Thursday, the 25th of March, 1652.
Prayers.
Regulating the Law.
THE Lord Commissioner Whitelock reports from
the Committee appointed to receive what shall be
offered unto them by the Persons appointed to consider
of Inconveniencies in the Laws, an Act for taking away
Fines upon Bills, Declarations, and original Writs:
Which was this Day read the First and Second time;
and, upon the Question, committed to the same Committee.
He also reports, from the said Committee, an Act for
the more speedy Recovery of Rents: Which was this
Day read the First and Second time; and, upon the
Question, committed to the same Committee.
He also reports, from the said Committee, An Act
against customary Oaths: Which was this Day read the
First and Second time; and, upon the Question, committed to the same Committee.
Uniting of Scotland.
Sir Henry Vane junior reports, from the Council of
State, a Declaration of the Parliament of England, in
order to the Uniting of Scotland into one Commonwealth
with England: Which was this Day read the First time
at large.
Resolved, That the said Declaration be read by Parts.
And the said Declaration was now read by Parts, accordingly.
And, the First Clause being read, the Question being
put, That these Words, viz. "and declare their Acceptance of," do stand in the said First Clause;
It passed with the Negative.
And the said Clause, so amended, being put to the
Question, was assented unto.
And, the Second Clause being read, the Question being put, That the Word "speedily" do stand in this
Clause;
It passed with the Negative.
And the said Clause, so amended, being put to the
Question, was assented unto.
And the Third Clause being read;
Resolved, That these Words, viz. "or such Persons,
and at such Places, as the Parliament shall appoint," be
inserted in this Clause.
And the said Clause, so amended, being put to the
Question, was assented unto.
And, the Fourth Clause being read, the Question
being put, That these Words, viz. "and Acceptance
of," do stand in this Clause;
It passed with the Negative.
And the said Clause, so amended, being put to the
Question, was assented unto.
And the Fifth Clause being read;
Resolved, That the Time in this Clause be, "before
the End of the Month of July."
And the said Clause, so amended, being put to the
Question, was assented unto.
And the Sixth Clause being read;
Resolved, That the Time in the first Blank be, "at or
before the Twentieth of August 1652."
Resolved, That the Number of the Shires be Fourteen;
and that the Number for the Boroughs be Seven.
Resolved, That the Quorum of these One-and-Twenty
be Eleven.
The said Clause, so amended, being put to the Question, was assented unto.
And the Seventh Clause being read;
Resolved, That these Words, "or to such Place in
England as the Parliament shall appoint," be inserted in
this Clause.
Resolved, That the Time in this Clause be, "on the
First of October 1652."
And the said Clause, so amended, being put to the
Question, was assented unto.
And the Eighth Clause, being read, was, upon the
Question, assented unto.
And the Ninth Clause being read;
Resolved, That the Sum in the First Blank in this Clause
be, "Twenty Shillings Sterling."
And the Tenth Clause being read;
Resolved, That these Words, viz. "the Commissioners of Parliament for managing the Affairs of Scotland, or such as they shall appoint," be inserted, instead
of the Words, "Commander in chief, for the Time
being, of the Parliament's Forces in Scotland."
And the said Clause, so amended, being put to the
Question, was assented unto.
And the said Declaration, so amended, being put to
the Question, was assented unto: And it is
Ordered, That the said Declaration be printed; and
that all the printed Copies be delivered into the Hands
of the Clerk of the Parliament; and that there be no
Publication thereof, until the Parliament take further
Order.-
Scots Prisoners.
Ordered, That it be referred to the Council of State,
to consider how some speedy Relief may be offered to
the Scotts Prisoners in the Tower.
Uniting of Scotland.
Resolved, That this be the Title of the said Declaration,
viz. "The Declaration of the Parliament of England,
in order to the Uniting of Scotland into one Commonwealth with England."