House of Commons Journal Volume 4: 13 December 1645

Die Sabbati, 13 Decembris, 1645.

Prayers.

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

Sir Thomas Widdrington in the Chair.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Upon Mr. Samuel Browne's further Report;

Resolved, &c. That every Delinquent that shall compound for his Delinquency, shall, after his Composition made at Goldsmiths-Hall, depart out of the Lines of Communication; unless he shall have Allowance from the Committee of Goldsmiths-Hall for his Stay here: And, if he have such Allowance to stay, he shall then there enter the Place of his Abode.

Resolved, &c. That those that shall stay within the Lines of Communication, and shall not compound according to the former Directions, or, having compounded, shall not depart, or enter their Names, according to the said Directions, shall be taken as Spies, and publick Enemies, and shall be so proceeded against.

Resolved, &c. That such as have come in, pretending to compound, and have gone back to the King's Quarters, and not compounded, shall be liable to the Censure of both Houses for their Persons and Estates, according to the Declaration of both Kingdoms.

Resolved, &c. That all Soldiers of Fortune, that have heretofore borne Arms against the Parliament, and have yielded themselves to the Parliament before the First of this instant December, and are within the Lines of Communication, shall, if they will, have Passes to go beyond Sea, from the Speaker of the House of Commons; they demanding them before the Five-and-twentieth Day of this Instant December: And that all such others shall, before the said Five-and-twentieth Day of December, depart out of the Lines of Communication, to the Places of their Habitation where they inhabited immediately before these Troubles; in case their Habitations be not within the King's Quarters: If they be, then they are to go anywhere else, that is not within Twenty Miles of the City of London: And those that shall have Passes to travel, shall, within Four Days of the Passes granted, depart out of the Lines of Communication, and so to the Place to which their Passes shall be granted.

Resolved, &c. That if any Officer, or Soldier of Fortune, shall not observe the aforesaid Directions, they shall be taken as Spies, and publick Enemies to the Commonwealth.

Resolved, &c. That the Committee of Goldsmiths-Hall shall sit Three Days every Week, and oftener, if they shall see Cause.

Resolved, &c. That no Gaoler shall suffer any Prisoner of War, or that hath taken Arms against the Parliament, to go out of their Prisons, without Leave of one or both Houses, or the Committees of either House; nor shall suffer any other than their Servants to come to any of them, or to be with them, after Nine at Night, at any Time.

Resolved, &c. That no Soldier, or any other, that hath been in Arms against the Parliament, shall wear about him any Arms, within the Lines of Communication; upon Pain of Imprisonment by the Committee of Examinations, and the Forfeiture of such Arms to the Party that shall discover it.

Resolved, &c. That, if any shall come in to compound, he shall present the Particular of his Estate to the Committee of Goldsmiths-Hall, and the true yearly Value of it, as it was before these Troubles began: And for That that is concealed or omitted, he shall have no Advantage by his Composition; but shall pay Four times the yearly Value of what real Estate is concealed: And, for his personal Estate concealed, he shall forfeit all That.

Ordered, That the several Votes, resolved upon Mr. Samuel Browne's Report by this House, be sent to the Lords for their Concurrence: And that all the said Votes be forthwith printed and published.

Ordered, &c. That Mr. Hill do, on Tuesday next, report the Ordinance concerning Martial Law.

An Ordinance for securing and reimbursing, out of the Receipts of the Excise, Five thousand Pounds, to such Persons as shall advance the same, for Provision of Powder, Match, and Bullet, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

Sir John Evelyn of Wiltes carried to the Lords, for their Concurrence, Instructions for the Commissioners for both Houses that are to reside in the Scotts Army: An Ordinance for Two thousand Pounds, with Interest, out of the Excise, for the Forces in the County of Lincolne: The Votes for the Sheriffs for Salop and Northampton: And the Ordinance for Five thousand Pounds out of the Excise, Part of Eight thousand Pounds, for the Provision of Powder, Match, and Bullet, for the publick Stores.

An Ordinance for securing and reimbursing the Commissioners of Excise Ten thousand Pounds, advanced by them for the Service of Plymouth, out of the Receipts of the Excise, by Ordinance of the Eleventh of September 1643, in Course, or Intervals, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

An Ordinance for constituting Colonel Ralph Welden to be Governor of the Garison at Plymouth, and the Fort and Island there, and to give him Power of Martial Law over the Officers and Soldiers there, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed, with the Addition of these Words, "and to continue during the Pleasure of both Houses," and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

Resolved, &c. That it be referred to the Committee of the Army, and the Committee of the West, to consider of some Expedient for accommodating the Business concerning Colonel Kerr and Colonel Welden, upon the Removal of Colonel Welden to be Governor of Plymouth: And are to consult likewise with the General in this Affair; and to present to this House, for accommodating this Business the best that may be.

Ordered, &c. That it be referred to the Committee of Plymouth, to consider of some way of Securing of the Town of Plymouth at the least Expence they can, by bringing the Water about it, or such other Way as they shall think fit; and report the same to the House.

Ordered, &c. That it be referred to the Committee of Lords and Commons for Sequestrations, to consider of allowing some better Support for the Maintenance of Mr. Hughes, an orthodox, painful Minister, out of the impropriated Parsonage of Plymouth, now under Sequestration, or otherwise, as they shall think fit.

Ordered, &c. That Two hundred Barrels of Powder, with Match and Bullet proportionably, be furnished out of the publick Stores, for the Service of Plymouth: And that the Committee for Powder and Ammunition do take care, that these Stores be furnished accordingly.

Ordered, &c. That Colonel John Fisher, Colonel Wm. Willis, Colonel Wm. Roleston, Colonel Philip Honnywood, and Major * James, taking the Oath mentioned in the Ordinance of the First of April 1645, before the Committee of Examinations, shall have Leave to go beyond the Seas: And that Mr. Speaker, upon a Certificate from the said Committee of Examinations, of their taking the said Oath, do give them Passes for their Transportations, according to the Orders of this House in that Behalf.

Mr. Love reported the Considerations for the Establishment of the Garison of Abingdon: The which was read; and, upon the Question, re-committed unto the same Committee: Who are to consult herein with the Committee of the Army; and thereupon to present their Opinions to the House.

A Letter from the General the Earl of Leven, from Southwell, of Decembris 6 1645, was this Day read; representing the Necessities of his Army; and desiring a Supply.

Resolved, &c. That a Thousand Pair of Pistols, and Three thousand Pair of Boots, be forthwith furnished and provided for the Scotts Army: And that it be referred to the Committee of Goldsmiths-Hall, to make Provision thereof accordingly.

Mr. Samuel Browne presents, from the Commissioners of the Parliament of Scotland, Three Papers; Two of the Twelfth of December 1645; the other was a Copy of a former Paper delivered in by them, of the Date of the Fourteenth of August last: The which were all read: And

It is Resolved, &c. That these Papers be taken into Consideration on Tuesday Morning next, at Nine of the Clock, peremptorily: And that Mr. Speaker put the House in mind hereof.

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

The Lords have commanded us to bring you these Three Papers: They came from the Committee of both Kingdoms: Two of them they desire may be taken into Consideration: The other, for the Pass for the Four Colonels to go beyond Seas; and desire your Concurrence. The Lords, having Knowledge of the Desert of Colonel Searle, and in particular of his Discovery of a Treachery intended by Captain Greenfield against the Town of Plymouth, who was executed for it, do recommend him to the House of Commons, that some speedy Course may be taken for the Payment of his Arrears; and what further Consideration shall be thought fit, to make him Restitution for his said good Service:-The Petition of the Yeomen-Warders of the Tower of London:-They desire, That the Committee of both Houses, appointed to consider of the intercepted Letters, may meet this Afternoon.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth agree with the Lords, That the Committee of Lords and Commons, formerly appointed to consider of the intercepted Letters, may meet this Afternoon.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth agree with the Lords, That a Pass be granted to Colonel Fisher, Colonel Willys, Colonel Roleston, and Colonel Honnywood, to go beyond the Seas.

Ordered, &c. That the humble Petition of Colonel Michael Searle, and the Desire of the Lords concerning him, be referred to the Committee of the West; to consider what is fit to be done unto it; and to present their Opinions thereupon to the House.

Answer returned by the same Messengers;

The House hath considered of your Message: And, as to the Pass for the Four Colonels, and the Meeting of the Committee this Afternoon, they do agree: And, as to the rest, will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Ordered, &c. That Mr. Westrowe, Sir John Burgoyne, Sir Gregory Norton, Mr. Stoughton, Mr. Thorpe, Captain Temple, Mr. Stockdale, Colonel White, Mr. West, Sir John Danvers, Mr. Weaver, Mr. Aischough, Mr. Robinson, Mr. Mayne, Mr. Leaman, Colonel Tompson, Mr. Oxenden, be added to the Committee formerly appointed for the Certificates returned from the Committee of Accompts: And that they, or any Four of them, shall have Power to meet: And are to meet this Afternoon, in the Exchequer-Chamber, at Two of the Clock.

Ordered, &c. That it be referred to the Committee for the Accompts of the Kingdom, to take and audit the Accompts of Sir Thomas Middleton.