House of Commons Journal Volume 4: 7 February 1646

Die Sabbati, 7 Februarii, 1645.

Prayers.

REsolved, &c. That this House doth concurr with the Lords in nominating and appointing Captain Henry Markham to be Governor of Belvoir-Castle: And that the Members of both Houses that are of the Committee of both Kingdoms, do grant him a Commission accordingly.

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

The Lords have commanded us to return this Ordinance concerning Lieutenant-General Cromwell: It moved from you; and their Lordships have agreed unto it, with some Alterations; wherein they desire your Concurrence.

They have likewise commanded us to deliver unto you some Letters from the Servants of the Lord Grey of Warke, signifying his present Condition, and the great Losses he hath suffered by these Wars: Which their Lordships take notice of, and of his great Merit to the Parliament: Therefore they desire, you will take his Estate so far into your Consideration, that he may be allowed Means whereby to subsist.

The Amendment to the Ordinance for Lieutenant-General Cromwell was read; and, upon the Question, assented unto.

Ordered, That the Letters, and Desire of the Lords, concerning the Lord Grey of Warke, be taken into Consideration, the first Business, on Monday next, in the Afternoon: And that Mr. Speaker put the House in mind hereof.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; That this House hath considered their Lordships Message: And, as to the Amendments to Lieutenant-General Cromwell's Ordinance, they do agree; and the Desires concerning the Lord Grey of Warke, they will take into very speedy Consideration.

Ordered, That Thursday next be appointed for receiving and hearing the Reports from Goldsmiths-Hall.

An Ordinance for Pressing of Mariners, formerly sent from the Lords, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed.

Ordered, That Mr. William Stephens, and Mr. Robinson, be added to the Committee of the Navy.

Ordered, That Mr. William Stephens do this Afternoon make his Propositions concerning the Navy, to the Committee of the Lords and Commons for the Admiralty and Cinque-Ports, and to the Committee of the Navy.

Whereas Notice is taken, that many of the King's Frigates are plying on the North Coast of England: It is Ordered, by the Lords and Commons, That, to prevent their doing further Mischief, the Merchants Ships following; viz. The Henry, under Command of Captain John Ellyson; the Defiance, under the Command of Captain John Whitty; and the President, under the Command of Captain Peter Whitty; be, together with the Warwick Frigate, employed with all Speed towards that Coast, for the Guard thereof. And, because the List for the Summer's Guard is not yet fully completed, and the Loss of any Time in this Business may be prejudicial: It is further Ordered, by the said Lords and Commons, That the said Merchants Ships, the Henry, the Defiance, and the President, be, and are hereby approved of to be, Part of the Merchants Ships for the Summer's Guard; they having been presented by the Commissioners of the Navy, as very sit for the Parliament's Service.

Ordered, That the Committee of the Navy do take care, that the Three Ships, the Henry, the Defiance, and the President, be forthwith put to Sea, for the Guard and Defence of the Northern Coast.

Mr. Nicoll carried to the Lords, for their Concurrence, the Order for beating up Drums for Volunteers for Sir Thomas Fairfaxe's Army: The Ordinance for One thousand Pounds, out of the Excise, for the Trains of Artillery late under the Earl of Essex and Sir William Waller: The Ordinance for Martial Law for the Garisons of Aylesbury and Newport-Pagnell: The Order for Captain Markham to have One hundred Marks out of Haberdashers-Hall: The Ordinance for a Moiety of the Excise of Leicestershire, for the Use of the Forces of the said County: The Order for Doctor Walker to have One hundred Pounds per Annum paid him by the Treasurer of the Navy, for his Service, as Advocate of the Admiralty and Fleet: The Orders for a Day of Thanksgiving in the Countries, and within the Lines of Communication: The Order for Fifty Pounds to the Person that brought the News of the Rendition of Chester; and for Ten Pounds for the Messenger that brought the Letters and News of the Taking in of Beeston-Castle: The Vote for Colonel Jones to be Governor of Chester: And the Vote for Alderman Edwards to command the City-Regiment of Foot at Chester.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of the Navy, to examine and state the Matter of Fact, concerning Mr. Alderman John Warner's Tobaccoes; and to call all Parties concerned before them: And that the Report of this Business be made on Tuesday next: And that the Proceedings at Law be said in the mean time.

Mr. Nathanael Fiennis, Mr. Holles, Sir Thomas Widdrington, Mr. Rigby, Mr. Thorpe, Mr. Recorder, and Mr. Crewe, are appointed Managers and Reporters of this free Conference.

Ordered, That Mr. Thorpe, a Member of this House, shall have Liberty to go and visit the Lord Savile.

Ordered, That Sir Thomas Trenchard, Mr. Trenchard, and Mr. John Stephens, Members of this House, shall have Liberty to go visit Sir John Strangewaies, a Prisoner in the Tower.

Ordered, That Mr. Richard Barrett, Brother to the Lord Dacres, shall have Mr. Speaker's Warrant to pass beyond the Seas, with Two Servants; he first taking the Covenant.

The Question being put, Whether Mr. Richard Barrett should have Mr. Speaker's Warrant to transport with him Two Summer-Nags;

It passed with the Negative.

Mr. Anthony Nicoll brings Answer, That the Lords do agree to the Order for making Colonel Michael Jones Governor of Chester; and to the Order for making Alderman Edwards Colonel of the City-Regiment of Chester; and to the Orders for a Thanksgiving upon Thursday come Three Weeks: And, as to the rest, they will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Resolved, &c. That Mr. William Murray be committed Prisoner to the Tower: And that no Man be permitted to come unto him, nor to receive or send any Letters to him, or from him.

Ordered, That the Committee of the Tower do examine Mr. Murray: And that Sir Henry Heyman, Mr. Oxenden, and Mr. Westroe, be added to this Committee, as to this Business.

Ordered, That the Committee of Examinations do send for Mr. Porter this Afternoon, and see, by what Passes he came to Town; and to take care, that the Directions and Limitations in his Passes be duly observed.

Resolved, &c. That Sir Henry Herbert be sent for, and apprehended as a Delinquent, by the Serjeant at Arms attending in this House.

Mr. Holles reports, from the free Conference, That the Earl of Manchester acquainted him, That the Lords had received several Votes of this House, for Selecting of certain Propositions to be now sent to his Majesty: That the Lords, in pursuance of those Votes, had done it; and did agree to the said Propositions, with some Alterations and Amendments.

The Amendments were read: And

It is thereupon Ordered, That this Report be taken into Consideration, the first Business, on Tuesday Morning.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee of the West, concerning Major-General Massie, be made on Tuesday next.

Ordered, That the City-Petition be taken into Consideration, the first Business, on Wednesday Morning, after Mr. Speaker comes to the Chair.

The Clerk of the Crown's Certificate of the Return of George How and Edmund Ludlowe, to serve for the Borough of Hendon, in the place of Thomas Bennett Esquire, deceased; the one by the Bailiffs and Burgators; the other, by the Burgesses and Inhabitants, of February 7 ; was this Day read:

And the Question being put, Whether this be a good Certificate, upon which such a Member ought to be sworn, and sit;

It passed with the Negative.

Ordered, &c. That the Business concerning the Return of Mr. Howe and Mr. Ludlowe, to serve for the Borough of Hendon, be referred to the Consideration of the Committee for Privileges.