House of Commons Journal Volume 4: 26 December 1644

Die Jovis, 26 Decembris, 1644.

Prayers.

THE House being informed, That Mr. Warde, who was Yesterday appointed to preach on the next Publick Fast-Day, desired to be excused until another Day;

Ordered, That Mr. Doctor Wincopp shall be desired to preach the next Fast-Day before this House: And Mr. Wheeler is to acquaint him with this Order.

Ordered, That Mr. Wm. Attwood, High Collector of the Weekly Assessments in the County of Essex, for the Maintenance of the Earl of Manchester's Army, do forthwith pay such Sums of Money, as he shall receive Warrant for, from the said Earl, for the Payment of That Regiment of Foot, and Two Troops of Horse, now under the Command of Colonel Sparrowe at Abbingdon, being Part of the Forces of the said Earl: And the Committee of the Association at Cambridge, and the Treasurers for the said Earl, are required to give Allowance to the said Mr. Atwoode, for such Monies so to be paid as aforesaid.

Ordered, That Sir Tho. Soames be injoined forthwith to pay the One thousand Pounds, remaining in his Hands, due to * Gibson, a Delinquent, to the Committee at Goldsmiths-Hall. And

It is further Ordered, That Mr. Hall Merchant be required and injoined to give a Release to Sir Tho. Soame, to acquit him for Payment of the said Sum; or to deliver up to Sir Tho. Soames the Bill he gave under his Hand for Payment of the said Sum to the said Mr. Hall.

A Paper was presented to the House, under the Hand of Zacheus Isham, Servant to his Excellency the Earl of Essex, Lord General: Which was read; desiring the House, That Power might be given unto any Two of the Referrees, formerly appointed to meet with the Committee at Goldsmiths-Hall, to meet with the said Committee, for raising of Monies for Payment of the Arrears of the Ten thousand Pounds per Annum, granted to my Lord General, by Ordinance of Parliament.

Ordered, That the Committee of this House, formerly appointed to meet with the Committee at Goldsmiths-Hall, for Payment of the Arrears of the Ten thousand Pounds per Annum granted to my Lord General, or any Three of them, do meet with That Committee; and provide the said Monies, accordingly, for the Lord General, according to the Orders of this House, of the Fourteenth of August and 4 Novembris last; and in pursuance of the Ordinance, whereby the same was first charged on the Sequestrations.

Mr. Recorder reports, from the Committee of both Kingdoms, several Particulars.

Ordered, That Two thousand Pounds shall be forthwith raised, for Payment of some Garisons in the Power of the Parliament; to be disposed of as the Committee of both Kingdoms shall direct: And that the same be paid unto Mr. Walter Frost.

Whereas the Sum of Thirty-two thousand Pounds is, by Ordinance of Parliament, charged upon the Excise, to be paid to * *, on the * Day of *; It is Ordered, That the Commissioners of Excise be desired to advance Two thousand Pounds, as Part of the said Sum, to be paid to the Committee of both Kingdoms: And that they do deduct the like Sum of Two thousand Pounds out of the said Sum of Thirty-two thousand Pounds, when it shall become due, and be paid by them: And Mr. Greene is to acquaint them with this Order.

A Letter from the Earl of Lauderdaile, &c. dated, at Edenburgh, Novembris 22 concerning the Earl of Roxboroughe's Plate and Jewels, &c. to be delivered, was read: And Ordered, That, on Tuesday next, the same be taken into Consideration.

Another Letter, from the same Party, of the Seventeenth of December, 1644, was likewise read, for the Preventing of Colonel Audley Mervyn from being Governor of Londonderry; and for Provision to be made for the Forces in Ulster, &c.: And also a Paper of the Twentyeighth of October.

Ordered, That it be especially recommended to the Committee of both Kingdoms, speedily to take into their special Care and Consideration the Matter informed of, concerning Colonel Audley Marvyn, intended to be made Governor of Londonderry: And also to take care of all other the Particulars mentioned in the Letter of the Seventeenth of December, concerning the Forces in Ulster, British and Scotts; and also the Paper of the Twenty-eighth of October; to the end they may be so provided, as to be enabled to march with all possible Speed.

The Directory of the Visitation of the Sick was read; and afterwards, several of the Clauses particularly read by themselves; and, with some small Amendment, were put to the Question; and assented unto; videlicet, * * *.

Ordered, That the Committee of the Militia of London, out of the Monies that are or shall come in upon the Ordinance for the Raising of Thirty-two thousand Pounds, shall pay Colonel Underwood's Troop of Horse; and the Three Regiments of their Auxiliaries at Abingdon (being first reduced into One); and one Week's Pay to the Officers, that are to be disbanded; not exceeding the Sum of Two thousand Pounds.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of this House, that are of the Assembly, or any Five of them (calling to their Assistance some of the Divines of the Assembly), to consider what is fit to be offered, in the room of That Part of the Directory, for the Visitation of the Sick, that was this Day laid aside by the House.

Ordered, That, To-morrow, Mr. Ashe do make his Report, peremptorily; and also the Report concerning the North be made To-morrow.

Message from the Lords, by Serjeant Finch and Mr. Page;

The Lords, having lately sent a Message to this House, concerning the Manner of the Treaty, do desire this House to take the same into Consideration, that some speedy Effect thereof may be had.

The Lords did send down, Three Weeks since, a Message concerning the Earl of Denbigh: They desire this House also to take the same into Consideration; and to send an Answer thereunto.

They have sent down to this House the Ordinance for getting in the Monies upon the Monthly Assessment; with a Proviso added thereunto.

They have likewise sent down a Petition of Anne Viscountess Wilmott; which they have referred to the Committee of Lords and Commons for Sequestrations; and desire the Concurrence of this House.

The Petition of Ann Viscountess Wilmott, late Wife . . Sir Francis Henery Lee, was read; and ordered to be referred to the Committee of Lords and Commons for Sequestrations.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth concurr with the Lords, in referring the Petition of the Lady Ann Viscountess Wilmote to the Committee of Lords and Commons for Sequestrations.

Ordered, That no private Business shall be taken into Consideration by the House, for the Space of Ten Days; but the Publick only.

Resolved, &c. That Two hundred Barrels of Powder, with Match and Bullet proportionable, be delivered out of the publick Stores, by the Officers of the Ordnance at the Tower, for the Service of the West, and the Town of Plymouth; To be delivered to such Persons, and to be disposed of in such manner, as the Committee of Lords and Commons for the West, and the Committee of Lords and Commons for Plymouth, shall direct.

Ordered, That the Plymouth Regiment of Horse, and That of Colonel Ludlow, as likewise That of Colonel Fitzjames and Colonel Sydenham, and the Residue of the Forces lately sent down into the West; as also those Forces of the Garisons, and others, both Horse and Foot, in Somersett and Dorsett; shall be subject to the Command of, and receive Orders from, Major-General Holborne, or such other, as shall be appointed to command in Chief there: And are not to depart without his or their Licence: And, if gone, then, upon Orders received from ... or them, they are, according to such Orders, to repair to such Places as they are thereby directed to go unto. And it is specially recommended unto Major-General Holborne, or such other as shall be appointed to command in chief there, to take care for the Safety and Preservation of the several Western Garisons and Counties, as, in his or their Judgment, shall be thought most conducing to the Advantage of the Publick.

Mr. Serjeant Wilde reports the Conference with the Lords the other Day, concerning the Ordinance for the Attainting of the Bishop of Canterbury of High Treason.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of this House, formerly appointed to manage the Evidence against the Bishop of Canterbury, to prepare Reasons to satisfy the Lords for passing the said Ordinance: And this to be offered at a Conference.

Ordered, That the Report of the Business concerning Dunnington, and Lieutenant-General Cromwell, be made on Saturday next.

Ordered, That Mr. Hill do bring in an Ordinance for continuing of the Ordinance for Martial Law for Three Months longer.

Ordered, That the Letter from the Queen of Swedland be read on Saturday next.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth concurr with the Lords, in the Proviso sent down with the Ordinance for getting in the Monthly Assessment.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; That, as to the Business of the Treaty, and the Earl of Denbigh, they will send Answer by Messengers of their own. And, as to the rest, they concurr.

The Ordinance, that concerns the Archbishop of Canterbury, consisting of Matter of Fact, and the Punishment therein applied, importing Treason; which, as divers Members of the House of Commons, who lately managed the Cause, well know, was, by the Counsel of the Archbishop, strongly opposed; alledging the Statute of Restraint of Treasons to be confined to the Statute of 25° E. III.; with many other Allegations and Arguments, whereby to exempt the Archbishop, upon all the Crimes objected against him, from such Height of Punishment; all which remaining still with them as unanswered; The Lords have thought good to acquaint the House of Commons with their just Scruple therein; until further Satisfaction, they cannot so freely consent unto the Ordinance: But they, as formerly, in another Way, so are now ready to receive what they will contribute herein.

Ordered, That Mr. Whitlocke do acquaint the Lords with the Resolution of this House to adhere to their former Vote, for referring it to the Committee of both Kingdoms, to consider of the Manner of the Treaty, and Instructions for the same: And these to be offered at a Conference.