The Diary of Thomas Burton: 21 January 1656-7

Diary of Thomas Burton Esq: Volume 1, July 1653 - April 1657. Originally published by H Colburn, London, 1828.

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'The Diary of Thomas Burton: 21 January 1656-7', in Diary of Thomas Burton Esq: Volume 1, July 1653 - April 1657, (London, 1828) pp. 368-369. British History Online https://www.british-history.ac.uk/burton-diaries/vol1/pp368-369 [accessed 26 April 2024]

Wednesday, January 21, 1656–7.

Mr. Speaker acquainted the House, that he had received (as sent from the Council) copies of the examinations of John Cecil and John Toope, read in this House the 19th of January, instant; (fn. 1) and also a printed book, intituled "A True Account of the late bloody and inhuman Conspiracy, against his Highness, the Lord Protector, and this Common wealth." (fn. 2)

Ordered, that the said copies of the said examinations do remain on record in Parliament; and that the said book do remain in this House.

The Lord Commissioner Whitlock reported, that the Committee appointed to wait upon his Highness, the Lord Protector, to appoint a time when this House may attend on his Highness, to congratulate with him for the great mercy and deliverance, that his Highness is pleased to give the Parlia merit a meeting on Friday next, at eleven o'clock in the morning, at Whitehall.

The House, according to former Order, resumed the debate adjourned yesterday, upon the Bill for continuing and assessing of a tax for maintaining of the militia forces.

During this debate, exceptions were taken against words spoken by Mr. Cromwell, (fn. 3) as charging some Major-generals to have acted unjustly, and against law. It was desired, that they might be named; but it was put off until the main debate ended, that it might not interrupt the same.

Footnotes

  • 1. See supra, p. 355.
  • 2. See the "Brief Relation," Appendix, No. 1. The following appeared in the English prints about this time:— "From Edinburgh, December 27. The news of the happy discovery of the late villainous assassination, intended upon his Highness's person, came very acceptable hither. If the enemy be put to these base shifts of malice, we shall the less fear them in their more public designs. That Sindercomb was of old one of the levelling party, that long since manifested himself to be malcontented by his mutinous behaviour several tunes, and for that cause he was cashiered, as some others were in this country, by General Monk. "It seems Charles Stuart thinks his debauched, ranting remnants will hardly be able to effect any thing upon England, so long as his Highness is alive; which should induce us, and all the people of these nations, the rather to set ourselves to use our utmost endeavours for the preservation of his Highness's person, and to come to such a settlement, as may secure him and us, and after him, the preservation of this cause, and of the public peace, that it may not be in the power of any villain to aim at our confusion. If Charles, in the meantime, or any of his, dare venture over into this nation, we are in a good posture to receive them; and he will find but few here, that will meddle in his matters."—Mercuric Politicus, No. 347.
  • 3. Probably Colonel Henry Cromwell, Junr. He was the Protector's nephew.
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