Die Mercurii, 6 Decembris, 1648.
PRAYERS.
Secluded Members.
THE House, being informed That divers Members,
coming to attend the House, were staid, and carried to the Queen's Court, or Court of Wards, commanded the Serjeant to go to them to require them to
attend the House.
Mr. Serjeant brings Answer, That he signified to the
Members in the Queen's Court; viz. That it was the
Pleasure of the House, That they should forthwith come
and attend the House.
The Members seemed willing to consent: But an Officer there gave him this Answer:
"That he could not suffer them to come, till he had
received his Orders: Which he had sent for."
Tumults in the City.
Resolved, &c. That Major General Skippon do forthwith go into the City, to employ his best Endeavours to
appease any Tumults that may happen there.
Committee to attend the General.
Ordered, That the Committee, appointed to go Yesterday to the General, do presently go upon that Employment: And that the said Committee, or any Three of
them, be a Quorum; and have Power to act upon That
Service: And that Sir Thomas Widdrington be desired to
go as one.
Message from the General.
The House being informed, That there was a Message
at the Door, from the General;
It is Resolved, &c. That the Messengers from the
General be called in.
And they were called in: And Lieutenant Colonel
Axtell informed the House, That he, and the rest of the
Gentlemen with him, were commanded, by the General and
General Council of the Army, to acquaint them, That
the General had somewhat to present unto you; which
will be ready for your present View.
Resolved, &c. That Lieutenant Colonel Axtell, and the
rest of the Gentlemen, employed from the General, be
again called in: And that Mr. Speaker do desire them to
acquaint the House again with their Message; and that
if they have any thing to deliver, that the House will
be ready to receive it.
Lieutenant Colonel Axtell, and the other Gentlemen,
were again called in; and do acquaint the House, That
his Excellency the Lord General, and the General Council of Officers, had commanded them to acquaint this
House, That they had something to deliver to this House,
this Morning, of very high Concernment; which will be
presently ready for their View.
Mr. Speaker accordingly did return them Answer, That
the House will be ready to receive it, and consider of it.
Mr. Pierrepont reports, that himself, and some
others of the Committee, had been with the General last
Night: That the Officers not being then with him, he
desired them to come To-morrow Morning: That, accordingly, divers of the Committee did now attend the
General: That, by Word of Mouth, he did offer something in Answer to the Order: That the Committee did
desire to have the Answer in Writing; and did insist to
have it in Writing: And then they were desired to stay a
little. Which they thinking might be some Half an Hour,
at least, thought it fit to come to attend the House in the
mean time, to give you an Account: And that, if the
House commanded them, they would give an Account of
what passed, by Word of Mouth: And so much they had
signified to the General.
The Officers from the General were called in:
And Colonel Whaley acquainted the House, That they
were commanded by his Excellency the Lord General, and
the General Council of the Officers, to present something
to this House.
The which (the Officers being withdrawn) was read;
and was directed, "To the honourable the Commons
of England, in Parliament assembled;" and intituled,
"The humble Proposals and Desires of his Excellency
the Lord Fairfax, and the General Council of Officers,
December the 6th, 1648, in order to a speedy Prosecution of Justice, and the Settlement formerly propounded
by them; and, by the Appointment of his Excellency
the Lord Fairefax, Lord General, and his General
Council of Officers, December the 6th, 1648, signed
"Jo. Rushworth."
Secluded Members.
Resolved, &c. That the Committee do confer with the
General, for the Discharge of the Members.