House of Commons Journal Volume 4: 20 June 1645

Die Veneris, Junii 20, 1645.

Prayers.

ORdered, That Sir Peter Wentworth and Sir Wm. Massam do return the Thanks of this House to Mr. Vines and Mr. Marshall, for the great Pains they took in the Sermons they Yesterday preached, at the Intreaty of both Houses, before the said Houses, the Lord Mayor, and Aldermen, at Christ-Church in London: And that they be desired to print their Sermons: And that they shall have the usual Privilege, that none shall preach . . . . but such as shall be authorized under their Hands.

Ordered, That the Order for the Publick Thanksgiving to be observed on Friday the Seven-and-twentieth of June, be printed: And that the several and respective Knights and Burgesses of those Counties, do take care to send down the said Orders, that the said Counties may have timely Notice hereof.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of plundered Ministers, to compile and compose an historical Narrative of the Proceedings of the several Armies, since the Beginning of this unhappy and unnatural War; to the end that the Memory of the several great Successes wherewith it has pleased God, from time to time, and upon all great Occasions, to bless the Parliament's Forces, may be transmitted to all Posterity: And they have Power to send for Parties, Papers, Records.

Mr. Lisle reports from the Committee to whom it was referred to prepare Answers to several Papers and Letters committed to them, concerning the Scotts, That the Committee had considered of the Papers concerning the Imposition laid by the Committee of both Kingdoms in the North, of Five Shillings the Chaldron upon Coals at Newcastle: That they have debated and conferred several Times with the Commissioners of the Kingdom of Scotland, that are here present, concerning the same.

That they have not only considered of the Point of Power, Whether the Commissioners upon the Place had Power, by their Instructions, to lay a Tax upon Coals; but of the Petition of the Owners of Ships, that trade to Newcastle, Whether the Trade will bear either the said Five Shillings upon the Chaldron, or any greater Proportion than what was laid upon it before the Five Shillings was imposed, viz. the Four Shillings and the One Shilling.

That the Committee is of Opinion, That the Commissioners had no Power to lay any Tax upon the Coals; and that the Trade will not bear any greater Proportion than the Four Shillings and One Shilling imposed; and that, if the Five Shillings should be continued, there would be more lost than gained by it; being a great Discouragement to those that trade thither, and destructive to the Navigation of the Kingdom: And further are of Opinion, That the House should confirm their former Vote of 20 Martii, 1644; and desire the Lords Concurrence therein.

Resolved, &c. That the Commissioners for the Parliament in the North had no Power, by their Instructions, to lay any Tax upon the Coals.

Resolved, &c. That the Trade of the Colliery will not bear any greater Proportion, than the Four Shillings and the One Shilling imposed.

Resolved, &c. That the Vote of this House, of 20 Martii 1644, concerning the Imposition upon Coals, be confirmed: And that the Lords Concurrence be desired herein.

Mr. Lisle further reported, a Letter from Sir Wm. Armyn and Mr. Fenwick, from Newcastle, of 7 Martii 1644; with Propositions signed by Edward Man and Robert Elleson, in the Names of themselves, and the rest of the Undertakers, concerning the Management of Delinquents Collieries: Which was read. And,

It is thereupon Ordered, That the said Letter and Propositions be referred to the Committee of Parliament, that are of the Committee of both Kingdoms, upon the Place; to treat with the Makers of those Propositions, or any other well-affected Persons, for the Managing of Delinquents Collieries, for the best Advantage of the State; and to consider of, and settle, the Measure of Coals at Sunderland, and at Newcastle, the Price of Coals there; and for giving an Oath to the Fillers, Staithmen, and Owners, of Coals, as well as to the Masters of Ships there.

Ordered, That no Delinquent be employed in the Trade of the Colliery at Newcastle.

Ordered, That it be referred to the same Committee where Mr. Lisle has the Chair, to prepare an Order, according to the Sense of these Votes, to be sent to the Committee upon the Place; and bring the same in To-morrow.

Ordered, That it be referred to the same Committee, to present the Names of Commissioners for the Northern Counties; and to confer with the Scotts Commissioners here, to present Names of Commissioners on the Behalf of the Scotts Army; who shall have Power to bring to an Account free-quarter Billet, and all Monies received for Pay by the Scotts Army, provided the Customs be not included herein: And that an Order be brought in to this Purpose, To-morrow Morning.

Ordered, That these Commissioners shall have added to their Instructions, a Power to take an Account of what Coals, or other Goods, of any Delinquents, have been taken away, and by whom; and to bring the same to an Account.

Ordered, That Commissioners shall be named to muster the Scotts Army that are advanced Southwards: And that it be referred back to the Committee where Mr. Lisle has the Chair, to bring in the Names of those Commissioners, To-morrow Morning.

Ordered, That Directions shall be sent to Sir Wm. Armyn, Mr. Barwis, and Mr. Fenwick, or any Two of them, calling to their Assistance such Persons of the several Countries as they shall think fit, for the Mustering of those of the Scotts Forces that remain in the Four Northern Counties, either in Garison, or out of Garison; and to return a List thereof, under their Hands, with all convenient Speed, to this House.

Ordered, That the Committee of the Navy do treat with the Scotts Commissioners, about the Accompts of the Customs, since their Forces came into the Kingdom: And that they take some Course for liquidating and adjusting those Accompts: And that, for the future, they do permit the Deputies of the Commissioners of the Customs, thereunto appointed by the said Commissioners of the Customs to receive the same, without any Interruption; to be employed towards the Setting forth, and Maintaining, of those Ships which are appointed for the North Guard.

Mr. Lisle reports, from the Committee to which it was referred, the Petition or Remonstrance of the Inhabitants of the distressed County of Cumberland: Part of which Petition was read. And

It is Ordered, That so much of it as was read; viz. from the Words "all which Sums," be referred to the Consideration of the Committee of both Kingdoms; to consider, What is fit to be done upon it; and to deliver their Opinions upon it to the House To-morrow Morning; or to report their Proceedings upon it: And the Gentlemen of the Northern Counties are to attend this Business at the Committees of both Kingdoms, this Afternoon: And the Care of this Business is especially referred to Sir Henry Vane senior.

It is further Ordered, That the Letters and Papers of Agreement, mentioned in the Petition, now in the Hands of Mr. Blakiston, be referred likewise to the Consideration of the Committee of both Kingdoms: And that the Clerk do presently send to the Commissioners of Scotland, the Remonstrance from the Inhabitants from the County of Cumberland, with a Copy of this Order.

Ordered, That, To-morrow, Mr. Tate do make his Report concerning a Settling of a Presbytery within the Cities of London and Westminster, and Lines of Communication.

Upon Mr. Lisle's Report, of an Answer to be given to a Paper of the Fifteenth of April 1645, delivered in from the Scotts Commissioners;

It is Resolved, That this Answer shall be given; viz. That they have already contracted with Mr. Davies for Twenty-four thousand Pounds-worth of Cloth and Provision, to be sent to that Army before the last of July, towards the Payment of their Arrears; and have referred it to a Committee, to see the same done accordingly: And that they will take it into Consideration, Which way they may have the Four thousand Pounds a Month for hereafter.

Ordered, That Sir Robert Harley do make his Report, concerning the Pictures in York-House, on Monday Morning.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee where Mr. Lisle hath the Chair, to examine and state the whole Matter to the House, concerning the Delinquency of the Earl of Roxborough.

Ordered, That the Committee of the Army do prepare a Letter, to be signed by Mr. Speaker, and sent to MajorGeneral Skippon; to express the great Sense this House has of his many faithful Services, and the Care they have of him: And

It is further Ordered, That the said Committee do take care, forthwith, to send down Dr. Clerk to him: And that he do require the Surgeons that are there, to take special Care of him.

Ordered, That the Members of both Houses, that are of the Committee of both Kingdoms, do meet this Afternoon, and consider how to improve the Forces of both Armies, for the best Advantage of the Kingdom.

Ordered, That Sir Harbottle Grimston shall have Leave to go into the Country.

Ordered, That it be referred . . the Members of both Houses, that are of the Committee of both Kingdoms, to prepare Letters, to be signed by the Speakers of both Houses, to be sent to the Parliament of Scotland: And that Mr. Crew do take care hereof.

Ordered, That Mr. Tate and Mr. Bond do go to the Commissioners of the Excise; and desire them to provide the Nine thousand Pounds charged upon the Excise, for Payment of the English and Scotts Officers that are laid aside, and the Train of Artillery under the Earl of Essex.

Sir Robert Pye carried up to the Lords the Ordinance for the Payment of Three hundred Pounds to Sir John Meldrum, out of Haberdashers-Hall, being Part of the Five hundred Pounds bestowed upon him: The Ordinance for Discharge of the Sequestration of Newenham Farm, Part of the Lord Roper's Lands; by which Discharge the Hundred Pounds to Major Ennys is to be satisfied: The Ordinance for Two hundred Pounds, out of HaberdashersHall, to be provided for the Prisoners that are coming up: The Ordinance for Sir Matthew Brand to be dispensed with for not residing in the County of Surrey, whereof he is Sheriff: The Order for the Members of the Committee of both Kingdoms, to meet this Afternoon, upon the Improvement of the Forces to the best Advantage of the Publick: The Vote for making Colonel Rous Governor of Evesham: The Ordinance for the present Providing of Thirty-one thousand Pounds, for the Scotts Army, now upon their March Southward.

He was likewise to desire the Lords, That the Lord Savile may be forthwith committed Prisoner to the Tower of London, for his Contempt, in refusing to answer upon the Command of both Houses.

Ordered, That the Letter and Propositions from the Governor of Abingdon be referred to the Committee of the Three Counties of Oxon, Buck', and Berks: And they are to consider among themselves of some Way to be propounded to the House, for the Answering of these Demands.

Ordered, That the Two thousand Four hundred Pounds now in the Hands of Mr. Frost, be paid over to Mr. Knight, Treasurer of the three Counties of Oxon, Buck', and Berk'; to be disposed of by Order of the Committee of those Three Counties; Two thousand Pounds of it for the Service of the Garrison of Abingdon, and of Gant-House; and the Four hundred Pounds Remainder, for the Service of the Garison of Henley.

Mr. Tate went up to the Lords, to desire them to expedite the Ordinance for Raising of Twenty thousand Pounds, for the Reducing of Oxon.

Ordered, That the Ordinance for the Sale of Delinquents Estates be brought in, and reported on Monday Morning next.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Edward Leech and Dr. Heath;

The Lords have commanded us to deliver this Petition: It comes from the Committee of Adventurers for Ireland, in London: They desire it may be speedily taken into Consideration; otherwise, all Munster will be in Danger to be lost.

Ordered, That the Ordinance for Payment of, and providing Monies and Provisions for Supply of the Parliament's Forces in the Province of Munster, in the Realm of Ireland, brought in this Day by Mr. Jephson, shall be read on Monday Morning: And that the Business of Ireland be then also taken into Consideration.

Ordered, That Mr. Reynolds do make his Report, concerning the Letters Patents, taken going from Oxon to Ireland, To-morrow Morning.

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

The Lords have commanded us to bring this Ordinance for the Northern Association: To which they do agree, with some Alterations; and do desire your Concurrence in them: The Petition of Henry Askittle: Two other Petitions, one from Major-General Holborne, the other from Mary Fyott: Which their Lordships do specially recommend to your Considerations. They likewise desire to put you in mind of the Ordinance concerning Rutlandshire; and of a Petition from the Lady of Sir Wm. Fairfax, formerly sent to this House.

The Amendments in the Ordinance for the Northern Association were read; and were, That the Lord Philip Wharton be added to the Committees in the several Ridings in Yorkshire: That Francis Lord Dacre be added in the several Ridings in Yorkshire: That Francis Lord Dacre be added in the County of Westmorland.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth agree with the Lords, in the several Additions and Amendments, in the Ordinance for the Northern Association.

The Amendments in the Ordinance for Rutlandshire were read; and were, That Thomas Lord Grey of Groby, Thomas Levett, Samuel Barker, Esquires, John Green, Wm. Busby, and Abel Barker, Gentlemen, be added unto the Committee of Rutland.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth agree with the Lords, in the Additions to the Ordinance for Rutlandshire.

Resolved, &c. That Two hundred Pounds of the Five hundred Pounds, formerly bestowed upon the late Wife of Sir Wm. Fairfax, who lost his Life in the Parliament's Service (whereof nothing is yet paid), be forthwith provided, and charged upon Haberdashers-Hall, to be paid out of the first Discovery that shall come in to That Committee, or to the Committee of Examinations not yet assigned: And that further Care shall be taken, for the Relief of the Wants of the said Lady Fairefax; and that by such means as shall be hereafter propounded to the House, in her Behalf.

Sir Robert Pye brings Answer from the Lords, That, as to the Discharge of the Sequestration of Newenham Farm, they will send Answer by Messengers of their own: And, as to the rest of the Particulars, carried up by him, they do agree.

Mr. Tate brings Answer from the Lords, That the Lords will speedily take into Consideration the Ordinance for securing Twenty thousand Pounds out of the Excise for Oxford.

The first Messengers were called in: And the House returned this Answer;

That the House had taken their Message into Consideration; and would return an Answer by Messengers of their own.

The Second Messengers were called in: And the House returned this Answer;

That the House had taken their Message into Consideration: And, as to the Ordinance for the Northern Association, this House doth agree: To the Amendments to the Ordinance concerning Rutlandshire, this House doth likewise agree: And have taken the Lady Fairfaxe's Petition into Consideration: And as to the rest, they will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Resolved, &c. That the Prisoners that are now coming up, shall be placed in the Military Yard behind the Mewse.