House of Commons Journal Volume 3: 1 April 1644

Die Lunæ, 1 Aprilis, 1644.

PRAYERS.

Kidermaster Stuffs.

THE humble Petition of Wm. Allen and others, on the Behalf of themselves and others, was read; and referred to the Committee of the Navy; the Petitioners desiring, that a reasonable Rate may be set, by way of Custom, on Stripe-Stuffs, or Kidermaster Stuffs, as is set upon Darinxe.

Excise on Wines.

The Petition of the retailing Vintners of the City of London was read; desiring, amongst other things, the Excise on French Wines may be moderated; was read; but nothing was done upon it.

Isle of Elie.

Sir Wm. Masham reports the Ordinance concerning the Isle of Elie: The Amendments were read, and re-committed to the former Committee; to meet To-morrow, at Two a Clock, in the Duchy Chamber.

Order during Prayers.

Ordered, That no Member do offer to move after Prayers are done, till the Minister that prayed be gone out of the House.

Isle of Elie.

The Question being put, whether the Excise of the Isle of Elie shall be allowed to the Maintenance of Garisons in that Island, as is mentioned in the Ordinance;

It passed with the Negative.

State of Ireland.

Mr. Reynolds reports from the Committee appointed to consider of the State of Ireland * * * *

Victory over Sir Ralph Hopton.

A Letter from Sir Wm. Balfoure to my Lord General, dated the Thirtieth of March, was read; informing his Excellency of the great Victory God hath given the Parliament's Forces, under Sir Wm. Waller's and Sir Wm. Balfour's Command, against the Forces under Sir Ralph Hopton.

Money for Ailesbury.

Ordered, That the Persons employed by the Committee of the King's Revenue, do forthwith levy, upon the Estate of the Lord Peters, the Monies due to the Court of Wards, out of that Estate; to be paid, according to the former Orders, to the Garison of Ailesbury, &c.: And that the Monies, as they be received, be brought up to the Receiver of the Court of Wards: And such Persons employed about the Sequestration as do obstruct the levying of that Money, are required forthwith to attend the House.

Payments for Intelligence.

Whereas Twenty Pounds was formerly ordered to be paid, by Sir Gilb. Gerard, to Craven and * Jennings, for bringing timely Intelligence, which is not yet paid unto them: And whereas James Pitsome, and Ralph Norton, Two other Scouts, have lately brought Intelligence of the great Victory over the Forces under the Command of Sir Ralph Hopton, by Sir Wm. Waller, and Sir Wm. Balfore: It is this Day ordered, by the Lords and Commons, that the Sum of Forty Pounds shall be forthwith payed by the Committee at Haberdashers Hall, out of the Monies that come in upon the Fifth, and Twentieth Part; that is to say, Ten Pounds apiece, proportionably, to the Persons aforesaid.

Advance from Excise.

John Towse Esquire, and Alderman, and the rest of the Commissioners of Excise and new Impost, having in Part of a greater Sum, for which they are in Treaty with the Committee for the West, advanced and lent Five thousand Pounds thereof, for Supply of the present Service; Be it Ordained, by the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, That the said Commissioners of Excise, shall and may pay the said Sum of Five thousand Pounds unto John Trenchard Esquire, whose Receipt shall be their sufficient Discharge. And the said Lords and Commons do hereby declare, that they will provide for the Re-imbursement of the said Five thousand Pounds with Interest, to the said Commissioners, according as shall be hereafter agreed upon and settled, between the Committee of the West and the said Commissioners of Excise.

Money for Army.

Ordered, That Mr. Trenchard paying the Five thousand Pounds designed to Sir Wm. Waller as the Committee of the West shall direct, shall be discharged of the same by producing the Receipt of that Committee for Payment of the same: And That Committee is to take care to send it down to Sir Wm. Waller; and to send fit Persons to see the Disposal of the same.

Officers.

Resolved, &c. That the Paper presented concerning the Alteration of some Officers in Colonel Hoborne's, Colonel Barklei's and Colonel Coningkam's Regiments, be referred to my Lord General: And it is further recommended to my Lord General, to consider of employing the Captains mentioned in that Paper, and who shall not be employed in any of those Regiments.

Dutch Ambassadors.

Ordered, That Mr. Prideaux do report, To-morrow, the Business concerning the Paper from the Dutch Ambassadors.

Irish Affairs.

Ordered, That the Ordinance for Ireland be read To-morrow, the first Business, after Prayers are done; and that Mr. Reynolds do then proceed in the Report of Ireland.

Lord Montague's Plate, &c.

Ordered, That Captain Higgons do forthwith send up the Plate, Treasure, and other Goods, found in the Lord Montague's House, that such further Course may be taken for the Disposal thereof, as this House shall think fit: And Captain Higgons is to take an Inventory of the same Goods, and come up and attend the House with the same; to the end some fitting Allowance may be made to the Soldiers.

Publick Thanksgiving, &c.

Message from the Lords, by Sir Robert Rich and Mr. Page;

That the Lords have sent down an Ordinance for a Publick Thanksgiving, for the Victory over Sir Ralph Hopton's Forces; and desire the Concurrence of this House: Likewise have sent down an Ordinance which they received from this House, concerning Northamptonshire; whereto they agree, with a short Amendment.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth concur with the Lords in the Ordinance for a publick Thanksgiving.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth agree with the Lords, in the Amendment to the Ordinance for Northamptonshire.

Answer returned by the First Messengers; That this House doth concur with the Lords in both Ordinances.

Ordered, That this Ordinance for publick Thanks, be printed and published; and that the Printer do bring a convenient Number to the Members of the House, to be sent into the several Counties: Videlicet, as followeth:

The Lords and Commons, in Parliament assembled, having certain Information of the great Mercy of our good God, in the happy Success of the Forces of the Parliament under the Command of Sir Wm. Waller and Sir Wm. Balfore, on Friday last, the Twenty-ninth of March 1644, do, in their Acknowledgment of God's Mercy herein, Order, That, upon the Lord's Day which will be on the Fourteenth of this Instant April, publick Thanksgiving be given in all Churches and Chapels on the South-side of Trent, within the Power of the Parliament, unto the Lord of Hosts, that giveth all Victory, for this seasonable and extraordinary Blessing, whereby the Army under the Command of Sir Ralph Hopton, was totally routed, with the Loss of very few of the Parliament Forces: And all Ministers, in their respective Churches and Chapels, are hereby directed and commanded to give Notice hereof, and to exhort and excite their People to acknowledge and improve this great Blessing, in a spiritual Way; that as this Mercy was bestowed in Return of our Prayers and Humiliation upon the late and solemn Fast, the Wednesday before this Victory, so God may have the sole Honour and Glory of it, in our Praises and Thanksgivings: And that the like Thanksgiving shall be made on the Northside of Trent, Fourteen Days after, which will be on the Twenty-eighth of this Instant April.