Thursday, the 12th of October, 1654.
Prayers.
Whale Fishery.
RESOLVED, by the Parliament, That it be referred
to a Committee, to call before them the Company of
Greenland and Eastland Merchants; and thereupon to
consider how and in what Manner there may be a present
Supply of Whale Oil for this Nation; and how the Trade
of Fishing for Whales may be regulated for the Advantage of the Commonwealth; and report their Opinion.
Resolved, That it be referred to the Committee, to
whom the Business for Transportation of Cor
And Mr. Lilburne, Lord Commissioner Widdrington,
Alderman Richards, Sir Henry Vane, Lord Lambert,
Mr. John Ash, Mr. Beale, Mr. Tho. Gorges, Mr. Minors,
Mr. Wm. Lister, Commissary General Whaley, Colonel
John Birch, Mr. Stephens, Mr. Brandlin, Captain Howard,
Mr. Long, Mr. Dun, Mr. Goff, Mr. R. Cheshire, Sir
Anth. Ashley Cooper, Mr. Grove, Mr. Wakering, Mr.
Thelwall, Colonel Wastell, Sir Charles Wolsley, Lord
Broghill, Alderman Dickenson, be added to that Committee: And they are to meet upon this Business this
Afternoon, at Two of the Clock, in the same Place where
they sat.
Navigation.
The Question being propounded, That it . . . referred
to a Committee, to review, and take into Consideration,
the Act for Increase of Shipping, and Encouragement
of the Navigation of this Nation;
And the Question being put, That that Question be
now put;
It passed with the Negative.
The Question being propounded, That there be a
Grand Committee of the whole House for Trade;
And the Question being put, That that Question be
now put;
It passed in the Affirmative.
And the main Question being put; It was
Resolved, That there be a Grand Committee of the
whole House for Trade.
Committe for Trade.
Resolved, That the Grand Committee for Trade do
sit in the House every Tuesday in the Afternoon.
Preachers thanked.
Resolved, That the Thanks of this House be returned
to Mr. Sidrach Simpson, for the great Pains he took in the
Carrying on the Work of a Day of Fasting and Humiliation in this House Yesterday; and that Captain Stone do
give him the Thanks of this House.
Resolved, That the Thanks of this House be returned
to Mr. Turner, for his great Pains in the Carrying-on
the Work of a Day of Fasting and Humiliation in this
House Yesterday; and that Colonel Montagu do return
him the Thanks of this House.
Resolved, That the Thanks of this House be returned
to Mr. Griffith, for his great Pains in Carrying-on the
Work of a Day of Fasting and Humiliation in the House
Yesterday; and that Commissary-General Whaley do
give him . . . Thanks of this House.
Chancery Court.
Resolved, That Mr. Hoskins do make Report touching
the Chancery, To-morrow Morning, the first Business.
Privilege.
The House being informed, that the Under-Sheriff of
Middlesex, and Two Bailiffs, who arrested Sir Robert Pye,
a Member of this House, were at the Door; Sir Robert
Pye being present, did inform the House, That these Two
Persons, with others, did stay his Coach, and arrest him
upon an Execution: And that he was forced to deposite
the Money; but it was not in the Hands of the Under-Sheriff, but of his Deputy.
The Under-Sheriff was, by Order of the House, called
in: And, being come to the Bar, was asked by Mr.
Speaker, Whether he did know of the Arresting of Sir
Robert Pye.-Answered, That he knew it after it was done;
but he made not the Warrant, but it was one of his
Clerks. Being asked, Whether he have not the Money;
he saith, The Money is in the Custody of Mr. * Hastings, who was his Deputy, who told him of it about
. . Fortnight since:-Denieth he did know Sir Robert
Pye was a Member of this House, neither directly nor
indirectly, till Monday last: And thereupon withdrew.
The Bailiffs were, by Order of the House, called in:
And, being come to the Bar, kneeled down: And Mr.
Speaker bid them stand up; and then asked them, Whether they arrested Sir Robert Pye. The Bailiff Browne
the Father, answereth, That he was not present at the
Arresting of Sir Robert Pye; but he was told Sir Robert
Pye was a Member of Parliament, after he was brought to
this Browne's House: The other Bailiff his Son, acknowleging he did arrest him; but doth not remember that
Sir Robert Pye told him he was a Member of Parliament;
but heard it Two or Three Hours after: And thereupon
they withdrew: And that he was arrested the 19th of
August last.
Resolved, That this Arrest of Sir Robert Pye was a
Breach of Privilege of Parliament.
Resolved, That the Under-Sheriff of Middlesex do
forthwith return the Money deposited in the Hand of
his Deputy, to Sir Robert Pye, without Prejudice to the
Sheriff, or the Execution.
Resolved, That Mr. Thomas Crook the Under-Sheriff
be discharged out of the Custody of the Serjeant at
Arms.
Resolved, That Nathaniell Browne the Son, stand committed to the Serjeant at Arms attending this House,
till the House take further Order.
Resolved, That John Browne the Father do also stand
committed to the Serjeant at Arms attending this House,
till the House take further Order.
Sir Robert Pye informs the House, That one Higden the
Solicitor, was present; and encouraged the Bailiffs to
it; and affirmed, they would bear them out in it.
Resolved, That John Higden be sent for in Custody, and
brought to the Bar of this House, as a Delinquent.
Settling the Government.
The House, according to former Order, was resolved
into a Committee of the whole House, upon the Government.
Mr. Speaker left the Chair.
Mr. Hoskins was called to the Chair.
Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.
Mr. Hoskins reports, the Desire of the said Committee, That the House would give Leave, that the
Committee may sit again To-morrow Morning.
Resolved, That the House be resolved into a Committee of the whole House To-morrow Morning, upon the
Government, according to former Order.