House of Commons Journal Volume 5: 22 January 1648

Die Sabbati, 22 Januarii, 1647.

Prayers.

Assessments for Ireland.

THE Grand Committee sat upon the Ordinance for the Assessments for Ireland.

Mr. Saye in the Chair.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Ordered, That, on Tuesday Morning next, Mr. Saye do make Report of the Ordinance for Assessments for Ireland.

Pygott's Petition.

Ordered, That, on Thursday Morning next, the first Business, the Petition of Mrs. Martha Pygott be read.

Report, &c. deferred.

Ordered, That, on Thursday Morning next, Mr. Wheeler do make Report of the Business concerning a Debt demanded by the Earl of Northumberland from the Earl of St. Albans; and of the Business concerning Colonel Whalley.

Suppressing Stage Plays, &c.

Resolved, &c. That an Ordinance be prepared and brought in for the effectual Suppressing of Stage Plays, with a severe Penalty upon such as shall offend against it; and for the Pulling down of the Stages, Galleries, and Seats; and making all those Houses unfit for Stage Plays: And the Care of this Business is particularly referred to Mr. John Stephens: Who is required to bring it in with all Speed.

Ordered, That all Stage Plays be forthwith suppressed: And the Justices of Peace, and respective Committees of the Militia of London, Middlesex, Westminster, Hamlets of the Tower, and Borough of Southwark, are hereby authorized and required, in their several and respective Jurisdictions, to take effectual Course, that all Stage Plays may be accordingly suppressed.

Contractors Salary.

Ordered, That the Ordinance for the Contractors Salary be read the Second time on Friday Morning next.

Message from Lords.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Edward Leech and Mr. Page;

The Lords have commanded us to deliver unto you these Orders; in which they desire the Concurrence of this House: 1. An Order to add divers Members of both Houses to the Committee of Derby House: 2. An Order for further Power to be given to that Committee: 3. An Order giving further Authority to search for and apprehend Papists and Soldiers that have borne Arms against the Parliament: A Report from the Committee appointed for Reformation of the University of Oxon, declaring the Earl of Pembroke to be Chancellor there: Which the Lords have agreed unto; and desire the Concurrence of this House therein:- An Order for the Sheriff of Suffolk to have Leave to come to London: In which they desire the Concurrence of this House:-A Petition of divers of the King's Servants, for Recompence of their Attendance: Which they refer to the Consideration of this House. The Lords desire to put this House in mind of a Petition, formerly sent from their Lordships, of Major General Sterling and Lieutenant Colonel Mershall: Which they desire this House to take into Consideration.

Derby House Committee.

The Order for the Addition of Members of both Houses to the Committee of Lords and Commons at Derby House, was read.

And the Question being propounded, That this House doth concur with the Lords in this Order;

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

It passed with the Affirmative.

And then the Question being put, For concurring with the Lords in this Order for the Addition of divers Members of both Houses named in the said Order, to the Committee of Lords and Commons at Derby House;

It passed with the Negative.

The Order for giving further Power to the Committee of Lords and Commons, sitting at Derby House, was read: And

It is Resolved, &c. That These Words, in the Ninth Line, "and Foreign Invasions," be left out.

Resolved, &c. That, after the Word "Insurrections," in the Sixth Line, "and Tumults" be added.

Resolved, &c. That, after the Word "Berwick," in the Eighth Line, these Words be added, "and to that Purpose have Power to give Order and Direction to all the Militias and Forces of the Kingdom."

The Question being put, For committing this Order;

It passed with the Negative.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth concur with the Lords in this Order, thus amended.

Resolved, &c. That the Lords Concurrence be desired in these Amendments.-

Sheriff of Cardigan.

Ordered, That the Report concerning the Sheriff of Cardigan be made on Friday Morning next.-

Papists, &c.

An additional Ordinance for giving Power to the Justices of Peace, and respective Committees for the Militias of London, Middlesex, Westminster, and Borough of Southwarke, to search for Papists and Delinquents, according to the Ordinance of decimo septimo Decembris 1647, now sent from the Lords, was read; and, upon the Question, passed.

Chancellor of Oxford University.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth agree with the Lords, That the Earl of Pembroke is Chancellor of the University of Oxon; and is declared so to have continued, notwithstanding the pretended Election of the Marquis of Herts.

King's Attendants.

The humble Petition of the Gentlemen and others now attending his Majesty, by Appointment (a List of whom is annexed), now sent from the Lords, was read.

Mr. Speaker likewise informed the House, That he had received a Letter from divers of the said Gentlemen, with a Petition and Schedule annexed.

Ordered, That the Consideration of this Petition, and of the Persons named and mentioned in the List annexed, be referred to the Committee of the Revenue, together with the Commissioners employed to the King to Newcastle: And Sir Wm. Constable is added, as to this Business.

Sheriff of Suffolk.

Ordered, by the Lords and Commons, in Parliament assembled, That Thomas Kerige Esquire, nominated and appointed, by both Houses of Parliament, to be Sheriff of the County of Suffolk, shall have Liberty to come to London, upon his present Occasions.

Somersett House Chapel.

Ordered, That the Committee at Somerset House be hereby authorized and required to break open the Locks and Doors of the Chapel at Somersett House; and to prepare and fit the said Chapel with a Pulpit, Seats, and other decent Accommodations, for the preaching and hearing the Word of God preached there: And that the said Committee do take into their Custody such Furniture and other Goods that are there; and make Sale of such thereof as they shall think fit; and, out of the Proceed thereof, to pay for the fitting and accommodating the said Chapel: And that they do take care, that such Goods and Furniture as shall not be sold by their Order, may be carefully said up and preserved.

Petitions to be read.

Ordered, That Mr. Annesley do, on Thursday Morning next, make Report of the Business concerning Major General Sterlyng and Lieutenant Colonel Marshall: And that then the Petition concerning them be read.

It is further Ordered, That, at the same time, the Reports and Petitions in divers Members Hands, concerning Ireland, be made, and read.

Grant to Blundell.

Ordered, That the Sum of One hundred Pounds be paid by the Committee of Lords and Commons for Advance of Monies, at Haberdashers Hall, unto Sir Arthur Blundell, upon Account, for his present Subsistence.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Colonel Lilburne.

Ordered, That, on Friday Morning next, the Ordinance concerning Lieutenant Colonel John Lilburne be read.

Petition to be read.

Ordered, That, on Friday Morning next, the Petition in Mr. Boys his Hand, concerning Mrs. *, be read.

Mabbe's Pension.

An Ordinance for authorizing and requiring the Trustees for the Sale of Bishops Lands to allow and pay unto Edward Mabbe the yearly Pension of Fourscore Pounds and Ten Shillings, in Satisfaction of his Patent, for Life, granted by the late Archbishop of Canterbury, and Dean and Chapter of Canterbury, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

Money in Leech's Hands.

Ordered, That the Committee for Sequestration, at Chichester in the County of Sussex, do permit and suffer Mrs. Mary Leech, the Widow of Mr. John Leech, deceased, to detain and keep in her Hands, for the Space of Six Months longer, the Sum of Fifty Pounds, being a Debt discovered by her said Husband to be owing to one Busbidge Churcher, a Delinquent, and left sequestered in the said Leeche's Hands, by Order of the said Committee at Chichester.

Answer to Lords.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; That this House has considered their Lordships Message: And as to the Order for giving further Power to the Committees of the Militia to search for and apprehend Papists and Soldiers that have been in Arms against the Parliament; to the Order for declaring the Earl of Pembroke Chancellor of the University of Oxon; to the Order for the Sheriff of Suffolk to have Leave to come to London, they do agree: To the rest, they will send Answer by Messengers of their own.