presenting the Names of such piou; and able men, who by reason of
the tendernesse of their consciences cannot conforme to the present
Ordinance for Ordination to preach.
The Petition of the Resormadoe Officers in Collonel Sandersons
Regiment was this day read so likewise was the Petition of the two
thousand five hundered persons in Mr.Potters list, Whereupon it
was ordered, that it should be referred to the Committee of Goldsmiths
Hall to take these petitions into their consideration and to
report their opinions to the House.
An Act was brought into the House for appointing a Constitution
of Government for the English Plantation at Florida; There
was also an Act read for the setling the Colledge of Westminster,
and for the preserving some lands cut of the Deans and Chapters,
which are not to be sold but reserved for the maintenance of Westminster
Schoole, which was referred to a Committee with Instructions
how to proceed therein.
Instructions were passed for Mr.Attorney Generall to make a
further Examination of severall Commissions directed to severall
popish priests from the Bishop of Chalcedon, whom the Pope hath
constituted to be cheife Bishop of great Brittaine. The substance of
the Commissions is to give power to the said Priests. To settle in
England the Religion of the Church of Rome, concerning which
and who are they who are to be Assistance to them in the advancement
of this work, a new Examination will suddenly be made.
Something was received from Edingborough concerning the
present Condition of the Kingdome of Scotland, which I will give
unto you in these following words.
SIR in my last I told you of the dissolving of the two great Judieatures.
The parliament adjourned till March next, and the General
Assembly till August 5. There were some disputes about the annuall
rents of moneys, the two Estates, viz, the Lords and Barons, agreeing
to call it down to 6. per cent. The other viz. The Burroughs, protesting
against the same, and after an hours dispute, and the burroughs deserting
she House, it was calmed with the wisdome of the godly Ministers,
that it was dangerous to broach divisions and so the honest Burroughs
were contented to preserve union and the advice of the Ministers,
and so concluded 6. per cent. for this next year, which will be a great
losse to Orphans and Widowes but too great benefit to men who pay annuall
rents, This will make men turn all to be Merchants if we had the
Seas open.