House of Commons Journal Volume 4: 17 May 1645

Die Sabbati, Maii 17, 1645.

Prayers.

AN Ordinance for the more speedy bringing in the Arrears of the Monies imposed by the Bill of Four hundred thousand Pounds.

The Ordinance for Fifty Subsidies, and the weekly Assessments, and weekly Meal, within the City of London, and the Liberties, was this Day read the First and Second time; and, upon the Question, committed unto Mr. Selden, Mr. Recorder, Mr. Sollicitor, Sir Ro. Pye, Col. Ven, Sir Tho. Soame, Lord Mounson, Sir Edw. Hungerford, Mr. Jenno, Sir Anth. Irby, Sir Philip Stapilton, Sir Robert Harley, Mr. Rigby, Mr. Knightley, Sir Tho. Cheeke, Mr. Wheler, Sir Rich. Onslowe, Sir Mart. Lumley, the Knights and Burgesses of the City of London, and the Committee for the Ordinance concerning the Accompts: And are to meet on Monday next at Two Post meridiem, in the Exchequer-Chamber: And have Power to send for Parties, Witnesses, Papers, Records: And the Care hereof is especially referred to Mr. Recorder.

Ordered, That the Committee of both Kingdoms be desired to grant a Commission to Colonel Rosseter to command in Chief the Forces of Lincolneshire, in pursuance of the Nomination and Approbation of both Houses; with a Power to him to grant Commissions to all such Officers under his Command, as are not of the new Model.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Ordered, That the Committee of both Kingdoms be desired to grant a Commission to Major Ashhers to be Governor of Liverpoole, according to the Vote and Order passed both Houses for him the said Major Ashherst to be Governor.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

An Ordinance for enabling Jo. Warner and Tho. Andrewes, Aldermen of the City of London, to be Treasurers, and Receivers of the Monies in Arrear upon divers Ordinances, payable, by those Ordinances, unto Sir Gilbert Gerard, late Treasurer at Wars, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

An Ordinance for securing and repaying unto the Commissioners of Excise Four thousand Pounds, advanced by them, to be paid to several Persons contracted with by the Committee of the Navy for Provisions of Powder and Ammunition, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

An Ordinance for charging the Receipts of the Excise with the Sum of Eight thousand Pounds, for the paying for Arms and Ammunition, provided for the Service of the State, upon a Contract made by the Committee of the Navy with divers Persons, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth approve of the Design for the speedy Reducing of Oxon.

Ordered, That Letters be written to the several Counties, to injoin them to hasten the Collection and Bringing in of the Money due upon the Ordinance for maintaining the Forces under the Command of Sir Thomas Fairfax, and of the Recruits; and to present the Reasons for the speedy Bringing in of those Monies and Recruits.

Mr. Sollicitor, Sir Philip Stapilton, Mr. Crewe, Mr. Scawen, are presently to withdraw, to prepare these Letters.

Ordered, That the City, at a Common-Council, be acquainted with this Design, by some Members of both Houses, on Tuesday next at Three of the Clock in the Afternoon; and the Reasons of this Design urged; and their concurrent Assistance in this so important a Work desired.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired in these Orders.

Mr. Recorder, Mr. Sollicitor, Mr. John Ash, Mr. Rigby, Mr. Reynalds, Mr. Stroade, Mr. Hill, Mr. Nichlas, Mr. Ellys, Sir Thomas Widdrington, and the Members of this House that are of the Committee at Goldsmiths-Hall;

This Committee is to prepare and bring in an Ordinance for the Raising of Monies, by the Sale and Disposal of the Estates of Delinquents, according to the Propositions presented to his Majesty upon the Treaty: And it is left to this Committee, to consider, What is fit to be done with such Delinquents, as shall come within the Time limited: And they are to bring in this Ordinance on Tuesday next: And have Power to consult hereupon with the other Persons that are of the Committee at Goldsmiths-Hall: And have Power to send for Parties, Witnesses, Papers, and Records. And

It is Ordered, That the First Fifty thousand Pounds, that shall be raised upon this Ordinance, shall be peculiarly employed to the Design of Reducing of Oxon: And that this Fifty thousand Pounds be paid in to the Treasurers appointed for the Monies for Sir Thomas Fairfax his Army; with an Injunction, That they issue out none of that Fifty thousand Pounds, but upon this Design: And are to meet on Monday next at Two of the Clock in the Afternoon, in the Exchequer-Chamber.

It is further Ordered, That it be referred to this Committee, to consider, What Part shall be fit to be allowed for Encouragement of such Persons, as shall voluntarily discover and pay in any Debts they owe unto any Delinquent: And likewise to consider, What Part shall be assigned out of such Monies, as shall be received upon the Sale of Delinquents Estates, for the Payment of some Proportion of the Debts owing by the said Delinquents, to such Persons as have expressed their Affections to the Parliament by their free Contributions: And to bring in an Ordinance for the Effecting of this.

It is further Ordered, That it be referred to this Committee, to consider, How they may raise Monies upon the several Bail-Bonds forfeited: And likewise to consider, How the Bail-Bonds, for the future, may be so taken, as that the Forfeitures thereupon incurring may be best levied for the Advantage of the Publick.

Ordered, That it be in especial Manner recommended unto the Committee of both Kingdoms, to take care so to streighten Oxon, that it may prevent all Provisions and Ammunition to be brought in: And likewise to take care of making timely Provision of Ammunition, and all other Things necessary for so great a Work as the Reducing of Oxon.

Ordered, That the Members of this House, that are appointed to prepare any Part of the Declaration upon the Treaty, do bring in their Parts on Tuesday next, peremptorily: And that Mr. Speaker put the House in mind hereof: And that the other Persons, who are not Members of this House, be desired to send in their Parts of the said Declaration at the same time.

Mr. Scawen reported the Letter to be sent into the several Counties, for expediting and speeding in the Monies due upon the Ordinance for maintaining the Forces under the Command of Sir Thomas Fairfax; and for sending in the Recruits: The which was read; and, upon the Question, assented unto; and sent unto the Lords, for their Concurrence, by Sir Philip Stapilton.

Sir Philip Stapilton carried to the Lords this Letter, for their Concurrence: And was to desire, That, upon their Concurrence, it might be referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms, speedily to send Copies of it away.

He likewise carried up the Votes for reducing Oxon; and the Order for the City to be acquainted with this Design, at a Common-Council, by some Members of both Houses: And was to desire the Lords to nominate a Number of their Members to go to the Common-Council on Tuesday next, that this House might nominate a proportionable Number.

An Ordinance for the further and better regulating the Sequestration of Delinquents and Papists Estates was this Day read the First time; and ordered to be read the Second time on Wednesday next.

Sir Philip Stapilton brings Answer, That the Lords do agree to the Votes carried up by him, concerning the Reducing of Oxon; to the Letter to be sent to the several Counties: And have appointed Eight of their House to go to the Common-Council on Tuesday next at Two post meridiem.

Sir Philip Stapilton, Sir Arthur Hesilrig, Mr. Purefoy, Mr. Sollicitor, Mr. Recorder, Mr. Whitlock, Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Crew, Mr. Lisle, Lord Wenman, Sir Christopher Wraye, Sir Gilbert Gerard, Mr. Heveningham, Lord Grey, Mr. Prideaux, Sir H. Mildmay;

This Committee is appointed to meet with a Committee of a proportionable Number of the Lords, to go to the Common-Council on Tuesday next at Two post meridiem; to acquaint them with the Design of reducing Oxon; and to desire their concurrent Assistance.

A Message from the Lords, by Serjeant Finch and Dr. Heath;

The Lords having this Morning received Information of the Death of the Countess of Dorsett; and both Houses having, by their Votes, appointed the Earl of Northumberland, and his Lady, to take the Care of the King's Children; they have made an Order for the Earl of Northumberland, and his Lady, presently to enter upon That Charge; and desire the Concurrence of this House.

The Order from the Lords was read, in hæc verba;

"Whereas, by the Votes of both Houses, the Charge and Care of the King's Children is to be committed to the Earl of Northumberland, and his Lady: The Houses do think fit, That the said Earl, and his Lady, be desired presently to enter upon That Charge and Care; the Countess of Dorsett being now dead:"

The which, upon the Question, was assented unto.

Ordered, That Mr. Colebanck, Servant to the late Countess of Dorsett, deceased, shall have Mr. Speaker's Warrant to go to Oxon, to acquaint my Lord of Dorsett with the Death of his Countess; provided he carry no Letter, or other Matter, prejudicial to the State.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Lords and Commons for the King's Children, to take care, that the Expence of the Burial of the Countess of Dorsett, and the Debts owing by her to her Servants, may be provided for, and satisfied, out of That Proportion of Maintenance formerly allotted and intended to the said Countess by the said Committee: And likewise to take the said Servants into further Consideration, as Occasion shall be.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms, to take care for translating the Declaration passed both Houses, concerning the Proceedings between the Parliament and the States Ambassadors, into their Languages; and to consider of the Way and Manner of Sending and Publishing of it, and by whom.

Ordered, That the House do, on Monday next, take into Consideration the Preparing of a Declaration, setting forth the true State of the Parliament's Cause upon this Difference between the King and them; and of the Ground and Necessity of this unhappy and unnatural War: And likewise the Declaration concerning the publick Commerce and Trade with other Nations; and the Matter concerning the Ships taken by Reprisal.

THE Lords and Commons, in Parliament assembled, do Declare, That the Ordinance, bearing Date the Fifteenth Day of July 1644, concerning the Safety of the Isle of Wight, in the County of Southampton, shall have Continuance, and every Clause, Article, and Sentence therein contained, for and during the Space of Six Months, from the Thirteenth Day of May 1645; and no longer.

Ordered, That the Business for the Eastern Association, and the Isle of Eley, be taken into Consideration on Monday Morning next, the first Business.