House of Commons Journal Volume 7: 6 June 1659

Monday, June 6th 1659.

Guernsey and Jersey.

MR. Thomas Chalenor reports from the Council of State, That it be humbly offered to the Parliament, That the present Bailiffs and Jurats in the Islands of Guernsey and Jersey, and other Islands thereunto adjacent, and other Officers of the Courts there, may proceed in the Administration of Justice in those Islands, from and after the Sixth of May last, until the Parliament shall herein take further Order, in the same Manner and Form as was practised in those Islands, the Twentieth of April 1653, the Time of the Interruption of the Government of this Commonwealth.

Resolved, That the present Bailiffs and Jurats in the Islands of Guernsey and Jersey, and other Islands thereunto adjacent, and other Officers of the Courts there, may proceed in the Administration of Justice in those Islands, from and after the Sixth of May last, until this House shall therein take further Order, in the same Manner and Form as was practised in those Islands, the Twentieth of April 1653, the Time of the Interruption of the Government of this Commonwealth.

Newcastle upon Tyne Petition.

The humble Petition of the well-affected in the Town and County of Newcastle upon Tyne was this Day read.

Ordered, That Sir Arthur Hesilrig do return the Thanks of this House to the Petitioners, for their good Affections, and Expressions in their Petition.

Fleetwood, Commander in Chief.

Mr. Say reports, Amendments to the Bill for constituting Charles Fleetwood Esquire, Lieutenant-General, and Commander in Chief, of the Forces raised within England and Scotland: Which were twice read; and, upon the Question, agreed unto.

Resolved, That this Bill, so amended, be ingrossed.

Army Commissioners.

Mr. Say also reports, Amendments to the Bill for constituting Commissioners for Nomination of Commission-Officers, for the Forces in England and Scotland, and directing the Granting of Commissions to them: Which were twice read.

And the said Amendments were severally, as they lay in Order, put to the Question.

The Question being put, To agree with the Committee, in the Amendment in the First Folio, and Twelfth Line; and in the First Folio in the Fourteenth Line;

It passed in the Negative.

Resolved, That the Bill be thus amended, instead of said Amendments; viz. That "Five" be inserted, in the Eleventh Line, instead of the Word "Three;" and that "Five" be inserted, in the Thirteenth Line, instead of the Word "Three;" and that these Words, viz. "under their Hands," be inserted, in the same Line, after the Word "them;" and that, after the Word "Approbation," in the Sixteenth Line, these Words be added, viz. "and such Nomination of the Persons to be according to such Qualifications as are declared by this Parliament, the Ninth of May 1659:" And the Clause, so amended, being put to the Question, was agreed unto.

And the next Amendment was read.

The Question being put, That this House doth agree with the Committee in this Amendment;

It passed with the Negative.

Resolved, That this Clause, viz. "That all Commissions to Commission-Officers of the Army be signed by the Speaker, in the Name of the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England," be Part of this Bill, instead of the Clauses in the First and Second Folio, impowering Lieutenant-General Fleetwood to grant Commissions: And that all and every Commission and Commissions, so to be granted and issued, shall be signed by the said Lieutenant General, and Commander in Chief, by Direction of the Council of State, by Authority of Parliament.

Resolved, That these Words, viz. "during the Continuance of this Parliament, or until this Parliament shall take further Order," be added, in the Proviso, in the Second Folio, next after the Word "Force."

Resolved, That this Bill, so amended, be ingrossed.

Resolved, That the Officers of the Army shall not pay any Money for their Commissions; but shall have them gratis.

Resolved, That the Clerks to the Council of State do write the said Commissions: And that Sir Arthur Hesilrig is hereby appointed to take care of the said Commissions; and with all Speed to bring them into this House, to be signed and delivered.

Naval Commissions.

Resolved, That all Flag-Officers, Captains, and Lieutenants, in the Fleet, shall have their Commissions signed by the Speaker, in the Name of the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England.

Resolved, That these Officers in the Fleet shall not pay any Money for their Commissions; but shall have them gratis.

Ordered, That the Commissioners of the Admiralty and Navy do grant Commissions to all other Commission-Officers of the Navy and Fleet, other than to the Flag-Officers, Captains, and Lieutenants, in the Fleet without any Fees; and that the said Commissions be made to the said Officers gratis.

Continuance of Parliament.

The Parliament doth Resolve and Declare, That the Continuance of this Parliament shall not exceed the Seventh Day of May One thousand Six hundred and Sixty.

Report deferred.

Ordered, That Colonel Downes do make his Report from the Committee of Inspections, To-morrow Morning, the first Business.

Indemnity.

Resolved, That this House be resolved into a Grand Committee, To-morrow Morning, upon the Bill of Indemnity, and upon the Petition and Address of the Army.