Wednesday, January 21, 1656–7.
Mr. Speaker acquainted the House, that he had received
(as sent from the Council) copies of the examinations of
John Cecil and John Toope, read in this House the 19th of
January, instant; (fn. 1) and also a printed book, intituled "A
True Account of the late bloody and inhuman Conspiracy,
against his Highness, the Lord Protector, and this Common
wealth." (fn. 2)
Ordered, that the said copies of the said examinations do
remain on record in Parliament; and that the said book do
remain in this House.
The Lord Commissioner Whitlock reported, that the Committee appointed to wait upon his Highness, the Lord Protector, to appoint a time when this House may attend on his
Highness, to congratulate with him for the great mercy and
deliverance, that his Highness is pleased to give the Parlia
merit a meeting on Friday next, at eleven o'clock in the morning, at Whitehall.
The House, according to former Order, resumed the debate adjourned yesterday, upon the Bill for continuing and
assessing of a tax for maintaining of the militia forces.
During this debate, exceptions were taken against words
spoken by Mr. Cromwell, (fn. 3) as charging some Major-generals
to have acted unjustly, and against law. It was desired, that
they might be named; but it was put off until the main debate ended, that it might not interrupt the same.
Footnotes
| 1 |
See supra, p. 355. |
| 2 |
See the "Brief Relation," Appendix, No. 1. The following appeared in the English prints about this time:—
"From Edinburgh, December 27. The news of the happy discovery
of the late villainous assassination, intended upon his Highness's person,
came very acceptable hither. If the enemy be put to these base shifts
of malice, we shall the less fear them in their more public designs.
That Sindercomb was of old one of the levelling party, that long since
manifested himself to be malcontented by his mutinous behaviour several
tunes, and for that cause he was cashiered, as some others were in this
country, by General Monk.
"It seems Charles Stuart thinks his debauched, ranting remnants will
hardly be able to effect any thing upon England, so long as his Highness
is alive; which should induce us, and all the people of these nations, the
rather to set ourselves to use our utmost endeavours for the preservation
of his Highness's person, and to come to such a settlement, as may secure him and us, and after him, the preservation of this cause, and of
the public peace, that it may not be in the power of any villain to aim
at our confusion. If Charles, in the meantime, or any of his, dare venture over into this nation, we are in a good posture to receive them;
and he will find but few here, that will meddle in his matters."—Mercuric Politicus, No. 347. |
| 3 |
Probably Colonel Henry Cromwell, Junr. He was the Protector's
nephew. |