House of Commons Journal Volume 4: 3 April 1646

Die Veneris, 3 Aprilis, 1646.

Prayers.

THE Grand Committee for Religion sat, to take into further Consideration the Petition from the Assembly of Divines.

Mr. Whittakre in the Chair.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Resolved, &c. That immediately after this Report concerning Martial Law shall be made, and That Business dispatched, that the House be resolved into a Grand Committee, to take into Consideration the late Petition from the Assembly of Divines, according to former Order.

Mr. Lisle reports, from the Committee, the Amendment to the Lords Amendments to the last Ordinance, returned from the Lords, concerning Martial Law: The which were particularly read; and, upon the Question, particularly passed; and assented unto; and ordered to be communicated to the Lords at a Conference.

Mr. Lisle, Mr. Scott, Mr. Prideaux, Mr. Martin, are appointed Managers of this Conference.

Sir John Danvers is appointed to go to the Lords, to desire a Conference, by Committees of both Houses, at such Time as their Lordships shall think convenient, upon the Ordinance for Martial Law, returned from their Lordships with some Amendments.

Ordered, &c. That Mr. Richard Salway, a Member of this House, one of the Committee for Worcestershire, shall have Leave, and is hereby injoined, forthwith to repair to the County of Worcester, to employ his best Endeavours there, for the Service of the Parliament.

Ordered, &c. That Mr. Nicolas Leachmore, one of the Committee of the County of Worcester, be hereby injoined forthwith to repair into that County, to advance, by his best Endeavours there, for the Service of the Parliament.

Mr. Scawen reports the Advice, given by the Committee of the Army to the Committee of the Militia, in pursuance of the Ordinance of the last of March, touching what Course should be held, in case the King, contrary to the Advice already given unto him, should come, or attempt to come, within the Lines of Communication: The which was read; and, upon the Question, approved of.

Sir John Evelyn reported likewise, from that Committee, the great Readiness and Freeness of the Committee of the Militia to comply with, and observe, the Directions of the Houses. And

It is Ordered, That the said Committee of the Army do return the Committee of the Militia the Thanks of this House.

"At the Committee for the Army, sitting at Guildhall, London;"

"Primo die Aprilis 1646."

"In pursuance of an Ordinance of Parliament, of the last of March, concerning the Preventing of all such Inconveniences as may happen, in case the King should come within the Lines of Communication, contrary to the Advice that hath been given him by both Houses of Parliament; we, the Committee for the Army, do advise the Committee of the Militia of the City of London, that the Forces of the City, and within the Lines of Communication, be forthwith put into such a Posture, as that, upon the King's Coming, or Attempting to come, within the Line, they may be in a Readiness to prevent any Tumult that may arise by his Coming; and to suppress any that shall happen; and to apprehend and secure such as shall come with him, to prevent Resort unto him, and to secure his Person from Danger: And, in case he shall come, or attempt to come, the Committee doth further advise, that the Forces be employed accordingly."

"At the Committee for the Army, sitting at Guildhall, London;"

"Primo die Aprilis 1646."

"The further Advice of the Committee of the Army, unto the Committee of the Militia for the City of London, upon several Questions propounded by the Committee of the Militia."

"That, in case the King shall come to any of the Guards, the Officer that commands that Guard, with such Assistance as may be procured, shall conduct his Majesty to St. Jame-House, with a Guard to secure his Person from Danger, and to prevent Resort unto him."

"And, in that case, the Committee for the Militia are forthwith to send such other Forces as shall be sufficient there, to secure his Person from Danger, and to prevent Resort unto him, until the Houses shall be acquainted therewith, and take further Order: And, until these other Forces shall come to St. James's, the first Guard is to continue there."

"That, for such Persons as shall come with the King, the Officer that commands the Guard (with such Assistance as may be procured) shall apprehend them, and secure them in such Prisons, and other Places, as the Committee of the Militia shall think sitting, until the Houses take further Order."

"That the Officer that commands the Guard, shall prevent the Resort of any Person unto the King: And, in case any shall endeavour, in a forcible Manner, to Access unto him, that the Officer shall apprehend and secure them, until further Order from the House."

"And, in case of Resistance, in any of the Cases aforesaid, That the Officer and Soldiers shall, by Force of Arms, according to the Course of War, observe these Directions, in pursuance of the Ordinance of Parliament."

"That, upon this Occasion, the Committees of the Militia would strengthen their Guards, both within and without; and employ such Men as, for their Fidelity and Ability, they can confide in."

Resolved, &c. That it be referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms, to appoint the Party of Colonel Greve's Horse, now about Bagshawe, or such others as they shall think sit, to lie in such convenient Places, as may secure the Passes from Oxon to this Town, and give Intelligence to the Militia of the Motions and Approach of the Enemy.

Ordered, &c. That it be referred to the Committee of the West, to confer with the Committee of the Militia of the City of London, for the Disposal of the Regiment of Horse, now in the West, under the Command of Colonel Starr.

Ordered, &c. That it be referred to the Committee of Prisoners, to consider, What Sum of Monies may be necessary for the Providing of sufficient Guards for Securing of the Prisons; and to report the same To-morrow Morning.

Ordered, &c. That, on Tuesday next, the House do take into Consideration the Providing of one convenient House for the Lord Mayor of the City of London, for the Time being; and of Two other convenient Houses for each of the Sheriffs of the said City; and to be set apart for the Habitation of the said Mayor and Sheriffs, for the Time being, for ever.

Ordered, &c. That the Business of the Proposition concerning the Militia of the City of London, and Lines of Communication, be taken into Consideration on Thursday Morning next.

Ordered, &c. That the Ordinance for Providing of Maintenance for several Ministers in the County of Middlesex, and divers other Counties, be read on Monday Morning next, the first Business: And that Mr. Speaker do put the House in mind hereof.

Ordered, &c. That the Sum of One thousand Pounds be charged upon the Moiety of Compositions of Delinquents of the County of Lincolne, by the Committee at Goldsmiths-Hall, not charged for the Use of the Army: And that the said One thousand Pounds be paid unto Sir Anthony Irby Knight, a Member of this House, or his Assigns, in full of all Arrears due to him for his Pay, as a Colonel, in the Service of the Parliament.

Sir John Danvers brings Answer, That the Lords will give a Conference, as is desired, in the Painted Chamber, concerning the Amendments to the Ordinance for Martial Law: And that this Conference be presently.

Ordered, &c. That it be referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms, to consider of some Exchange to be propounded for Thomas Lewes Esquire, Brother to Sir Wm. Lewes, a Member of this House, and now a Prisoner to the Enemies Forces: And that they do make Demand of him upon such sitting Exchange: And, in case he shall not be returned upon Exchange without Ransom, that then they consider of some Prisoners here to pay the said Fine and Ransom.

Ordered, &c. That the Committee appointed to meet with a Committee of a proportionable Number of the Lords, to confer with the Scotts Commissioners, upon the Propositions to be sent to the King, be injoined to attend that Service this Afternoon at Three of Clock.

Ordered, &c. That Sir Henry Worseley, a Member of this House, shall have Leave to go into the Country.

Ordered, &c. That Mr. Vachell, a Member of this House, shall have Leave to go into the Country.

Ordered, &c. That Mr. John Nutt, a Member of this House, shall have Leave to go into the Country.

Ordered, &c. That Thanks be given to Mr. Caryll and Mr. Peters, for the great Pains they took in their Sermons they Yesterday preached before the Lords and Commons, and City of London, at Christ-Church, in London, at the Intreaty of both Houses, being a Day set apart for a publick Thanksgiving to God, for the great Successes it pleased him to give the Army under the Command of Sir Thomas Fairefaxe Knight, General: And that they be desired to print their Sermons: And have the like Privilege as others have in the like Cases.

Sir Arthur Haslerigg and Mr. Prideaux are appointed to give them Thanks; and to desire them to print their Sermons accordingly.

An Ordinance for continuing the Assessment upon the several Counties and Places, for the Maintenance of the Army under the Command of Sir Thomas Fairefax Knight, General, for Four Months longer, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

Ordered, &c. That, on Tuesday Sevennight, the Grand Committee of the House do meet, to consider, How all publick Taxes, Payments, and Charges, through the whole Kingdom, may be reduced into one Way of Receipt, Levy, and Payment, both for England and Ireland; and what these Payments shall be in and upon the several Cities and Counties.

Resolved, &c. That the Grand Committee of the whole House do sit on Wednesday Morning; the first Business, to take into Consideration the last Petition from the Assembly of Divines, according to former Order.

The Question being put, Whether the House shall now adjourn;

It passed with the Negative.

A Letter from the Committee of Surry, from Kingston, of Aprilis 2 1746, was this Day read; informing, That the Lady Dunsmore, with a Coach and Twelve Horses, were come into Surry, with a Pass, under Sir Thomas Fairefaxe's Hand, by the Name of the Countess of Chichester.

Resolved, &c. That the House, taking Notice of no such Person as the Countess of Chichester, doth Order, That the Committee of Surry do give a Pass to the Person stiled by the Name of Countess of Chichester, to go to Oxford, from whence she came; and to the Company that came with her; together with their Servants, SaddleHorses, Coach and Six Horses, their Waggon and Six Horses, and their Housholdstuff, Necessaries, and wearing Apparel, which they brought with them, properly belonging to themselves and Company, without Prejudice.