House of Commons Journal Volume 8: 16 June 1660

Saturday, June 16th, 1660.

Persons surrender.

MR. Speaker acquainted the House, that Alderman Robert TitchborneColonel George Fleetwood andames Temple, have rendered themselves to him, in pursuance of his Majesty's Proclamation; and that he hath put them into the Charge and Custody of the Serjeant at Arms attending this House, till the Pleasure of this House shall be declared therein.

Ordered, That the Commitment of the said Persons accordingly to the Serjeant at Arms, be, and hereby is, approved by this House.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Sir John Drake, a Member of this House, have the Leave of this House to go into the Country.

Waste on Crown Lands.

Ordered, That a Stop and Stay be forthwith made of all Waste, in any the Houses, Timber, or Woods, standing and being in and upon any the Lands, Part of the Queen's Majesty's Jointure, in whose Hands soever the same are; and that all Wood and Timber, which have been felled off any of the said Lands, at any time since the 25th Day of April last, whether remaining upon the said Lands, or removed off the Lands, to any other Place or Places, shall so remain, and continue, without further Disposal, till the Parliament shall give special Order therein: And all Persons concerned are required to take Notice hereof, and to observe the same accordingly, at their Perils:

Ordered, That a Stop and Stay be forthwith made of all Wastes, in any the Houses, Timber, or Woods, standing and being in or upon any of the Lands belonging to the King's Majesty, in whose Hands soever the same are; and that all Wood and Timber, which have been felled off any of the said Lands, at any time since the 25th of April last, whether remaining upon the said Lands, or removed off the Lands, to any other Place or Places, shall so remain and continue, without further Disposal, till the Parliament shall give special Order therein: And all Persons concerned are required to take Notice hereof, and to observe the same accordingly, at their Perils:

That the Lords Concurrence be desired herein: And Mr. Holles, and Mr. Pryn, or one of them, are to carry it to the Lords.

Prize Goods.

Ordered, That the Committee of this House for Discoveries do inform themselves, what Prize Goods remain in the Hands of the present Collectors or Commissioners for Prize Goods; and that they cause an Inventory to be forthwith taken thereof, and the said Goods to be secured: And they are also to require from the said Collectors, a speedy and perfect Account of all the Prize Goods by them received, and to see how the same stands upon the Foot thereof; and to appoint a Cheque, to take Notice of their Accounts, and of the Method by them used in making up their Accounts, in such Sort, that all Deceits to the State may be prevented: In order whereunto, the Committee are to cause a perfect Inventory to be made of all Books relating to the said Accounts: And that the said Books be put into the Hands of some indifferent Person, where the Committee and Collectors may freely resort to them upon all Occasions: And the Committee are also to take care, that the said Collectors do not further intermeddle in any future Prize Goods, whether already condemned, or in a Way of Condemnation; and that other faithful and fit Persons be appointed to take care thereof, that the Goods may be reserved for the Use of the State, or Proprietors, according to Justice: And all Members of this House, who are Merchants, are added to the same Committee.

Irregular Seizure.

Ordered, That Alexander Chancey, who, pretending to act under the Sheriff of Middlesex, hath, without Authority, seized upon the several Goods belonging to Colonel Downes (as the House was this Day informed) be forthwith taken into Custody by the Serjeant at Arms attending this House; who is to bring him before the Committee, to whom the Examination of Mr. Thurloe's Business is referred: Which Committee are to examine him concerning his seizing of the said Goods without Warrant; and to report it to the House: And the Sheriff of Middlesex is to take care, that all Goods seized by the said Chancey be secured, and preserved from embezzling; and to give an Account to the Committee of all the Goods so seized and secured:

And Mr. Swaile, Mr. Rich, Mr. Yong, Mr. Gilbert Gerrard, Mr. Rolle, Mr. Herbert, Mr. Goodrick, Mr. Broadrick, Mr. Lowther, Sir Walter Earle, Mr. Spry, Sir Gilbert Gerrard, Mr. Palmer, Mr. Willoughby, Sir Wm. Waller, Mr. Clifford, Mr. Ennis, are added to the said Committee.

Proceedings against Regicides.

The House resumed the Debate upon the Bill of General Pardon and Oblivion.

The humble Petition of Frances Lambert, Wife of Colonel John Lambert, close Prisoner in the Tower, was read.

Resolved, That Colonel John Lambert shall be one of the Twenty Persons, to be excepted out of the Act of General Pardon and Oblivion, for and in respect only of such Pains, Penalties, and Forfeitures, (not extending to Life) as shall be thought fit to be inflicted on him by another Act, intended to be hereafter passed for that Purpose.

The Question being propounded, That Christofer Pack, Alderman of the City of London, shall be one of the Twenty Persons, to be excepted out of the Act of General Pardon and Oblivion, for and in respect only of such Pains, Penalties, and Forfeitures, (not extending to Life) as shall be thought fit to be inflicted on him by another Act, intended to be hereafter passed for that Purpose;

And the Question being put, That this Question be now put;

It passed in the Affirmative.

And the main Question being put; it was

Resolved, That Christopher Pack, Alderman of the City of London, shall be one of the Twenty Persons, to be excepted out of the Act of General Pardon and Oblivion, for and in respect only of such Pains, Penalties, and Forfeitures, (not extending to Life) as shall be thought fit to be inflicted on him by another Act, intended to be hereafter passed for that Purpose.

Resolved, That Serjeant Richard Keeble shall be one of the Twenty Persons, to be excepted out of the Act of General Pardon and Oblivion, for and in respect only of such Pains, Penalties, and Forfeitures, (not extending to Life) as shall be thought fit to be inflicted on him by another Act, intended to be hereafter passed for that Purpose.

The Question being propounded, That Sir Wm. Roberts shall be one of the Twenty Persons to be excepted out of the Act of General Pardon and Oblivion, for and in respect only of such Pains, Penalties, and Forfeitures, (not extending to Life) as shall be thought fit to be inflicted on him by another Act, intended to be hereafter passed for that Purpose;

And the Question being put, That this Question be now put;

The House was divided:

And the Noes went forth.

And so it passed in the Negative.

Wastes on Crown Lands.

Mr. Pryn reports, That he had delivered to the Lords the Two Votes of this Day, for stopping of Wastes in his Majesty's Lands, and in the Queen's Jointure Lands; and that the Lords give Answer, That they will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Assessment.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee for the Army, to cause the Ordinance for Three Months Assessment to be forthwith dispersed into the several Counties, in order to the putting of the same in Execution; and also to pay the Printers for printing thereof; And Colonel Birch is desired to take care hereof.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Mr. Biddulph, a Member of this House, have the Leave of this House to go into the Country.

Suppression of J. Milton's Books, &c.

Ordered, That his Majesty be humbly moved, from this House, that he will please to issue his Proclamation, for the calling in of the Two Books written by John Milton; one intituled, Johannis Miltoni Angli pro Populo, Anglicano Defensio contra Claudii Anonymi, alias Salmasii, Defensionem Regiam; and the other, in Answer to a Book, intituled, The Portraiture of his Sacred Majesty in his Solitudes and Sufferings; and also the Book, intituled, The Obstructors of Justice, written in Defence of the traiterous Sentence against his said late Majesty, by John Goodwin; and such other Books as shall be presented to his Majesty in a Schedule from this House; and to order them to be burnt by the Hand of the common Hangman.

J. Milton, &c. to be prosecuted.

Ordered, That Mr. Attorney General do cause effectual Proceedings to be forthwith had, by way of Indictment, or Information against John Milton, in respect of the Two Books by him written; the one intituled, Johannis Miltoni Angli pro Populo Anglicano Defensio contra Claudii Anonymi, alias Salmasii, Defensionem Regiam; and the other, in Answer to a Book intituled, The Portraiture of his Sacred Majesty, in his Solitudes and Sufferings; and also against John Goodwin, in respect of a Book by him written, intituled, The Obstructors of Justice, being in Defence of the traiterous Sentence against the late King's Majesty.

Ordered into Custody.

Resolved, That Mr. Milton, and Mr. John Goodwin, be forthwith sent for, in Custody, by the Serjeant at Arms attending this House.