Friday, 2d of September, 1653.
Reduced Officers, &c.
THE House resumed the Debate upon the Petition
of the reduced Officers and Soldiers.
Resolved, That it be referred to the Committee of
Publick Debts, to consider of something to be offered
to the House, as fit to be done herein; and report their
Opinion therein to the House.
French and Walloon Congregation.
Mr. Strickland reports from the Council of State, The
humble Petition of the Strangers of the French and
Walloon Congregation, in and about the City of London:
Which was this Day read.
The Question being propounded, That this Petition be
referred to the Committee of Trade;
And the Question being put, That that Question be
now put;
It passed in the Negative.
Resolved, That this Petition be referred to the Consideration of the Council of State; and Report their
Opinion to the House.
Petition from London.
The House being informed, That there were at the
Door divers Aldermen, and Citizens of London, with a
Petition from the Common-Council; they were called
in; and being come to the Bar; Mr. Sheriff Eastwick
declared:
Mr. Speaker,
"The Lord Mayor of London, the Aldermen, and
the Commons, in Common-Council assembled, have
commanded these worthy Gentlemen, and myself, to wait
upon you, I think, in a Business of as great Concernment
as we can possibly propound, in relation to your own
Honour, the Good of the City, and to the whole Nation.
We are very sensible, Sir, what a great Mercy of God it
hath been to England, that the Lord hath trusted this
Nation with the Gospel for near an hundred years together:
And he hath always provided for us pious and learned
Men to dispense it; and to defend it against our common
Enemies; and blessed their Labours to the Conversion
of so many Thousands, which hath made this Nation
more eminent than all the Nations round about us: Other
Nations abroad, they have Civil Laws and Liberties, to
preserve their Properties; God hath blessed us in a more
peculiar manner, than he hath done any other. It was
in the Hearts of the last Parliament, and we see it is in
yours, to make it your chief Work, to promote Religion
in this Nation. We come here upon no other Errand,
and shall not meddle with the Particulars of the Petition:
But only one thing we are very sensible; Except the
Honour of the Parliament he preserved, we think you will
be scarce able to do any Great Matters; and if any People
in the Nation shall be suffered at their Pleasure, to reflect
upon the Supreme Power, we think very ill Fruits must
follow of it: We beseech you, therefore, to consider of
your own Honour, to preserve it; And so, Mr. Speaker,
I here present the Petition to you, according to the Order
and Directions I have received." And then presented
a Petition: Which was received in; and, after the Petitioners were withdrawn, was read; and was intituled,
The humble Petition of the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and
Common-Council of the City of London.
Resolved, That it be referred to the Council of State,
to receive from the Petitioners, and others, such Informations as shall be given them of any who have traduced
the Parliament, or reflected on their Authority.
Resolved, That Mr. Speaker do return Thanks to the
Petitioners, for their good Affections to the Parliament;
and acquaint them, That some of the Matters in the
Petition are under Consideration: And as touching That
which concerns the traducing the Parliament; the Petitioners are referred to the Council of State, to give
Informations to them therein: And that the Parliament
doth not doubt but they will continue their Care of the
Peace and Safety of the City.
The Petitioners were again called in; And, being come
to the Bar, Mr. Speaker, by Command of the House, did
return Thanks to the Petitioners for their good Affections
to the Parliament; and acquainted them, that some of
the Matters in the Petition are under Consideration: And
as touching that which concerns the traducing the Parliament, the Petitioners are referred to the Council of State,
to give Information to them therein: And that the Parliament doth not doubt but they will continue their Care
of the Peace and Safety of the City.
Letter read.
A Letter from the Commissioners of Parliament in Ireland, dated the 19th of August 1653, was this Day read.
Resolved, That this Letter be referred to the Consideration of the Committee for Ireland.
Envoy's Credentials.
Mr. Speaker acquaints the House, He hath received
Copies of Letters from the Duke of Gelders and Juliers,
Count of Egmont and Zutphen, dated at St. Clow, near
Paris, 26th of August 1653, being Credentials to Monsieur Lodowick de Grand, Lord of Brachey.
Resolved, That these Letters be referred to the Council
of State, to consider what is fit to be done herein.