House of Commons Journal Volume 4: 15 September 1645

Die Lunæ, Sept. 15, 1645.

Prayers.

UPON Mr. Whittacre's Report of the whole State of the Proceedings before the Committee of Examinations, concerning Mr. Speaker and Sir John Lenthall;

It is Resolved, &c. That this House doth agree with the Committee, That there is no Colour of Proof appearing of Mr. Speaker's Sending of Sixty thousand Pounds, or any Sum of Money, to Oxford, or consenting thereunto.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth agree with the Committee, That there is no Colour of Proof appearing of Mr. Speaker, or any Member of this House, holding any Correspondency with Oxford.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth agree with the Committee, That it was a Breach of Privilege of Parliament in the Committees of Surrey and Salters-Hall, to enter upon any Examination touching Mr. Speaker, or any Member of this House.

Resolved, &c. That there is not any Colour of Proof of Sixty thousand Pounds, or any Money at all, sent by Sir John Lenthall to Oxford; or that he was privy to any Money sent or received to that Purpose.

Resolved, &c. That there is not any Proof against Sir John Lenthall of holding any Correspondency with Oxford, by Letter, Message, or any other Way.

Resolved, &c. That this Complaint hath been raised and prosecuted without any Ground at all, falsly, maliciously, and scandalously.

Resolved, &c. That the Prosecution of the said Proceedings against Mr. Speaker, and the rest of the Members of this House, is a high Breach of the Privilege of Parliament.

Resolved, &c. That Wm. Pendred, Edward Jenks, and Hannab his Wife, James Freeze, and Stephen Spratt, have been the principal Instigators and Prosecutors of these Proceedings; and deserve severe and exemplary Punishment.

Mr. Selden, Mr. Grimston, Mr. Recorder, Mr. Whitlocke, Mr. Lisle, Sir Tho. Widdrington, Serjeant Wilde, Mr. SanÀis;

This Committee, or any Three of them, is appointed to consider, What exemplary Punishment is fit to be inflicted upon the malicious Instigators and Prosecutors of these Proceedings, named in the Votes aforesaid: And that they do bring in their Report on Thursday Morning next, peremptorily: And are to meet when and where they please.

The humble Petition of the well-affected and exiled Inhabitants of the City of Bristoll was this Day read; desiring, That Serjeant-Major-General Skippon may be Governor of the City of Bristoll: And

It is Resolved, &c. That Serjeant-Major-General Skippon be, from this House, recommended to Sir Thomas Fairefax, General, to be Governor of the City of Bristoll.

Upon the Desire of Sir Thomas Fairefaxe, General;

It is Ordered, upon the Question, That it be left to Sir Thomas Fairefaxe to send up Sir John Pawlett, at his own Opportunity, within Three Months, to compound with the Parliament for his Delinquency: And that his Houses Wick and Ken, with the Goods therein, and his Lands, with the Stock thereon, being inventoried, and secured, shall, in the mean time, remain in his Possession.

Upon Mr. Recorder's Report from the Committee to whom it was referred to consider, How and in what manner the Pay, to be allowed by the Kingdom of England to the Scotts Army, is to continue by the Treaty;

It is Resolved, &c. That, upon Perusal of the Treaty, this House doth declare, That the Pay, therein expressed to be allowed by the Kingdom of England to the Scottish Army, is to continue no longer, by virtue of that Treaty, than the same Army is employed in the Kingdom of England, for the Service of the said Kingdom of England.

He further reported the Answer of the Scotts Commissioners, contained in a Paper of Septembris 15, to the Desire represented unto them, in pursuance of an Order of this House of Sept. 13, touching the Desire of this House to know, Whether it were the Desire of the Kingdom of Scotland, That their Army should, upon this late sad Occasion, immediately march into Scotland: The which was read, in hæc verba; viz.

"Die Lunæ, 15 Septembris, 1645."

"We returned this Answer to your Lordships Paper, the Thirteenth of this Instant, That, if it shall please God to continue the Affairs of the Kingdom of Scotland in the Posture wherein they now are, it is their Desire, That their Army should march immediately into Scotland: But, if it shall please God to grant them Success against the Enemy, that Army is to prosecute the War in England, according to the Treaty."

"By Command of the Commissioners for the Parliament of Scotland,"

"Jo. Cheislie."

Resolved, &c. That, upon the Reading of this Answer, they do find it to be no positive Answer; and do desire a certain Answer, in regard, that if their Army shall march immediately into Scotland, that then this Kingdom must necessarily, for the Safety of their own Affairs, raise new Forces: If their Army shall stay in this Kingdom, that then it must be disposed of upon such Services, and in such Places, where it may be of most Advantage and Use to the Affairs of this Kingdom: For, if either their Army or Garisons shall still continue in the North, it will destroy those Counties, and dissolve the Forces raised there, and hinder all the Contributions of those Parts.

Resolved, &c. That, out of the Arrears due to the Scottish Army, one Month's Pay, together with one other Month's Pay, already appointed by Order of this House of 15 Augusti last, Five thousand Musquets, Three thousand Swords, Two thousand Pikes, Two hundred Barrels of Powder, with Bullet proportionable, and a double Proportion of Match, be forthwith provided for the Scotts Army.

Ordered, &c. That the Business concerning Cheshire be taken into Consideration, the first Business after Mr. Speaker comes to the Chair, To-morrow Morning.

Resolved, &c. That the Commissioners, appointed by both Houses of Parliament to reside with the Scotts Army, be forthwith recalled: And that they do attend the Service of the Parliament.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Ordered, &c. That the Declaration concerning Reprizal of Ships sent into the United Provinces be forthwith printed, in Dutch and English: And that the Committee of the Navy do take care of the Printing the same.

Ordered, &c. That Sir Henry Heyman shall have Leave to go into the Country.