House of Commons Journal Volume 4: 1 September 1645

Die Lunæ, primo Septembris, 1645.

Prayers.

REsolved, &c. That the Moiety of the Excise, in the County of Leicester, shall be employed for the Use and Maintenance of the Forces in the said County.

Mr. Speaker acquainted the House, That Mr. Pepis had left him a Legacy of Five hundred Pounds, to be employed for the Service of the Parliament; and that this Five hundred Pounds was due upon Bond from the Earl of Bolingbrook, Sir Oliver Luke, and Sir Samuel Luke.

Ordered, That Mr. Nicoll, Mr. Prideaux, Mr. Green, and Mr. Edward Ashe, do forthwith go to the Commissioners of Excise for the Procuring of Five thousand Pounds, appointed to be sent to Colonel-General Points, upon his March Southwards: And that this Five thousand Pounds be Part of the Twenty thousand Pounds formerly charged upon the Excise, and designed for Yorkshire.

Ordered, That Sir Anthony Irby shall have Leave to go into the Country: And that his Service in the House be dispensed with, in the mean time.

Upon Sir Arthur Hesilrigg's Report from the Committee of both Kingdoms, That they had designed Eight hundred Horse out of the Associated Counties to go into Lincolnshire, instead of those Horse that are marched thence with Colonel Rosseter, for the Defence of that County against the Newark Forces;

A Letter from Mr. Hincksman, of 3 Augusti 1645, relating the Motions of the King's Horse towards the West, was read.

Resolved, &c. That this House will insist upon the former Order, That Colonel Rosseter, and the Horse under his Conduct, shall forthwith march upon the present Design, in Pursuit of the King, according to former Orders.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth agree, That Captain Blague, and a Cornet, shall be exchanged for Major Gibbs, according to the Parole upon which the said Major Gibbes, and his Men, were set at Liberty.

Ordered, That Direction be forthwith given to the Earl of Warwick, speedily to send away Eight hundred Horse, formerly appointed out of the Associated Counties, for the Relief and Defence of the County of Lincoln: And

It is further Ordered, That Major Gibbes, and the Horse under his Command, do likewise forthwith march into Lincolnshire, for the further Security and Defence of that County.

Ordered, That the Committee of the Three Associated Counties of Oxon, Buck', and Berks, do forthwith issue their Warrant, for a Fortnight's Pay to be paid the Reformadoes, now upon their March towards the West, under the Command of Colonel Greves: And that Mr. Lane and Mr. Dunch do take care hereof.

Ordered, That the Darbyshire Horse do forthwith march Southwards, according to the Orders of the Committee of both Kingdoms.

Ordered, That the Horse belonging to Northampton, Coventry, and Warwick, do forthwith come to a Rendesvous, and march under the Command of Colonel-General Points, towards the West.

Ordered, That the Committee of both Kingdoms do meet, and put these several Orders in speedy Execution.

Ordered, That the Committee of the Three Counties of Oxon, Buck', and Berk', do forthwith issue out a Warrant to the Treasurers at War, sitting at Guildhall, for the present Payment of one Fortnight's Pay, out of the Monies come to their Hands upon the Ordinance of Twenty thousand Pounds, raised for the Reducing of Oxford, to Major Purbeck Temple, Governor of Henley, and * . . . . count, for the Pay of that Garison, which is to be drawn forth for that Service: And the said Major Temple is presently to repair to his Charge.

Ordered, That some Frigates be forthwith sent into Kings-Road, for Assistance of Sir Thomas Fairfax: And it is referred to the Committee of the Navy, to take care for the speedy Sending of these Frigates.

Ordered, That the Reports from the Committee of the Navy be made To-morrow Morning, the first Business after the Speaker comes to the Chair: And Mr. Speaker is to put the House in mind hereof.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth accept of the Fine of Six hundred Forty-five Pounds of Mr. Charles Edmonds, for Discharge of his Delinquency and Sequestration: And that, upon the Payment of the said Fine of Six hundred and Forty-five Pounds, or securing the Payment thereof, to the Committee at Northampton, at such Days and Times as is agreed by him, an Ordinance be brought in, for Discharging of his Delinquency, and taking off the Sequestration of his Estate.

Ordered, That a Warrant shall issue forth, under Mr. Speaker's Hand, directed to the Clerk of the Crown in Chancery, for the new Election of one Burgess for Tewkesbury in Gloucester . . . . in the place of Sir Robert Cooke, deceased.

Ordered, That a Warrant shall issue forth, under Mr. Speaker's Hand, directed to the Clerk of the Crown in Chancery, for the new Election of one Burgess for the Town of Darby, in the place of Wm. Allestree Esquire; being disabled, by Judgment of this House, to sit here as a Member, during this Parliament.

Ordered, That, upon the Issuing of any Warrants, under the Hand of . . Speaker, for any new Elections, that Mr. Speaker do send one of his Servants with the Warrant, to the Clerk of the Crown: And that the Clerk of the Crown do attend the Commissioners of the Seal with a Writ: And that the Commissioners for the Great Seal do take care the Writs may be delivered according to their Directions.

Ordered, That a Warrant shall issue forth, under Mr. Speaker's Hand, directed to the Clerk of the Crown in Chancery, for the new Election of a new Burgess for the Borough of Thuske in the County of York, in the room and place of John Bellassis Esquire; being disabled, by Judgment of this House, to sit here as a Member, during this Parliament.

Ordered, &c. That a Warrant shall issue forth, under Mr. Speaker's Hand, for the new Election of Two Burgesses for the Town of Beverly in Yorkshire, in the places of Sir John Hotham and Michael Wharton Esquire, both deceased; being disabled, by Judgment of this House, to sit here as Members, during this Parliament.

Ordered, &c. That a Warrant shall issue out, under Mr. Speaker's Hand, for the new Election of One new Burgess for Quinborough in the County of Kent, in the place of Mr. * Harrison, deceased; being disabled, by Judgment of this House, to sit here as a Member, during this Parliament.

Ordered, That Sir Robert Harley do make the Report concerning the Election of Cockermouth, on Saturday next.

Ordered, That Sir Walter Erle do make the Report concerning the Election of Sir Anthony Ashley Cooper, to be a Member of this House, on Saturday next.

Resolved, &c. That no Person that hath been in actual War against this Parliament, shall be admitted to sit as a Member in this Parliament.

Ordered, That the Business of the Difference between Sir Thomas Middleton and Sir John Price, be referred to the Committee of Examinations, to examine and report the same to the House: And the House doth injoin, as well the said Sir Thomas Middleton, as the said Sir John Price, not to be their own Judges, or proceed otherwise in these Differences, than according to the Orders of this House.

Resolved, &c. That Mr. John Vaughan be discharged from being a Member of this House, during this Parliament.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms, to take care of the Command of the Reformadoes under Colonel Greve, and to whom the Money for their Fortnight's Pay shall be paid: And Mr. Whitelock, Mr. Lane, and Mr. Dunch, are desired to attend the Committee of both Kingdoms this Afternoon.

The House being informed, That the Committee of the Militia were at the Door;

They were called in: And Mr. Alderman Gibbes acquainted the House, That, during these last Four Years Troubles, wherein they had been intrusted by the Parliament, they had accounted it their chiefest Happiness, that they could obey the Commands of the Parliament: That they apprehend they lie under some other Notion in this House, in regard of Two Particulars: One is, That of the Waggoners which had been employed upon several Expeditions, by virtue of several Ordinances of Parliament: The Expeditions and Waggoners are of two Sorts: 1. Those that were under the Command of Sir James Harrington, to whom they had paid one Half of their Pay, in pursuance of the Order of this House, of 2 Maii. And he further acquainted the House, what was remaining yet due to them; and likewise what was due in Arrear to the Forces at Abingdon; and how much remained in the Treasurers Hands, of the Cash designed for the Payment of the said Waggoners and Forces: And that they were ready to pay these Waggoners, if the House did order it. The other Waggoners are those that have been employed upon several other Expeditions, for Payment of whom there is an Order of 23 Augusti last. And did further set forth Reasons to satisfy the House, That it is no Neglect of the said Committee, that these Waggoners are not paid: And, that they conceive, the House ought to find Monies for Payment of them.

The other Business is, concerning several Ordinances whereby they were enabled to search for Papists and Delinquents, within the Lines of Communication; which had been qualified and amended in several Particulars.

He further acquainted the House with the Form of the Warrants they had issued, for putting the said Ordinances in Execution; and that the Sub-Committees at Westminster remain yet doubtful, whether they may put the same in Execution, for want of some further Powers, and other Words: Which they humbly submitted to the Wisdom of the House; there being no Neglect in the Committee, but in those by whom they were to act.

The humble Petition of the Sub-Committees of the Militia of Westminster sitting at the Savoy was read; and was, for Explanation and farther Power, to be given them, to put the said Ordinances in Execution. And

It is thereupon Declared, That it is sufficiently expressed in the Ordinance of 13 Augusti 1645, that such Persons as shall be appointed, by the Committee of the Militia of London, to put the Ordinance 27' Februarii 1644, in Execution, have Power to execute the Warrants of the said Committee of the Militia, although one of the said Committee of the Militia be not present: And the several Sub-Committees are hereby injoined and commanded to put the said Warrants and Ordinances in due Execution speedily.

Ordered, That the Committee of the Militia of London, according to the Order of 15' Martii last, do now forthwith pay unto the Waggoners employed upon the Expedition of the City-Brigades, under the Command of Sir James Harrington, the whole Remainder of their Arrears due to them.

Ordered, That Mr. Samuel Browne do bring in the Ordinance for disallowing the Fifth-Part to the Wives of Malignants, To-morrow Morning.

Ordered, That the Committee of the Militia do state the Accompts of those other Waggoners that were employed in several Expeditions: And that, in case they have no Money remaining in their Hands to pay them, that they consider of, and propound, some Course to this House, for a Security to enable them for the speedy Payment of them.

Ordered, That the Proposition from the Committee of the Militia, for the speedy Raising of Five hundred Horse and Five hundred Dragoons for present Service, the Price of every which Horse and Arms is not to exceed the Sum of Twelve Pounds; and of every Dragoon, Horse and Arms, the Sum of Six Pounds; be referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms to perfect: And that the Sum of Sixteen thousand Pounds be charged upon the Receipts of the Excise, as a Security for the Performance of such Agreement as shall be made by the Committee of both Kingdoms with the Committee of the Militia, for the Raising and Employing of the Horse and Dragoons.

The Committee of the Militia were again called in: And Mr. Speaker, by Command of the House, acquainted them, That the House, having heard their Answer, concerning the Waggoners, had considered of it; and do consent to the Payment of Three hundred Twenty-three Pounds Three Shillings and Three-pence to the Waggoners late under Sir James Harrington: And, for the other Waggoners, they have made an Order, which shall be sent unto you: The House hath declared, That the Sub-Committees, and such as you shall appoint, ought to execute your Warrants touching Papists and Delinquents: And have commanded Obedience to them.

They have heard of a Proposition for sending One thousand Horse and Dragoons to Sir Thomas Fairfax; and have considered of it; and conceive the speedy Raising of them may be a great Means to put an happy End to this unnatural War: They have referred the Particulars of it to the Committee of both Kingdoms; and desire you would meet there this Afternoon, for perfecting and putting it in speedy Execution.

An Ordinance for Charging of Fifty thousand Pounds upon the Excise, for Payment of the Army under the Command of Sir Thomas Fairfax, to be paid in Course, with Interest for the Time the same shall be forborn, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent to the Lords for their Concurrence.

Ordered, That Sir Arthur Hasilrige do report the Ordinance concerning Leicester: And that the Business concerning Leicester be taken into Consideration To-morrow Morning.