Monday, the 4th of April, 1659.
Prayers.
Taunton Election.
Mr. Scott reports, from the Committee for Privileges and Elections, The Opinion of the said
Committee concerning the Election of Sir William
Windham Baronet, and Colonel Thomas Gorges, to serve
as Members in this present Parliament for the Borough
of Taunton in the County of Somerset: And that the
Committee had taken into Consideration the Petition of
divers Inhabitants of the said Borough, on the Behalf of
themselves, and others: That an Indenture was produced
to the said Committee, subscribed for the Election of Dr.
John Palmer, and Richard Bovett, Esquires, to serve for
the said Borough as Members in this present Parliament;
but not returned, nor filed: That in the said Petition, it
was complained of, That the Mayor of the said Town of
Taunton, who, by another Indenture, filed and returned,
had returned the said Sir Wm. Wyndham, and Colonel
Gorges, as Members, duly elected, for the said Borough:
Finding, at the Election, by the Voices of the People, that
Dr. Palmer, and Mr. Bovett, had the greater Number
of Electors; did, by translating the Poll from one Place
to another, without the Petitioners and others Consent,
discourage them from Prosecution of their Right in Electing: And that the said Mayor refused to take the Names
of divers of the Petitioners, and others, then present,
who voted for Dr. Palmer, and Mr. Bovett; and to insert them into the Poll, tho' often called upon, and desired to do it: That, upon Two Days Hearing of Counsel, and Examination of Witnesses, on both Sides, before
the Committee, it was resolved, upon the Question, by
the Committee, and ordered to be reported to the House,
as the Opinion of the said Committee, That, notwithstanding any thing to them appearing to the contrary,
upon the whole Matter, Sir William Wyndham, and
Colonel Thomas Gorges, are duly elected, and duly returned, to sit and serve as Members in this present Parliament for the Borough of Taunton.
Resolved, &c. That this House doth agree with the
Committee, That Sir William Windham, and Col. Thomas
Gorges, are duly elected, and duly returned, to serve as
Members in this present Parliament for the Borough of
Taunton.
The humble Petition of Hugh Gunston, Mayor of the
Town of Taunton in the County of Somerset, was presented to the House to be read.
And the Question being propounded, That this Petition be now read;
The House was divided.
The Yeas went forth.
|
|
|
| Sir William Windham, |
Tellers for the Yea: |
94. |
| Mr. Wise, |
With the Yea, |
| Mr. Gorges, |
Tellers for the Noe: |
62. |
| Colonel Grosvenor, |
With the Noe, |
So it was Resolved, upon the Question, That this Petition be now read.
The said Petition was read accordingly: And,
It is Resolved, &c. That the Petitioner Hugh Gunston
be left to take his Remedy at Law, for the Matters complained of by him in this Petition.
Publick Fast.
In pursuance of the Order made on Saturday last, the
House resumed the Debate, then adjourned, upon the
Declaration for a Publick Fast.
The Eleventh Paragraph was read; and was in these
Words; viz. "For which Purpose, His Highness the
Lord Protector, and the Parliament, do appoint, That
in all Places within England, Scotland, and Ireland, and
the Dominions thereto belonging, the Day of
be set apart, and observed as a Day of solemn Fasting,
and Humiliation, in all Churches, Chapels, and Congregations within the same."
Resolved, &c. That the Blanks, in this Paragraph, be
filled up with these Words respectively; viz. "Twelfth;"
and "May next."
The Blanks were filled up at the Table, accordingly;
and the whole Eleventh Paragraph, so amended, upon the
Question, resolved to be Part of the said Declaration.
The Twelfth Paragraph was read; and was in these
Words; viz. "And we do will and require all Ministers
and Pastors of Congregations to read this Declaration
in their several Churches, Chapels, and Congregations,
on the Lord's Day next before the said Day of Publick
Fasting; to the end the same may be the better taken
notice of.
Resolved, &c. That these Words, "or cause to be
read," be added, in this Clause, next after the Word
"read."
Resolved, &c. That these Words, "will and require,"
shall stand in this Paragraph.
And the Paragraph being amended at the Table; and
the Words "or cause to be read," inserted; was assented
to; and, upon the Question, resolved to be Part of this
Declaration.
The Thirteenth and last Paragraph was read; and was
in these Words; viz. "And we do also hereby will and
require all Justices of the Peace and other Officers, to
see that the said Day be duly observed: And do prohibit
all Fairs, Markets, ordinary Labours, and Employments,
and all Recreations, upon the said Day."
Resolved, &c. That the Word "we" be added, in this
Paragraph, between the Word "and," and the Words
"do prohibit."
Resolved, &c. That these Words, "Opening of Shops,
and other," be added, after the Word "Markets," and
before the Word "ordinary," in this Paragraph.
The Amendments were accordingly made at the Table;
and then the whole Paragraph assented unto; and, upon
the Question, resolved to be Part of this Declaration.
Resolved, &c. That, in the Eleventh Paragraph, already
passed, after the Words "For which Purpose," these
Words; viz. "as also, to implore a Blessing from God
upon the Counsels and Proceedings of this present Parliament; be added, and made Part of this Declaration.
Resolved, &c. That this Declaration, thus amended,
be ingrossed.
Resolved, &c. That this Declaration, ingrossed, be
read To-morrow Morning, the first Business; and that
nothing else do then intervene.