Die Mercurii, 1 Decembris, 1647.

PRAYERS.

Leave of Absence.

ORDERED, That Mr. Spillman, Mr. Wm. Stephens, Sir Edward Aiscough, and Mr. Erasmus Erle, Members of the House, shall have Leave to go into the Country for Six Weeks.

Message from Lords.

A Message from the Lords, by Mr. Hakewill and Mr. Elkinhead;

The Lords do desire, That, if this House do assent to sending of those Four Propositions, which came from their Lordships to be sent to the King, that they would concur, that they may be communicated by the Members of both Houses, that are of the Committee of both Kingdoms, to the Scotts Commissioners, this Afternoon.

They do desire the Concurrence of this House to a Pardon, of Course, upon the Certificate of the Judges of the Western Circuit: That they would take into their Consideration the Petition of the Lord Forbes, for his Relief.

Pardon.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth agree with the Lords, in the Pardon of Course, upon the Certificate of the Judges of the Eastern Circuit: And do Order, That the Commissioners of the Great Seal do pass the said Pardon under the Great Seal accordingly.

Answer to Lords.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; That this House has considered their Lordships Message; and do agree to the Pardon, in Course, upon the Certificate of the Judges of the Western Circuit: To the rest, they will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Propositions to the King.

Ordered, That Serjeant Cresheld, Mr. Whitelock, and Mr. Thorpe, be added to the Committee appointed to put the Four Propositions into Bills: And that the Committee do forthwith withdraw upon this Business.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Mr. Thomas Erle, a Member of this House, shall have Leave to go into the Country, for Six Weeks.

Ld. Taaff's Letters.

Ordered, That the Letters taken in the Lord Taaff's Cabinet be referred to the Consideration of Mr. Annesley, Mr. Dodderiche, Mr. Weaver, Colonel White, Sir H. Vane junior, Sir Walter Erle, Mr. Scott, Mr. Nelthorpe, Mr. Challoner, Mr. Pury, Mr. Knightley, or any Three of them: Who are to meet when and where they please: And are to peruse the said Letters; and report such to the House as are of publick Concernment, and fit be made publick.

It is further Ordered, That the Two Letters from the Lord George Digby to the Lord Taaff, Yesterday read in the House, be forthwith printed and published: And the Care hereof is referred to the said Committee: And the Care of this Business is more particularly referred to Mr. Dodderich and Mr. Annesley: And they are to give an Account of this Business to the House with all convenient Speed.

Bishops Lands.

An Ordinance for appointing the Salary to the Contractors for the Sale of Bishops Lands, was this Day read the First time; and ordered to be read the Second time on Friday Morning next come Sevennight: And that then the House do take into Consideration the great Charge that lies upon the Sale of Bishops Lands, in relation to Surveyors, or otherwise; and how the said Charge may be lessened: And that the Committee of Lords and Commons for removing Obstructions in the Sale of the Bishops Lands do, in the mean time, consider of the said great Charge, both in relation to the Surveyors, and otherwise; and consider of some Way of lessening the said Charge; and offer it to the House on Friday next come Sevennight.

Gibb's Petition.

It is further Ordered, That on that Day the Petition of Alderman Gibb be tendered and considered of.

Justices of Peace.

Ordered, That the Commissioners of the Great Seal be desired to send a particular List of the Justices of Peace, in Commission in the respective Counties, to the Knights and Burgesses of the several and respective Counties, Cities, and Boroughs: And that they do consider of them; and present the said Lists to the House, for their Consideration.

Ordered, That, on this Day Sevennight, Mr. Thomas Scott do bring in the Ordinance remaining in his Hands, for purging the Commissions of Peace.

Message to Lords.

Sir Robert Pye is appointed to carry to the Lords, for their Concurrence, Order for securing and reimbursing to the Fellowship of Merchant Adventurers the Sum of Fifteen thousand Pounds, advanced by them; and the Sum of Eight thousand Eight hundred and Four Pounds, due upon their Disbursements: Order for reimbursing and securing to the Eastern Association the Sum of Twenty thousand Pounds, forborne by them for the present Service of the Army: Order for a Thousand Pounds to Sir Thomas Maleverer, out of the Excise in Course: Order for a Thousand Pounds for the Lord Inchiquin: Order for Ten Thousand Pounds for the Province of Munster: Order for a Letter of Thanks to the Lord Inchiquin: The Copy of a Letter for the Indemnity of the Officers of Munster, as to their late Remonstrance.

London Petition.

The House being informed, That the Sheriffs, divers Aldermen and Common Councilmen, were at the Door, desiring to prefer a Petition to the House.

They were called in: And Sheriff Bide acquainted the House, That they were commanded by the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Commons, in Common Council, assembled, to prefer a Petition from them to this House.

The which (the Petitioners being withdrawn) was read.

Resolved, &c. That this shall be the Substance of the Answer to the Citizens; viz. To give them Thanks for their Expression of their good Affections to the Parliament: That as to the Desires in their Petition, in some of them Order has been taken already; some are under Consideration; as that concerning Free Quarter, and other: And as to their last Desire, touching some Members of the City that lie under Restraint, the House will speedily do therein what may consist with the Justice and Honour of this House.

The Citizens were again called in: And Mr. Speaker, by the Command of the House, gave them the Substance of the aforesaid Answer.

Answer from Lords.

Sir Robert Pye brings Answer, That the Lords do agree to all the particular Orders carried to them by him, except only that Letter which concerns the Indemnity of the Officers in Munster: To which they will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Impeachment.

Ordered, That the Committee to whom the Preparing of the Impeachments against the Lords were referred, do, on Monday Morning next, bring in the Impeachments against the Members of the City that are accused by this House.

Ordered, That the Impeachments against the other Lords, accused by the House of High Treason, be read To-morrow Morning, the First Business; and next, the Business for taking off Free Quarter.

Propositions to the King.

Ordered, That the House do meet this Afternoon at Two of Clock: And that the Bills to be presented to the King be then read.

Post meridiem.

Excise-Advances.

AN Ordinance for securing and reimbursing the Commissioners of Excise the Sum of Two thousand Seven hundred Seventy-six Pounds, advanced by them upon the Credit of the Interest of the Twenty thousand Pounds, assigned upon the Receipts of Excise for the Eastern Association, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

Sir Robert Pye is appointed to carry it to the Lords.

Militia.

Prima vice lecta est Billa, An Act concerning the raising, settling and maintaining Forces by Sea and Land, within the Kingdoms of England and Ireland, and Dominion of Wales, the Isles of Guernsey and Jersey, and the Town of Berwick upon Twede.

Justifying Parl. Proceedings.

Prima vice lecta est Billa, An Act for justifying the Proceedings of Parliament in the late War; and for declaring all Oaths, Declarations, and other Proceedings against it to be void.

Peers.

Prima vice lecta est Billa, An Act concerning the Peers of Parliament, and other Titles and Honours.

Adjournment of Parliament.

Prima vice lecta est Billa, An Act concerning the Adjournment of both Houses of Parliament.

Militia.

The Question being put, That this Bill concerning the Militia shall be now read the Second time;

The House was divided.

The Yeas went forth.

So that the Question passed with the Negative.

Resolved, That Candles be brought in.

The Question was propounded, That these Bills shall be read To-morrow Morning the Second time:

And the Question being put, Whether this Question shall be now put;

It passed with the Affirmative.

Resolved, &c. That these Bills shall be read To-morrow Morning.