House of Commons Journal Volume 3: 15 September 1643

Die Veneris, 15 Septembris, 1643.

PRAYERS.

Listing Watermen.

AN Ordinance for the freeing and privileging of the Apprentices of such Watermen as shall list themselves under the Service of Sir Wm. Waller, was this Day read; and, by Vote upon the Question, assented unto.

Military Affairs.

A Letter from his Excellency the Earl of Essex, from Tewxbury, of the Tenth of September; and from Colonel Massie, of the Eleventh of September; relating the Condition of the Army, and of the City of Gloucester; was this Day read.

Resolved, That Colonel Massie shall have a Thousand Pounds bestowed upon him, as a Reward, and an Acknowledgement of his Service; whereof Five hundred Pounds to be paid in present: And that it be recommended to my Lord General to advance him to some Place of Honour and Profit. And it is especially recommended to the Committee for Advance of Monies to take care that this Thousand Pounds be paid with all convenient Speed.

Resolved, That the Arrears to the Garison of Gloucester shall be forthwith paid, upon Account made; and that the Monies in Mr. Stevens' Hand shall be made Four thousand Pounds: And that the Officers and Soldiers of that Garison shall have a Month's Pay bestowed upon them, as a Reward of their Service. And it is referred to the Committee for Advance of Monies, to provide these Monies with all Speed: Who are to meet upon it this Afternoon, at Three of Clock.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee for the Safety, to take Order for the sending of the Thousand Men, the Troops of Horse, the Pistols, and other Provisions, desired by Colonel Massie's Letter.

Resolved, That Twenty Pounds shall be bestowed upon the Messenger that brought these Letters from Gloucester, and left with the Master of the Boy, for the Benefit of the said Messenger.

Ordered, That Mr. Stephens and Mr. Hodges do prepare a Letter, to be written to Colonel Massie, and signed by Mr. Speaker, in Acknowledgement of his good Service, and to express their good Acceptance of it.

They are likewise to prepare a Letter of Thanks to the Mayor of Gloucester, and the Townsmen.

Ordered, That publick Thanksgiving be given on the the next Lord's Day, in all the Churches of London and Westminster, and the Parishes within the Bills of Mortality, in Acknowledgment of God's great Mercy and Goodness, shown in the Relief of Gloucester.

Ordered, That a Conference be desired upon these Votes: And that a Letter be sent, by both Houses, to my Lord General, to acknowledge the great Service he has done, in the conducting of his Army in the difficult March to the Relief of Gloucester.

Mr. Pym is appointed to prepare this Letter.

Debt to Ashe.

The House declared their Opinion, That Mr. Trenchard shall deliver over the Adventure of Sir Peter Ricauts, now under his Seizure, to satisfy the Debt due to Mr. Ashe, at the Rate of Seventy per Cent.

Malignants in E. India Trade.

Ordered, That the East India Company, or their Officers, do forthwith make out their Warrants, and lay out the Parts of such Malignants and Delinquents, as Mr. Blakiston shall present the Names of, from time to time, who have any Share or Adventure of the East India Trade.

Money for Wallar.

Sir John Dreyden Two hundred Pounds, for setting forth of Sir William Waller.

Message to Lords.

Sir Robert Pye is appointed to go to the Lords, to desire a Conference, by Committees of both Houses, so soon as may stand with their Lordships Conveniency, concerning the Affairs in Treaty between us and the Scots Commissioners; and concerning some Letters received from my Lord General, and Colonel Massie.

He likewise carried up the Ordinance concerning Hertfordshire: The Ordinance concerning the Watermens Apprentices: The Names of some additional Committees for the County of Cambridge.

The Covenant.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Assembly of Divines, to set forth, in a Declaration, the Reasons and Grounds that have induced the Assembly to give their Opinions that this Covenant may be taken in point of Conscience.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of this House, formerly appointed to treat with the Scots Commissioners; to treat with them about the manner of taking the Covenant in both Kingdoms: And that the Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Dr. Burges.

The humble Petition of Cornelius Burges, D. D. desiring the Pardon of this House, concerning the Petition preferred by him on Thursday the last of August, touching the Proceedings of the Assembly in the Matter of the Covenant; was this Day read; and Dr. Burges himself called in: And said, That it was very true, he had unhappily taken some Exception to some Things in the Covenant; and as true, that he could not so conveniently satisfy himself: But since, he hears there is a Review of this Covenant; and that there is something so altered in them, as will give him Satisfaction: And said Further, If Satisfaction be not given, he shall with Ingenuity give such as the House shall require of him; which he hath testified, by his labouring so much to come into the Favour of this House again; not so much out of any ambitious Design, as to be able to do them Service.

Resolved, &c. That Mr. Burges shall be restored to the Assembly.

Temple's Petition.

The humble Petition of James Temple Esquire, Captain of the Fort of West Tilbury in the County of Essex, was this Day read; and ordered to be referred to the Committee for this King's Revenue, to take some speedy and effectual Course.

Answer from Lords.

Sir Robert Pye brings Answer, That to the Ordinance of Hertfordshire, the Lords will send Answer by Messengers of their own; and do agree to the other Ordinances, and to a present Conference.

Pressing Watermen.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Edward Leech and Dr. Aylett;

The Lords have sent down the Ordinance they received concerning the Pressing of Watermen; to which they do agree, with the Addition of one Word; viz. "Protestant."

They likewise desire, That, at this Conference, they may communicate * * * *-

Essex Carrier.

Resolved, &c. That the Carriers that are come out of Essex, who have their Horses and Goods stayed, shall have their Horses and Goods released, according to a former Ordinance of Parliament: And that the Committee of the Militia be desired to take Notice of the said Ordinance, that such as bring Provisions or Goods to the Town, may not be interrupted; and that they take care, that the said Ordinance may be set up in all Courts of Guard.

Person detained.

Ordered, That Richard Pyatt, Sir Edward Hungerford's Servant, be detained in the Serjeant's Restraint, until the House take further Order. -

Answer to Lords.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; that this House doth agree to the Alteration in the Ordinance concerning the Watermen; and do agree, that the Petition be communicated at this Conference, according as is desired by the Lords.

Mr. Pym, Mr. Recorder, and Mr. Nicoll, are appointed Managers and Reporters of this Conference.

Middlesex Horse.

Ordered, That the Troop of Horse of Middlesex, being under the Command of Sir John Hipsley, shall be forthwith disbanded: And they are to be ready at an Hour's Warning, when Command shall be given from the House.

Money raised on Salt.

Ordered, That the Monies raised upon the One hundred and Forty Weight of Salt, which was brought up into the Port of London in the Constant, Master, James Denton, and in the Dolphin, Master, Edward Rand, of Newcastle; which was ordered by the Committee of the Navy to be sold by Mr. Solomon Smyth, and Mr. Richard Warring, to the best Advantage: And whereas Mr. Andrew Walker hath Part of the Monies remaining in his Hand of the Proceed of his Salt: It is Ordered, That the said Mr. Walker shall forthwith pay the Remainder of the Monies unto Mr. Blakiston, a Member of the House: And that Mr. Warring shall deliver the Goods, and pay the Monies that is in his Hands, unto Mr. Blakiston, which the said Mr. Warring received by Order of the Committee of the Navy. This Order shall be a sufficient Discharge, to the said Mr. Warring and Mr. Walker.

Church Government.

Ordered, That Mr. White do bring in an Order for the Assembly to consider of Matters of the Discipline of the Church Government.

Complaint against Sir Walter Roberts,

A Letter from the Committee at Sevenokes, dated the Fourteenth of September, together with some Examinations, was read; complaining of Sir Walter Roberts his Insolencies.

Ordered, That Sir Walter Roberts shall be committed to the Custody of the Serjeant; there to remain in safe Custody, till he give good Bail for his true Imprisonment, and his not going into the Country, till this House give further Order; and for to prosecute the Charge he hath exhibited against the Deputy Lieutenants in Kent. And this Bail is not to be presented to the House for Approbation but between Ten and Twelve.

Butchers Company.

Ordered, That the Company of the Butchers their Charter in the Custody of Mr. Mewtys, Clerk of the Council, or of some other of the Clerks of the Council, be forthwith brought into this House: And that they be hereby required to bring the same accordingly.

Commissioners of Excise.

Mr. Serjeant Wilde reports, with what Willingness and Chearfulness the Commissioners for Excise do accept of the Employment, and of the Salary the House has voted; though they conceive their whole Time will be spent in the managing of that Business; and therefore might have expected a better Allowance; but they do so much regard the Publick, that they will not insist any farther herein at this Time.

Resolved, &c. That the great Mansion House in Broad-street, lately possessed by my Lord Cottington, be forthwith disposed of to the Commissioners for Excise; to be employed by them, for the better Execution of the Ordinance of Excise: And those in the Possession of the House are hereby required forthwith to deliver the Possession of the House to the said Commissioners.

Auditor of Excise.

Resolved, &c. That Mr. Wm. Bond shall be joined with Mr. Faulconbridge, as one of the Auditors for . . . the Excise.

Officers of Customs.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of the Navy to consider of the Proposition of Mr. Shutes, concerning the Officers of Sir John Wolstenholme at the Custom-house; and to enquire what Fees, and by what Warrant, Sir John Wolstenholme, or his Deputies, have received . . . for the Coquets there.

Lord Denbigh.

Resolved, &c. That the Lord Denbigh be desired to go down to his Charge in the Country.

Dawes' Sequestration.

Ordered, That Mr. Goodwyn do bring in an Ordinance To-morrow Morning, to sequester the Estate of Sir Thomas Dawes.

Ship Elizabeth and Mary.

Upon Information given the House of the Ship Elizabeth and Mary of Newcastle, laden with Corn, and some other small Things, and belonging to ill-affected Persons in Newcastle, taken in the Road of Leith in Scotland, by the Antilope, one of his Majesty's Ships: The House being satisfied that both Ship and Lading is forfeited; forasmuch as the Corn is perishable, do order, That Sir Henry Vane junior, and the other Commissioners, sent from the House to the State of Scotland, do make Sale of the said Ship and Corn for the best Advantage; and the Monies arising thereupon they do employ, upon Account, for the providing of Victuals for the Parliament Ships, employed on the Northern Parts of England: And the Committee for the Militia are to take notice of this Order.

Listing Apprentices.

Whereas in Times of common Danger and Necessity, the Interest of private Persons ought to give way to the Publick: It is Ordered and Declared, by the Lords and Commons in Parliament, That such Apprentices unto Watermen, plying and rowing upon the River of Thames, as have been, or shall be listed to serve as Soldiers, for the Defence of the Protestant Religion, and Liberty of the Kingdom, his Majesty's regal Person, the Parliament, and the City of London, under the Command of Sir Wm. Waller, their Sureties, and such as stand engaged for them, shall be secured against their Masters, their Executors and Administrators, from all Loss and Inconveniency, by Forfeiture of Bonds, Covenants, Infranchisements, or otherwise, and that, after this publick Service ended, the Masters of such Apprentices shall be commanded and required to receive them again into their Service, without imposing upon them any Punishment, Loss, or Prejudice, for their Absence, in the Defence of the Commonwealth: And the Lords and Commons do further declare, That, if it shall appear, that the Masters of such Apprentices have received any considerable Loss, by the Absence of their Apprentices, they will take care that reasonable Satisfaction shall be made unto them, out of the publick Stock of the Kingdom, according to Justice and Indifferency.