House of Commons Journal Volume 4: 29 January 1646

Die Jovis, 29 Januarii, 1645.

Prayers.

ORdered, &c. That Mr. Rowse do give the Thanks of this House to Mr. Marshall and Mr. Whittaker, for the great Pains they took, at the Intreaty of both Houses, in Two Sermons they preached in the Church of St. Martin's in the Fields, upon a special Day of Humiliation, observed by both the Houses of Parliament, and the Assembly of Divines: And that they be desired to print their Sermons: And shall have the Privilege, that none shall print their Sermons, but such as are authorized under their Hands.

Resolved, &c. That the Serjeant do apprehend Benjamin Cox and Samuel Richardson, the Parties that delivered a Pamphlet at the Door to the Members of this House, intituled, "A Confession of Faith of Seven Congregations or Churches of Christ in London, which are commonly, but unjustly, called Anabaptists;" and do take Bail of them, to appear, from time to time, at the Committee for plundered Ministers: And that it be referred to the Committee of plundered Ministers, to examine the Book, and the Parties, whose Names are subscribed; to send for the Licenser and Printer; and state the Business to the House with all Speed: And that the Committee of plundered Ministers shall have Power to advise with such of the Assembly of Divines, as they shall think sit to send for upon this Business.

Ordered, &c. That the Masters and Wardens of the Company of Stationers do forthwith take diligent Care to suppress a Pamphlet, intituled, "A Confession of Faith of Seven Congregations or Churches of Christ in London, which are commonly, but unjustly, called Anabaptists."

Ordered, &c. That the Serjeant at Arms do immediately send some of his Servants to seize and suppress the said Books.

Ordered, &c. That the Parties that delivered the said Pamphlet at the Door be called in; and demanded, By what Order and Authority the said Pamphlet was published; and who licensed it.

Samuel Richardson and Benjamin Coxe were accordingly called in; and, being demanded, Who printed the said Pamphlet, said, One Simonds; and that he got it licensed: And Richardson said, That the Printer told him, That Mr. Downeham licensed it: That this was a Second Edition: That they had Meetings every First Day of the Week: That there were Seven Congregations of them English, and One French: And that the Subscribers were Two of every Congregation.

A Message from the Lords, by Doctor Aylett and Doctor Heath;

The Lords have commanded us to deliver unto you some Omission in the Instructions concerning the Reprisal of Ship: In which they desire your Concurrence. They are likewise to deliver unto you the Lord Savile's Petition; with their Sense upon it: In which they desire your Concurrence. They recommend unto you Mr. Samuel Basnett's Petition, a Scholar in Emanuel College in Cambridge; and desire you to renew the Consideration of Mr. Wilkinson's Petition, long since recommended unto you; and desire your Concurrence: Likewise, that the Lord Balmerinethe may sit with the Assembly of Divines, as the Lord Chancellor of Scotland formerly did.

The Omissions in the Instructions for Reprisal of Ships were read; and; upon the Question, assented unto.

The humble Petition of Henry Wilkinson Minister, Bachelor in Divinity, was this Day read: And, upon Consideration of his present Necessities, and for Supply thereof,

It is Ordered, &c. That One hundred Pounds be forthwith bestowed upon, and paid unto the said Mr. Wilkinson, out of the Revenue of the Archbishop of Canterbury: And that the Committee of the Revenue do forthwith pay the same unto the said Mr. Wilkinson, or his Assigns, accordingly.

The Petition of the Lord Savile, a Prisoner in the Tower, desiring some Enlargement, in respect of the present Insirmities he labours under, and the Opinion of the Lords upon it, was this Day read.

And the Question being put, Whether this House would agree with the Lords in granting him Liberty to remain in any private House, either in, or near the City of London, as he shall chuse; he putting in sufficient Bail to return again to the Tower, when he shall have recovered his Health;

It passed with the Negative.

Ordered, &c. That the Committee of this House, formerly appointed for the Business of the Lord Savile's, be revived; and do meet with the Lords appointed likewise formerly for this Business, this Afternoon at Three of Clock, in the Prince's Lodgings.

Ordered, &c. That the Lord Savile, now a Prisoner in the Tower, be, for Recovery of his Health, removed to Hiegate, there to continue still a Prisoner under Restraint, in such manner as the Committee of Lords and Commons, formerly appointed for the Lord Savile's Business, shall direct.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth agree with the Lords, That the Lord Balmerineth may sit with the Assembly of Divines, as the Lord Chancellor of Scotland formerly did.

The humble Petition of Samuel Basnett, Student of Emanuel College, was this Day read: And

It is Ordered, &c. That the Mayor and Aldermen of the City of Coventry, or the Committee of Sequestrations, respectively, whom it doth or may concern, do forthwith pay unto Samuel Basnett, now a Student of Emanuel College in Cambridge, the Twenty Pounds per Annum, with the Arrears payable unto him, upon Gift of Sir Tho. White, bequeathed by his last Will, long since made; the Case standing so, in regard of these Distractions, he cannot make himself a Student of St. John's College in Oxon, now the King's Head-Quarter, according to the Direction and Intimation of the said last Will.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; That this House hath considered their Lordships Message: And, as to the Amendments to the Instructions concerning the Reprisal of Ships, they do agree: As to their Desire concerning the Lord Savile, they do agree to that Part that concerns the Meeting of the Committee: For the other Part, they will send Answer by Messengers of their own. They have taken into Consideration the Petitions of Mr. Wilkinson and Mr. Basnett; and do agree, That the Lord Balmerineth shall sit with the Assembly of Divines, as the Lord Chancellor of Scotland formerly did, as is desired.

Resolved, &c. That Mr. Roger Mathewes be forthwith committed Prisoner to the Tower, for deserting his Trust, being chosen a Member of Parliament, and adhering to the Enemies thereof.

Mr. Mathewes was called in to the Bar: And, kneeling there, Mr. Speaker acquainted him with the Foulness and Horridness of his Crime; and that just,.. Indignation and Detestation thereof, he was, for his said Crime, for the present, committed Prisoner to the Tower.

Upon Sir Philip Stapleton's Reports from the Committee of both Kingdoms; divers original Letters from one Robert Wright, directed to Mr. Sollicitor-General, were read (the Copies whereof were read on Saturday last): And divers other Letters, signed N. N. from Paris, Agent in France, employed by the said Committee; together with the State of the Matter of Fact, from the Members of both Houses that are of the said Committee, concerning Mr. Sollicitor, Mr. Crewe's, and Mr. Pierepont, delivering in the said Letters from the said Robert Wright to the said Committee; and relating some other Informations which they had heard from an unknown Knight; and a Paper, by way of an Answer, from the Scotts Commissioners, concerning the Matter of Fact in the Proceedings of the said Business, stated by the said Committee; were all this Day read.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth declare, That Mr. Sollicitor-General, in delivering the Letters directing to him from one Robert Wright, from Paris, to the Committee of both Kingdoms, did his Duty, and no more than he ought to have done, in Discharge thereof.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth declare, That Mr. Sollicitor-General and Mr. Crew, in relating, to the Committee of both Kingdoms, the Intelligence they had heard from an unknown Knight, did their Duties, and no more than they ought to have done, in Discharge thereof.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth declare, That Mr. Pierrepont, in relating, to the Committee of both Kingdoms, the Intelligence he had heard from the unknown Knight, did his Duty, and no more than he ought to have done, in Discharge thereof.

Resolved, &c. That Mr. Sollicitor-General and Mr. Crew shall have Thanks from this House, for doing their Duty, in giving in the Letters from Robert Wright, from Paris, and relating the Intelligence, from the unknown Knight, to the Committee of both Kingdoms.

And Mr. Speaker, by Command of the House, gave them Thanks, accordingly.

Resolved, &c. That Mr. Pierrepont shall have Thanks from this House, for doing his Duty, in relating the Intelligence, from the unknown Knight, to the Committee of both Kingdoms: And that Mr. Speaker, upon his Return to the House, do give him Thanks, accordingly.

Resolved, &c. That the Members of both Houses that are of the Committee of both Kingdoms, in stating the Matter of Fact concerning the Letters and Intelligence given in to the Committee of both Kingdoms from Robert Wright, from Paris, and the unknown Knight, by Mr. Sollicitor-General, Mr. Crew, and Mr. Pierrepont, and, in their Proceedings therein, have done their Duties, and no more than they ought to have done, in Discharge thereof.

Mr. Ellis, Sir Peter Wentworth, Sir Jo. Evelyn of Wiltes, Mr. Lisle, Mr. Robert Goodwyn, Sir Henry Heyman, Mr. Rous, Mr. Natha. Fiennes, Mr. Tate, Mr. Thorpe, Mr. Prideauxe, Sir Robert Harley, Sir Walter Erle, Mr. Boyse;

This Committee, or any Three of them, are to consider of, and prepare an Answer to the Letter, and Paper from the Scotts Commissioners, of 24 Januarii, and to their Paper of 27 Januarii 1645; as well containing the Members, as otherwise; and therein to let them know; that, concerning the unknown Knight, it shall be put in a Way to give them Satisfaction therein in convenient Time: And to make Inquiry, and examine, concerning the Publishing of either or both of the said Papers, or any Part of either of them, before the Committee of the Militia; and by whom, and by what Means: And are to meet this Afternoon, in the Queen's Court: And Mr. Nathanael Fiennes is to take care thereof: And are to send for Parties, Witnesses, Papers, Records, &c.

Ordered, &c. That it be referred to the Committee this Day appointed to prepare an Answer to the Two Scotts Papers, to examine and find out the Author, Publishers, and Printer, of a scandalous Pamphlet, called, "Truth's Manifest."

Resolved, &c. That the Lord Mountague, one of the Members of the House of Peers, and Colonel White, and Mr. Robert Goodwyn, Members of the House of Commons, shall be sent Commissioners from the Parliament of England, to the Estates, Parliament, and Kingdom of Scotland; to reside there; and, from time to time, represent to them, as Occasion shall require, the Affairs of this Kingdom; and to endeavour to preserve and continue a good Correspondency between the Two Nations: And Sir Thomas Widdrington is to bring in an Ordinance, accordingly.

An Extract of Intelligence from France was this Day presented to the House by Mr. Speaker; and read.

Ordered, &c. That the Business of the Propositions be taken into Consideration To-morrow Morning, the first Business after Mr. Speaker shall come unto the Chair.

An Ordinance for sending the Lord Roberts, Sir Henry Vane, and Mr. Strickland, to the States of the United Provinces, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence: And Sir Tho. Widdrington is appointed to carry it to the Lords.

Ordered, &c. That the Committee of the Admiralty do bring in the List of the Names of those that are to have the Command of the Summer's Fleet, on Saturday Morning next.

Ordered, &c. That the Committee of the Army do take all possible Care, that the Army may want no Accommodation, whereby they may be hindered from being early in the Field this Spring.

BE it Ordered and Ordained, by the Lords and Commons, in Parliament assembled, That John Lord Roberts, one of the Members of the House of Peers, and Sir Henry Vane the elder, Knight, and Walter Strickland Esquire, Members of the House of Commons, shall, with all convenient Speed, be sent from the Parliament of England, and go to the States of the United Provinces of the Netherlands; there to act and negotiate, for and on the Behalf of both Houses of Parliament, and the Kingdoms of England and Ireland, with the said States of the said United Provinces, all such Matters and Things, and according to such Rules and Instructions, as they shall, from time to time, receive from both the said House of the Parliament of England in that Behalf.