House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 19 December 1651

Friday, the19th of December, 1651.

Prayers.

London Magistrates.

A PRINTED Act of the Common Council of the City of London, at a Common Council holden in the Chamber of the Guild Hall of the City of London, the 4th Day of November 1651, was this Day read.

The House being informed, That divers Aldermen of the City of London were at the Door;

Resolved, That the Aldermen be called in.

And they were accordingly called in: And being come to the Bar, Mr. Alderman Fowkes, after a short Preamble, did, in the Name of the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen of the said City, present a Petition: Which, being received in, after the Petitioners were withdrawn, was read; and was intituled, "The humble Petition of the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen of the City of London:" To which was annexed a printed Paper, intituled thus, "A Common Council holden in the Chamber of the Guild Hall of the City of London, the 4th Day of November 1651."

Elections in London.

An Act for Continuing Two former Acts touching Elections in the City of London, was this Day read the First time.

And the Question being put, That this Act be now read the Second time;

It passed with the Negative.

Resolved, That this Act be rejected.

London Magistrates, &c.

An Act for Continuance of Two several Acts touching Election of Officers in the City of London, was this Day read the First and Second time.

A Clause being tendered to this Act in these Words; viz. "Excepting only one Clause in the first-mentioned Act contained, disabling the Election and Votes of such Persons as subscribed, promoted, or abetted any Engagement in the Year 1648, relating to a personal Treaty with the late King, at London;"

And the Question being put, That this Clause be received into the House, to be read;

It passed with the Negative.

And the Question being put, That this Act be ingrossed;

It passed with the Negative.

And the said Act being put to the Question, passed.

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

The Question being put, That the Petition of the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen of the City of London, and the Paper thereunto annexed, intituled thus, "A Common Council holden in the Chamber of the Guild Hall of the City of London, the 4th Day of November 1651," be referred to the Council of State: And the Question being put, That these Words, viz. "And that the Execution "of the said Act of Common Council be suspended in "the mean time," be added to the Question;

It passed with the Affirmative.

Resolved, That the Petition of the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen of the City of London, and the Paper thereunto annexed, intituled thus, " A Common Council holden in the Chamber of the Guild Hall of the City of London, the Fourth Day of November 1651," be referred to the Council of State: And that the Execution of the said Act of Common Council be suspended in the mean time.

Ambassadors from Holland.

The House being informed by the Serjeant, That the Lords Ambassadors from the High and Mighty the Lords the States General of the United Provinces were ready, and did attend to present themselves to the Parliament;

The Serjeant, with his Mace, went to attend the Lords Ambassadors to the House.

So soon as the Lords Ambassadors were entered, they uncovered themselves.

When the Lords Ambassadors were come as far as the Bar, Mr. Speaker and the Members uncovered their Heads, and stood up.

The Master of the Ceremonies, and the Serjeant, attended the Lords Ambassadors, the one on the Righthand, and the other on the Left, until the Lords Ambassadors came to the Chairs appointed for that Purpose; which were placed on the North Side of the House, upon a Turkey Carpet.

The Ambassadors Names were, James Catts, Knight, Lord of Wulpen, Keeper of the Great Seal, and Lieutenant of the Fees of the Lords the States of Holland and West Frizeland; Gerard Schaep Esquire, Counsellor, and late Alderman of the City of Amsterdam, and, from the aforesaid Lords the States of the said Province of Holland and West Frizeland, Commissioner in the Court of Admiralty in Zeland, and in the Chamber of Accounts of the said Lords the States; and Paulus Vande Perre, Counsellor, Pensionary of the City of Middleburgh.

The Lords Ambassadors being set, the Lord Catts in the middle Chair, the Lord Schaep on his Right-hand, the Lord Paulus Vande Perre on the Left; and having, by the Hands of the Master of the Ceremonies, presented unto Mr. Speaker, their Letters of Credence, the Lord Catts did, in an eloquent Oration in the Latin Tongue, declare the Substance of the Embassy unto this Commonwealth: And after, the Ambassadors presented unto Mr. Speaker, a Paper, containing in Writing what was spoken by the Lord Catts.

To which Mr. Speaker returned this Answer:

My Lords,

I shall, according to the Course of the Parliament of England, make Report unto them of what your Lordships have now delivered.

And thereupon the Ambassadors, after several Interchange of Ceremonies, withdrew; the Serjeant at Arms, and Master of the Ceremonies, attending them to the Court of Wards.

The Letters of Credence being in French, and a Translate thereof into English delivered therewith, were read.

Resolved, That Mr. Speaker do make Report hereof to the House, on Wednesday next.

Ordered, That the Earl of Salisbury, Sir Henry Mildmay, Sir John Danvers, and Mr. Strickland, do dine with the Lords Ambassadors of the States General.

Assessment.

An Act for raising of 90,000£. a Month for Six Months, to commence the 25th Day of December 1651, for Maintenance of the Forces in England, Ireland, and Scotland, raised, by the Authority of Parliament, for the Service of this Commonwealth, was this Day read the Third time: And, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be printed and published.

Commissioners.

Colonel Downes reports, from the Committee of the Army, additional Names of Commissioners for the Assessment of 90,000£. a Month, for several Counties: Which were this Day read; and, upon the Question, assented unto; and ordered to be printed together with the Act.

Ordered, That these several Persons be authorized and impowered to act as Commissioners for the Assessments in these several Counties, respectively, as fully, to all Intents and Purposes, as any the Commissioners named in this Act may or have Power to do; viz.

For the County of Berks.

Henry Gartridge, Symon Beckley, Thomas Trapham, Edward Keat Esquire, John Elwes Esquire, John Godderd Gentleman, Mr. Mills of Hungerford.

Bedford.

James Noell Gentleman.

Bucks.

Mr. Francis Russell, Mr. Wm. Hawkins, William Trott, Thomas Sander Esquire, Mr. Fisher Mayor of Wickam.

Bristoll.

Bulstrode Whitelock, one of the Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal, Recorder, Sir Henry Vane Knight.

Cambridge.

William Bryan for the Town of Cambridge, Mr. Fawtry, of Hoggington, for the County.

Cornwall.

Richard Lovis Esquire, Philip Lower Gentleman, John Baron, of Treludick, junior, Gentleman.

Devon.

Thomas Stevens of Thoorlston Gentleman, Shilston Calmady Esquire, Henry Luscomb junior, of Rathere, Gentleman.

Essex.

Sir John Thorowghgood Knight.

Elie.

Robert Castle, Francis Underwood, John Thurloe, Gregory Gawsell, Robert Hampson, Baldwin Arthure, John Walker, Thomas Culpepper Esquires, John Turner, Gentleman.

City and County of Gloucester.

John Wade Esquire.

Hertford.

Edmund Page of Albotts, Wm. Turner, Wm. Hickman, Richard Combs Esquire, Captain Rance, Wm. Foxwist.

St. Alban's

Captain Rance.

Lancaster.

Sir Thomas Stanley Baronet, Gilbert Ireland Esquire, Robert Conliff, Adam Sands, Edward Holbrook, Edward Werden, William Shaw, Edward Aspinwall Gentleman, Jeregia Aspinwall Esquire.

Kent.

Captain John Blakewell senior, Captain John Blakewell junior, Captain Richard Deane, Wm. Palmer, of Bromley, Esquire.

London.

Thomas Lechmere, Captain John Blackwell senior.

Middlesex.

Sir John Trevor Knight, John Glendon, Thomas Darling, George Green, Edward Cresset Esquire, Wm. Collins, Robert Nelson Esquire, John Harrison, Edward Cary Esquire.

Westminster.

Isaac Jowy, Robert Wilson, Joachim Mathewes, Edward Cary Esquires, Lieutenant Colonel Sanckey.

Northfolk.

Lieutenant General Charles Fleetwood, John Lawrence, Ralph Woolmer, Wm. Steward, Roger Harper, Samuel Prentice, Nicholas Salter, Thomas Sheriff, John Miller, Richard Browne, of Arlam, John Balliston, Captain Thomas Garret, Thomas Kett, Mr. Ward of Bewley, Lieutenant Colonel Denny, Major Neave.

Nottinghamsh.

Captain John Blackwell senior.

Oxford.

Mr. Matthew Langley Mayor, Mr. Thomas Berry, Mr. Thomas Wicks, Mr. George Potter, Mr. Thomas Dennis, Mr. John Lamb, Mr. James Pennell, Mr. Richard Phillipps.

Salop.

Thomas Harris, of Prescott, Gentleman.

Suffolk.

Robert Gourdon, Thomas Walgrave.

Surrey.

Joachim Mathewes Esquire.

Southampton.

Mr. Horne, Mr. Richbell Merchants.

Warwick and Coventry.

Wm. Thornton, John Hawford.

Wiltes.

Richard Estcourt of Lincolne's Inn.

Lincoln.

Captain John Cony, of Boston, Gentleman.

Bedford.

Bulstrode Whitelock Esquire, one of the Lords Commissioners for the Great Seal of England, Sir Wm. Bryers, Sir Wm. Boteler, Knights, Richard Edwards, Sir John Charnock, Francis Austrey, John Okey, Edward Osborne, Edward Gater, John Haselden, Robert Lovett, Gaius Squier, John Cokayne, Nathaniell Tayler, Joseph Barber, John Smyth, Samuell Bedford, Thomas Arnold Esquires, John Manley, John Rush, Thomas Field, Gentlemen, the Mayor of Bedford for the Time being, Francis Banistor, Doctor of Physick, John Easton, John Grewe, Aldermen, John Spencer, Thomas Baker, Joseph Sair, Gentlemen.

Middlesex.

Marke Hildesley Esquire.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of the Army, to bring in an Act for settling the Treasurers of the Army; and to impower the Committee of the Army to proceed in this Act for the Assessment of 90,000£. a Month, as formerly in other Assessments for the Army.

Embassy from Sweden.

Mr. Speaker informed the House, that he had received a Letter from the Publick Minister from the Queen of Sweden: Which Letter was this Day read.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Council of State, to give Order for bringing up the Goods and Horses of the Publick Minister of the Queen of Sweden, to the City of London.

Ordered, That the said Letter from the Publick Minister from the Queen of Sweden, be referred to the Council of State, to consider in what Quality he comes; and what is fit to be done touching his Reception: And to make Report thereof to the Parliament.

Colonel Humfries.

Resolved, That Colonel John Humfries eldest Son of Colonel John Humfries deceased, be admitted, and hereby enabled, to execute all and every the Publick Places and Employments, which the said Colonel Humfries, the Father, had in his Life-time; as well by the several Acts for Sale of the Goods of the late King, Queen, and Prince, and of the Lands of the late King, Queen, and Prince, as otherwise: And that the said Colonel John Humfries, the Son, shall have, receive, and enjoy all such Salaries, Pensions, Profits, and Advantages thereby, as the said Colonel John Humfryes, the Father, should, or might have had and received in respect thereof.