Declaration was now read by Parts, accordingly.

And, the First Clause being read, the Question being put, That these Words, viz. "and declare their Acceptance of," do stand in the said First Clause;

It passed with the Negative.

And the said Clause, so amended, being put to the Question, was assented unto.

And, the Second Clause being read, the Question being put, That the Word "speedily" do stand in this Clause;

It passed with the Negative.

And the said Clause, so amended, being put to the Question, was assented unto.

And the Third Clause being read;

Resolved, That these Words, viz. "or such Persons, and at such Places, as the Parliament shall appoint," be inserted in this Clause.

And the said Clause, so amended, being put to the Question, was assented unto.

And, the Fourth Clause being read, the Question being put, That these Words, viz. "and Acceptance of," do stand in this Clause;

It passed with the Negative.

And the said Clause, so amended, being put to the Question, was assented unto.

And the Fifth Clause being read;

Resolved, That the Time in this Clause be, "before the End of the Month of July."

And the said Clause, so amended, being put to the Question, was assented unto.

And the Sixth Clause being read;

Resolved, That the Time in the first Blank be, "at or before the Twentieth of August 1652."

Resolved, That the Number of the Shires be Fourteen; and that the Number for the Boroughs be Seven.

Resolved, That the Quorum of these One-and-Twenty be Eleven.

The said Clause, so amended, being put to the Question, was assented unto.

And the Seventh Clause being read;

Resolved, That these Words, "or to such Place in England as the Parliament shall appoint," be inserted in this Clause.

Resolved, That the Time in this Clause be, "on the First of October 1652."

And the said Clause, so amended, being put to the Question, was assented unto.

And the Eighth Clause, being read, was, upon the Question, assented unto.

And the Ninth Clause being read;

Resolved, That the Sum in the First Blank in this Clause be, "Twenty Shillings Sterling."

And the Tenth Clause being read;

Resolved, That these Words, viz. "the Commissioners of Parliament for managing the Affairs of Scotland, or such as they shall appoint," be inserted, instead of the Words, "Commander in chief, for the Time being, of the Parliament's Forces in Scotland."

And the said Clause, so amended, being put to the Question, was assented unto.

And the said Declaration, so amended, being put to the Question, was assented unto: And it is

Ordered, That the said Declaration be printed; and that all the printed Copies be delivered into the Hands of the Clerk of the Parliament; and that there be no Publication thereof, until the Parliament take further Order.-

Scots Prisoners.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Council of State, to consider how some speedy Relief may be offered to the Scotts Prisoners in the Tower.

Uniting of Scotland.

Resolved, That this be the Title of the said Declaration, viz. "The Declaration of the Parliament of England, in order to the Uniting of Scotland into one Commonwealth with England."