House of Commons Journal Volume 4: 11 December 1645

Die Jovis, 11 Decembris, 1645.

Prayers.

THE Grand Committee of the House, according to former Order, proceeded to take into Consideration the Business of Propositions to be sent to his Majesty for a safe and well-grounded Peace.

Sir Thomas Widdrington in the Chair.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Mr. Pury carried to the Lords, for their Concurrence, an Order for Twenty Pounds out of Haberdashers-Hall, to the Messenger that brought Letters from Colonel Boothe: An Order for the Committee of the Army to have the Use of Sir Wm. Bronkard's House: And an Order for Sir Hardres Waller to have Fourteen Days Pay out of Haberdashers-Hall.

Upon Sir Thomas Widdrington's Report from the Grand Committee for Propositions;

The House proceeded to take into Consideration the Propositions made on the Behalf of the City of London: And

Resolved, &c. That the Tower of London may be in the Government of the City of London; and the chief Officer and Governor thereof, from time to time, be nominated and removable by the Common-Council.

That the Citizens or Forces of London shall not be drawn out of the City into any other Parts of the Kingdom, without their own Consent: And that the Drawing of their Forces into other Parts of the Kingdom in these distracted Times, may not be drawn into Example for the future.

And, for Prevention of Inconveniences which may happen by the long Intermission of Common-Councils, it is desired, That there may be an Act, That all By-Laws and Ordinances already made, or hereafter to be made, by the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Commons, in CommonCouncil assembled, touching the calling, continuing, directing, and regulating, the same Common-Councils, shall be as effectual in Law, to all Intents and Purposes, as if the same were particularly enacted by the Authority of Parliament: And that the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Commons, in Common-Council, may add to or repeal the said Ordinances, from time to time, as they shall see Cause.

That such other Propositions as shall be made for the City, for their further Safety, Welfare, and Government, and shall be approved of by both Houses of Parliament, may be granted and confirmed by Act of Parliament.

Resolved, &c. That all Letters Patents, Charters, and Grants, under the Great Seal of England, heretofore made or granted to either of the Universities, or to any City, Borough, or Town Corporate, within the Kingdom of England, or Dominion of Wales, or to the Cinque-Ports, or Members of the same, or to the Town of Berwick upon Tweede, of any Manors, Lands, Tenements, Liberties, Franchises, or other Hereditaments whatsoever; and also all Customs, Usages, Liberties, and Franchises of the said Universities, and either of them; and of all and every the said Cities, Boroughs, and Towns Corporate, the CinquePorts and their Members, and the Town of Berwick; and every or any of them; be, at the respective Desires of the said Universities, Cities, Boroughs, and Places, respectively, with the Consent of both Houses of Parliament, granted, ratified, and confirmed, by Act of Parliament, in such sort as both Houses of Parliament shall, from time to time, appoint and allow: And that this shall be one of the Propositions.

Resolved, &c. That, for the Time to come, no new Power shall be granted by the King to any City or Borough, to send any Citizens or Burgesses to the Parliament of England, saving only by Act of Parliament, upon the Petition of the House of Commons, assembled in the Parliament of England: And that this shall be one of the Propositions.

Resolved, &c. That the whole Proposition, as well concerning the Militia in the Suburbs, and other Parts within the Lines of Communication, as that concerning the City, be referred to the former Committee, to whom the Militia concerning the City of London is referred: And that all Parties whom it concerns be heard at the said Committee.

Mr. Pury brings Answer from the Lords, That the Lords do agree to the several Orders carried by him this Day to the Lords.

Mr. Thorpe presented to the House several Letters and Articles found at the Taking of Pomfrett-Castle, concerning the Proceedings of the Earl of Newcastle, and divers of the Gentlemen of Yorkeshire, for raising War in Yorkeshire, against the Parliament: Which were read.

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

The Lords have commanded us to deliver unto you these Two Orders: The one is, That the Earl of Northumberland may have Power to place a Governor in Wresell-Castle, a House of the Earl of Northumberland, in case Major Fenwick, who now commands there, be removed, and that a Garison be thought fit to be continued there: The other is, That Mr. John Bond, Batchelor of Laws, now Master of the Hospital of the Savoy, by Ordinance of Parliament, may have that Place granted him under the Great Seal.

Resolved, &c. That the Out-works and new Fortifications of Wresell-Castle in Yorkshire, be slighted; and the Castle no longer continued a Garison.

Ordered, That the Ordnance and Ammunition, belonging to the Garison of Wresell-Castle, be removed thence; and laid up in the Magazine of Hull.

The Ordinance for granting unto Mr. Bond, under the Great Seal, the Place of Master of the perpetual Hospital of the Savoy, was read; and, upon the Question, passed.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; That this House has considered their Lordships Message: And, as to the Order concerning Wresell-Castle, they will send Answer by Messengers of their own: And to the Ordinance for granting unto Mr. Bond, under the Great Seal, the Place of the Master of the perpetual Hospital of the Savoy, they do agree.

The House being informed, That divers of the Assembly of Divines were at the Door;

They were called in: And Dr. Smyth acquainted the House, That the Assembly of Divines have lately taken notice of a printed Paper, bearing the Title of "A Copy of a Remonstrance formerly presented by the Dissenting Brethren to the said Assembly;" wherein they conceive themselves much scandalized, because it is published both in the City and Country, and they have no Power to vindicate themselves: Their Desires therefore are, That they may have Leave from this House to follow the said Remonstrance: To which Purpose they were commanded to present this their humble Petition.

The Petition was read.

Mr. Selden, Mr. Rous, Sir Henry Hayman, Sir William Strickland, Mr. Sam. Browne, Sir Anthony Irby, Mr. Fr. Allen, Sir Edward Bois, Mr. Tate, Mr. Love, Sir Walter Earle, Mr. Nath. Fynes, Mr. Stapilton, Mr. Ashurst, Sir Gilbert Gerard, Mr. Westrow, Mr. Holland, Sir Thomas Widdrington, Sir John Coke, Sir Wm. Massam, Mr. Maynard, Sir John Northcott, Mr. Baynton, Colonel Long, Lord Grey;

This Committee is appointed to examine, What this Remonstrance is, mentioned in this Petition, and what the Scandal is, that is said to be therein; by whose Means it was printed and published; and represent it the House, the whole Matter of Fact: And have Power to send for Parties, Witnesses, Papers, Records, &c.: And are to meet this Afternoon, in the Duchy-Court.

Mr. Rous and Mr. Selden are to take care of this Business.

Mr. Rous is appointed to acquaint the Assembly of Divines with what the House has done upon the Petition.

Ordered, That a Warrant shall issue forth, under Mr. Speaker's Hand, for Prince Maurice's Trumpeters to go beyond the Seas.

Ordered, That no Person shall be employed by any Committee of this House, for the Apprehending of any Delinquent, or for the Executing of any Warrant from any Committee concerning the same, but such as shall receive Deputations from the Serjeant at Arms attending on this House, under his Hand and Seal, and such as he will answer for.

Ordered, That on Monday next, the Ordinance concerning Printing be read.