House of Commons Journal Volume 4: 16 December 1645

Die Martis, 16 Decembris, 1645.

Prayers.

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

The Lords have commanded us to deliver this Petition from the Lord Viscount Say and Seale; one that hath been so constant in his Counsels and Actions to Parliaments, and for Parliaments, both before this Parliament began, and since this Parliament, that they think great Regard is to be taken, both for his Maintenance and Encouragement; and do therefore recommend his Petition to your Considerations.

The Petition was read; and also an Estimate of the Losses he hath sustained in his real and personal Estate sithence the Beginning of this unnatural War, annexed to the said Petition.

Ordered, That Two thousand Pounds per Annum shall be allowed and paid to the Lord Viscount Say and Seale, out of the Revenues of the Court of Wards and Liveries, for his Support and Maintenance: And that an Ordinance be brought in to this Purpose.

Sir Thomas Widdrington and Mr. Grimston are to prepare and bring in this Ordinance.

Upon the humble Petition of William Howard and William Gray, Gallery-keepers at Margaret's, Westminster;

It is Ordered, That the Committee of Lords and Commons for Advance of Monies, sitting at HaberdashersHall, do pay unto Mr. Bell, a Member of this House, the Sum of Thirty Pounds; to be by him distributed to the said Gallery-keepers, and others, the inferior Officers of the said Church, being Eight in Number.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Answer returned by the same Messengers;

This House hath taken their Lordships Message into serious Consideration; and will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Ordered, That it be left to the Committee of the Army, to recruit with Horses, and mount such old Troopers of the General's, Colonel Ireton's, and Colonel Whaley's Regiments of Horse, and such of the Four Companies of Dragoons with them, as have lost their Horses in the Service, as they in their Discretion shall think fit.

Sir Robert Pye (besides the Order for continuing the Commissioners of the Great Seal in their Employment) carried to the Lords, for their Concurrence, an Ordinance for Ten thousand Pounds, out of the Excise, for the Town of Plimmouth; and the Ordinance for making Colonel Ralph Welden Governor of the Garison of Plimmouth, and of the Fort and Island there.

Ordered, That the Master and Council of the Court of Wards and Liveries; an Office being found, and a Composition made with the said Court, for the Wardship of the Body and Lands of the Heir of Lieutenant-Colonel James Quarles, who was slain in the Service of the Parliament at Brainford; do, upon an Information exhibited in the said Court, setting forth the Premises, and, upon due Proof made thereof, by Certificate or otherwise, by a Decree of the said Court, free and discharge the Grantee or Grantees of the said Wardship, and also the Heir of the said Lieutenant-Colonel Quarles, and his and their Lands and Estates, respectively, of and from all Rent or Fine, to be answered or paid for or by reason of the said Wardship or Composition; and also of and from all Incumbrances and Securities given or entered into by reason thereof.

Ordered, That the Master and Council of the Court of Wards and Liveries; an Office being found, and a Composition made with the said Court, for the Wardship of the Bodies or Lands of the Daughters of Captain John Flemming, who died a Prisoner at Oxford, in the Service of the Parliament; do, upon an Information exhibited in the said Court, setting forth the Premises, and, upon due Proof made thereof, by Certificate or otherwise, by a Decree of the said Court, free and discharge the Grantee or Grantees, or Compounders of or for the said Wardship or Wardships, and also the said Daughters of the said Captain Fleming, and their and every of their Lands and Estates, respectively, of and from all Rent or Fine to be answered or paid for or by reason of the said Wardship or Wardships, or Composition; and also of and from all Incumbrances and Securities given or entered into, or to be given or entered into, by reason thereof.

The like Order was granted for the respective Heirs of Mr. John Hampden, late a Member of this House; and of Sir Simon Harcourt, Colonel William Gold, Mr. John Barnard, of Shepton-Mallett in the County of Somersett, Mr. John Dixwell of Kent, Mr. Thomas Savile of the County of Lincolne, William Lister Esquire, Son of Sir William Lister Knight, Sir William Fairfax, and Sir Henry Fowles, mutatis mutandis, with reference to their respective Cases.

Ordered, That the Petition and Ordinance, concerning Sir Simon Harecourt's Lady, be taken into Consideration, the first Business when the House shall next sit to take into Consideration the Reports upon Petitions, from the Committee of Petitions, where Mr. John Goodwyn hath the Chair.

Ordered, That the Committee of the Navy be desired to lend Forty Barrels of Powder for the Service of Newarke; for which there is a Warrant from the Committee of both Kingdoms.

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

The Lords have commanded us to bring you this Petition: It is from Sir Robert Coke, now a Prisoner in the Tower: As to that Part which concerns the Examination of his Cause, they have thought fit to refer it to the Committee of Lords and Commons for Sequestrations: And, as to that Part which concerns his Bail, they have granted it; and desire your Concurrence in both.

The humble Petition of Sir Robert Coke Knight was read: And

It is Ordered, upon the Question, That it be referred to the Members of this House that are of the Committee of Goldsmiths-Hall, to examine, and state to the House, the Matter of Fact: And that the Committee of Examinations do certify the Committee at Goldsmiths-Hall, what hath passed concerning him at that Committee.

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

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Hants, Surry, Sussex, and Kent, and the Committees of the Three Counties of Oxon, Bucks, and Berks, to consider and examine the whole Business concerning the Forces before Dennington-Castle; and to represent the State thereof to the House; and their Opinions, What is fit to be done upon it: And likewise, that the Petition of the Reformadoes, under the Command of Colonel Sanderson, be referred to the Consideration of these Committees, to state the Business, and report their Opinions to the House, what is fit to be done upon it: And are to meet this Afternoon; and report the same To-morrow Morning.

An Ordinance for securing and repaying, out of the Receipts of the Excise, unto George Tapper, of London, Innholder, the Sum of One hundred Twenty-eight Pounds Nineteen Shillings and Eight-pence, with Interest, after the Rate of Eight Pounds per Centum for the same, for the Forbearance, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent to the Lords for their Concurrence.

An Ordinance for securing and repaying, in Course, out of the Receipts of the Excise, One thousand Pounds, with Interest, after the Rate of Eight Pounds per Centum, for the Forbearance of the same, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

According to former Order, the House resumed the Consideration of the Papers, reported on Saturday last by Mr. Samuel Browne, delivered by the Commissioners of the Parliament of Scotland, touching the Answer of both Houses to the King's Letter of Decembris 5 1645.

The Papers were all Three read.

The Question was propounded, Whether this House would adhere to the Letter, formerly passed both Houses, in Answer to the King's Letter; and the Question should be now put:

It passed with the Affirmative.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth adhere to the Letter, formerly passed both Houses, in Answer to the King's: And

It is further Resolved, That it be referred to the Members of both Houses that are of the Committee of both Kingdoms, to confer with the Scotts Commissioners; and to offer unto them the Reasons for adhering to their Answer to the King's Letter; and to receive any Reasons that shall be offered by the Commissioners for the Parliament of Scotland to the contrary; and to report the same to both Houses.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein: And Sir Henry Mildemay is to carry this to the Lords.

A Letter from Kingsroad, of 12 Decembris 1645, from aboard the Lyon-Regis, from Captain Moulton, was this Day read: And several Copies of intercepted Letters from Sir Ralph Hopton, and others, were this Day read. And

Ordered, &c. That Letters be written to the several Counties, and to such as are there intrusted by the Parliament, for the Sending up to the Parliament of Mr. * Thomas, and his Father, Mr. Edwards the Minister of Swansey, Major-General Stradling, and the Bishop of Armagh, the Bishop of Derry, Bishop Manwaringe, and Doctor Martyn, the Physician: And that it be referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms, to consider thereupon, and to prepare the said Letters.