House of Commons Journal Volume 4: 4 April 1646

Die Sabbati, 4 Aprilis, 1646.

Prayers.

ORdered, That it be referred to the Committee of the West, to bail Mr. Swanton, if they shall see Cause.

The House being informed, That, according to former Order, Paul Best was brought by the Keeper of the Gatehouse, and delivered by him to the Serjeant at Arms attending on this House; and was at the Door;

Mr. Millington delivered in to the House several Questions to be propounded to him, and answered by the said Paul Best: Which were read; and delivered back to Mr. Millington, to charge him with, by way of Charge.

Paul Best was brought in, by the Serjeant, to the Bar; and kneeled; the Serjeant standing by him, on the Outside of the Bar.

Mr. Speaker commanded him to stand up; and acquainted him, That he was brought to the Bar, upon Information given to this House of some horrid Opinions maintained by him, in Writing; and wished him to hearken to what he should be charged with by a Member of the House.

Mr. Millington stood up: And charged the said Paul Best with several horrid Blasphemies, proved against him, before a Committee of this House, to whom the Examination of his Crimes were referred; and delivered in the Charge, and the Books, that were sent up with the said Paul Best.

Mr. Speaker told him, That he was to give Answer to the Charge.

Paul Best, standing at the Bar, answered, That he acknowledged the Holy and Heavenly Trinity; and doth not speak against it; but hoped to be saved by it: But said further, That he denieth the Tripersonality of Athanasius; and that it is Romish, and Popish; and doth detest it, till he be otherwise convinced.

Divers other Questions, arising from the Matter of his Charge, were appointed, by the House, to be propounded to him by Mr. Speaker:

Which were propounded to him accordingly: And particular Answers given by him to the said Questions; wherein he did deny, That the Godhead of Jesus Christ is co-equal, co-eternal, and co-existent, with the Godhead of the Father.

Resolved, &c. That the House do, on This-day-sevennight, take into further Consideration the whole Matter concerning Paul Best; and what shall be done with him.

Ordered, &c. That Mr. Nathanael Fiennes, Sir Henry Vane junior, Mr. Holles, Mr. Samuel Browne, and Sir Philip Stapleton, or any Two of them, be desired to go to Paul Best, or to send for him to any convenient Place; and confer with him: And that it be left to the rest of the Members of the House, to go to him, or send for him, and confer with him, as themselves shall think fit.

Ordered, &c. That Doctor Smith, Mr. Marshall, Mr. Prositt, Mr. Bathurst, Mr. Vines, Mr. Reynolds, and Mr. Thomas Goodwyn, Members of the Assembly of Divines, be, from this House, desired to go to Paul Best, or to send for him to any convenient Place: And that it be left to Paul Best, to confer with any other of the Assembly of Divines, whom he shall think sit to discourse withal.

Ordered, &c. That Paul Best be remanded back to the Prison, from whence he came: And that he be brought to the Bar of this House again on this Day Sevennight: And the Serjeant at Arms attending on this House is to take care hereof.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth approve of the Sheriffs of London their forbearing to execute the Writ delivered to them on the Publick Day of Thanksgiving, in the Presence of both Houses, for Arresting of the Person of the Prince Elector: And that the Sheriffs of London be indemnified for or by reason of the same.

Resolved, &c. That Mr. Isaac Tully, at whose Suit the Writ was delivered to the Sheriffs of London on the Day of Publick Thanksgiving, in the Presence of both Houses, to arrest the Person of the Prince Elector for Debt, be forthwith sent for, as a Delinquent.

Mr. Holles, Sir Wm. Strickland, Sir Philip Stapleton, Sir Henry Mildemay, Mr. Trenchard, Sir Wm. Waller, Mr. Maynard, Sir Peter Wentworth, Mr. Lisle, Sir John Danvers, Mr. Sam. Browne, Mr. Whittacree, Sir John Clotworthy, Sir Robert Hrley, Mr. Holland, Mr. Selden, Mr. Nath. Fiennes, Sir Peter Temple, Mr. Francis Allen;

This Committee, or any Four of them, are to examine the whole Business concerning the endeavouring to arrest the Prince Elector on the Day of Publick Thanksgiving, in the Presence of both Houses: And are to meet on Monday next, in the Afternoon, at Two post meridiem, in the Queen's Court.

Ordered, &c. That an Ordinance be brought in, to prevent any Proceedings against the Person of the Prince Elector.

Mr. Selden, Mr. Samuel Browne, and Mr. Maynard, are to prepare and bring in this Ordinance.

A Letter from the Army, of 1 Aprilis 1646, was this Day read.

A Letter from the Committee, from Salop, of 30 Martii 1646, was this Day read.

Ordered, &c. That it be referred to the Committee of Salop, upon the Place, to make such Conditions with Sir Robert Howard, for his own Person and Estate, as they shall think sit, upon the Rendition of the Castle of Bridgnorth. And

It is further Ordered, That it be referred to the said Committee, to consider, What Garisons are sit to be demolished, and what are sit to be reduced, or continued, in the said County: And have Power to demolish, reduce, or continue the same accordingly.

Ordered, &c. That the Messenger, that brought this Letter from the Committee of Salop, shall have the Sum of Twenty Pounds bestowed upon him, for his Pains: And that the Committee of Lords and Commons for Advance of Money, at Haberdashers-Hall, do pay the same accordingly.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Ordered, &c. That it be referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms, to consider, What Quantities of Ammunition and Powder is sit for the Forces of the Counties of Worcester and Shropshire; and for the Forces before Litchfield: And that it be specially recommended to the Care of Sir Walter Erle, forthwith to provide those Quantities of Powder and Ammunition, that shall be assigned for the Service aforesaid.

Ordered, &c. That Mr. Speaker be authorized to treat with such a Garison, as, in general, he hath propounded to the House, which, he conceives, may be surrendered.

A Letter from Colonel Payne, from Abingdon, of 3 Aprilis 1646, was this Day read; and delivered back to Major-General Browne.

Ordered, &c. That Five thousand Two hundred Pounds of Mr. Henlie's Fine be forthwith paid in, and disposed, as followeth; viz. One thousand Pounds thereof for the Service of the Garison of Bristoll; Three thousand Pounds for the Service of the Garison of Abingdon; and Twelve hundred Pounds for the Use of the maimed Soldiers: And that Mr. Henley shall have Time given him for the Payment of the Three thousand Eight hundred Pounds, Remainder of his Fine; that is to say, Eighteen hundred Pounds at the End of Michaelmas Term next; and the other Two thousand Pounds at the End of Hilary Term next: And that, upon securing these Payments, Mr. Maynard do bring in an Ordinance for the Discharge of the Delinquency and Sequestration of the said Mr. Henley.

Ordered, &c. That the Business of the Northern Association be taken into Consideration, the first Business, on Monday Morning next: And that Mr. Speaker do put the House in mind hereof.

Ordered, &c. That the Sum of Twenty Pounds be bestowed upon Mr. Whiteing, who brought the Letter, this Day read, from the Governor of Abingdon, for his Pains: And that the Committee of Lords and Commons for Advance of Monies, at Haberdashers-Hall, do pay the same accordingly.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.