Tuesday, June 9, 1657.
The Bill for Three Months' Assessments in Ireland (fn. 1) was
read the third time, and passed.
After two hours' debate upon the third reading of the Post
Bill, (fn. 2) it was also passed.
Dr. Clarges offered three or four provisos, which had but
ill success. He was against the whole Bill, and called it a
monopoly. He said that he was advised by a friend, on Saturday last, not to meddle against this Bill, for that an honourable and eminent person was concerned in it; but, rather
than forfeit his conscience to the House, he would forfeit all
friendship from any person whatsoever.
Colonel Jones excepted against such reflection, and justified
the Bill to be no monopoly.
Mr. Godfrey tendered a proviso to continue the Bill for
seven years, which was rejected.
Mr. West tendered a proviso that no man's horse should be
taken without his consent, which passed.
Dr. Clarges tendered a proviso to free members' letters;
but it was rejected, and at last the Bill was passed.
The titles of the Bills to be carried up this day to his
Highness were read.
Major Beake moved, that the carrying up the Bill for
setting prices of wines might be suspended, for some time,
in regard it has a retrospect, and it is not just to punish persons ex post facto. A thousand families will be undone
by it, and the vintners have bought in their wines at full
prices.
After debate awhile upon this, when some moved for a
longer time, till 15th November; others, to commence now;
and others said, that after the Bill was passed, we could not
alter it, but must either repeat it, or set forth a declaration.
Mr. Speaker and Mr. Downing have known it done, and
instanced in the alteration upon the Bill for naturalizing the
other day, and this is of more consequence than the changing
of a boy for a girl.
At last it was resolved to begin, the 15th August next.
Major-General Disbrowe. I move, that the Bill for Catechising be left behind, to be better considered on. There is
something in it which will discontent many godly persons,
and make them mourn.
Major-General Kelsey. I know it, that many godly ministers are discontented at it, and do mourn for it. If it pass
without further consideration, I doubt we may grieve at it,
and repent it when it will be too late. I desire it may be
suspended.
Mr. Vincent and Colonel Briscoe. I hope, if it were laid
in the balance, more godly men rejoice at it than any that are
against it. I do beg it on my knees that you would not
forbear this Bill. You have but one Bill that concerns religion, and to leave it behind is very strange. I beseech you
do not neglect such a duty.
Major-General Goffe. I second that motion, that the Bill
be left behind. It does grieve the souls of a great many
godly ministers. I am as willing to beg it on my knees as
any man, you would not now carry it up.
Colonel Jones seconded that motion, and urged it strongly
with the same arguments.
Sir John Thorowgood and Mr. Godfrey made a very
earnest motion that the Bill might not be left behind. They
despaired of ever doing any thing upon it after this, and
hoped that such a Bill as this, which was worth them all,
should not stop, and humbly moved that no such question be
put.
Major-General Jephson. I move to leave it behind, without a question. It would not be handsome to have a negative upon it.
Mr. Godfrey, for some reason, moved, that it might be carried up without a question, as that was more proper.
Mr. Speaker declared for the Noes, upon that question.
The House was divided.
Yeas 82. Sir J. Thorowgood, and Mr. Thomas, Tellers.
Noes 7. Captain Blackwell, and Major Beake, Tellers. (fn. 3)
Major-General Goffe. Now the House is so full, (fn. 4) you could
intimate to the members what public business you have, and
how you are to sit, forenoon and afternoon, and desire they
would attend.
Lord Lambert moved that the orders, as to the designment
of public business, be read; and they were read accordingly.
Major-General Goffe. Observing the House at a stand,
having nothing to do until his Highness give us notice of his
being in the Painted Chamber, I move that a short bill for
Mrs. Bastwick (fn. 5) may be read.
Mr. Godfrey and Sir William Strickland seconded that motion.
Lord Cochrane. This is a private business, and makes a
breach into your order. So I move that you would not
read it now.
Yet the House having nothing to do, the order was dispensed with, nemine contradicente, and the bill was read accordingly and passed.
Colonel Sankey offered a rider to be annexed to this bill for
settling 100l. per annum, upon the widow of a poor minister
in Ireland, one Mr. Moorcock, as was moved by the Lord
Deputy.
The rider was long, and it was going to be read, but the
serjeant came in and acquainted the House that the Serjeantat-Arms attended at the door from his Highness.
Mr. Speaker moved that a new bill might be brought in,
by a bill of itself.
Mr. Pury. I desire you would now receive it.
Colonel John Jones. Appoint a day to bring in a bill to
this purpose, for I can say a great deal of the worth of this
minister.
It was resolved that a bill be brought in to this purpose.
The Bill for Mrs. Bastwick was passed, and ordered now to
be carried up for his Highness's consent.
General Montagu. I move to leave the bill for exportation of fish behind you, at this time. I have a petition in my
hands against it, wherein it appears that it is destructive to
trading.
Captain Hatsel. If petitions can prevail, I have two or
three petitions for the bill. It does so concern your greatest
trade, that is fishing, and your navigation, that you cannot
suspend it without great prejudice.
So this bill was also ordered to be presented; and another
question put, both upon this and the other bills, as to passing
of it, and deferring his Highness's consent, notwithstanding
the former votes to that purpose when the bill first passed.
Serjeant Middleton came into the House, and (fn. 6) acquainted
the House that his Highness was in the room next to the end
lately called the Lords' House, and that he expected the Parliament, in the Painted Chamber, and so withdrew.
Hereupon Mr. Speaker, with the whole House, went
thither, (fn. 7) (nobody leading Mr. Speaker, which was an omission,) and there (fn. 8) a short speech (fn. 9) was made by Mr. Speaker to
his Highness, relating to the slowness of great bodies moving,
and how our fruits were like that of the harvest, not all ripe
at a time, but every thing in its season, and how he hoped
that this was but the vintage, to the autumn the Parliament
were preparing, (fn. 10) and that it was not with their productions
as with Rebecca's births, where one had another by the heel,
but that their generation of laws was like that of natural generation, and that his Highness was the sun in the firmament
of this Commonwealth, and he must give the ultimate life and
breath to our laws.
Then, after the titles of thirty-eight bills were read, and
the bills consented to, the thirty-ninth was offered, to wit, the
bill for catechising, to which, after a little pause, his Highness returned this answer, "I am desirous to advise of this
bill;" which was entered by the clerk in these words. "The
Lord Protector will advise of this bill."
See a particular of these bills, infra, (fn. 11) and his Highness's
speech.
This done, the House returned about two o'clock, and the
Speaker offered to report what was done, but the House inclining to adjourn till three, it was so resolved.
At the rising of the House,
Mr. Bampfield, standing by the table, said, that his Highness never did himself such an injury as he had done this day.
Mr. Scobell (fn. 12) told him he ought not to say so; but he said
he would say it anywhere.
Mr. Godfrey questioned the clerk for postponing (fn. 13) the Bill
for catechising, who answered he had warrant for what he did.
Being asked, who could give him warrant but the Parliament?
he answered, he could well justify what he did.
Quere, how ?
Post meridiem.
The bill for Three Years Assessment was read the first
time. After the Report made of his Highness's speech, (fn. 14) upon
passing of the bills,
The Report upon the bill for the new buildings, was proceeded upon; and in the debate upon the Lord Clare's petition
for abatement,
Mr. Pedley took occasion to reflect highly upon my Lord
Clare, and said he was one of those that had forsworn building of churches. He had built a house for the flesh, (meaning
the shambles in new market (fn. 15) ) but he doubted he would hard
ly do as David did, build a house for the spirit; and a great
deal of this kind of language.
Mr. Speaker and Lord Whitlock took him down, and said,
such scurrilous language did not become this place, and that
if we would not do this person, who was an honourable person
and well deserving, a favour upon his petition, we ought not
to do him a displeasure by such reflections. We were servants to the people, and every freeholder as free in his estate
and reputation as any man, and it is not our part nor duty to
meddle with persons while we are debating of things.
It was moved, that the gentleman might explain himself,
and others took high notice of the reflection.
It was moved, that instead of the petitioner's craving abatements, he might have his new market confirmed to him according to the Bill before us.
See the Journal for the result of this debate. (fn. 16)
I went to the post-house to meet Mr. Noel, (fn. 17) and stayed till
past nine, and he came not.