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militia, whilst the army and the officers thereof keep their integrity, that he can make any use thereof, but for publick ends, and there. fore it would be onus non honos.

3. It is fit his highness should have an honourable, though not the only interest, in the commanding the militia: Therefore, let him be always sought unto, to join with the parliament, in the dispose of the forces of the nation.

And, as for those of the other house, let them pass (or so many of them as the parliament shall think fit) into the council of state; and, if they have a concurrent vote with his highness and the com. mons, yet no negative vote, their usefulness may be chiefly in the vacancy of parliaments, not to be a balance upon the commons; let their balance be that reason and righteousness that is amongst themselves, as to the things of this world, which is their proper sphere.

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THE ACTS AND MONUMENTS OF OUR LATE

PARLIAMENT:

OR,

A COLLECTION OF THE ACTS, ORDERS, VOTES, AND RESOLVES, THAT HAVE PASSED IN THE HOUSE.

BY SAMUEL BUTLER, Author of Hudibras.

London: Printed according to Order, 1659. And reprinted this year 1710. And sold by J. Baker, at the Black Boy in Pater-noster-Row. Octavo, containing sixteen pages.

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READER,

THOU

An Advertisement to the Reader.

HOU art desired to take notice of the last order of parliament in this book mentioned, whereby I am enjoined, upon my oath, to discover only things tolerable, and agreeable to the practice formerly of the long parliament; now the lands be sold, offices. disposed of, and their own turns satisfied, and they turned out; I shall acquaint you further: For it is a maxim here, that, if I swear to be faithful to another, if that other hath the worse of it, I am not bound by this oath: And this is the opinion of all reformed divines, and, to my knowledge, hath been put in practice for these eighteen years: So that, being now discharged of that oath, I shall ' hereafter discharge a good conscience, and set forth a history of rare things. These are not an ace to them I have in my budget. J. CANNE.*

Farewell.

This Canne was a noted man amongst the saints in those times; therefore, the author. made use of his name, in order to conceal himself.

May the 9th, 1659.]-THIS day their small assembly was resolved into a grand committee, to debate what the house should be called in ordinary proceedings.

Lenthall. It shall be called, The New-Exchange.

Vane. It shall be called, The House of Prayer.

Hasilrig. It shall be called, A Gaol, for I see Martin and other gaol-birds here.

Lowry. It shall be called, Haberden.

Skippon. It shall be called, A Den of Thieves..
Atkins. It shall be called, A House of Office.

Scot. It shall be called, The Free-State Cross.

Saloway. That is a superstitious name. Let it be called, The Armies Ware-house.

Martin. Let it be called, A Church, for we are all saints.

St. John. I am of opinion, that, by the ancient known laws of England, this is the legallest parliament that ever was; and that the men, that met here by Oliver's and Richard's writs, made but illegal assemblies; therefore let it be called, The ParliamentHouse.

Baron Hill.

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Baron Nichols. We are of the same opinion strongly.
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Withrington. I shall declare no opinion as to the point, but shall consider thereof.

Prynne this day got in, and he would have it called Bedlam; for here is frantick Mr. St. John, hair-brained Hasilrig, sensless Lowry and Atkins, possessed Vane, distracted Nichols, and a multitude more of mad-men, besides fools; therefore he thought it fit that the chains and fetters might be removed from Newgate hither, to be keepers of the liberties: Thereupon the house ordered it to be referred to a committee, and adjourned till the afternoon; and that Mr. Prynne should come no more there, for he was too wise and too honest to be in that place.

In the afternoon they met, and upon debate these things were resolved on.

First resolved, that the family of the Cromwells are not born protectors.

Secondly resolved, that it is more convenient we should have the government, we having already the crown-lands. So they adjourned till the next morning.

May 10th.-This day it was referred to a committee, to consider of the self-denying ordinance; and they are to take notice, that there are several king's lands yet to be sold; therefore they are to report, whether it be convenient that that ordinance be in force

or no.

May 11th. This day this committee, whereof St. John was chair-man, reported to the house, that by law that ordinance was of no force, for the intent of the makers of laws must be observed; and it cannot be intended, that the makers thereof would so far prejudice their own interests, as to have that ordinance to be in force when lands are to be sold, and places to be disposed of.

May 12th.-Ordered, that this day, usually called Ascensionday, be no more called so; but henceforth May 7th be called by that name, in commemoration of our ascent to the old shop on that day. And this was the great work of that day.

From May 13th to May 20th.-The house took into their consideration the titles of honour and dignity conferred by 'Squire Oliver and his son Richard; and, also other titles to be given : And thereupon it was enacted as follows:

The Contents of the Act for Names, Titles, and Dignities, &c.

First enacted, that our fellow-member, Alderman Atkins, be no more called, Alderman Tom, Alderman Shitbreech, Sir Tom, Sir Alderman, Tom Thumb; but in all ordinary proceedings he be called and stiled, Tom Fool; and, in exigents, let him be named, Tom Turd.

Secondly, that Harry Nevill be no more called, Religious Harry Nevill, that the people may take notice he is one of the council of state.

Thirdly, that the eldest son of Oliver Protector have the same addition of title and dignity, that the long-parliament conferred upon the eldest son of the late king to all intents and purposes. Fourthly, t that all other titles of honour whatsoever be sequestered, and the profits arising thence to go to the payment of the late protector's debts.

Provided that this act, nor any thing herein, shall be construed to take away or null those apt and reasonable titles that are given to the several members and council of state, and recorded in the excellent book of England's Confusion. From May 20th to June 1.-This day the regulation of the law was taken into consideration: and,

Resolved, that the ablest lawyers be prohibited to judge or prac tise, that the law may flourish, and justice be done.

Ordered, that old Colonel Walton grow young again before three weeks, or the dissolution of this parliament; and by that time become as frolick as he was with the barber's wife, that his young wife may no longer be forced to get a snap abroad, at the great charge of the publick: And that, in the interim, he sit close in the house; and, that she hath allowed to her an universal toleration during that time, and no longer.

Yesterday the colt, formerly drowned at Huntingdon, and taken up at the great charge and pains of the mayor and recorder, was voted a sturgeon, nemine contradicente: And, it was ordered, that Serjeant Bernard have the next sturgeon to his own use, any grant or prescription to others notwithstanding.

Resolved, that Paul's steeple is the cross that stood formerly in Cheapside; and, therefore, to be pulled down forthwith.

Reported from a Committee of Safety as follows:

That the best way to settle this nation in peace, is to sell the residue of the lands, &c. and dispose of them amongst the parlia-,

4

ment-men that were not liberally provided for before 1653. Yet we conceive that Sir Arthur Hasilrig remembered himself pretty well before that time; however, if the parliament adjudged 300001. per annum not sufficient for him, let him have more.

This report was taken into consideration accordingly, being of great import.

Thereupon the house resolved into a grand committee, to debate the proportioning of the said lands, to the particular members, according to their wants.

Lenthall. Gentlemen, Can you think that I, that I your Speaker, your everlasting Speaker, who am resolved to live and die with you at 51. per diem, can live to maintain myself and fa mily at that great rate I now live at, and support the grandeur that should attend the Speaker to so noble persons with 130001. per annum, and not above 800001. in personal estate?

Skippon. I have enough of 10001. per annum, and desire no more to live as well as Mr. Speaker.

Hasilrig. You say well, but 1000001. per annum is better; and upon my credit I want Daniel Collingwood's estate to make me up 300001. per annum; I pray consider it.

Scot. Gentlemen, My father-in-law, Plush-Bacon, is dead, and hath cheated me of 5000l. besides, it will take 100001. per annum to make me honest.

Martin. If I have not enough to pay my debts at present, and to maintain as many whores as the Earl of Middlesex, Lord Monson (my fellow-boarder in Southwark) or the late Earl of Warwick; I'll leave the house, and go to prison again: What! do you think I'll help to cheat the people for nothing?

Vane. Come, Gentlemen, if you will be a little religious, you may make shift with 150001. per annum as I do.

Darly. My eldest son wishes me hanged that I served so long in this trade, and am like to leave him no better estate. Pray think on it. St. John. I have built me a little house lately, and waut some ground to lay to it. If you'll grant me a forest, I'll remove my house thither, for the law is as clear as it was in the Earl of Strafford's case: That I may remove it by habeas corpus.

Weavour. Come, Gentlemen, you are a little too busy; take, heed the army prevent not the design; I am a good willer to the mathematicks myself; but let's make them sure, for upon my credit Lambert is no fool: Thereupon the house adjourned till June

the first.

From June the 1st to the 4th.-This day the house took into consideration that seasonable motion of Mr. Weavour, and have ordered as follows:

Ordered, that the army-officers be fooled out of their old com. missions, by vertue of which they were our masters; and that they take new ones from us, by vertue of which we are their masters.

Ordered likewise, that we juggle with some of the stoutest and soberest colonels in the army, to go snips with us underhand, that they may curb the rest, and keep them in awe.

Ordered, that Hacker and Okey be two of them; and that there be but two besides listed into this confederacy, lest it be discovered, or lest we give too much from ourselves.

Ordered lastly, that this present parliament sit till May next (if Lambert be not too cunning for them before that time) and that, in the interim, parliament-men be valued at a penny a-piece; and that the former value of twelve a penny, set upon them in 1653, be made void.

June the 4th.-This day the house took into consideration the business between Harry Nevill and Stroud, sheriffs in Berkshire, which is referred to a committee to report, If it be not all the reason in the world, that one of the council of state should have fifteen hundred pounds, whether it belongs to him, or no? And that Stroud should pay it, for not returning him to that parliament, which Nevill had a hundred times sworn to be no parliament.

Ordered by the house, that Mr. St. John be assistant to that committee, to inform how the same stands; and whether Magna Charta doth not warrant that, as well as the dark lanthorn.

Monday, June the 6th.-This day came an express from Ireland, that the noble and valiant deputy will, before long, learn Fleetwood more wit, and Lambert more honesty; and that he will turn these jugglers out of their box, as his father did.

Ordered thereupon, that he forthwith repair to England, if he be such a fool; and that we catch him in our clutches, if we can, lest he obstruct our religious designs.

June the 7th.-This day the house considered of Mr. Harring. ton's proposals concerning a free state; and thereupon

Resolved, that he is a fool to busy his noddle about that which the house never thinks on; for, when they have made all even, they will break up school.

June the 8th. Ordered, that Mr. Harrington be forthwith dispatched to Jamaica, that famous island, and form his commonwealth there; and that he hath all the golden mines for his pains.

June the 9th.-Resolved, that all papists and jesuits be tolerated in England; and that anabaptists and quakers be inserted into the army; that, by that time the parliament have gotten into their hands the residue of what is left, the army may make mutinics among themselves, and discharge us, and set the people against them, and we go scot-free.

June the 10th.-The house, this day, upon consideration that the High and Mighty Prince Vane is to marry with the illustrious infant of Wimbleton-house, ordered, that Richard Cromwell depart from thence forthwith, to make way for their Highnesses; and that the Banqueting-house be prepared with a pair of bagpipes and a north-country jig, to entertain the nobles, that shall attend the solemnisation of those nuptials.

June the 11th, to June the 18th.-Ordered, that Hacker and Okey have a strict eye of Lambert, when he goes to Whitehall, lest he steps into the chair.

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The house called Mr. Canne in, and ordered him to publish only

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