House of Commons Journal Volume 6: 14 February 1651

Die Veneris, 14 Februarii, 1650.

Prayers.

Lodgings for Members in Whitehall.

ORDERED, That a Committee be appointed to consider of Accommodations of Lodgings for Members of the Parliament, in Whitehall; and for removing all unnecessary Persons out of Whitehall; and to consider of accommodating the Soldiers, now in Whitehall, in other convenient Quarters:

Sir John Hippisley, Colonel Morley, Sir Henry Mildmay, Mr. Garland, Mr. Robinson, Sir Thomas Wroth, Colonel Fielder, Mr. Oldesworth, Major General Harrison, Mr. Holland, Mr. Whittacre, Mr. * Challoner, Lord Grey, Mr. Blagrave, Colonel Purefoy, Mr. Bond, Alderman Pennington, Mr. Haies, Mr. Solicitor General, Sir Peter Wentworth, Sir Wm. Masham, Captain Skinner, Mr. Ash, Colonel Temple, Mr. Ralegh, Mr. James Challoner; or any Five of them: And this Committee are to meet at Whitehall, in the Room where the Council of Trade lately sat, at Two of the Clock this Afternoon; and so de die in diem; and report it to the House.

Resolved, That an Account be brought in, from the Council of State, of the Monies disbursed by them, or their Warrant, for the Year last past, and the Year before: And that it be presented to the House before the First of July next.

Embassy to Holland.

The Lord Commissioner Whitelock reports from the Council of State, Heads of Instructions for the Ambassadors going into Holland; and also, A Letter, directed, To the High and Mighty Lords, the Lords States General of the United Provinces, to be signed by Mr. Speaker; together with the Commission to be given to Oliver Saint John, Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, and Walter Strickland, a Member of Parliament, Ambassadors Extraordinary, both in Latin and English.

All which were read; and afterwards read in Parts.

And every one, with some Amendments at the Table, were put to the Question; and agreed.

And all of them together, being put to the Question, passed; and ordered to be signed by Mr. Speaker, and sealed with the Seal of the Parliament.

The Title of the Instructions was now read; and was as followeth; viz. "Instructions for Oliver Saint John, Lord Chief Justice of the Common Pleas, and Walter Strickland, a Member of Parliament, Ambassadors Extraordinary from the Commonwealth of England to the High and Mighty Lords the States General of the United Provinces."

Which was agreed unto; and, upon the Question, passed.

The Letter directed to the High and Mighty Lords the States General of the United Provinces, to be signed by Mr. Speaker, was also read; and, with One Amendment at the Table, was assented unto; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be signed by Mr. Speaker, and Sealed with the Seal of the Parliament.

Ordered, That Mr. Speaker be authorized and required to sign the like Letters, mutatis mutandis, to the other United Provinces, as the Council of State shall think fit: And that the same be sealed with the Seal of the Parliament.

The Commission of the said Ambassadors was this Day read; and, with One Omission at the Table, was agreed; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be signed by Mr. Speaker.

Ordered, That the Council of State do take care that the Instructions, Letters of Credence, and Commission, for the Ambassadors Extraordinary, be prepared, and fair written, against Tuesday Morning next, to be signed by Mr. Speaker: And that Mr. Speaker do sign the same, being so prepared; and cause the Seal of the Parliament of England to be set to the said Letters and Instructions: And that the Lords Commissioners for the Great Seal do pass the said Commission under the Great Seal accordingly.

Ordered, That the Commission be delivered to the Ambassadors, by Mr. Speaker, on This-day-sevennight in the Morning: And the Ambassadors are then to attend in Parliament, to receive the same.

The House, according to former Order, adjourned itself to Tuesday Morning next, Eight of Clock.