Wednesday, the 20th of December, 1654.
Prayers.
Settling the Government.
THE House, according to former Order, this Day
resumed the Debate, upon the Report made
Yesterday.
The Question being propounded, That any Lord Protector, dying in the Intervals of Parliament, and full Six
Weeks before any Summons shall be issued forth for the
Calling of the next Parliament, the Council, or the major
Part of them assembled, shall, immediately, and before they
shall proceed to the Election of a Lord Protector, issue
their Warrant to the Commissioners or Keep . . . of the
Great Seal for the Time being, requiring them forthwith,
to send Writs for Summons for the Calling of a Parliament; which Writ shall be in the Name of the former
Lord Protector; and shall bear Teste in the Name of such
former Lord Protector: And such Parliament shall meet
at such convenient Place, as shall be appointed by the said
Council in such their Warrant; and shall end before the
Sitting of the succeeding Triennial Parliament; any thing
to the contrary therein contained notwithstanding.
And the Question being put, That that Question be
now put;
It passed in the Negative.
Resolved, That no Writs of Summons to any Parliament,
nor any other Writs, Process, Patents, Commissions, nor
any Proceedings in Law or Justice, shall be discontinued,
or made void, by the Death of any Lord Protector.
Resolved, That all Writs, Process, Patents, Commissions, and Proceedings in Law or Justice, issuing forth,
or being after any succeeding Lord Protector shall be
elected and sworn, shall issue forth, and be in the Name
of such Lord Protector; and are hereby declared to be
of full Force in Law, to all Intents and Purposes: And
that all former Writs, Process, Patents, Commissions,
Offices, and Officers, shall continue and be in as full Force,
as they should have been, if the said former Protector had
been still living.
The Question being propounded, That, after the Death
of any Lord Protector, and until the next Lord Protector
shall be elected and sworn, the Council shall take Care of
the Government, and administer in all things as fully as
the Lord Protector, or the Lord Protector and Council,
are enabled to do;
The Question being put, That these Words, "and
sworn," do stand in this Question;
It passed in the Affirmative.
And the main Question being put; It was
Resolved, That, after the Death of any Lord Protector,
and until the next Lord Protector shall be elected and
sworn, the Council shall take Care of the Government,
and administer in all things as fully as the Lord Protector,
or the Lord Protector and Council are enabled to do.
Ordered, That the Committee do bring in the Bill upon
the Votes for the Government, to be read on Friday
Morning next.
Ordered, That it be referred to the same Committee
who brought in this Report, to consider and prepare a
Clause to be inserted in the Bill, for Repealing of all
Laws contrary to this Government: And Mr. Long, Mr.
Attorney-General, and all the Gentlemen of the Long
Robe, being Members of this House, are added to this
Committee.
Post Meridiem.
Assessment.
AN Act for an Assessment for Three Months, at the
Rate of Sixty thousand Pounds by the Month, to commence the Five-and-twentieth Day of December One
thousand Six hundred Fifty-and-four, and ending the Fiveand-twentieth Day of March One thousand Six hundred
Fifty-and-five, was this Day read the Third time.
A Clause was offered in Parchment, to be added, in
these Words; viz. "For the City of Bath, the Mayor
for the Time being, John Bigg, John Parker, Walter
Chapman, John Pierce, Richard Drucy, Matthew Clift,
Alderman:" Which were twice read; and, upon the
Question, agreed to be Part of the Bill.
Another was tendered, with these Words; "John Tregagle Esquire, Samuell Harris of Parke Gentleman, to
be added to the County of Cornwall: Which were twice
read; and agreed to be Part of the Bill.
Another was tendered, with these Words; "Charles
Howard Esquire, Sir John Fenwick, Sir Wm. Selby,
George Fenwick Esquire, Sir Thomas Widdrington one of
the Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal, Sir Arthur
Hesilrig Baronet, Robert Delavall, to be added to the
County of Northumberland:" Which was twice read: and,
upon the Question, agreed to be Part of the Bill.
Another was tendered with these Words: "Lord
Richard Cromwell, to be added to the County of Monmouth:" Which was read; and, upon the Question,
agreed to be Part of the Bill.
Another was tendered, with these Words: "Thomas
Snagg of Melbrooke Esquire, John Okey Esquire, and
John Wells Esquire, to be added to the County of Bedford:" Which were twice read.
And the Question being put, That these be added to
the County of Bedford;
It passed in the Negative.
Another was tendered, with these Words; "Maximilian Bind, to be added for the County of Bucks:"
It passed.
And the Question being put, That he be added for
the County of Bucks;
It passed in the Negative.
Another was tendered with these Words; "the Lord
Commissioner Widdrington, to be added to the County
of Durham:" Which was twice read; and, upon the
Question, agreed to be Part of the Bill.
Resolved, That Wm. Cook, Wm. Selwin, Edward Nurse,
Wm. Hinson Esquires; Wm. Caple, John Maddox, Henry
Cugly, Aldermen; John Gise, Francis Wheeler, Anthony
Freeman, Richard Guinett, Robert Theyre, Gentlemen;
be inserted into this Bill, for Commissioners for the City
and County of the City of Gloucester.
Ordered, That the Debate of this Bill be adjourned
until To-morrow Morning.