Monday, the 10th of October, 1653.
Fleetwood's Estate.
ORDERED, That it be referred to the Committee
of publick Debts, to consider of the Business touching the Contract by Lieutenant General Fleetwood for the
Estate of Sir Ralph Hopton; and state the Matter of Fact
to the House: And that the Proceedings upon that Contract, at Drury-house, be stayed, until the House take
further Order.
Rosworme's, &c. Nat.
Colonel Rous reports from the Committee of Petitions,
The humble Petition of Lieutenant Colonel Rosworme,
Engineer General: Which was this Day read.
Ordered, That the Name of John Rosworme be inserted
into the Act for Naturalization.
He also reports from the same Committee, The Names
of Anthony Tirens, Henry Ketelaer, Abraham Stock, and
Peter Mathews Johns, to be put into the Bill for Naturalization.
Ordered, That the Names of Anthony Tirens, Henry
Ketelaer, Abraham Stock, and Peter Mathews Johns, be
inserted into the Bill for Naturalizing of Strangers.
Polgreed pardoned.
He also reports, The humble Petition of John Polgreen,
Prisoner in Newgate: Which was now read.
Ordered, That John Polgreene, being convicted for
Felony at the Session House in . . Old Bailey, London, at
last Sessions but one, be reprieved and pardoned: And
the Commissioners for the Great Seal be authorized and
required to pass a Pardon, in common Form, under the
Great Seal of England, accordingly.
Pierce's Petition.
He also reports the Petition of John Pierce, Prisoner
in Newgate.
Hunkyn's Petition.
He also reports the humble Petition of Colonel Joseph
Hunkyn, Governor of the Islands of Scilly: Which was
this Day read.
Ordered, That this Case be referred to the Committee
for the Army, to hear and examine; and to end it, or
report the State thereof, with their Opinion, to the
House.
Tythes.
He also reports the humble Petition of divers Congregated Churches in the Northern Counties: Which
was now read.
Resolved, That this Petition be committed.
Resolved, That it be committed to the Committee for
Tythes.
Declaration for Religious Liberty.
Resolved, That there shall be a Declaration for giving
fitting Liberty to all that fear God, within this Commonwealth; and for preventing the Abuses of speaking evil
against Magistrates and Magistracy, and the better Preservation of the mutual Peace of such as fear God among
themselves, without imposing one upon another; and to
discountenance Blasphemies, Damnable Heresies, and
licentious Practices.
Ordered, That Mr. Sadler, Mr. Moyer, Colonel Titchborne, Mr. Barton, Colonel Jones, Colonel Ogle, Colonel
Hughson, Sir Anth. Ashley Cooper, or any Three of them,
do prepare a Declaration, and present it to the House:
And the special Care hereof is committed to Mr. Sadler.
Thanks to Gen. Blake.
General Blake, one of the Admirals at Sea, this Day
came to the House; and took his Place, as a Member.
Resolved, That General Blake have the Thanks of this
House, for his great and faithful Services to the Parliament, and this Commonwealth.
Mr. Speaker did, accordingly, give unto General Blake,
the Thanks of the Parliament, for his great and faithful
Services to the Parliament, and this Commonwealth.
Publick Accompts.
The Record of the Act, which passed on Friday last,
intituled, An Act for Accompts, and clearing publick
Debts, &c. being brought into the House; the House
Ordered, That, the Word "Forty" in the 6th Line of
the ingrossed Act, being miswritten, be made "Thirty:"
And the same was done at the Table, accordingly.
Publick Revenue.
Mr. Moyer reports from the Council of State;
THAT the Parliament be humbly moved, to appoint
a Committee to examine the present State of the Receipt
of the public Revenue; and to give them such particular
Directions, for the Management of that Business, as they
shall judge fit.
Resolved, That it be referred to the Committee of
Inspections, to prepare and bring in an Act for taking
away the Powers of the former Committee of the publick
Revenue; and for giving Rules and Powers to such Persons as the Parliament shall appoint to take care of that
Revenue: And that all Payment out of the Revenue be
stopped for Six Days, except such Augmentations to
Ministers, as the Council of State shall approve of.