House of Commons Journal Volume 3: 9 December 1643

Die Sabbati, 9 Decembris, 1643.

PRAYERS.

Taking of Arundell.

A LETTER from the Committee at Lewes, of the Seventh of December; relating, that the Town of Arundell is taken, and the Castle is besieged, and in great Danger; was this Day read.

Sheriff of Sussex.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth nominate and appoint John Baker of Mayfield, in the County of Sussex, Esquire, to be High Sheriff of the County of Sussex.

Resolved, That the Commissioners of the Great Seal be desired forthwith to pass the Patent for Mr. Baker to be High Sheriff of the County of Sussex, and all other Writs incident thereunto.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Sheriffs Accounts.

Resolved, That a Committee shall be appointed to take into Consideration the Burden and Charge that lies upon Sheriffs, and other Ministers of State, in passing their Accounts in the Exchequer, and otherwise, in undergoing publick Charges; and to think of some Way and Means of easing Sheriffs, and other publick Ministers, of these great and heavy Charges.

Arundell Castle, &c.

Resolved, &c. That the Gentlement of the associated Counties of Sussex, Surry, Kent, and Hants, do forthwith withdraw, to consider of sending Relief to Arundell Castle; and to clear the County of Sussex; and to consider of providing for the Security of that County in the best Way they can: And are to consult hereof with the Earl of Northumberland, the Lieutenant of the County of Sussex.

Army Affairs.

Ordered, That Mr. Trenchard do write to Sir Wm. Waller to send for Colonel Potleye's Men; and that he desire Sir Wm. Waller to pay them a Fortnight's Pay at their coming to his Forces; and that if any refuse to march, that they be proceeded against according to the Law Martial: And, That Colonel Potley cashier those Two Captains of his Regiment that Mr. Trenchard informed of, not to be worthy of their Command.

Trial of Ellingworth.

Resolved, &c. That Captain Ellingworth shall be tried by a Council of War, for cheating the State by false Musters; and selling, and pawning, and embezzling his Soldiers Arms allowed by the State.

Masham's House.

Resolved, &c. That Mr. Masham's House in Milke Street shall be appointed for a Prison for the Provost Marshal of this City of London.

King's Revenue.

Ordered, That Sir H. Vane do make Report from the Committee of the King's Revenue, either * * * *

Security of Ayleshury.

Mr. Browne, * Reynolds, * Dacres, * Fountaine, Sir Jo. Clottworthy, Captain Wingate, Mr. Holland, are presently to go forth to receive Information from the Gentleman that is come from Aylesbury; and to consider of some speedy Way for the Security of that Place.

Bedfordshire Committee.

Ordered, That the Bedfordshire Committee do forthwith repair down into the Country; and that my Lord General be desired, that he would take some Course, that they may sit securely in the Execution of the Ordinances and Service of the Parliament: And that Sir Sam. Luke, Captain Harrison, and Captain Fenton, be added to the Committee of Bedfordshire; and join with them in putting in Execution the Ordinances of Sequestrations, and other Ordinances of Parliament: And that my Lord General be desired, that these Gentlemen, being Officers of his Army, may sit and reside with, and assist, the Committee of Bedfordshire.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Payment to Aldrich, &c.

Ordered, That the Committee of the Militia do forthwith pay the Five hundred Pounds taken at the Courts of Guard, appointed by an Ordinance of both Houses to be paid to Colonel Aldrich and others, according to the Directions of that Ordinance.

Payment to Smyth.

Ordered, Sir Gilb. Gerard, after he shall have received the Five hundred Pounds from the Committee of the Militia, taken at the Guards, shall pay unto Nicholas Smyth, that seized the same Monies, Eight Pounds.

Naval Affairs.

A Message from the Lords, by Serjeant Whittfield and Serjeant Finche;

The Lords do desire a present Conference, by Committees of both Houses, presently, in the Painted Chamber, if it may stand with the Conveniency of this House, concerning the Navy for a Summer's Guard.

Message from Lords.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Rob. Riche and Dr. Aylett;

The Lords do concur in the Ordinance concerning Lynne, with some Amendments; which they have herewith sent down.

They have likewise sent down a Petition they received from the Earl of Carnarvon, desiring, that the Sequestration of his Father's Estate may be taken off: The Lords are of Opinion, that the Sequestration should be taken off, in regard that, of ordinary Course, the Sequestration determined by the Death of the Delinquent; and the Son ought not to suffer for the Offence of the Father: And they desire, that this House would concur in that Opinion.

They do concur in the Ordinance for Four hundred Pounds to Sir Jo. Mildrum.

Lynne.

The Amendments to the Ordinance concerning Lynne, were read; and assented unto.

Committee of Assessments.

Whereas, in the Ordinance of the Three-and-twentieth of October last, for the better collecting of the Arrearages of the Four hundred Thousand Pounds, the weekly Assessments, Fifty Subsidies, and other Payments, granted by Ordinance of Parliament, within the City of London and Liberties thereof, the Committee, in that Ordinance mentioned, are appointed to sit at Gresham College: It is hereby Ordained, by the Lords and Commons, That the said Committee may sit at any other Place within the said City, as they, or the major Part of them, from time to time, shall think fit: And that Henry Cole, John Everett, Rob. Dawlman, and Tho. Stock, shall be of that Committee; any thing in the said Ordinance notwithstanding.

Associated Counties.

The Committee of the associated County are appointed forthwith to go out, to consider of some of the Members of those Counties to go down to Sir Wm. Waller to the Forces at Westham, and to the Committee of the Militia, with such Instructions and Dispatches as shall be prepared by the said Committee of the Gentlemen of the associated Counties.

Earl of Caernarvon.

Resolved, &c. That the Sequestration upon the Estate of the Earl of Caernarvon is discharged and dissolved; the Earl of Carnarvon the Father being Tenant only for Life.

Resolved, &c. That the Earl of Pembroke shall be admitted to compound for the Wardship of the Earl of Caernarvon.

Answers to Lords.

Answer returned by the first Messengers; That this House has considered their Lordships Message; and is resolved to give a present Meeting, at a Conference, as is desired.

Answer returned by the Second Messengers; That this House has considered their Lordships Message; and do agree to the Amendments to the Ordinance concerning Lynne: And as to the Petition concerning the Earl of Caernarvon, they will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Sheriff of Essex.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth nominate and appoint Timothy Middleton Esquire, to be High Sheriff of the County of Essex.

Resolved, &c. That the Commissioners of the Great Seal be desired forthwith to pass the Patent for Mr. Middleton to be High Sheriff of the County of Essex, and all other Writs incident thereunto.

Securing Pym's Papers.

Ordered, That Mr. Rous, Mr. Solicitor, or either of them, do receive into their Custody, and secure, all Mr. Pym's Papers, and Paper Books, that are of publick Concernment.

Message to Lords.

Sir Wm. Lewes carried up the Votes, concerning the Earl of Caernarvon's Estate; and his Wardship: The Order, for sending for the Earl of Denbigh to my Lord General's Quarters: The Sheriffs of Sussex and Essex: The Order for the better collecting the Arrearages upon the Ordinances of Payment of Monies.

Conference.

Sir H. Vane jun. Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Green, are appointed Reporters of this Conference.

St. Thomas' Hospital.

An Order for exempting the Revenues belonging to St. Thomas' Hospital from Payments, was this Day read the first and second Time; and committed to the Committee for Hospitals: And Mr. Strode is added to that Committee as to this Business; and likewise the Petition of the Governor of the said Hospital.

Uxbridge Garison.

Ordered, That the Ordinance for paying the Garison of Uxbridge be brought in on Monday Morning.

Answer from Lords.

Sir Wm. Lewes brings Answer; The Lords do agree to the Votes, concerning the making Sheriffs of Sussex, and Essex: To the Vote for dissolving the Sequestration upon the Estate of the Earl of Caernarvon: And as to the Wardship, they leave That to the ordinary Course: As to the Order for sending for the Earl of Denbigh, they will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Povey's Petition.

Ordered, That Captaiu Allen Povey his Petition be referred to the Committee for Advance of Monies.

Committee for Money.

Ordered, That Mr. Cage be added, instead of Mr. Pym, to the Committee to subscribe Monies.

Ordered, That the Committee for signing of Warrants for Payment of Monies, do meet every Wednesday at Sir Peter Wiche's House in Channell Row; and that they do sign no Warrants, but at their publick Meeting: And they are to consider of some Way for regulating the Proceedings of that Committee.

Sequestrations.

Ordered, That Mr. Prideaux be added to the Committee of Sequestrations of Lords and Commons, instead of Mr. Pym.

Tin Farmers.

A Message from the Lords, by Serjeant Whitfeild and Serjeant Finch;

The Lords have been informed of the Business concerning the Tin Farmers, that was depending before the Committee of Lords and Commons at Haberdashers Hall; that it was ordered, that it should be reported to both Houses: That they have been informed of it this Day; and have appointed a Committee of Five of their Members, and desire this House to appoint a Committee of a proportionable Number, on Monday next in the Afternoon, to examine this Business.

Mr. Strode, Mr. Long, Sir Arthur Hasilrig, Mr. Roll, M. Beding feild, Mr. Lisle, Mr. Prideaux, Mr. Vassall, Mr. Blakiston, and Mr. Hoyle, are appointed to meet with a Committee of a proportionable Number of the Lords, on Monday next, to examine the Business concerning the Tin Farmers.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; That this House has considered their Lordships Message; and have appointed a Committee of a proportionable Number, to meet on Monday next in the Afternoon, to examine the Business concerning the Tin Farmers.

French Embassy.

Ordered, That Sir Henry Vane do go to the Lords, on Monday Morning next, to acquaint them, that this House doth agree to the Report of the Conference concerning the Prince D'Harcourt.

Ailesbury Garison.

Ordered, That Twelve hundred Pounds, of the Monies at Haberdashers Hall, be forthwith paid to the Treasurers at Guildhall, London; and by them forthwith paid over to the Treasurer at Wars; notwithstanding the Ordinance for Mr. Eastwich and Mr. Ashe; and by him paid out to the Governor of Aylesbury for the Garison at Ailesbury.

Windsor Garison.

Ordered, That the Clause of, "notwithstanding the Ordinance for Mr. Eastwich and Mr. Ash," be inserted into the Order of the Twenty-eighth of November concerning the Garison at Windsor.

Ailesbury Garison.

Mr. Knightley reports the Amendments to the Ordinance for the Payment and better regulating of the Garison of Ailesbury, in the County of Buck': The Amendments were read; and the Ordinance, with the Amendments, recommitted unto the same Committee, and the Committee for the Garison of Hull, and other Garisons: Who are to meet together upon it, and the other Garisons, this Afternoon; and to bring it in on Monday Morning.

Newport Pagnell Garison.

Mr. Knightley reports the Amendments to the Ordinance for settling a Garison at Newport Pagnell: The which were read; and assented unto; and ordered to be fair written.

An Ordinance for erecting and maintaining a Garison at Newport Pagnell, in the County of Buck', was this Day read the third Time; and respited till Monday; and the further Consideration of it ordered to be then resumed.

Defence of Plymouth, &c.

Resolved, &c. That Mr. Wright, Mr. Lenthall, and Mr. Henley, shall be Treasurers for the receiving of the Monies, upon the Ordinance of the Fifteenth of November, for the Defence of the Towns and Ports of Plymouth, the Isle of Saint Nicholas, and the Towns of Poole and Lyme, and Places near adjacent.

Transactions with Scoland.

A Letter from the English Commissioners in Scotland, of the * of November, to Mr. Speaker; and divers Papers, concerning both the Treaties; touching the Aid and Assistance craved by the Two Houses of Parliament; and touching the Settling of a Garison at Barwick; touching the Scotts Army in Ireland; touching the Borrowing of Two hundred thousand Pounds upon the Credit of the publick Faith of both Kingdoms; touching Committees of both Kingdoms; and to come in with the Assistance craved, and to reside with the Forces; touching the Receipt of the Monies and Bills of Exchange, sent from both Houses of Parliament to the Kingdom of Scotland, to advance the Assistance craved.

The Articles of the Treaty, signed by the Commissioners of England, and the Commissioners of Scotland, the Convention of Estates of the Kingdom of Scotland, dated the Twenty-ninth of November, were this Day read: And

It is Resolved, &c. That this House doth approve of what the Commissioners of both Houses of Parliament, now residing in Scotland, have done in the Articles of the Treaty signed by them and the Commissioners of Estates of the Kingdom of Scotland; and do agree and consent to the said Articles.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth approve of, and agree, and assent, unto the Articles of the Treaty, signed by the Commissioners of both Houses of the Parliament of England, now residing in Scotland, and the Commissioners of the Convention of Estates of the Kingdom of Scotland, November Twenty-ninth 1643, touching the Town and Garison at Berwick.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

The Letters and Pacquet from Scotland, touching the Scotts Army in Ireland, being Six Particulars; and a Letter to Mr. Speaker; were all delivered to Mr. Speaker; and ordered to be read, and taken into Consideration, on Monday Morning next.

Time of House meeting.

Resolved, &c. That the House shall meet every Morning at Nine of Clock peremptorily; and that such Members of the House as come after Nine of Clock into the House, shall pay Twelve Pence.

Army Affairs.

A Letter from the Committee at Westeham, of the Ninth of November, was this Day read: And

It is Ordered, That Captain Skinner do repair this Night to the Committee of the Militia in London; and, from this House, to recommend unto them the longer Stay of the City Forces with Sir Wm. Waller.

Committee of Safety.

Ordered, That the Committee of the Safety do meet To-morrow, at Four of Clock; and that Mr. Nicolls do give Notice to the rest of the Committee to be there.

The Covenant.

Ordered, That the Covenant be tendered to the Members of the House, that have not taken it, on Monday next.

Sheriffs, &c. of Kent.

Ordered, That the Members that serve for Kent do bring to the House, on Monday Morning next, the Names of such Persons as are fit to be made a Sheriff and Justices of Peace in Kent.

Offices.

Ordered, That the Commissioners of the Great Seal of England shall present the Names, to both Houses, of such Persons as they think fit, for such Offices as are attendant upon the Great Seal, and are not within the Gift of the Lord Keeper, or the Master of the Rolls, that so they may be approved of by both Houses.

Defence of Plymouth, &c.

Ordered, by the Lords and Commons, in Parliament assembled, That the Committee of both Houses, appointed to take care for the Safety of Plymouth, Poole, and Lyme Regis, shall have Power to call to their Assistance such Persons as they shall think meet to consult and advise with, touching the Safety and securing those Places: And have Power likewise to constitute a Committee of Persons, not being Members of either House, to take care for putting in Execution such Directions, and for doing such other Acts, in pursuance of the Orders of both Houses of Parliament, as shall be thought most necessary and convenient unto the Safety and Preservation of those Places. And whereas an Ordinance, of the 15th of November last, for the Defence of the Town and Ports of Plymouth, the Isle of St. Nicholas, and the Towns of Poole and Lyme, and Places near adjacent, the Collectors therein nominated are appointed to pay the Sums collected and gathered by virtue of the said Ordinance, unto such Treasurer as shall be appointed by both Houses of Parliament, to be employed for in and about the Defence of the said Towns and Islands, and Places near adjacent, by Order of both Houses of Parliament; or to such other Persons to whom they shall give Authority in that Behalf; the said Lords and Commons do nominate and appoint Nathan Wright, * Lenthall, and George Henly, of London, Merchants, to be Treasurers for receiving the said Monies, according to the said Ordinance; and do hereby give full Power and Authority unto the said Committee of Lords and Commons, or any Three of them, to grant Warrants for the Issuing of all such Monies as shall be received upon the Ordinance aforesaid; as also for all other Monies, which, by Authority of both, or either, Houses of Parliament, are appointed to be employed for the Defence and Preservation of all or any the Towns or Places above-mentioned: And all and every Treasurer, and other Party, to whose Hands any Money shall come for any the Purposes above-mentioned, shall have such Warrant and Direction . . issue the same accordingly; and not otherwise. And, to the end a just and faithful Employment may be of the said Monies, and a true and perfect Account kept and given of the Disposition of all such Monies as shall be gathered or received, for the Uses and Purposes herein mentioned, the said Committee, or any Three of them, have further Power and Authority given them, to constitute and appoint one or more Auditor or Auditors to take, and examine, and audit, the several Accounts of all such Persons as have been, or shall be, intrusted or employed in the receiving, issuing, or disposing, any of the said Monies; and to make such reasonable Allowances, unto Persons employed in and about the Premises, as, in their Judgment, shall be thought fitting and necessary.