House of Commons Journal Volume 4: 14 May 1645

Die Mercurii, Maii 14, 1645.

Prayers.

ORdered, That Mr. Selden and Mr. Whitelock do make Search, and report, To-morrow, the State of the Peerage of the Earl of Sommersett.

Mr. Rigby reports an Order for Supply of the Necessities of divers Members of the House: The which was read; and, upon the Question, assented unto; and was in hæc verba:

It is this Day Ordered, That such Members of this House, as shall be allowed by this House to be Persons meet to receive Supplies from the Publick, for That they have lost, or been deprived of the Benefit of their Estates, by this unnatural War made by the King against the Parliament, or are in such Want or Necessity, that, by reason thereof, they cannot, without Supplies, support themselves in the Service of the House, shall have the weekly Allowance of Four Pounds apiece; to be paid Quarterly, from and after the Five-and-twentieth Day of March last past, at and upon the Twenty-fourth Day of June, the Twenty-fourth Day of September, the Twentyfourth Day of December, and the Twenty-fourth Day of March, by equal Portions, out of the Revenues of the King, Queen, and Prince, and out of all such Monies, as, by Order of both or either of the Houses of Parliament, are, or shall be, paid to the Receiver-General of those Revenues, until this House shall take further Order: And the Committee of the Revenue is hereby ordered to take special Care, that due Payment be made accordingly.

Ordered, That all Members of this House, that are Accomptants to the State, shall make up their Accompts to the Committee of Accompts, and deliver them in before the Four-and-twentieth Day of June next, and perfect them; and the Committee of Accompts to certify the State of them before the Nine-and-twentieth Day of September next.

Mr. Rigby reports, from the Re-commitment, an Ordinance for bringing in the Revenues of the Offices formerly held by any Member of either House, to the Committee of the Revenue: And

It is Ordered, That the Committee do bring in an Order to the Purpose of this Ordinance: And that the Members of this House do, on Wednesday next, bring in to the Committee the Values and Accompts of the Offices they formerly held.

The humble Petition of Dame Jane Goodwyn, Relict of Arthur Goodwyn Esquire, deceased, was this Day read: And

It is Ordered, That the Sum of Five hundred Ninetytwo Pounds Nineteen Shillings owing unto Mr. Arthur Goodwyn, deceased, upon his Entertainment as Colonel of a Regiment of Horse, and Captain of a Troop of Horse, as appears by a Warrant under the Hand of the Earl of Essex, of February 17 1643, signed by Mr. Henry Broad and Mr. Wilcocks, Auditors, shall be paid and allowed by the Receiver-General of the Court of Wards, unto Mrs. Jane Goodwyn, the Relict of the said Arthur Goodwyn, out of such Monies as he shall receive from the said Jane Goodwyn, due and payable into the Court of Wards by the said Jane Goodwyn, for the Arrearages of the Rent o Fine upon the Composition of the Wardship of Arthur Elmes, Son of Wm. Elmes Esquire, his Majesty's Ward, whose Guardian the said Jane Goodwyn is, together with the Lord Waynman: And that the said Jane Goodwyn, the Lord Waynman, and their Assigns, shall be discharged by the Court of Wards for the said Sum of Five hundred Ninety-two Pounds Nineteen Shillings: And that this Order shall be a sufficient Discharge to the Receiver, and other Officers whatsoever, for what they shall do in pursuance hereof.

Ordered, That the several humble Petitions of the old Commissioners of the Customs (fn. 1), this Day presented to the House by Mr. Holles, be referred to the Consideration of the Committee of the Navy: Who are to prepare Ordinances for the Relief of the Petitioners, according to the former Engagements of this House; provided that they do not therein prejudice such Merchants, as, in pursuance of an Order of this House of 3° Caroli, stood out, and paid no Tonage and Poundage, until it was granted by Act of Parliament. They are likewise to take Consideration of such Merchants as have entered into Bonds to the Commissioners of the Customs, and have since expressed very good Affections to the Parliament by their free Contribution; and are to do nothing in Prejudice to the Reparation assigned to Mr. Rolle: And they have Power to receive such Propositions as shall be tendered unto them by the Petitioners.

And it is further Ordered, That the Petitioners shall have the Privilege of Parliament, that they may freely attend the Committee before whom their Petitions are depending.

Sir Robert Pye carried up to the Lords the Instructions for the Commissioners in the Army: The Rules for the taking the Masters of the Army: The Ordinance for punishing, in the several Counties, such Soldiers as run from their Colours: The Order for Captain Wm. Colemore to have Colonel Purefoie's Regiment of Horse.

A Message from the Lordss by Doctor Aylett and Doctor Heath;

The Lords have commanded us to acquaint the House, That they desire a present Conference, by Committees of both Houses, in the Painted Chamber, touching a Commander for the Navy for this Summer's Expedition, and concerning the Isle of Eley.

Mr. Lyle reports, from the Conference with the Lords on * last, That the Lords could not agree to the Ordinance for appointing a Commander in Chief for this Summer's Fleet, for the Reasons in a Paper then delivered by them: Which was read, in hæc verba;

"The Lords cannot agree to this Ordinance; but they do conceive the Opinion, formerly given by the Committee of Lords and Commons for the Admiralty and Cinque-Ports, to be so well grounded, as that they rather adhere to That Opinion: And desire, that the Command of the Fleet, for this Summer's Expedition, may further be taken into Consideration by both the Houses, to be placed in the Hands of a Person of Quality, Experience, and of a responsible Estate; and be put into such a Way as may best agree with the Report made by That Committee; as what their Lordships conceive will conduce most to the publick Service."

"That they desired the House would take care either to discharge, or to bring to a speedy Tryal, some Officers of the Earl of Essex, who are under the Accusation of this House; and, in particular, Colonel Dolbyer, Colonel Butler, and Commissary Copley."

"They also delivered a Deposition from Colonel Tyllier, concerning his ill Usage by his Keeper in the Tower; but, because he was a Prisoner to this House, they had not referred the Examination thereof to a Committee."

Ordered, That the Ordinance for Martial Law be taken into Consideration To-morrow Morning.

Ordered, That the Committee of the Tower do examine the Truth of the whole Business concerning Colonel Tyllier's ill Usage by his Keeper: And that they do present their Opinions, What is fit to be done in it, to the House.

Ordered, That the Committee of the Army do provide Shoes for the Soldiers of Sir Thomas Fairfax his Army, to be paid for out of their own Pay, upon Account.

Ordered, That the Messenger that brought the Letters from the West, be rewarded for his Pains in bringing these Letters, by the Committee of the West.

Ordered, That the Committee of the West do prepare and bring in Letters of Thanks, to be signed by Mr. Speaker, and sent to Sir Thomas Fairfax, for his great Care in relieving of Taunton: Wherein Sir Thomas Fairfax is also to be desired to take special Notice of the Service of Colonel Welden, and other the Commanders with him, in the Relief thereof.

Ordered, That it be specially recommended to the Committee of both Kingdoms, to consider how to improve this Advantage in the West upon the Relief of Taunton, with relation to the rest of the Affairs of the whole Kingdom.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of the West, to write Letters of Thanks to the Governor and Town of Taunton; and to provide Two thousand Pounds forthwith for the Soldiers of that Garison; and also Five hundred Pounds to be bestowed upon the Governor there, for his own Use.

Mr. Green carried up to the Lords, for their Concurrence, the Votes concerning the One thousand Pounds, charged upon the Excise, for Colonel John Fynes his Regiment: The Order formerly passed this House to Haberdashers-Hall, for Payment of the Monies due to Colonel Jones, for Arms furnished by him to the State: And was to desire the Lords to expedite their Answer to the Order for referring the Propositions of the States Ambassador to the Committee of Lords and Commons for Foreign Affairs: And carried up the Letters concerning the Relief of Taunton.

Letters from Sir Thomas Fairfax, Colonel Welden, and Mr. Herbert, of the Eleventh and Thirteenth of this Present, relating the Relieving of Taunton by the Party that was sent from Sir Thomas Fairfaxe's Army; and of Sir Thomas Fairfaxe's Return to Whitechurch; were this Day read.

Ordered, That Publick Thanks be given unto Almighty God, on the next Lord's Day, in all the Churches and Chaples within the Lines of Communication, and Bills of Mortality, for the good Success it has pleased God to give the Parliament Forces in the Relief of Taunton: And my Lord Mayor is desired...., that timely Notice hereof may be given to the several Ministers respectively.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of the West, to consider of some Way for the present Relief of those Prisoners that are in Ludford: And that it be referred to the Committee for Prisoners, that Colonel Popham's Officers, who lie in very great Extremity, may be speedily exchanged.

Ordered, That the List of the Officers and Soldiers that were exchanged from Bristoll, and are now come to London, be referred to the Consideration of the Committee for the West: Who are to consider of employing and disposing of them.

Upon Report from the Committee appointed to consider of a Subsistence for the Prince Elector;

It is Ordered, That it be recommended to the Committee of the Revenue, to pay Five hundred Pounds of the Two thousand Pounds per Annum, formerly assigned to the Prince Elector, out of the Revenue which will be due upon a Quarterly Payment on the Twentieth Day of this present May: That it be recommended to the Committee, to continue the Payment of the said Two thousand Pounds quarterly, in regard of the present and urging Occasions of the Prince Elector.

Ordered, That Mr. Serjeant Wilde do make his Report To-morrow Morning concerning Sir James Stonehowse.

Ordered, That Mr. Hill do make his Report concerning Serjeant Glanvill To-morrow Morning.

Sir Robert Pye brings Answer from the Lords, That as to the Ordinance for Punishing of Soldiers imprested, and after running from their Colours; and the Instructions for the Commissioners appointed to reside in the Army; they will send Answer by Messengers of their own: And, as to the rest of the Particulars carried up by him, they have agreed.

Mr. Green brings Answer, That the Lords do agree to all the Orders and Messages carried up by him.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; That this House will give a present Meeting, at a Conference, as is desired.

Mr. Holles, Sir Wm. Massam, Sir John Evelyn junior, and Mr. Lisle, are appointed Reporters of this Conference.

Ordered, That the Report of this Conference, concerning the Navy, be made the first Business To-morrow Morning; and, after it, the Report concerning the Eastern Association be taken into Consideration.