House of Commons Journal Volume 8: 20 May 1661

Lunæ, 20 Maii, 13 Caroli.

Prayers.

Northampton Election.

ORDERED, That the Matter upon the Petition of the Mayor, Aldermen, Bailiffs, and Part of the Commonalty of the Borough of Northampton, touching the Return for that Borough, which stands referred to the Committee of Privileges and Elections, be taken into Consideration, by the said Committee, the first Cause, To-morrow; and that the same be reported to this House the next Day after: And the Sheriff is to have notice to attend according to his former Order.

Browne's Estate.

A Bill enabling Sir Anthony Browne to sell Lands for Payment of his Debts, was this Day read the First time.

Resolved, That this Bill be read again the Second time on this Day Sevennight, being the Twenty-seventh of May Instant: And such Persons as are concerned therein, are, in the mean time, to have notice thereof.

Milward's Estate.

Ordered, That the Bill, now brought in, to enable the Sale of some of the Lands of William Milward Esquire, for Payment of some of his Debts, be read To-morrow Morning.

Silk-dying.

Ordered, That the Bill, now brought in, for preventing Abuses in dying of Silk, be likewise read To-morrow Morning.

Hunt's Estate.

Upon the Petition of Thomas Hunt Esquire, and John Hunt Gentleman, his Brother;

Ordered, That a Bill enabling them to sell Part of their Lands for Payment of their Debts, be brought in and read To-morrow Morning.

Haslemore Election.

Serjeant Charlton made Report from the Committee of Privileges and Elections, touching the Election of George Evelin Esquire, and Thomas Morrice Esquire, returned as Burgesses for Haslemore, in the County of Surry, by one Indenture; and James Gresham Esquire, and Challoner Chute Esquire, returned by another Indenture; and the Opinion of the Committee, that the Inhabitant Freeholders have only Voice in Election; and that the said Mr. George Evelin, and Mr. Thomas Morrice, had the Majority of Voices, and were duly elected, and ought to sit: And

A Petition of James Gresham Esquire; and another of Michaell Welland Esquire, and John Baldwin; touching the same Matter; were now read.

Resolved, That this House doth agree with the Committee, that the Inhabitant Freeholders there have only Voice in Elections; and that the said Mr. George Evelin, and Mr. Thomas Morrice, had the Majority of Voices; and were duly elected; and ought to sit in this House as Burgesses for the said Borough of Haslemere.

And the said Mr. Serjeant Charleton further reporting, from the said Committee, that the Bailiff of Haslemere said, that, if they had but five Voices, he would have returned Mr. Chute and Mr. Gresham; and that it lay in his little Pate to return whom he pleased:

Resolved, That the Serjeant at Arms attending this House do bring the Bailiff of Haslemere in Custody to the Bar of this House, To-morrow Morning, to answer his Misdemeanor in making the Return for the said Borough, and to amend the Return of the Writ.

Instrument of Government, &c.

Ordered, That, of the Committee hereafter named, Sir Richard Lloyd, Sir Robert Atkins, Sir John Goodricke, Sir Phillip Warwick, Sir Solomon Swale, Serjeant Charleton, Mr. John Vaughan, Mr. Goodrick, Mr. Lowther, Mr. Hussey, who are appointed to look into the Journals of the Long Parliament, and to make Search for that traiterous Writing, called, The Instrument of Government, and to peruse the Journals, and to see a true Copy of the Instrument or Writing, called, The Solemn League and Covenant, to be written, and annexed to the Order which is to be carried up to the Lords, any Three do make a Quorum.

Securing the King's Person, &c.

The Bill for securing and preserving his Majesty's Person and Government against treasonable and seditious Practices and Attempts, being ingrossed, was this Day read the Third time:

And, upon the Reading thereof, this House took into Consideration a Proviso to be added thereunto: And Ordered, That Mr. Serjeant Maynard, Mr. Solicitor General, Mr. Serjeant Charleton, Mr. Serjeant Keeling, and Mr. Swinfein, should withdraw into the Speaker's Chamber, and pen the said Proviso: And adjourned the further Consideration thereof till To-morrow Morning.

Leave of Absence.

This House being informed, that John Grubham How Esquire, one of the Knights of the Shire for the County of Glocester, had urgent Occasions to go into the Country;

Ordered, That the said Mr. How have the Leave of this House to go into the Country, about his Occasions.

Sir J. Morley.

Mr. Secretary Morrice delivered a Message from his Majesty to this House; That his Majesty's Desire was that Sir John Morley's Miscarriages might be laid upon the score of his Infirmities; and that he might be restored to the good, Opinion of this House, and to his Place therein.

Lords desire a Conference.

A Message brought from the Lords, by Sir William Child and Dr. Wolrich;

Mr. Speaker, The Lords desire a present Conference with the Members of this House, touching a Message they received this Morning from his Majesty.

And, they being withdrawn.

This House agreed to the said Conference.

And the said Messengers being called in again, Mr. Speaker gave them this Answer;

This House hath agreed to the Conference forthwith, in the Painted Chamber.

And then Ordered the Earl of Ossery, Mr. Vicechamberlain, Mr. Secretary Morrice, Sir William Compton, Sir Phillip Warwick, Sir John Holland, and Sir George Reeve, to manage the Conference.

Solemn League and Covenant.

The Lord Falkland reports from the Lords, that he had carried up the Order to the Lords concerning the Burning of the Covenant; and that the Lords would send an Answer by Messengers of their own.

Scotch Affairs.

Mr. Secretary Morrice reports from the Conference had with the Lords, a Letter to his Majesty from the Estates of Parliament in Scotland; which his Majesty had sent to the Lords this Morning: Which they had delivered to him to be communicated to this House; and was now presented by him to this House: Which Letter followeth in these Words:

For the King's most Sacred and Excellent Majesty.

Most Sacred Soveran,

THE many and great Blessings which this Your Majesty's ancient Kingdom does now enjoy, under the Administration of Your Royal Authority, and the Deliverance they have thereby from the Miseries, Pondage, and Tyranny, of those Twenty-three Years Troubles, have so ravished the Spirits of all your good Subjects with Joy and Admiration, that, in a Sense of their by-past Failings, and present Duties, we are obliged, in Discharge of our Consciences and Trust, to assure Your Majesty, that this Kingdom doth conceive it their Happiness, above other Nations, to live under the Government and Protection of so religious, so wise, and so gracious a Prince; and will be zealous, that the Returns of their Duty and Allegiance shall be suitable thereunto; being ready, at all Occasions, to hazard their Lives and Fortunes in the Maintenance of Your Majesty's Authority and Government, in its present Constitution; and in every other Thing, that may concern Your Majesty's Royal Power, Prerogative, and Greatness; by which alone the Liberties, Freedom, and just Interest, of Your People can be secured.

And since Your Majesty hath been pleased to declare Your gracious Acceptance of our weak, but faithful Endeavours, which we are obliged unto, in Discharge of that Duty we owe to God, and to Your Majesty, and for vindicating of the Honour and Justice of that glorious Martyr, Your Royal Father, and our native and dread Soveran of blessed Memory, we are thereby encouraged, as Your great Council, to represent to Your Majesty, that we conceive it necessary, for Your own Honour, for the Advancement of Your Service, and for securing a firm and lasting Peace to Your People, that Two hundred Horse, and some Foot, for the necessary Garisons, be kept on Pay; and that, beside these, there be a Militia of some Troops, settled upon confiding Persons, in the several Counties of the Kingdom.

And it is our humble Desire, that, for the further endearing the Affections of Your People, and for completing of their Happiness by Your Confidence in them, Your Majesty may be pleased to order, that all the Forces to be made use of within this Kingdom may consist of Natives; and that all other may be removed.

And, because many of our late Troubles were occasioned, either by the too much Countenance given to disaffected Persons, who employed the Royal Favours, and Crown Revenues, bestowed upon them, for keeping up those Troubles, or by the Unstreightness of some publick Ministers, we are confident Your Majesty will have special Regard, in the dispensing of Favours and Trusts, to such as have been and are faithful to the Royal Interests; which will be a great Satisfaction to the Generality and Body of this Kingdom, who are so loyal and affectionate to Your Majesty's Interest, as there is no Reason either to fear or flatter any who are otherwise disposed.

And, that Your Majesty may have the more full Account of our Actings, and of the Condition of this Kingdom, and Your Affairs in it, we have, with the Allowance of Your Commissioner (whose Loyalty, Prudence and Faithfulness, in this his Trust, and in a more full and legal asserting of the Royal Power, than in any Age formerly, doth (much above what we are able) recommend him to Your Majesty's special Favour, made Choice of the Earl of Glencairne, Your Chancellor, and the Earl of Rothes, President of Your Council, who have been eminently instrumental in Your Service here, to wait upon Your Majesty; and do humbly recommend them, and their Employment, to Your favourable Acceptance; expecting such a gracious Return, as may be an Establishment to Your Majesty's Authority and Service, and an Encouragement to all honest Men; and, among them, to

Your Majesty's most Humble, most Faithful, most Obedient Subjects and Servants,

The Estates of Your Parliament of Scotland.

Edinburgh, 24 April 1661.

And the said Letter being read;

Ordered, That the same be taken into Consideration on Monday next.

And then the House adjourned till Eight of the Clock To-morrow Morning.