Thursday, the 18th of December, 1656.
Wiltes Sheriff's Court.
A BILL for the holding the Sheriff's Court for the
County of Wiltes, in the Borough of Devises, was
this Day read the First time; and, upon the Question,
ordered to be read the Second time on Saturday next.
Suits against Markham.
Colonel Gorges reports the Matter of Fact upon the
Petition of Colonel Markham, referred unto them: Which
was as followeth;
The Petitioner sheweth,
THAT, in Obedience to the Commands of the Commissioners of Parliament in Ireland, he did, with others,
according to the Duty of his Place, sequester Edward Earl
of Meath; for which the said Earl hath sued the Petitioner: Wherefore he prays Indemnity and Satisfaction.
At the said Committee, both Parties being present, the
Petitioner produced, for Proof of his Petition, a Letter
from the Council of Ireland, attested a true Copy by Colonel Herbert, Clerk to the said Council, to his Highness;
which is hereunto annexed: Whereby it appears, That
the Petitioner did nothing against the said Earl, but in
the Execution of the Trust reposed in him by the Parliament, and according to the express Command of the Commissioners of Parliament; and therefore the said Council
pray his Highness Indemnity for the Petitioner.
The said Earl of Meath, being demanded, Whether he
did ever sue the said Petitioner; and the Cause of such his
Suit; saith, That he did sue the Petitioner in the Courts
of Justice in Ireland, for that he heard the Petitioner give
Information to the Commissioners of Parliament, That
the said Earl's Estate in Leicestershire was sequestered;
which, as the said Earl believes, was the Cause that he
had not the Benefit of the Act of Oblivion, nor Dublyn
Articles; to the Damage of 6,000£.: The said Earl doth
acknowlege, that his Estate in Leicestershire was sequestered; but it was by Mistake.
And the said Earl did then express, That he thought
it fit, that the Petitioner should be indemnified.
The Petitioner avers, that he is damnified 300£. by
the said Earl's Suit.
Resolved, That this House doth declare, That Colonel
Markham ought to be indemnified against all Suits and
Proceedings of the Earl of Meath.
And doth indemnify him, accordingly.
A Bill for indemnifying of Colonel Henry Markham,
and others, for acting in the publick Service, was this Day
read the First time: And laid aside, without a Question,
by the general Sense of the House.
Ordered, That, for the preparing and bringing in a Bill
for Indemnity, to be given to such as have served the
Publick, the Committee for Irish Affairs be added to the
Committee appointed to bring in a Bill to that Purpose.
Ordered, That it be referred back to the same Committee, to hear the Earl of Meath; and examine the
Matter further; and report the Matter of Fact, with their
Opinion, to the House.
Nayler's Punishment.
Resolved, upon the Question, and the Parliament doth
declare, That the Whipping of James Nayler from Westminster to the Old Exchange, London, is to be on this Day.
Navigation.
A Bill, intituled, An additional Act for Encouragement
of Trade and Navigation, was this Day read the Second
time; and, upon the Question, committed to the Committee for Trade.
Quakers.
Several Petitions being presented to the House, containing Complaints against Quakers; viz.
The humble Petition of divers well-affected Persons,
Gentlemen, Ministers, and others, in the Counties of
Devon and Exon; was read:
The humble Petition of the Ministers of the Gospel in
the Counties of Northumberland, Durham, and Newcastle
upon Tyne; was read:
The humble Petition of the Justices of the Peace, Gentlemen, Ministers of the Gospel, and others well-affected,
within the County Palatine of Chester; and the Attestation of the same Petition by the Mayor, Aldermen, and
Ministers of the City of Chester; was read:
The humble Remonstrance and Petition of the Mayor,
Aldermen, and Common-Council, of the City of Bristoll,
together with the Ministers of the Gospel, and other chief
Inhabitants, who desire to fear God, and love our Lord
Jesus in Sincerity, in the same City; was read:
The humble Petition of divers well-affected Persons,
Gentlemen, Ministers, and others, in the County of Cornwall; was read:
Ordered, That all the Petitions now read be referred
to a Committee, to consider of them, and to collect such
Heads out of them, as may be fittest for the Suppression
of the Mischiefs and Inconveniences complained of therein; and report the same to the House.
Ordered, That the Committee appointed for the Examination of James Nayler be the Committee for this
Purpose: Lord Commissioner Whitelock, Colonel Cooper,
Mr. Godfrey, Mr. Aston, Colonel Hewson, Major-General
Packer, Major-General Haines, Colonel Sidenham, Mr.
Holland, Lord Lambert, Sir Richard Pigott, Colonel
Purefoy, Lord Deputy, Mr. Bradshaw, Mr. Bedford,
Lord President, Sir John Reynolds, Alderman Foote,
Major-General Skippon, Mr. Jenkinson, Sir Christofer
Pack, Colonel Mathewes, Major-General Howard, Mr.
Secretary Thurloe, Mr. Hopkins, Colonel Wilton, be added
to that Committee: And are to meet To-morrow in the
Afternoon in the Inner Court of Wards.
Spanish War.
Ordered, That the House do take into Consideration
the Business touching Money for carrying on the Spanish
War, To-morrow Morning; and nothing to intervene:
And that the several Committees do bring in their Reports
To-morrow Morning, touching this Business.
Proceedings against Stringer, &c.
Ordered, That it be referred to the same Committee,
to whom Nayler's Business was referred, to consider of the
Facts and Crimes of John Stringer and Hanna his Wife,
Martha, the Wife of Thomas Symons, and Darcas Erbury; and to state Matter of Fact; and report it to the
House.
Sebrand's Nat.
Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee for
Naturalization, to consider touching the Naturalizing of
Remee de Sebrand, Son of Melchier de Sebrand.
Acclom's Estate.
Ordered, That Captain Lister and * Captain Lilborne
be added to the Committee, to whom the Act touching
Mr. Acclom is referred.