House of Commons Journal Volume 4: 9 May 1645

Die Veneris, Maii 9, 1645.

Prayers.

WHereas the Houses of Parliament are informed, That divers lewd Persons do go up and down the City of London, and elsewhere, and in a most barbarous and wicked Manner steal away many little Children: It is Ordered, by the Lords and Commons, in Parliament assembled, That all Officers and Ministers of Justice be hereby streightly charged and required to be very diligent and careful in apprehending all such Persons as are faulty in this Kind, either in stealing, selling, buying, inveigling, purloining, conveying, or receiving Children so stolen; and to keep them in safe Imprisonment, without Bail, till they may be brought to severe and exemplary Punishment. It is further Ordered, That the Marshals of the Admiralty and Cinque-Ports do immediately make strict and diligent Search in all Ships and Vessels upon the River, and at the Downs, for all such Children, according to such Directions as they have, or shall receive, from the Committee of the Admiralty and Cinque-Ports. It is further Ordered, That this Ordinance be published in Print, and proclaimed in the usual Manner as other Proclamations, in all Parts of the City within the Bills of Communication, and in all Parishes within the Bills of Mortality, presently; and in all Churches and Chapels within the Lines of Communication, and Bills of Mortality, by the Ministers, on the next Lord's Day; and in all other Churches and Chapels elsewhere, respectively, on the next Lord's Day after the Receipt hereof; that it may appear to the World, how far careful the Parliament is to prevent such Mischiefs, and how much they do detest and abhorr a Crime of so much Villainy.

Mr. Spurstoe, Mr. Vassall, and Colonel Venn, Members of the House of Commons, are desired to go to my Lord Mayor; and to acquaint him with this Order; and to take care, that it may be proclaimed presently, and published, according to the Directions, on the next Lord's Day.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Mr. Whitelock is appointed to carry it to the Lords; and to press an Expedition.

Mr. Green carried to the Lords, for their Concurrence, the Ordinance for constituting and appointing Agents for the Parliament in Flanders: The Order for Monies to be issued out of Haberdashers-Hall, for paying for Six Horses of Service, with Furniture, bestowed upon Colonel Massie.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Consideration of the Members of this House, that are Lawyers, to prepare and bring in an Ordinance for preventing the mischievous and wicked Practice of stealing away Children for the future; and for inflicting some severe and exemplary Punishment upon the Offenders.

The Care hereof is more especially referred to Mr. Whitelock, Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Ellys, and Mr. Recorder.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Examinations, to receive all Informations touching the stealing, selling, buying, inveigling, purloining, conveying, or receiving Children stolen; and to inquire out the Actors, Promoters, and Abettors, of that malicious Practice; and to see if there be any Order or Ordinance of Parliament, from which, by any malicious Misinterpretation, they may pretend to draw any Colour or Pretence for so great a Wickedness: And the Information concerning Mr. Peade the Merchant is to be duly considered of, and examined to the Bottom: And the Care of this Business is especially recommended to Mr. Corbett, that due Punishment may be inflicted upon the Offenders; and likewise upon such as have so maliciously slandered the Parliament, as if this were done by any Order, Connivence, or Permission, of theirs.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Edward Leech and Mr. Page;

That the Lords have commanded them to put the House in mind of a Petition of the Lord Blayney, formerly sent from the Lords, that it may be taken into Consideration: Also to acquaint the House, That, there being Letters sent from the Duchess of Richmond, to desire Leave for a Pass to come to London, to recover her Health, and to make use of Sir Theodore Mayherne, to that Purpose; the Lords are contented she may come as far as Hampton-Court, or Kempton-Park: And do desire the Concurrence of this House therein.

They have likewise sent a Declaration, on the Behalf of Sir John Conyers: To which they desire the Concurrence of this House.

They likewise desire the Concurrence of this House in the Granting of Two Petitions; one from the Lady Knollys, and her Two Daughters; the other from Andrea Bassano: To which the Lords have given their Assents.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; That the House hath taken their Lordships Message into Consideration: And that they are now upon Consideration of very weighty and important Affairs concerning the Safety of the Kingdom; and therefore will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Mr. Holles reports, from the Committee of Lords and Commons, appointed to consider of the Supply of the Commands of the Members of Parliament in the Armies and Garisons: And

It is thereupon Resolved, upon the Question, That this House doth approve of Colonel Norton to be Governor cf Portsmouth.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee for Supply of the Commands of the Members of Parliament in the Armies and Garisons, to consider of a fit Governor for the Town of Southampton: And that the Committee for the County of Southampton, now in Town, and the Members of this House that serve for That Town and County, be advised withal, touching the Placing of a fit Governor there, that he may be presented to the House, for their Approbation.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth approve of Colonel Algernon Sidney to be Governor of Chichester.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth nominate and approve of Captain William Morley to be Governor of the Town and Castle of Arundell in the County of Sussex.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired to these Votes.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth approve of Major John Boyce to be Lieutenant of Dover-Castle.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth approve of Colonel George Numan to be Governor of Upnor-Castle, and the Two Sconces there, as amply as Captain Richard Lee formerly held the same.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth approve of Lieutenant-Colonel James Hobarte to be Governor of Lynn, in the Place of Colonel Walton.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired to these Votes.

A Letter from Mr. Edm. West, of May 4, with the Copy of a Letter from the Committee of Aylesbury, of April 21 1645, formerly directed to Mr. Speaker, concerning Lieutenant-Colonel Cokaine's being Governor of Newport-Pagnell, was this Day read.

And the Question being propounded, For the Approveing of Lieutenant-Colonel Cokayne to be Governor of Newport-Pagnell;

The Question was put, Whether this Question shall be now put: And

The House was divided.

The Noes went forth.

So that the Question passed with the Negative.

Resolved, &c. That the whole Matter of this Report, concerning Lieutenant-Colonel Cokayne's being Governor of Newport-Pagnell, be re-committed, together with the Letter from the Committee of Aylesbury, of April 21 1645, to be examined.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Mr. Prideaux reported, from the Committee of Lords and Commons for the Safety of the West, the Opinion of that Committee, That the Government of the Town of Plimmouth, and of the Fort and Island, may be settled in a Committee.

Upon the Consideration of this Business, the House was informed, That there were Petitions to be presented to the House, concerning this Business, from the Mayor and Inhabitants of the Town of Plimmouth, and from the Officers and Gentry of the adjacent Counties, now in Plimmouth.

The Petitions were read; desiring, That the Lord Roberts might be continued in the Government of that Town, Fort, and Island: And

It is Ordered, That Mr. Whaddon do signify unto the Petitioners, That the Request of their Petitions is directly against an Ordinance of both Houses of Parliament: That the House is very sensible of the good Affections and constant Fidelity of the Petitioners; and that this House will take all Opportunities for the Encouragement of the Petitioners, and Preservation of that Place.

Resolved, &c. That a Committee, consisting of the Number of Five, be appointed to have the Command of the Garison of Plimmouth, and Fort and Island there; and to order and direct the Government thereof, until both Houses take further Order; viz. Justinian Peard, now Mayor of the Town of Plymmouth, Colonel James Kerr, Mr. Thomas Ceely, Colonel John Crocker, Mr. John Bere, or any Three of them: And that Colonel Kerr have the Command of the Forces in that Garison, under the Committee.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Ordered, That a Letter be prepared by the Committee of the Western Association, to be signed by the Speakers of both Houses; to call back the Lord Roberts and Sir John Bampfield, Members of the Parliament, and Governors of the Town of Plymmouth, and of the Fort and Island there, to attend the Service of the Parliament; and also to give the Town Satisfaction concerning their Petitions.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth approve of Colonel Edward Rosseter to have the Command of all the Forces of Horse and Foot, of the County of Lincolne.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth approve of Lieutenant-Colonel Browne to be Governor of Lincolne.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth approve of Lieutenant-Colonel Browne to be Colonel of the Regiment of Foot at Lincolne, which formerly was Colonel King's: And it is recommended to the Members of this House, that are of the Committee of both Kingdoms, to grant him a Commission to be Colonel of the said Regiment, accordingly.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth approve of Lieutenant-Colonel Siler to be Governor of Boston, in the County of Lincolne.

Resolved, &c. That Captain Wm. Colmore shall have the Command of That Regiment of Horse, which was Colonel Purefoye's, and shall be Colonel thereof: And it is recommended to the Members of both Houses, that are of the Committee of both Kingdoms, to grant him a Commission to be Colonel of the said Regiment, accordingly.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired in these Votes.

Sir Arthur Hasilrig reported, from the Committee of both Kingdoms, a Paper delivered in by the Scotts Commissioners, concerning divers Particulars they represent to the Houses, to be taken into Consideration, touching their Army.

Ordered, That this Report, concerning the Scotts Army, be taken into Consideration To-morrow Morning, the first Business.

Upon Mr. Lisle's Report from the Committee appointed to consider of the Scotts Papers;

It is Resolved, &c. That the House doth desire, That the Scotts Army would speedily advance Southward: And that the Parliament will take care to put those Northern Parts into a Posture of Defence.

Resolved, &c. That the Scotts Army shall have Provisions in their March, giving their Tickets for the same: And that the same shall be repaid to the Persons, of whom they shall receive them, out of the monthly Pay assigned to the Scotts Army by the last Ordinance.

Ordered, That this Answer be returned to the Scotts Commissioners here; and likewise sent to the Committees and Commissioners of both Kingdoms residing with the Scotts Army: Who are desired to take care, that this Order may be duly performed.