House of Commons Journal Volume 4: 17 October 1645

Die Veneris, Octobris 17 , 1645.

Prayers.

ACcording to former Order, the Grand Committee of the whole House for Religion sat; and took into Consideration the Ordinance for regulating and reforming the University of Cambridge.

Mr. Whittacre in the Chair.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Upon Mr. Whittacre's Report from the Grand Committee;

It is Resolved, &c. That there be a Commission awarded, under the Great Seal of England, to certain Persons, to be nominated by both Houses of Parliament, to some Divines and other Persons, learned both in the Common and Civil Laws, and others fit to be employed therein, to view the Laws and Statutes of the University, and of particular Colleges and Halls there; to consider, What is defective, or fit to be altered, in them; and to propound Remedies for the same.

Resolved, &c. That a Committee be nominated, to consider of the Fellowships and Scholarships that be now void in that University, and of the convenient Filling of them up for the present.

Resolved, &c. That a Committee be nominated, to consider, How godly and religious Preaching may be established, both in the University Church, and in other ParishChurches in the Town.

Mr. Samuel Browne, Mr. Prideaux, Sir Thomas Widdrington, Mr. Rous, Sir Henry Mildmay, Sir Martin Lumley, Mr. Whittacre, Mr. Selden, Mr. Recorder, Mr. Gourdon, Sir Henry Vane junior, Mr. Knightley, Mr. Scott, Sir Gilbert Pickering, Sir William Waller, Mr. Pierpoint, Sir Robert Harley, Sir Benjamin Rudyard, Mr. Grimston, Sir John Curson, Mr. Lucas, Mr. Bond, Mr. Hill, Mr. Lisle, Mr. Boyse, Mr. Serjeant Wilde, Sir Gilbert Gerard, Sir Walter Erle, Mr. Manyard, Sir John Coke, Mr. Ellys, Sir Dudley North, Mr. Sollicitor, Mr. Lowrey, Mr. Pelbam, Mr. Holland, Mr. Theloall, Mr. Jesson, Sir John Corbett, Mr. Nathanael Fines, Sir John Yonge, Mr. Corbett, Mr. Salwey, Mr. Rolle, Mr. Trenchard, Mr. Long, Mr. Pury, the Knights and Burgesses for the County, University, and Town of Cambridge;

This Committee are to consider of the Fellowships and Scholarships that are now void in that University, and of the convenient filling them up for the present; and also, How godly and religious Preaching may be established, both in the University-Church, and in other Parish-Churches in the Town: And are to meet To-morrow at Two of the Clock in the Afternoon, in the Exchequer-Chamber: And have Power to send for Parties, Witnesses, Papers, and Records.

The humble Petition of Sir Lewes Dyve Knight, desireing more Liberty, and some competent Allowance out of his sequestred Estate, was this Day read; and nothing done upon it.

Ordered, &c. That a Conference be desired with the Lords, concerning their Order to the Clerk of the Crown, for a Habeas corpus for Sir John Hele: And that, in the mean time, he do remain in Execution.

Ordered, &c. That it be referred to Mr. Sollicitor, Mr. Hill, Mr. Ellis, Mr. Grimston, Mr. Maynard, and Mr. Recorder, to state Sir John Hele's Case; and to report the same to the House, to be the Subject of this Conference to the Lords; and to desire the Lords to join in a Declaration, That it is lawful for any Man to sue, and proceed according to Law against any Person that is, or shall be a Prisoner of War to the Parliament, or under Restraint to Both or Either of the Houses of Parliament.

Ordered, &c. That the General and Lieutenant-General be left free to dispose of their Forces in such manner as they shall think most advantageous for the Commonwealth, in relation to the Affairs of the West; and to a competent Number of Force for the Safety of these Parts; notwithstanding any former Order of this House: And that the Committee of both Kingdoms do send this Order to the General and Lieutenant-General, with all convenient Speed.

A Letter from Sir John Gell, from Derby, of Octobris 14 1645, was this Day read: And

It is Ordered, &c. That it be referred to the Consideration of the Committee of both Kingdoms: And that it be referred unto That Committee, to take care, that the King's Motions may be observed and attended; and that the best Care that may be, be taken, to prevent the Raising of the Siege of Chester.

An Ordinance for applying the Fifth, and TwentiethPart, of the Lady Bankes' Estate, and the Proceed of her Composition for her Delinquency, for Relief of the Inhabitants of the Town and County of Poole, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

Mr. Bond is appointed to carry it unto the Lords.

Ordered, &c. That it be referred to the Committee of Examinations, to examine the Business concerning the Improvement of some of the Committee, and others, of Rutlandshire, upon a Warrant from the Committee of Accompts; and likewise to examine the Business concerning the Committee's plowing up Pastures; and that they do report their Opinions upon the whole Matter, to the House.

The House being informed, That a Messenger from Chepstow was at the Door;

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

Ordered, &c. That Thanks be given to God, for delivering into the Parliament's Hands the Town and Castle of Chepstowe in Wales, upon Sunday next, in like manner as it is ordered to be given for Winchester and Basing-House: And the Lord Mayor is desired to give notice hereof to all the Parish-Churches of London, and within the Lines of Communication, and Bills of Mortality.

A Letter from Lieutenant-General Cromwall, from Wallop, of Octobris 16 1645, was this Day read: And

Is is Ordered, &c. That Sir Henry Vane junior do forthwith send to Lieutenant-General Cromwall the Order, this Day made, concerning the General and Lieutenant-General's disposing their Forces.

The humble Petition of the Colonels, Lieutenant-Colonels, Majors, Captains, and other Officers of Horse, and in the Parliament's Service, under the Lord Fairefaxe, was this Day read; and ordered to be referred to the Committee for the Northern Association.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth approve of the Exchange of Sir Thomas Tilsley, Prisoner to the Parliament in Eccleshall-Castle, for William Jones Esquire, and Two other Captains, Prisoners to the King's Forces.

Resolved, &c. That Lieutenant-General Cromwell be continued in the Command of Lieutenant-General of the Horse, under the same Entertainment he is now established, for Four Months after the Determination of the Time for which he was last continued in that Command: And that his Service in the House be, in the mean time, dispensed with.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Ordered, &c. That One hundred Pounds be bestowed upon Colonel Morgan, the Governor of Gloucester, as a Gift from this House: And that this One hundred Pounds be charged upon the Excise, to be paid in Course: And that Mr. Pury and Mr. Herbert do endeavour the Procuring of this One hundred Pounds for him.

Ordered, &c. That the Committee of Gloucester do bestow upon the Messenger that brought the good News of the Taking of Chepstowe-Castle, the Sum of Ten Pounds for his Pains.