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Lucy Hutchinson (1620–1681). Memoirs of Colonel Hutchinson. 1906.

Appendix XXXII: Colonel Hutchinson to the Speaker

‘On Thursday the twelfth instant at ten of the clock at night, I received two letters from you, directed to me as sheriff of Nottinghamshire—the one commanding me to publish the Parliament’s declarations, which I have done: the other, to deliver your letters to the several members who serve for the county, which I have likewise performed, and received their answers. Mr Pigott, who hath been of late in some distemper of his health, resolves with all speed, if God enable him, to give his attendance. Mr Nevill, who at the present hath upon him a fit of the stone, so soon as he is able to ride, will do the same: and Mr Millington is fitting himself with what speed his very urgent occasions will give him leave to make. As for myself, it hath pleased God to visit my whole family with great sickness, and of late my wife, watching with whom I have brought a distemper upon myself, which hath forced me into a course of physic, which I will break presently off, and, so soon as I am able to endure the air, which I hope will be within ten days, shall begin my journey, in order to my attendance upon my duty in the parliament; blessing God for his great goodness, in restoring them to a freedom of sitting again, and praying that the results of their counsels may be as much to the glory of God, and good of this nation, as their reassembling gives joyful hopes thereof to, Sir, your most faithful and most humble servant,

OWTHORPE, IN NOTTINGHAMSHIRE,
May the 14th, 1659.

In spite of this letter, Colonel Hutchinson did not appear in the House of Commons till five weeks later, probably detained by the illness mentioned in the letter. On June 20th it was ordered that Colonel Hutchinson should be dispensed with, as to his attendance on the office of sheriff in the county of Nottingham, and required to attend the service of the House. On the 22d of June he was present, and between that date and the 20th of August was appointed to serve on eight committees. On July 4th, for instance, he was nominated one of the members of the committee to inquire into ‘what is due for mourning for the late Lord-general Cromwell, and how the same may be paid without prejudice or charge to the Commonwealth’.

After August 20th he seems to have ceased attending, and at a call of the House on September 30, he is fined twenty pounds for being absent.—Commons’ Journals, vol. vii.