House of Commons Journal Volume 4: 2 May 1645

Die Veneris, Maii 2, 1645.

Prayers.

ORdered, That Tuesday next, peremptorily, shall be appointed to read and consider of all private Petitions, as well such as are sent from the Lords, as such as are presented to this House: And that no other Business whatsoever intervene, unless it be concerning Sir Tho. Fairefaxe's Army: And that the House do meet at Seven of Clock: And that Mr. Speaker do put the House in mind hereof.

An Ordinance for constituting and appointing Colonel Francis West to be Lieutenant of the Tower was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

Mr. Hodges reported the Amendments to the Ordinance for freeing and discharging the Vintners from any Demand for or concerning any Delinquency, touching the Imposition of Forty Shillings per Ton on Wines: The which were twice read; and, upon the Question, assented unto: And the Ordinance, with the Amendments, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee for Gloucester, to consider of the Petition of Rich. Travers Merchant, on Behalf of himself and others employed in the Service of the Parliament; and to give unto the Petitioners such reasonable Satisfaction, for their Pains and Charges therein, as they shall think fit.

Ordered, That the Business and Petitions concerning Elections be taken into Consideration on this Day Sevennight peremptorily: And that Mr. Speaker put the House in mind hereof: And that no other Business intervene.

Mr. Wheler reports, from the Lords, That they do agree to the Ordinances for securing the Ten thousand Pounds, continued upon Loan, by the Merchant-Adventurers; and for securing the Five hundred Pounds, advanced upon the Credit of the Excise, for the Service of the Forces in the County of Worcester.

An Ordinance for appointing Monies, to the Value of Six thousand Pounds, to be employed out of the concealed Estates of Delinquents, for the Service of the Counties of Gloucester, Monmouth, &c. was this Day read the Second time; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

An Ordinance for enabling the Committees of the Three Counties of Oxon, Bucks, and Berks, or such Persons as they shall appoint, to take the voluntary Subscriptions of all Persons whatsoever, for the Maintaining of additional Forces, under the Command of Major-General Browne, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

An Ordinance for constituting the Earl of Warwick, Mr. Alexander Bence, and Mr. Peregrine Pelham, to be a Committee to command the Fleet prepared for this Summer's Expedition, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

Mr. Green reported, from the Committee of Lords and Commons for the Admiralty and Cinque-Ports, their Opinion touching the Processes that are to be issued out of the Court of the Admiralty, and to be executed here; and touching the Processes that are to be executed at Sea, and in Foreign Parts: The which was re-committed to the same Committee, especially to Mr. Selden and Mr. Whitelock, to consider of it; and to report it To-morrow Morning.

A Message from the Lords, by Doctor Aylett and Doctor Heath;

The Lords have recommended to this House Sir Anthony St. John's Case, who hath been employed in the Parliament's Army ever since the Beginning of the War; and hath been forward and faithful, and wounded in this Service; and hath many Arrears for Pay due to him; and had been especially recommended to the Lords by the Lord General, upon the laying down his Commission; that he may be supplied with Monies, whereby he may be able to subsist.

Also they desired the Concurrence of this House with the Lords, in passing the Ordinance for Rutlandshire.

They recommended also the Petition of Sir Hamon Le Strange, formerly sent from the Lords: The Ordinance for the Indemnity of the Inhabitants of the Isle of Jersey, who have been expelled thence; to which they desire the Concurrence of this House: The Names of such Officers, under the Command of Colonel Henry Gray, in Lincolnshire, as want Commissions; to which they desired the Concurrence of this House.

They further recommended the Petition of Oliver Browne and John Baker, his Majesty's Upholsters: The Petition of Thomas Beddingfield, Prisoner at Lynn; and the Order of their Lordships House for a Pass to travel beyond Seas: Unto which they desire the Concurrence of this House.

They recommended likewise a Petition of the Lord Blaney's, to be especially taken into Consideration.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; That the House had considered of the several Particulars sent from their Lordships: And, as to the Names of such Officers under the Command of Colonel Henry Gray in Lincolnshire, as want Commissions, this House hath agreed: And, as to the rest of the Particulars, the House will send Answer by Messengers of their own; and will take them into speedy Consideration.

Ordered, That Mr. Corbett do make his Report concerning Mr. Beddingfield, when his Petition, and the Order of the Lords for his Pass to go beyond Seas, shall be taken into Consideration.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth approve of Lieutenant-Colonel William Chandler, Captain Peter Stubber Major; Captain Andrew Ruddock; Nathanael Wright Lieutenant, and James Kingsborow Ensign, to Captain Ruddock; Robert Russell Captain-Lieutenant, and John Gray Ensign, to Colonel Henry Gray; Edward Urre Lieutenant to Captain Cambridge; John Isakes Lieutenant to Captain Bee; Daniel Mathewes Lieutenant to Captain Playford; and Captain Richard Lewis Captain of that Company, which was Captain Tooledaye's; to be Officers under Colonel Henry Gray, in the County of Lincolne: And shall have Commissions for their several Commands under the said Colonel Gray from the Committee of both Kingdoms.

A Message from the Lords, by Doctor Aylett and Doctor Heath;

The Lords have commanded them to deliver to the House Two Reports; both of them from the Committee of Lords and Commons for the Admiralty: The Lords have agreed to them; and do desire the Concurrence of this House therein.

"Ordered, That the Vote of the Committee of Lords and Commons for the Admiralty, of 29 Aprilis 1645, touching the Proceedings in the Admiralty-Court, In whose Name the same shall issue within this Kingdom, and in Foreign Parts, be referred to the Committee of the Admiralty; and to report the same To-morrow Morning."

The other Vote was of 22 Aprilis 1645, concerning Captain Richard Crandley; and was in hæc verba;

"Ordered, That Captain Richard Crandley be Collector of all the Tenths of Prizes, that shall be seized by private Men of War; as also Collector of all Seizures, and other Perquisites, that shall be made, and become due to the State, in Right of the Admiralty."

Answer returned by the same Messengers; That the House had considered of their Message: And, as to That Vote for Captain Richard Crandley to be Collector of the Tenths and Prizes, this House doth agree: And, as to the other, concerning issuing Process in the Admiralty, this House will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Ordered, That the Certificates of several Debts due to several Officers of the Earl of Manchester's Army, brought in this Day by Mr. Scawen, be referred to the Committee of the Association; to be paid, in their Course, out of some Part of the Arrears of the said Associations, after such Debentures, as have been issued by Orders of this House, shall be first satisfied.

Ordered, That the Petition and Debenture of Ann Key Widow be referred to the Committee of the Association: to be paid out of some Part of the Arrears of the said Associations, after such Debentures, as have been issued by Orders of this House, shall be first satisfied.

An Ordinance for appointing a Consul to reside in Flanders, to transact and agitate the Affairs and Occasions of the Parliament in those Parts, was this Day read the First and Second time; and, upon the Question, committed unto the Committee of the Navy; with the Addition of Mr. Selden and Doctor Eden: And they are desired to use all Expedition in this Business: And are to advise with the Committee of both Kingdoms in this Business.

An Ordinance, prohibiting the Importation of WhaleOil Fins or Gills, other than what are fished in Greenland, by the Subjects of this Kingdom, and in Ships set out from hence, was this Day read the First and Second time.

And the Question being put, For the Commitment;

It passed with the Negative.

And then it passed, upon the Question; and was ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

Ordered, That the Timber of the Lord Peter's, cut and selled by Order of the Parliament, shall be converted to the Use and Benefit of the Navy; the Committee of the Navy paying for the same Timber, as it shall be reasonably appraised.

Ordered, That the Committee, appointed to consider of an Ordinance for appointing Commissioners of the Navy, be revived; and may meet this Afternoon at Two of Clock, in the Treasury-Chamber.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee for the Army where Mr. Scawen has the Chair, to consider of the Doubts and Scruples, that are made in the auditing the Accompts of the Scotts Officers; and to remove all Obstructions therein. And

It is further Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee, to consider of some convenient Places for the Billeting of those Scotts Officers in the mean time, till their Arrears can be audited, and they receive some Satisfaction therein: And that the Committee do assure the Persons, with whom the said Scotts Officers shall be billeted, that they shall receive the Monies due unto them for the said Billet, according to such Proportion as shall be agreed upon by the said Committee; and that their Billet shall be deducted out of their Arrears.

Sir Henry Mildmay carried up to the Lords, for their Concurrence, the Ordinance for enabling a Committee to command in Chief the Fleet prepared for this Summer's Expedition: The Ordinance for Colonel Francis West to be Lieutenant of the Tower: The Ordinance for concealed Estates for Gloucester, Monmouth, &c.: The Ordinance for enabling the Committees of Oxon, Bucks, and Berks, for receiving Subscriptions for the Levying of Men for reducing Oxon.

Ordered, That the Commissioners, appointed to reside in the Army, shall have the Entertainment of Twenty Shillings per diem each for themselves, according to the Allowances formerly assigned them: And that their Clerks each shall have the Entertainment of Three Shillings and Four-pence per diem: And that this Entertainment be settled by this new Establishment; and to begin from the Beginning of the Reducement of this new Army under the Command of Sir Tho. Fairfax.

Ordered, That Mr. Wheeler do, To-morrow, make his Report concerning the Prince Elector.

Ordered, That the Consideration of employing and takeing the Ship Providence of Poole upon the Pay of the State, for this Summer's Expedition, be referred to the Committee of Lords and Commons for the Admiralty and the Cinque-Ports: Who are to give Order for the same, if they see Cause.

Ordered, That the Committee appointed to consider of the Papers presented from the Commissioners of Scotland do meet this Afternoon at Two of Clock, in the Queen's Court: And that Mr. Robert Goodwyn, Mr. Jennings, Mr. Whittacre, Sir John Wray, Mr. Noble, Mr. Reynolds, Lord Grey, Sir Dudley North, Sir Roger North, Mr. Wheeler, and Sir Henry Cholmley, be added to this Committee.

Sir Henry Mildmay brings Answer, That the Lords will take the Ordinances, carried up by him, into speedy Consideration; and will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Ordered, That the Committee of Lords and Commons for Advance of Monies, at Haberdashers-Hall, do pay, upon Account, to Colonel Martin Pinder, Harcourt Leighton, Thomas Herbert, and John Potter, Esquires, Commissioners appointed to reside in the Army, a Hundred Pounds to each, to be deducted out of the Arrears due unto them upon their Entertainment.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

The House being informed, That Monsieur Joachimi, the States Resident-Ambassador, was ready to present himself to the House;

The Serjeant at Arms was sent to attend him in: And Sir Oliver Flemmyng, the Master of the Ceremonies, attended him; together with his own Retinue.

And, a fair Chair being placed purposely for him, he took his Place; and, after a little Pause, delivered, in French, the Commands of his Superiors the Estates-General of the United Provinces, touching their Demands concerning Ships and Merchandize taken from their Subjects by Ships under the Authority of the Parliament; and did deliver the same Demands, in Writing, both in French and English: .... was read by the Clerk.

Ordered, That this Paper, presented to this House by Monsieur Joachimi, the States Resident-Ambassador here, be referred to the Consideration of the Committee of Lords and Commons for Foreign Affairs: Who are likewise to consider of some Way, either by Conference with the States Ambassador, or otherwise, to prevent the Coming forth of the Fleet, informed to be prepared in those Parts by Commission from the King.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Ordered, That the Committee of both Kingdoms, to whom the Report concerning free Trade was long since referred, be desired to bring in That Business on Wednesday next, without Fail.

It is further Ordered, That the said Committee be desired to bring in the Declaration, on Wednesday next, concerning the Transactions between the Houses of Parliament and the States Ambassadors; and the Carriage of the said Ambassadors towards the Parliament: Likewise the Declaration upon the Breach of the Treaty.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Examinations, to send for such Gentlemen as have been nominated and appointed to be Sheriffs in the several Counties, and have not yet taken upon them the Execution of the said Place; and to examine the Cause, Why they have neglected That Service; and to report it to the House.

The House being informed, That Four hundred and Ninety Pounds, formerly charged upon HaberdashersHall, and ordered to be paid to Mr. Frost, had been since otherwise disposed by both Houses of Parliament;

It is thereupon Ordered, That Four hundred and Ninety Pounds shall be charged upon Haberdashers-Hall, and paid to Mr. Frost, for the special Service of the State, according to a former Order of 15 Martii last.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of the Army where Mr. Scawen hath the Chair, to provide and pay One thousand Pounds to Sir Thomas Fairfax, for Intelligences; and Five hundred Pounds, for extraordinary Uses of the Train of Artillery.

Ordered, That Mr. John Goodwyn do make his Report for Ireland on Tuesday Morning next.

Ordered, That Four thousand Pounds shall be provided for the reduced Officers: And it is referred to the Committee of the Army, to consider, How to provide this Money.

Ordered, That the Committee of the Militia of London (all Excuses set apart) do forthwith pay the Moiety of the Pay due to the Waggoners employed in Sir James Harrington's Brigade: And they shall be discharged of so much as they shall so pay out. And

It is further Ordered, That the said Committee do certify the House their Reasons, Why they do not pay the other Moiety, according to former Orders and Entertainments.

Resolved, &c. That George Hangar, Martin Broadgate, John Slaney, Robert Lant, Richard Lant, and Thomas Walton, upon the Offer and Payment of Forty Pounds a Man, to be forthwith paid to the Use of the Garison of Gloucester, shall be discharged from any further Question or Damage, that may fall upon them, concerning the Project of Forty Shillings per Ton imposed upon Wines.

Resolved, &c. That such Bonds as were entered into by the Six Merchants above-named to the Serjeant of the House of Commons, for their several Appearances before the said House, shall be delivered up to them.

Ordered, That Mr. Roger Kilvert, and Mr. John Jonston, upon their Offer and Payment of Forty Pounds a Man, to the Use of the Garison of Gloucester, to be forthwith paid, shall be discharged from further Question and Damage, that may fall upon them, concerning the Project of Forty Shillings per Ton imposed upon Wines.

Ordered, That Sir John Coke shall have Leave to retire himself, for his Health, into the Country.

Ordered, That Sir William Constable do go down into the Country, into Yorkeshire, about reducing the Horse under the Command of the Lord Fairfax.