House of Commons Journal Volume 4: 24 July 1645

Die Jovis, Julii 24, 1645.

Prayers.

A Letter concerning the Taking of Bridgewater.

A Letter from Colonel Poynts, Commander in Chief of all the Forces of the Northern Association, of July the One-and-twentieth, relating the Taking of Pontefract.

A Letter from the Committee at Yorke, of July the Twentieth, relating the Taking of Pontefract, was this Day read.

Ordered, &c. That, on the next Lord's Day, being the Twenty-seventh of this present July, Notice be taken of God's Mercies and Blessings upon the Parliament's Forces in the West, and in the North, particularly in the Taking in of Bridgewater and Pontefract-Castle: And that, in all the Churches and Chapels within the Lines of Communication, and Weekly Bill of Mortality, the Ministers do return Thanks unto Almighty God for these great Mercies: And that the Lord Mayor be desired to give timely Notice of this Order to the Ministers of the several Churches and Chapels.

Ordered, &c. That Colonel Poynts shall have the next Command worthy of him, that shall fall in the North.

It is further Ordered, That Mr. Jephson do prepare a Letter, to be sent from the House to Colonel Poynts, to give him Thanks for his Service; and to acquaint him with this Order.

Ordered, &c. That the military Command of PontefractCastle shall be placed in Sir Thomas Fairefaxe, General of the Parliament's Forces.

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

The Lords have resolved to make Colonel Poynts Governor of Pontfract-Castle; the Gaining of it being the First-fruits of his Labour.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; That this House hath considered their Lordships Message; and will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Sir Henry Vane junior, by Order of the House, went to the Lords, to acquaint them, That the Government of Poyntfract-Castle was, before this Message, by the Vote of this House, placed in Sir Thomas Fairefax; and to desire the Lords Concurrence.

Sir Henry Vane junior brings Answer, That the Lords do agree, That the military Command of Poyntfract-Castle shall be placed in Sir Thomas Fairefaxe.

Two Letters, one to his Excellency the Earl of Leven, the other to the Committee of both Kingdoms upon the Place, recommending unto them the humble Petition of the Inhabitants of the County of Chester, and the Design of besieging Chester, were this Day read; and ordered to be signed by Mr. Speaker.

Sir Walter Erle carried to the Lords, for their Concurrence, the Ordinance for furnishing the Stores with Match and Bullet: The Ordinance for enabling Sir Walter Erle to pay for Harness, and other Materials, taken up by him for the Train of Artillery: The Ordinance for Seven hundred and Fifty Pounds for Major-General Browne.

Mr. Whitelocke carried to the Lords, for their Concurrence, the Ordinance for enabling the Treasurers at Guildhall to receive and issue forth the Monies that shall come in, for the Raising of Fifteen hundred Horse and Dragoons, for the Blocking up of Basinge, Winchester, &c.

ORdered, by the Lords and Commons, in Parliament assembled, That Sir Walter Erle Knight, late Lieutenant of the Ordnance, shall out of such Monies as are remaining in his Hands, of what he hath received from the Committee at Haberdashers-Hall, and out of the additional Excise for Land-Service, pay unto John Munings One hundred Seventy-and-five Pounds for Horse-Harness; and to Alexander Norman Twenty-five Pounds for Powder-Barrels; the last Year procured upon the Credit of the said Sir Walter Erle, for the Use of the Army then under the immediate Command of the Earl of Essex Lord General.

Ordered, &c. That the Petition of the Earl of Annandale be referred to the Committee of Lords and Commons for Sequestrations, to state the Grounds of the Sequestration; of the Value of the Lands sequestred; and how long the same have been so sequestred.

Resolved, &c. That Five thousand Pounds shall be charged upon the Receipts of the Excise, and paid, in its Course, to be employed for the Reducing of Winchester, Dunnington, and Basinge: And Mr. Lisle is to bring in an Ordinance to this Purpose.

Ordered, &c. That, To-morrow, Mr. Corbett do make his Report concerning Newarke, and the Eastern Association.

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

The Lords have returned the Ordinance settling One hundred Pounds per Annum, out of the Revenues belonging to the Bishoprick of Lincolne, for the Maintenance of the Ministers at Darby.

The Lords do desire, That the Committee appointed for Examination of the Lord Savile, and the Lord Digbie's Letter, may meet this Afternoon at Three of the Clock, if it may stand with the Conveniency of this House.

The Lords have added Two more to the Committee of Lords and Commons for Irish Affairs; and desire this House to add a proportionable Number of their Members, if it may stand with their Conveniency.

They have sent you this Petition of Robert Le Strange: They have conceived this Order upon it; and desire your Concurrence: And Two other Petitions, one from Captain Carpenter, the other from Lieutenant Spott, for their Pardons, being condemned by Council.

The Amendments to the Ordinance for settling the Hundred Pounds per Annum on the Town of Derby, for Maintenance of their Ministers, was read; and, upon the Question, assented unto.

Ordered, &c. That the Committee appointed for Examination of the Lord Savile, and Lord Digbie's Letter, do meet this Afternoon at Three of the Clock.

Sir Philip Stapleton, Sir Wm. Strickland, Colonel Morley, Mr. Button, are added to the Committee of Lords and Commons for Irish Affairs.

Ordered, &c. That Mr. Nicholas, shall have the Allowance of Four Pound per Week; the Payment to begin from the Time that the other Members Allowance begins.

Ordered, &c. That Sir Philip Stapleton shall have Leave to go into the Country, and to be absent from the Service of the House, for a Month.

Ordered, &c. That Five hundred Pound be forthwith advanced, and charged upon the Receipts of the Excise, to be employed for the Relief of the Prisoners taken at Naesby: And the Commissioners of Excise are earnestly desired speedily to advance these Monies, in regard of the present Necessity.

Ordered, &c. That Mr. Samuel Browne shall have Leave to go into the Country for Ten Days.

Answer returned by the same Messengers;

The House hath considered their Lordships Message: And, as to the Amendment to the Ordinance concerning Darby; and that the Committee appointed to examine the Lord Savile, and the Lord Digbie's Letter; they do agree: They have named a proportionable Number of this House to be added to the Committee for Irish Affairs: And, as to the rest of the Messages, will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Ordered, &c. That Sir Henry Vane do proceed in the Report from the Committee of the Revenue, the first Business To-morrow Morning.

The humble Petition of divers of the Inhabitants of Jersey, lying here in Want ever since the Revolt of the Islanders, upon the forcible Entrance which Captain Carteret made there against the Parliament, as well on their own Behalf, as in the Name of the rest well-affected in that Isle, remaining there in Want and Misery, was this Day read: And

It is thereupon Ordered, That, upon the whole Matter of the Petition, it be especially referred to the Committee for the Admiralty, to take a speedy Course for the Reduction of the Island of Jersy; and to report the same to the House.

Sir Walter Erle brings Answer, That the Lords do agree to the Three Ordinances carried by him to the Lords.

Mr. Whitlocke brings Answer, That the Lords do agree to the Ordinance concerning Oxford, carried by him to the Lords.

Ordered, &c. That Mr. Nicoll and Mr. Prideauxe do give Thanks to the Ministers that preached at St. Margaret's, Westminster, on the Day of Publick Thanksgiving; and desire them to print their Sermons.

The House being informed, That Sir Charles Egerton was at the Door;

He was called in; and related the Passages concerning the Delivery up of Pontefract-Castle.

And Mr. Speaker, by Command of the House, gave him Thanks for his Pains.

The House being informed, That the Messenger that came from Bridgwater was at the Door;

He was called in; and related the Manner of the Taking in of Bridgewater.

Ordered, &c. That the Committee of the West do give the Messenger that brought in good News of the Taking of Bridgwater, the Sum of Twenty Pounds, as a Recompence for his Pains in this Journey.

Ordered, &c. That in regard those Soldiers taken Prisoners by Sir Thomas Fairefax, which have chearfully listed themselves for the Service of the Parliament, against those bloody and barbarous Rebels of Ireland, could not possible be yet transported into that Kingdom, have, for their necessary Sustenance, expended all that charitable Benevolence collected for them, by virtue of the Order of the Commons, assembled in Parliament, of 27 Junii 1645; that, upon Sunday next, being a Day of Thanksgiving, and great Rejoicing, for several Blessings bestowed upon this Kingdom, that all the Ministers of the several Churches and Chapels within the Cities of London and Westminster, Lines of Communication, and weekly Bills of Mortality, be especially desired, both in the Forenoon and Afternoon of the next Lord's Day, to move effectually their respective Congregations to contribute their Charity towards the Relief and Transportation of those Soldiers which are willing to adventure their Lives in so pious and honourable Employment: And all such Monies as shall be collected by the respective Officers and Churchwardens for this Service, shall be paid over on Monday next to Alderman Bunce, Alderman Kenricke, and the rest of the Treasurers appointed to receive the Fourscore thousand Pounds upon the late Ordinance for Ireland: And the Committee of Adventurers for Ireland, fitting at Grocers-Hall, are desired to give their best Assistance for Advancing of this charitable Contribution: Which shall be issued out, for the Relief of the said Soldiers, in such manner as, by Warrant from the Committee for Prisoners, shall be, from time to time, directed.