Monday, March 12th, 1659.

Prayers.

Cust. Rot. of Dorsetshire.

ORDERED, That the Honourable Denzell Holles Esquire be, and is hereby, restored to be Custos Rotulorum of the County of Dorsett, to hold, execute and enjoy the said Office to the said Denzell Holles, in as large and beneficial Manner, to all Intents and Purposes, as any other Person or Persons have had, held, or enjoyed the same.

Sir G. Booth.

Ordered, That the Examinations of Sir George Booth, and his Lady and Servants, be taken off the File; and delivered unto the said Sir George Booth.

Sir T Soame.

Ordered, That the Votes touching Sir Thomas Soame, of the First of June 1649, be, and are hereby, discharged; and that they be also obliterated.

Sir A. Dick, &c.

Ordered, That the Report touching Sir Andrew Dick and Mrs. English be made To-morrow Morning.

Christ Church, Oxford.

Ordered, That Mr. Grove do make the Report touching Dr. Reynolds and Doctor Owen, touching the Deanry of Christ-Church, To-morrow Morning, the first Business.

Peck's Claims.

An Act for Satisfaction of the Sum of Three thousand Nine hundred and Forty-three Pounds Twelve Shillings and Three-pence Halfpeny, with Interest after Six Pounds per Centum, to Henry Peck Esquire, his Executors, Administrators, and Assigns, was this Day read the Second time; and, upon the Question, committed to the Committee that brought in the Bill: And are to meet, this Afternoon, in the Speaker's Chamber.

London Militia.

A Bill, ingrossed, for settling of the Militia of the City of London, was this Day read the Third time; and, upon the Question, passed.

Ordered, That this Act be printed and published.

Militia.

The House resumed the Debate upon the Bill for the Militia.

Mr. Serjeant Maynard reports from the Committee to whom a Proviso, tendered to be added to the Bill for the Militia, was referred, A Proviso, in these Words following; viz. "Provided, That no Commissioner, or Commissioned Officer, shall exercise any the Powers or Authorities herein mentioned, or any thing do, in pursuance thereof, until that he, in the Presence of Five or more of the said Commissioners, shall first acknowlege, in these Words following; to wit, "I do acknowlege and declare, That the War, undertaken by both Houses of Parliament, in their Defence, against the Forces raised in the Name of the late King, was just and lawful: And that Magistracy and Ministry are the Ordinances of God."

Which was read the First and Second time; and, upon the Question, ordered to be ingrossed.

The said Proviso was ingrossed, accordingly; and read; and ordered to be Part of the Bill.

The said Act, so amended, being put to the Question, passed.

Ordered, That this Act be forthwith printed and published.

Pension to Gardiner.

Ordered, That the Council of State do forthwith pay unto Maurice Gardiner One hundred Pounds, out of the Contingencies of the Council: And that the Pension of Twenty Shillings a Week, formerly ordered to Maurice Gardiner, with the Arrears thereof, be also forthwith paid and satisfied unto the said Maurice Gardiner, or his Assigns, out of the Contingencies of the Council of State, until his Debt be paid: And that the whole be accounted, and do go, in Part of Satisfaction of the Debt due and owing by the State to the said Maurice Gardiner.

Sheriffs.

Resolved, That Edward Trussell Esquire be, and is hereby nominated and appointed Sheriff for the County of Southampton: And that the Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal do pass a Patent to him, under the Great Seal, to be Sheriff of the County of Southampton, accordingly.

Resolved, That George Chetham, of Turton, Esquire, be, and is hereby nominated and approved of to be, Sheriff of the County of Lancaster: and that the Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal do pass a Patent to him, under the Great Seal, to be Sheriff of the County of Lancaster, accordingly.

Ordered, That the Report concerning the Duchy of Lancaster be made To-morrow Morning.

Resolved, That Thomas Catesby Esquire be, and is hereby, nominated Sheriff for the County of Bucks: And that the Lords Commissioners of the Great Seal do pass a Patent, under the Great Seal, for constituting him Sheriff of the said County of Bucks, accordingly.

Trinity House.

Mr. Pryn reports, The State of the Case touching the Trinity-House: Which was read.

Resolved, That Alexander Bense be, and is hereby, approved of to be, Master of the Trinity-House.

Resolved, That Captain Wm. Ryder be one of the new Wardens of Trinity-House.

Ordered, That this Report be re-committed: And that the Committee be, and are hereby, impowered to bring in Names of Wardens and Brethren for the Trinity-House, To-morrow Morning.

Popish Recusants.

A Proclamation, ingrossed in Parchment, for putting the Laws against Jesuits, Seminaries, and Popish Priests, in effectual Execution, was this Day read the Third time.

Resolved, That this be the Title to this Bill; viz. An Act and Declaration for putting the Laws against Priests and Jesuits in speedy and effectual Execution.

A Clause was tendered to the said Act, in these Words; viz. "And that the Discoverer of such Persons shall be free from the Penalties, which he may have incurred by any of the said Laws and Statutes:" Which was read the First and Second time; and, upon the Question, ordered to be ingrossed, and made Part of the Bill.

The said Clause was ingrossed accordingly; and read; and ordered to be Part of the Bill.

And the said Bill, so amended, was, upon the Question, passed.

Ordered, That this Act be forthwith printed and published.

Assessments.

Mr. Annesley reports from the Council of State, That it be humbly moved to the Parliament, That they will please to make some Abatement of the Assessments of Scotland and Ireland; or to pass an additional Instruction to the Powers of the Council, whereby the said Council may be authorized, either by themselves, or by Instructions to be, in that behalf, by them given to the Commissioners for managing the Affairs of Ireland and Scotland, so far to enlarge the Time for the Payment of the said Assessments laid upon them, as that they may be collected without the Ruin of the People.

Resolved, That the Council of State be, and are hereby authorized and impowered, either by themselves, or by Instructions to be, in that behalf, by them given to the Commissioners for managing the Affairs of Ireland and Scotland, so far to enlarge the time for the Payment of the Assessments laid upon them, as that they may be collected with more Ease to the People.

Ditto.

Mr. Annesley also reports from the Council of State, That the Parliament be humbly moved to order and declare, That all the Justices of Peace in the several Sheriffdoms of Scotland, and such others, as the Commissioners for the Managing and Governing of the Affairs of Scotland shall appoint, may be Commissioners for the present Assessment there: And that such others, named for Commissioners, as shall not act as Justices, do not intermeddle as Commissioners of the Assessments there, in any Case whatsoever.

Resolved, That the Parliament doth agree with the Council of State, That this further Instruction be given to the Council of State, That the Council of State do authorize all Justices of Peace in the several Sheriffdoms of Scotland, and such others, as the Commissioners for Managing and Governing of the Affairs of Scotland shall appoint, to be Commissioners for the present Assessment there: And that such others, named for Commissioners, being named in the Commission of the Peace, and shall not act as Justices of the Peace, do not meddle as Commissioners of the Assessments, in any Case.

Impresting Seamen.

He also reports from the Council of State, That it be humbly reported to the Parliament, as the Opinion of the Council, That it will be very necessary, for the Service of the Commonwealth, that the Act of Parliament for Impresting of Mariners, to serve in the Fleets and Ships of this Commonwealth, be forthwith revived, and continued.

Resolved, That an Act be brought in for Impresting of Mariners, to serve in the Fleets and Ships of this Commonwealth.

Ordered, That Mr. Attorney-General do bring in the said Act.

Assessments.

Mr. Annesley also reports from the Council of State, That the Parliament be humbly moved, That (if they shall, in their Wisdom, judge fit) an additional Instruction may be given to the Council, for enabling them to remove any Obstruction in the levying and raising Money payable upon the Act for monthly Assessments, by naming of new Commissioners, or otherwise, as they shall find for the best Advantage of the Commonwealth's Service in that Particular.

Resolved, That an Act be brought in, according to this Report: And that Mr. Annesley do bring it in To-morrow.