House of Commons Journal Volume 4: 20 January 1646

Die Martis, 20 Januarii, 1645.

Prayers.

AN Ordinance for granting unto Edward Birkhead Esquire the Office of one of the Serjeants at Arms, out of Parliament-time to be specially attendant upon the King's Majesty's Royal Person; and, in Time of Parliament, upon the Speaker elected, or to be elected, by the Commons, in Parliament assembled; to hold the same, and all Fees and Profits thereto belonging, for his Life, after the Death, Surrender, Forfeiture, or other Determination of the Interest of John Hunt Esquire; was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

ORdered, by the Lords and Commons, assembled in Parliament, That Bridget, the Wife of James Peter Gowee, shall have a Pardon for Bigamy: And that Oliver St. John Esquire, his Majesty's Sollicitor-General, do prepare a Bill, containing his Majesty's most gracious Pardon unto the said Bridget Gowee for the said Offence, whereof she was convicted at the Sessions holden at the Old Baily: And that the Commissioners for the Great Seal of England do pass the said Pardon under the said Great Seal, accordingly: For all which, this Ordinance, or the Duplicate thereof, shall be sufficient Warrant.

Ordered, That the Sum of Three hundred and Fifty Pounds, ordered to be paid by the Committee at Goldsmiths-Hall, for the Charge of the Mortar-piece to be employed against Belvoir-Castle, shall be paid to Mr. Thomas Rands: And that the Receipt of the said Thomas Rands shall be a good Discharge to the said Committee for the Payment thereof.

Ordered, That the Justices of the Peace, or Gaol-Delivery, in the several Counties, do, from time to time, certify the Names, and the particular Offences, of such Persons in the said several Counties upon any Gaol-Delivery, as they shall think fit for Mercy and Pardon, unto the Commissioners for the Great Seal of England for the Time being: Who are thereupon to acquaint one or both Houses of Parliament therewith; to the end that such Course may be taken therein, as the Parliament shall direct.

Prima & secunda vice lecta est Billa, An Act for the Abolishing of Popery, and Extirpation of the usurped Jurisdiction of the See of Rome, out of the Realm of Ireland; and, upon the Question, committed unto the Members of this House that are of the Committee for the Affairs of Ireland; with the Addition of all the Lawyers of the House: And they are to meet upon it To-morrow at Two post meridiem, in the Inner Star-Chamber: And the Care of it is especially recommended unto Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Thorpe, Sir Thomas Widdrington, Mr. Lane, Mr. Maynard, Mr. Whitelocke, Mr. Grimston, Mr. Sollicitor, and Mr. Nicholas.

Secunda vice lecta est Billa, An Act for the better Observation of the Lord's Day; and, upon the Question, committed unto Sir Robert Harley, Sir Samuel Luke, Mr. Grimston, Colonel White, Mr. Rous, Sir Henry Heyman, Sir John Franklyn, Sir Martin Lumley, Mr. Noble, Mr. Stoughton, Mr. Thorpe, Mr. Tate, Mr. Corbett, Mr. Holles, Mr. Buller, Sir John Temple, Mr. Robert Goodwyn, Mr. Salwey, Mr. Nicholas, Mr. Wheeler, Sir Gilbert Gerard, Mr. Prideaux, Sir John Clotworthy, Mr. Baynton, Sir Tho. Widdrington, Mr. Bacon, Mr. Holland, Mr. Gott: And all that will come are to have Voices: And the Care of this is especially committed unto Sir Robert Harley and Mr. Rous: And they are to meet upon it To-morrow at Two of the Clock in the Afternoon, in the Court of Wards and Liveries.

Secunda vice lecta est Billa, An Act for the further Discovery of Popish Recusants, and for the Education of their Children in the true Protestant Religion, and for the better Levying of the Penalties against Popish Recusants; and, upon the Question, committed unto the former Committee: With this Direction, That they take especial Care, that this Act, or any Clause or Penalties therein, do extend to Papists and Popish Recusants only.

Prima vice lecta est Billa, An Act for the Suppression of divers Innovations in Churches and Chapels in and about the Worship of God; and for the utter Demolishing of all Monuments of Idolatry or Superstition in all Churches, and in all open Places, throughout the Kingdom of England, and Dominion of Wales, and for the better Advancement of the Preaching of God's holy Word in all Parts of this Kingdom.

Ordered, That, on Thursday next, the Ordinance for Continuance of the Excise be read, between the Hours of Ten and Twelve.

Mr. Lisle reports, from the Committee, the Amendments and Alterations to the Ordinance, sent from the Lords, for Martial Law within the City of London, and Lines of Communication: The which Amendments and Alterations were twice read.

The Question being put, Whether this House would agree with the Committee in leaving out Colonel Edmund Harvey, Colonel Matthew Shepheard, and Lieutenant-Colonel Thomas Buxton;

It passed with the Negative.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth agree with the Committee in adding Colonel Daniel Sowton, Major Robert Tompson, and Lieutenant-Colonel Taylour.

The Question being put, Whether the House would agree with the Committee in the Alteration of the Time of Continuance of this Ordinance from Six Months to Three;

The House was divided.

The Yeas went forth.

So that the Question passed with the Negative.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth agree with the Committee in adding these Words, "hath plotted, contrived, or endeavoured, since the Sixteenth of December 1644."

The rest of the Amendments were, upon the Question, assented unto: And

It is Resolved, &c. That this House doth concurr with the Lords in this Ordinance, thus amended.

Resolved, &c. That a Conference be desired with the Lords upon the Amendments to this Ordinance.

Mr. Lisle, Mr. Holland, Mr. Hill, Mr. Reynolds, are appointed Managers of this Conference.

A Letter from Sir John Gell, from Darby, of 17 Januarii 1645, was this Day read.

A Letter from Captain Batten Vice-Admiral, from Torbay, of 17 Januarii 1645, was this Day read.

Resolved, &c. That Sir Wm. Brereton be continued in the Place of Commander in Chief of all the Forces before Chester, for Forty Days; with like Power, and in the same Manner, as he was formerly appointed: And that his Service in the House be in the mean time dispensed withal.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Ordered, &c. That the Business of the Complaint made by Mr. Allen against Mr. Longe shall be taken into Consideration this Day Sevennight.

Resolved, &c. That Twenty Barrels of Powder, and Two Tons of Match, be forthwith provided for the Service of the Forces of the County of Darby, out of the publick Stores: And that the Committee for Powder, Match, and Bullet, do take care for the Providing thereof, accordingly.