Tuesday, the 27th of January, 1656.
Mr. Speaker's Illness.
MR. Speaker being come to the House, and the
House taking Notice of his Weakness of Body;
It was
Resolved, That, in respect of Mr. Speaker's present
Indisposition of Body, the Lord Commissioner Whitelock
be desired to take the Chair, to supply the Speaker's
Place, during his Absence, occasioned thereby.
Excise.
Resolved, That the House be resolved into a Grand
Committee for an Hour, upon the Bill for the Excise.
Mr. Speaker left the Chair.
Mr. Fowell took the Chair.
Lord Com' Whitelock takes the Chair.
The Lord Commissioner Whitelock was brought to the
Chair by Colonel Sidenham and Major-General Howard:
And, being there set, desired, since the House was pleased
to command his Service in that Place on this Occasion,
That the House would be pleased to construe with all
Candour his Words and Actions therein; and that they
will give him a Freedom of minding them, and keeping
them to the Orders of the House, for the Service and
Honour of the House.
Catechism.
A Bill, intituled, An Act enjoining Ministers, and
others, to perform the Duty of Catechizing, was this
Day read the First time; and ordered to be read the
Second time on Friday next.
Observation of Sunday.
Resolved, That the Bill concerning the due Observation of the Sabbath, be read the Second time on Friday
next.
Leave of Absence.
Resolved, That Major Saunders have Leave to go into
the Country.
Militia.
Resolved, That the Debate upon the Bill concerning
the Militia Forces, be adjourned till To-morrow Morning; and nothing to intervene.
Levant Company.
The House being informed, That there were at the
Door divers of the Turky Company;
They were ordered to be called in: And, being come to
the Bar, one of them declared, That he was commanded,
by the Governor and Company of Merchants trading to
the Levant Seas, to present unto the House their humble
Petition: Which was received in; and, after they were
withdrawn, was read; and was intituled, "The humble
Petition of the Governor and Company of Merchants of
England, trading into the Levant Seas,"
The humble Petition of Sir Sackvile Crow Baronet, was
this Day read.
Resolved, That both these Petitions be referred to a
Committee, to examine the Matters alleged in them,
and to report their Opinion to the House: Viz. to Sir
Rich. Onslow, Alderman Dickenson, Alderman Foote, Sir
Christofer Pack, Colonel Fitz-James, Mr. Pury, Major
Beake, Colonel Shapcott, Colonel Beamont, Mr. Drake,
Mr. Lloyd, Mr. Bond, Doctor Clerges, Major Audley,
Mr. Bedford, Mr. Robinson, Colonel Mathews, Colonel
Twisleton, Judge-Advocate Whaley, Lord Strickland,
Captain Baines, Major-General Goff, Mr. Alsop, Mr.
Banckes, Mr. Bampfeild, Mr. Noell, Major General
Bridges, Mr. Jenkenson, Mr. Hampden, Mr. Gorges, Mr.
Fowell, Mr. Reynell, Mr. Pickering, Colonel Wood, Colonel Wilton, Colonel Grosvenor, Alderman Drury, Alderman Geldard, Mr. Smyth, Colonel Salmon, Sir Charles
Wolsley, Mr. Godfrey, Alderman Tigh, Mr. Stanley, Mr.
Burton, Mr. Moody, Captain Lister, Colonel Carter.
Resolved, That this Committee to whom these Petitions are referred, have Power, in this Case, to examine
Witnesses upon Oath: And the Committee are to meet
To-morrow in the Afternoon, at Two of the Clock, in
the Inner Court of Wards: With Power to send for
Persons, Papers, Witnesses, and Records.
Ordered, That the humble Petition of Walter Elford,
of London, Merchant, be also referred to the same
Committee.
Thanksgiving Day.
Ordered, That the Declaration touching the Day of
Thanksgiving, be reported on Thursday Morning next,
the first Business.
The Speaker.
Resolved, That those Ceremonies and Respects, that
were used to the former Speaker, shall be used to the
present Speaker; and that he have the Profits due to the
Speaker.
Oxford University.
Ordered, That the Committee for the Petition of the
University have Power to send for Persons, Papers, Records, and Witnesses: And that Sir Rich. Onsloe, Mr.
Bedford, Mr. Fowell, Mr. Drake, Mr. Trevor, Major
Audley, Mr. Robinson, Mr. Young, Mr. Lister, Mr.
Trenchard, Colonel Weldon, Mr. Pury, be added to that
Committee.
Milward's Estate.
Ordered, That the Committee for Mr. Milward's Bill
be revived: To meet on Thursday next, at Two of the
Clock in the Afternoon, in the Duchy-Chamber: And
that Sir Richard Lucy and Mr. Lucy be added to that
Committee.
Petition from London.
Ordered, That the Petition with which the Aldermen
of London did now attend, be received on Saturday next.
Exeter Ministers.
Ordered, That the Bill for Maintenance of Ministers
in Exon, be read on Saturday next.
Imanuell College.
Ordered, That the Bill for Imanuell College be read
the Second time on Saturday next.