House of Commons Journal Volume 4: 12 May 1645

Die Lunæ, Maii 12, 1645.

Prayers.

UPon reading a Letter from Yorke, of 25 Aprilis 1644, signed by Mr. Francis Pierpont and Mr. Henry Darley, Committees at Yorke, in pursuance of an Order of this House, of 15 Martii 1644; certifying, That the Aldermen of the City of Yorke, and the Ministers of that City, committed, and disfranchised, upon some Information received thence, have done nothing, since the Articles for Rendition of Yorke, that might make them liable to Punishment;

It is this Day Ordered, That they be released from further Imprisonment: And that the Aldermen be restored to their Infranchisement.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Ordered, That Sir Samuel Rolle do prepare and bring in a Letter, to be sent to Sir Thomas Fairfax, to inform him of divers Persons imprisoned in the West, contrary to the Capitulations made with them; to the end Sir Thomas Fairfax may take some Course herein.

Ordered, That the whole Business concerning Colonel John Birche, and the rest of the Officers, sent up Prisoners to this House from Plimmouth, be referred to the Committee of the West, to hear, determine, and settle.

It is further Ordered, That the whole Business concerning Sir Shilston Calmady, and Lieutenant-Colonel Savery, be referred, in like manner, to the Committee of the West, to hear, determine, and settle.

Ordered, That the Lieutenant, and the rest of the Officers of the Ordnance, do forth with provide and furnish, out of the publick Stores, One hundred Barrels of Powder, to be delivered to Benjamin Hawkins, for the present Service of the West.

A Letter from Cambridge, of Aprilis 23 1645, was this Day read; acquainting the House with some Propositions from the Gentlemen of the County of Lincolne.

It is thereupon Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of the Association, to consider, How to raise a Regiment of Five hundred Horse, for reinforcing the Garison of Grantham, when Colonel Fleetewood's Regiment shall be drawn off thence: And the Committee are appointed to meet this Afternoon, concerning this Particular, this Afternoon: And Mr. Ellis is to take care of it.

Mr. Pierpont, this Day, reported, from the Committee of both Kingdoms, divers Propositions, concerning an Association of divers Forces, now lying dispersed: The which were read. And

It is Ordered, That this whole Business be referred to the Consideration of the Committee of the Eastern Association, and of the Northern Counties concerned in this Business: Who are injoined to meet upon this Business this Afternoon; and so, from time to time, as Occasion shall require.

Resolved, &c. That Four hundred Pounds shall be charged upon the Credit of the Excise, after the Assignments already set upon that Receipt, to be paid, upon Account, to Sir Richard Onslowe, and the rest of the Gentlemen of Surrey, for a Fortnight's Pay, upon Muster, for the Gentlemen of the Lifeguard to Sir William Waller, now quartered in Surrey: And Sir Richard Onslowe, and the rest of the Gentlemen of Surry, are desired, for the present, to advance this Four hundred Pounds for the Purposes aforesaid; and shall be secured and repaid, with Consideration for the same, after Eight Pounds per Cent. for the Forbearance thereof.

And it is further Ordered, That those Gentlemen, upon Receipt of this Fortnight's Pay, shall be disbanded.

Ordered, That the Petitions of the Physician, Apothecary, Chaplains, Surgeons, and Scoutmaster-General, of the Army late under Command of Sir William Waller, be referred to the Committee of the Army: Who are to give Directions for casting up their Debentures: And that they shall have a Proportion of their Arrears paid them out of such Monies, as Mr. Trenchard shall propose to the House.

Ordered, That the Committee of both Kingdoms do give present and peremptory Order to Major Buller to march, with the Horse under his Command, speedily to Gloucester, according to former Directions.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms, either to put into speedy Employment the Forces that lie scattered, as a grievous Oppression, upon the Counties of Buck', Middlesex, Hertford, Surrey, Northampton, and elsewhere, or to disband them; the Counties not being able to endure the Burden of them.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of the Army, to consult and consider, with the Assembly of Divines, upon the speedy sending down and supplying the Army under Sir Thomas Fairfax with a convenient Number and Proportion of godly, able, and learned Ministers.

The humble Petition of the Officers and Soldiers of the Garison of Portesmouth; and the humble Petition of the poor Inhabitants of the Town of Portesmouth; were both this Day read. And

It is Ordered, That the Committee of the Revenue do, at Midsummer next, pay and satisfy all such Monies, as Colonel Jephson or Colonel Norton shall take up and provide for the Garison of Portesmouth, not exceeding the Monies that shall be then due, upon the old Establishment, to that Garison; comprehending the Monies that have been already advanced for Provisions for that Garison, that have been taken up, and were to be paid, upon the Monies then to become due upon the old Establishment.

Ordered, That the Gentlemen of Hants do bring in an Ordinance for selling the Estates of the Earl of Worcester, and some other Delinquents, in Hants, to raise Monies to pay Two thousand Pounds of the Arrears due to the Garison of Portesmouth, upon the new Establishment.

Ordered, That the Ordinance concerning the felling and cutting Timber for Portesmouth, be referred to the Consideration of the Gentlemen, Members of this House, of the Counties of Hants and Sussex: Who are to meet upon it this Afternoon.

Ordered, That it be referred back to the Committees of both Kingdoms, to consider, What Number of Soldiers are fit, and will be sufficient, to secure the Garison at Portesmouth.

A Letter from the Committee at Cambridge, 1 Maii 1645, was this Day read. And

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of the Association, to take some Care to provide for the Maintenance of the Eleven Prisoners now in the Marshal's Custody at Cambridge, as well for the Time past, as for the future, during their Imprisonment.

Sir Robert Pye went up to the Lords, to desire them to sit awhile, in regard this House shall have Occasion to send to them upon Matters of Importance.

Resolved, &c. That Sir Wm. Brereton shall continue in the Command and Employment he now has under the Parliament, for Forty Days longer; notwithstanding the former Ordinance that discharges the Members of either House from any Command, Military or Civil.

Resolved, &c. That Colonel Jones, at Forty Days End, shall have Sir Wm. Brereton's Regiment of Horse.

Resolved, &c. That Major Lothian, at Forty Days End, shall have Sir Wm. Brereton's Regiment of Foot.

Sir George Booth Knight and Baronet, Sir Wm. Brereton Baronet, Colonel George Booth, Colonel Henry Brook, Colonel Robert Duckenfeild, Colonel John Leigh, the Governor of Namptwich for the Time being; these, or any Three of them, are, at Forty Days End, to order and direct the Carrying on of the War within the County of Chester; and to govern the Forces now under the Command of Sir Wm. Brereton, until both Houses shall take further Order.

Resolved, &c. That Captain Henry Stone shall have the Command of Eccleshall-Castle.

Resolved, &c. That Sir Thomas Middleton shall continue in the Command and Employment he now has under the Parliament, for Forty Days longer; notwithstanding the former Ordinance, that discharges the Members of either House from any Command, Military or Civil.

Resolved, &c. That Colonel Mitton shall succeed Sir Thomas Middleton in the Command he now has, at the End of Forty Days; to be ordered and directed by such Committee, as shall be appointed by both Houses of Parliament.

Resolved, &c. That Sir John Price shall continue in the Command and Employment he now has under the Parliament, for Forty Days longer; notwithstanding the former Ordinance, that discharges the Members of either House from any Office or Command, Military or Civil.

Resolved, &c. That the Commissioners for the Great Seal shall be continued in that Service, until Six Days after the End of the next Term: And that it be referred to a Committee, to consider of a Recompence for those Commissioners, that have undergone this Service; and for those that shall be in that Service for the future. And

It is further Ordered, That the Consideration hereof be referred to the Committee of the Revenue.

Resolved, &c. That the Keeper or Master of the Rolls shall continue his Commission for Hearing of Causes, until Six Days after the End of the next Term.

Resolved, &c. That Major Burgon shall be Governor of Coventry.

Resolved, &c. That Major Burgon shall have the Command of that Regiment of Foot, and shall be Colonel thereof, which was Colonel Barker's, at Coventry.

Resolved, &c. That Colonel John Bridges shall be Governor of the Town of Warwick, as well as of the Castle.

Resolved, &c. That Captain-Lieutenant Henry Flower shall have the Command of Colonel Barker's Troop of Horse, in Coventry.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired in these Votes.

Sir John Evelyn carried up to the Lords, for their Concurrence, the several and respective Votes, for continuing Sir Wm. Brereton, Sir Thomas Middleton, Sir John Price, in their Commands for Forty Days longer: The Votes for continuing the Commissioners of the Great Seal, until Six Days after the End of the next Term: The Vote for continuing the Commission of the Keeper or Master of the Rolls for Hearing of Causes: The Votes for ordering and carrying.. the War... the Northern Association in the Counties of Chester, in the Association of North-Wales.

Sir John Evelyn brings Answer, That the Lords do agree to all the Votes and Orders carried up by him; except That for Captain Henry Stone to be Governor of Eccleshall-Castle.

Sir John Evelyn further informed the House, That there was a Mistake in the Clerk that copied out the Vote concorning Sir John Price; who transcribed it without Limitation; though it be entered in this Book with the Limitation of Forty Days.

Mr. Holles is appointed to certify this Error.

He likewise carried up the Votes concerning the Governor of Coventry and Warwick.

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

The Lords have commanded us to deliver unto you a Report from the Committee of Lords and Commons for the Admiralty and Cinque-Ports, concerning the Steward's Place of the Chancery at Dover, and Cinque-Ports: Which they agree unto; and desire the Concurrence of this House.

They desire likewise to put the House in mind of the Petitions of Sir Hamond Lestrange; of the Lady Hotham; and the Lady Knollis, and her Daughters.

The Order of the Committee of Lords and Commons for the Admiralty and Cinque-Ports, for making Peter Peake Steward of the Chancery at Dover, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, assented unto.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth concurr with the Lords in taking off the Sequestration of the Estate of Sir John Hotham.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; That the House has taken their Lordships Message into Consideration: And, as to the Order for Mr. Peake to be Steward of the Chancery at Dover; and the Desire, upon the Case represented from the Lords and Commons, concerning the Lady Hotham; they do agree: And, as to the Petition of Hamond Lestrange; and the Lady Knollis, and her Daughters; they will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Upon Information to the House by Colonel Ven, That a Meeting was intended, To-morrow, by several Persons, at the Bankside in Surrey, to be present at the Playing of a Prize;

The House, taking into Consideration the Danger that might ensue by such a Concourse of People in these Times, do thereupon Order, That it be forbidden to have any Meeting To-morrow, concerning any Prize to be played at the Bankside in Surrey: And that the Examination hereof be referred to the Committee of Examinations: Who are to take care to prevent the said Meeting, accordingly.

Ordered, That the Report concerning the Eastern Association be made To-morrow Morning, the first Business, after Mr. Speaker comes to the Chair.

Ordered, That the Petition of Sir Hammon le Strange and Mr. Church, sent from the Lords, be referred to Mr. Serjeant Wilde, Mr. Whitlock, Mr. Lisle, and Sir John Potts; to examine the Proceedings that have been in the Business mentioned in the said Petition; and to state the whole Matter; and report the same to the House.