House of Commons Journal Volume 4: 28 June 1645

Die Sabbati, Junii 28, 1645.

Prayers.

Mr. Prideaux reported the Impeachment against the Earl of Stamford, and against Henry Polton and Matthew Patsall, his Servants: Which was twice read; and was in hæc verba;

The Impeachment of Henry Earl of Stamford, and of Henry Polton and Matthew Patsall, his Servants, by the Commons of England, assembled in Parliament, for Breach of their Privileges; and for an Assault upon, and other Injuries done unto, a Member of their House.

THE said Commons shew, That the said Earl of Stamford, Henry Polton, and Matthew Patsall, upon the Twentieth Day of May in the Year of our Lord God One thousand Six hundred and Forty-five, in the common Highway, leading from Perpoole-Lane to Clerkenwell, in the County of Middlesex, without any Injury, Offence, or Provocation, to them given, and for Matters and Things done in Parliament, did forcibly and unlawfully make an Assault upon Sir Arthur Heslerig Baronet, a Member of the said House of Commons, then riding, in a peaceable Manner, from the said House of Commons, unto his own Dwelling-house in Islington in the said County; and being then well known by them the said Earl, Henry Polton, and Matthew Patsall, to be a Member of the said House of Commons; and then and there the said Earl, Henry Polton, and Matthew Patsall, did suddenly and unexpectedly, several times, thrust and strike the said Sir Arthur Heslerig, with a drawn Sword, and other offensive Instruments, against the publick Peace of this Kingdom; to the high Breach of the Privilege of the said House of Commons, and to the great Damage of the said Sir Arthur Haslerig:

For which Offences and Misdemeanors, the said Commons pray, That the said Earl, Henry Poulton, and Matthew Patsall, may be put to their Answers; and that such Proceedings may be had thereupon, as shall be agreeable to Justice.

Sir Henry Vane reports, from the Committee of both Kingdoms, the Extract of Two Letters; one from Gloucester, of 25 Junii 1645; the other from Sir Thomas Fairfax, from Leechlade, of 26 Junii 1645: Which were read: And

It is thereupon Ordered, That they be referred to the Committee of the Army.

Ordered, That it be specially referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms, to give present Directions to the Committee of the Army, for the speedy sending away the several Recruits, formerly ordered by this House, to Sir Thomas Fairfaxe's Army.

Ordered, That Alderman Pennington and Colonel Ven do, from this House, go to the Committee in London, intrusted with the Execution of the Ordinance for punishing imprested Soldiers that have run from their Colours; to desire them to put the said Ordinance speedily in due Execution, as well upon some of those that have run away from Sir Thomas Fairfaxe's Army, as upon those that have run to the Enemy, and are now taken again; and also the former Ordinance for executing the mere Irish that have been in Rebellion there; and do give an Account hereof to the House on Monday Morning.

A Letter from General Leven, from Nottingham, of June 25 1645, to the Committee of both Kingdoms, was this Day read.

Ordered, That Mr. Recorder and Alderman Pennyngton do desire the Lord Mayor and Common-Council, that the Payment of the Thirty thousand Pounds for the Scotts Army may be hastened: And that they do acquaint them with General Leven's Letter of the Twenty-fifth of June, from Nottingham.

Ordered, That Mr. Recorder do acquaint the Scotts Commissioners here, what Part of the said Thirty thousand Pounds is ready; and that the rest will be speedily provided for them.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms, to take care for the sending away such Monies as are in Readiness for the Scotts Army.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth approve of the Desires of the Committee of both Kingdoms, for the Scotts Army to march towards Worcester, and those Parts, to prevent the King's Recruiting of his Army there.

Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Ordered, That a Letter shall be sent from both Houses to General Leven, to desire, That the Scotts Army may with all Speed advance Southward, and march towards Worcester, and these Parts, according to the Desires of the Committee of both Kingdoms, to prevent the King's Recruiting of his Army: And that Mr. Pierpoint, Sir Philip Stapilton, and Mr. Sollicitor, do immediately withdraw, and prepare this Letter.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Ordered, That Mr. Green do make such Reports, as are in his Hands, from the Committee of the Navy, on Monday Morning: And that no other Business do then intervene.

Sir Henry Vane reported, from the Committee of both Kingdoms, the State of the Business upon the large Treaty, the Instructions to the Commissioners for the Parliament, and upon the other Treaties with the Kingdom of Scotland, concerning the Garisoning of Carlisle; together with Three several Papers, delivered in to that Committee, from the Scotts Commissioners.

Which were all of them read.

The Paper of the Twentieth of June, delivered by the Scotts Commissioners, was likewise read.

Ordered, That Mr. Tate, Mr. Holles, and Mr. Crew, do peruse the Answers given to the Two first Parts of the Scotts Commissioners Paper of 20 Junii 1645; and do, in pursuance of those Votes, prepare an Answer to them, and also to the Third Particular in the said Paper; and report the same forthwith to this House.

Sir Henry Vane reports, from the Committee of both Kingdoms, a Particular of Provisions, delivered by the Master of the Ship Tulip, of London, to the Garisons of Pembroke and Tenby, which were going for Ireland.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms, to treat with Mr. Davies for the Furnishing of new Provisions to be sent to Sir Wm. Cole in Ireland.

Resolved, &c. That Two thousand Pounds shall be charged upon the Excise, to be paid, in Course, for the providing new Provisions, in lieu of those that were intended for Ireland, and delivered to the Garisons of Pembroke and Tenby; to be sent to Sir Wm. Cole, to Iniskillen, in Ireland.

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

The Lords have commanded us to deliver this Petition: It is from one Hancock: They have passed these Votes upon it; and desire your Concurrence in them.

The Lords desire you would speedily take into Consideration, How to dispose of the Prisoners in Tuttle Military Yard, both to avoid the Infection of the Plague, as also the Inhumanity of keeping them abroad in the Weather, and where they lie so nastily.

They commanded us to deliver this Paper from the Lord Savile: It is for delivering to him the Monies and Jewels seized by the Committee of Examinations: The Lords think fit they should be restored; and desire your Concurrence herein.

Sir Robert Py brings Answer, The Lords will sit awhile.

Mr. Pierpoint reports the Letter to be sent from both Houses to General Leven: Which was read; and assented unto; and ordered to be carried to the Lords for their Concurrence.

Mr. Nicoll carried it up; and the Two Votes, concerning the March of the Scotts Army towards Worcester.

He was likewise to put them in mind of the Instructions to be signed by the Committee in the Northern Ordinance; and of the Ordinance for charging Twenty thousand Pounds upon the Excise for Oxford.

The Petition of John Hancock, and the Votes from the Lords, were read: And Ordered, That the Petition, upon the whole Matter, be committed to the Committee of the West.

The Desire from the Lords, concerning the Disposal of the Prisoners, was read.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee for Prisoners, forthwith to dispose of the Soldiers, that were sent up Prisoners by Sir Thomas Fairfax, and are now in the Artillery-Yard in Tuttle-Fields, to some safe convenient Places of Covert: And that the Committee of the Militia do appoint such Guards as may be convenient for the safe Keeping of them in those Places where they shall be disposed: And that Colonel Ven do acquaint the Militia with this Order.

Mr. Sollicitor delivered to the House Four Papers, or Letters, of Secretary Nicholas, and others, sent to him from the Army: Two whereof were read; and referred to the Committee appointed to consider of the Papers and Letters taken at Naseby-Field, where Mr. Tate has the Chair.

Mr. Nicoll brings Answer; The Lords agree to the Letter to be sent to General Leven; and to the Votes concerning the Advance of the Scotts Army towards Worcester.

Ordered, That the Committee for Prisoners do advise this Afternoon with the Committee of both Kingdoms, for the speedy Disposing of these Prisoners.

Ordered, That Three hundred Pounds shall be charged upon the Receipts of the Excise, and be forthwith advanced by the Commissioners of Excise, for Relief of the common Soldiers that were sent up Prisoners by Sir Thomas Fairfax.

Ordered, That the Business, concerning Lancashire, shall be taken into Consideration on Monday Morning.

The First of the Three Papers from the Scots Commissioners, reported this Day by Sir Henry Vane, was signed 26 Junii 1645; and was, to set forth, Upon what Grounds the Informations against Mr. Barwis, and others, employed by the Parliament, were delivered in.

The Second was signed 26 Junii 1645; and was, concerning the Garisoning of the Towns of Carlile and Berwick.

The Third was the Copies of Two Letters; one, from the Lord Fairfax, Mr. Francis Pierpoint, and Sir Wm. Constable, of 21 Junii, from Yorke, to General Leven; the other, from General Leven to the Lord Fairfax, of 23 Junii, from Nottingham; and were, concerning Carlile.

Ordered, That the Scotts Papers, and the Report from the Committee of both Kingdoms, concerning the Garisoning of Carlisle, be taken into Consideration on Monday Morning.

Ordered, That Mr. Whitelock do make his Report, concerning Abingdon, on Monday Morning.

Ordered, That Mr. Tate do make his Report, concerning the King's Letters and Papers formerly referred to that Committee, on Monday Morning.

Resolved, &c. That this Answer shall be given to the Paper concerning the Lord Savile's Money and Jewels, That the House will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; That the House has taken their Lordships Message into Consideration; and as to the Business concerning the Disposal of the Prisoners, they have considered of it; and, as to the rest, they will send Answer by Messengers of their own.