Tuesday, the23d
of December 1651.
Prayers.
Scotch Commissioners.
RESOLVED, That the Master of the Rolls be required to give Order for preparing those Records, and
other Things, desired by the Commissioners who are to go
into Scotland; together with Schedules and Inventories
thereof; and also Indentures by which they may be delivered to such Persons, as the Parliament shall appoint to
take the Charge of them: And that the Master of the
Rolls do give an Account thereof to the House, with all
possible Speed, for the Parliament's Direction therein.
Primatt and Lilburne.
The humble Petition and Appeal of Josiah Primatt
of London, Leather-seller, was this Day read.
Resolved, That the Petitioner Josiah Prymatt be
called in, to avow his Petition.
The Petitioner was called in, accordingly: And, being
come to the Bar: Mr. Speaker demanded his Name; he
answered, Josiah Prymatt: And being shewed the Petition
itself, and demanded whether that were his Petition, and
that he did avow it; he answered, the Name subscribed
thereunto was his Hand, and That was his Petition; and
that he did avow it in the Manner as it is therein expressed: And then the Petitioner withdrew.
Resolved, That the Petitioner be again called in; and
demanded, whether he did cause this Petition to be
printed.
The Petitioner being again called in; and being come
to the Bar, Mr. Speaker demanded of him, whether he
did give Order for this Petition to be printed; to which
he answered Yes: And being asked, whether he did give
order for the publishing of it; he answered Yes: And
being asked, who printed it; he said, it was a Printer at
Paule's Wharf; saith his Name was Mr. Newcom; and
that the said Mr. Primate gave Order for the printing of
Five hundred; and that he gave such Order about Three
Days since: And being shewed a printed Paper, intituled,
"To the supreme Authority of this Nation, the Parliament of the Commonwealth of England; The humble Petition and Appeal of Josiah Prymatt of London, Leatherseller;" he doth acknowlege that the same is one of the
Copies he caused to be printed; and that he did deliver
divers of them to divers Members of the House; and
likewise to divers other Persons, not Members of the
House: And that he delivered divers printed Copies of
them to other Persons, to be delivered; and in particular, to Lieutenant Colonel John Lilburne, to deliver them
to several Persons.
Resolved, That Mr. Prymatt be again called in, and
asked the Question, who drew the Petition: And he was
accordingly called in; and being demanded, by Mr.
Speaker, who drew this Petition for him; he saith, his
Council; and saith, Mr. Parsons was one of his Council
and Mr. Lane another: And being asked again, who did
draw his Petition; he answered, Major Wildman and
Master Levet: and that all his Council did consult of his
Petition after it was drawn; and did all agree, that he
should prefer it.
Resolved, That Lieutenant Colonel John Lilburne, be
called in, and that Mr. Speaker do ask him; whether he
did disperse these printed Copies; and to whom; and
whether he gave Direction for the printing of them; and
whether he did not open it; and whether he had a Hand
in the contriving and penning of it.
Lieutenant Colonel John Lilburne was accordingly
called in: And, being come to the Bar, was demanded,
by Mr. Speaker, whether he did deliver any of the
printed Copies of Mr. Prymatt's Petition, one whereof
was shewed him; he answered, he did deliver divers
to Mr. Speaker, Sir Arthure Hesilrig, Colonel Fenwick,
and as many other Members of the House as he could:
And being asked whether he did not it deliver to divers
others that were not Members; he saith, he did deliver
it to divers who desired to read it: And being asked,
whether he gave Direction for the printing of it; he
saith, he was employed from the Beginning in managing
this Business by Mr. Prymatt, and his Uncle George
Lilburne; that he believes Mr. Prymatt will tell the
House, he gave Direction for the printing it, and will
avow it; And being asked, whether he did pen the Petition; he saith, he did not; but he was by when it was
penned, and liked it well.
Resolved, That this Petition of Josiah Prymatt be
committed to Mr. Bond, Lord Commissioner Whitelock,
Colonel Purefoy, Mr. Sey, Mr. Long, Sir Gilbert
Pickering, Major General Harrison, Mr. Ellis, Aldermen Allein, Mr. Carew, Mr. Attorney, Sir Peter Wentworth, Mr. Hay, Mr. Nevill, Mr. * Stephens, Colonel
Marten, Colonel Sidney, Sir Henry Vane, Sir Henry
Mildmay, Lord Chief Baron, Mr. Hill, Colonel Lister,
Mr. Herbert, Mr. Burrell, Colonel Thompson, Colonel
Bennett, Mr. * Challoner, Sir John Trevor, Colonel
Bossevile, Mr. Wilde, Mr. Strickland, Colonel Peter
Temple, Colonel Birch, Lord Grey, Mr. Browne, Colonel Fielder, Mr. Ch. Marten, Sir Wm. Masham, Lord
Commissioner Lisle, Mr. Moyle, Mr. Scott, Colonel
Jones, Colonel Wayte, Mr. Dunch, Mr. Trenchard, Mr.
Leman, Mr. Tho. Chaloner, Mr. Masham, Sir John
Bourchier, Colonel Pyne, or any Five of them: And
that Mr. Roger Hill do take Care of it: And that the
Committee have Power to examine upon Oath: and
report forthwith: With Power to send for Persons, Parties, Witnesses, Records, and Papers.
Resolved, That the Committee do take Consideration,
in the first Place, of so much of the Petition as concerns
that the Injustice done was through Fear and Overawing the Commissioners; and the Charge of Tyranny
and Oppression: And that the Committee do meet, Tomorrow in the Afternoon, at Two of the Clock, in the
Exchequer Chamber.