House of Commons Journal Volume 4: 20 February 1646

Die Veneris, 20 th Februarii, 1645.

Prayers.

THE Grand Committee of the House for Religion sat, to take into Consideration the Business concerning Church-Government.

Mr. Whittacre in the Chair.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Upon Mr. Whittacre's Report from the Grand Committee for Religion;

Ordered, That the Grand Committee of the House do meet, and sit, for the Business of the Church, on Monday Morning next.

Ordered, That Mr. Berrow, a Member of this House, shall have Liberty to go into the Country, for Recovery of his Health.

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

The Lords do desire, That, at the Conference this Day, they may impart unto you certain Letters, come from the Parliament of Scotland: They were delivered them from the Scotts Commissioners; and are directed to both Houses. They desire to put you in mind of an Ordinance, formerly sent to you, for Mr. Mortimer to be a Serjeant at Arms.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth agree, That the Letters from the Parliament of Scotland be imparted by the Lords, at the Conference, this Morning.

Answer returned by the same Messengers;

The House doth agree, That, at this Conference, those Letters be imparted from the Parliament of Scotland: And, as to the Ordinance for making Mr. Mortimer a Serjeant at Arms, they will send Answer by Messengers of their own.-

Mr. Weston carried to the Lords, for their Concurrence, the Votes concerning the Lord Savile, and the Order for Five Pounds, out of Haberdashers-Hall, for Joan Wilson, upon Accompt of her Husband's Pay, to be employed for his Burial.-

Resolved, That a Message be sent to the Lords, to desire, That, at this Conference, this House may communicate to them some Letters which they have received from the Parliament of Scotland.

Sir Christopher Yelverton carried to the Lords, for their Concurrence, the Three Votes concerning the Election of Elders: And was to desire, That the Letters, which this House hath received from the Parliament of Scotland, may be communicated to the Lords at this Conference.

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The House was informed, That divers Aldermen and Common-Councilmen of the City of London were at the Door:

They were called in: And Mr. Alderman Fowke presented a Petition from the City of London.

Which was read.

Ordered, upon the Question, That the Petition from the City of London, this Day presented, be taken into Consideration To-morrow Morning, the first Business: And that no other Business intervene: And that Mr. Speaker put the House in mind thereof.

Ordered, &c. That the Answer to the Petitioners shall be, That this House hath read their Petition, and the Papers annexed; and will take them into Consideration To-morrow Morning.

The Petitioners were again called in: And Mr. Speaker gave them the Answer accordingly.

A Letter from the Army, from Mr. Rushworth, from Torrington, of Februarii 17 , Five at Night, was this Day read, of the great Success it pleased God to give the Parliament's Forces: And

It is Ordered, upon the Question, That the Committee of the Army do pay unto the Messengers that brought this good News Forty Pounds, to be divided between them, as a Gift from this House, for their great Pains and Diligence.

Sir Henry Vane junior, Mr. Sollicitor, Mr. Holles, and Sir John Evelyn, are appointed Managers and Reporters of this Conference.

Sir Christopher Yelverton brings Answer from the Lords, That the Lords have agreed to the Votes concerning Election of Elders; and that they be communicated to the Lord Mayor, to be put in Execution: And they do agree, That this House may, at this Conference, communicate to them the Letters from the Parliament of Scotland.

Ordered, &c. That the Committee to whom the Printing of the Letters taken near Sherbourne is referred, or any Three of them, do meet this Afternoon at Two of Clock; to take Order for the Printing of the said Letters.

Ordered, &c. That, after the Conference ended, the Letter from the Army, to the Committee of the Army, be read.

Mr. Holles reports from the Conference, That, to that Addition, formerly sent down from the Lords, to the Fifth Proposition, of these Words; viz. "in pursuance of that which is already agreed upon by both Houses of Parliament;" they do adhere unto it; and thought fit to give Reasons for it: Which were read there; and afterwards by the Reporter here; and then by the Clerk: And were in hæc verba;

1. That it is necessary the Demands to the King should be clear; and such as may so appear to the World.

2. That, Religion being a main Part of our Desires, we should therein be certain and determinate; which, as the Proposition came from the House of Commons, appears not so evident: And therefore, my Lords have thought it necessary to adhere unto these Words, "in pursuance of what is already agreed unto by both Houses:" Which shews, What kind of Reformation in Religion both Houses of Parliament do desire.

3. That my Lords find no Objection against their additional Clause, unless there be a Doubt of prosecuting that Kind of Church-Government, into which both Houses of Parliament have already made some Progress: Wherefore, to prevent such Ambiguities in this Particular, as may be picked out of the Stile, or objected to our Meaning, my Lords do insist upon their Amendment of this Proposition.

Sir Henry Vane junior reported, from the Conference, Two Letters from the Parliament of Scotland, from St. Androis, of Februarii 3 1645, subscribed "Crawford Lyndesey, President of Parliament;" and directed to the Right Honourable the Lords and Commons, assembled in the Parliament of England, at Westminster: The which were read at the Conference; and by the Reporter here; and then by the Clerk.

Ordered, &c. That this whole Report concerning the Letters from the Parliament of Scotland, and the Propositions, be taken into Consideration To-morrow, the next Business after that of the City-Petition.

Ordered, &c. That the Grand Committee of the House, for the Business of the Church, do meet, and sit, on Monday Morning next.