House of Commons Journal Volume 4: 12 June 1646

Die Veneris, 12 Junii, 1646.

Prayers.

ORdered, That the Letter, sent from both Houses to the Emperor of Russia, be sealed with the Green Wax Seal, that Seal being found to be most proper for Letters sent from the Kingdom of England.

Ordered, That the Ambassador of the Emperor of Russia may come in to this House To-morrow Morning at Ten of the Clock, to receive the Letter of both Houses of the Parliament of England, sent to his Imperial Majesty: That the Master of the Ceremonies accompany him then to this House: And that there be a Chair, with Arms, set upon a Carpet, within this House, to receive him, together with great Cushions, and other sitting Accommodations, for the Reception of an Ambassador from so great a Prince.

Mr. Wheeler is appointed to take care hereof.

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

Ordered, That a Message be sent to the Lords, to desire them to hasten the Dispatch of the Propositions, the Peace of the Kingdom depending so much upon the Dispatch of them.

Mr. Alderman Atkin is appointed to go to the Lords with this Message.

An Ordinance concerning the Excise of Salt was this Day read the First and Second time.

And the Question being put, For Commitment;

It passed with the Negative.

And then the Question being put, For Passing;

It passed with the Negative.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of the Northern Association, to prepare and bring in an Ordinance to give the like Liberty to the Subjects of this Kingdom, as the Scotts have, to pay their Excise at the Market or Port, where their Salt is to be delivered out: And that Fishermen may be cleared of Excise, upon Bond and Certificate, that their Salt is to be expended on Fishing only: And that this Ordinance may be brought in with all convenient Speed.

The House being informed, That, in pursuance of an Order Yesterday made, the Warden of the Fleet's Deputy did attend, with Captain Francis Maisy, who was committed Prisoner to the Fleet by the Lords;

The said Captain Maisy, and the Warden of the Fleet's Deputy, were both called in: And Mr. Speaker, by Command of the House, told the Warden of the Fleet's Deputy, That this House had ordered, That the said Captain should be discharged of his Imprisonment, without paying any Fees; and commanded the said Warden of the Fleet's Deputy, That the said Captain Maisy should be set at Liberty accordingly.

An Ordinance for appointing Justices of Assize, Oyer and Terminer, Nisi Prius, and Gaol-delivery, for this Summer's Circuit, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

Sir John Evelyn is appointed to carry it to the Lords.

An Ordinance for appointing Assizes in the CountyPalatine of Lancaster was this Day read the First and Second time; and, upon the Question, committed unto Mr. Ashurst, Colonel Moore, Mr. Thorpe, Sir John Hippesley, Mr. Langton, Mr. Fell, Sir Robert Bindloes, Mr. Wheeler, Sir Ralph Ashton, Mr. Marten, Colonel Ashton, Sir John Hobart, Sir John Holland, and unto the Gentlemen that are of the Committee for the Northern Association: And this Committee, or any Five of them, are to meet upon it at Two of the Clock this Afternoon, in the common Dineing-Hall of Serjeants-Inn in Chancery-lane; and are to confer with the Judges concerning the same; and to report it To-morrow Morning.

Ordered, That Mr. William White, one of the Members of this House, shall have Leave to go into the Country.

Mr. Alderman Atkin brings Answer from the Lords, That they were hastening of the Propositions, and would dispatch them with all convenient Speed.

Sir John Evelyn of Surrey carried to the Lords, for their Concurrence, the Ordinances for appointing the Justices for this Summer's Circuit: An Ordinance for granting a Pardon unto Robert Exton, for his Delinquency: An Ordinance for granting a Pardon unto Philip Prichard, William Allen, and Stephen Bovill, Gentlemen, for their respective Delinquencies: And the Order for Colonel Glynn to be Governor of Caernarvon Town and Castle.

Ordered, That the Petitions of the Prince's Servants, and of the poor Women attending at the Door, be taken into Consideration To-morrow Morning, next after the Report of the Ordinance for Appointing of Assizes in the County-Palatine of Lancaster.

The House being informed, That divers Aldermen, and other Citizens, of the City of London were at the Door; and desired to present an humble Request from the City of London;

They were called in: And the Common-Serjeant of the City acquainted the House, That he was commanded to return all humble Thanks to this House, for their many Favours to the City of London; and humbly to desire, That, in the Propositions to be now sent to the King, nothing may be done, that may prejudice or intrench upon the Franchises and Liberties of the City of London.

The Aldermen and Citizens withdrew; and were called in again: And Mr. Speaker, by Command of the House, told them, That this House hath been always tender of the Liberties and Privileges of the City of London, and will ever be so.

Sir John Evelyn brings Answer, That the Lords do agree to the Ordinance for appointing Judges to ride this Summer's Circuit: And, as to the rest of the Matters carried to them by him, they will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

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

The Lords have commanded us to deliver unto you these Four Papers, concerning the Propositions for a safe and well-grounded Peace; the First, an Expedient concerning the Militia of the Kingdom: Wherein they desire your Concurrence: Those that came from you, concerning the Militia of the City of London, the Lords do agree . .: And, in pursuance of That of the Fourth of June, they have passed a Proposition: Wherein they desire your Concurrence.

Likewise they have commanded us to let you know, That they have agreed unto the Introduction to the First Proposition, as it came from hence: And they have agreed to the Names of the Delinquents in the Fifteenth Proposition; and to the Ordinance for the Church-Government, being an Expedient in Cases of Suspension from the Sacrament not enumerated.

Ordered, That this Message be taken into Consideration To-morrow Morning at Nine of Clock.-

A Declaration from the Committee for asserting the Privileges of the Parliament of England, reported from the Re-commitment Yesterday, was this Day read; and likewise one offered by a Member of the House.

The former was, upon the Question, re-committed; and the latter committed to the former Committee; with the Addition of Sir John Clotworthy, Mr. Tate, Sir Henry Vane, Mr. Holland, Mr. Bond, Sir Robert Harley, and Mr. Hill: And they are to meet this Afternoon at Three of Clock, in the Queen's Court; and to bring it in Tomorrow Morning.-

Answer returned by the same Messengers; That this House will take their Lordships Message into speedy Consideration; and send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Divers Letters going in a Dogger-Boat from Jersey, from the Prince, Sir Edward Hide, Sir John Colpeper, and others, some in Cyphers, and some not, to the Governor of Pendennis-Castle, and others, were many of them read; and those in Cyphers delivered to Sir Walter Erle, to be uncyphered: The rest were delivered, at the Table, in the Bag they were brought in, to Mr. Sallowey junior.

Ordered, That Mr. Laurence Whittacre do, To-morrow, go to the Lords; to desire them to concurr in the Dispatching of Sir Hardres Waller, with the Supplies of Men and Provisions, to the Isle of Jersey.

Resolved, &c. That a Thousand Pounds be charged upon the Excise of the Town of Lyme, and paid, upon Account and Muster, to Colonel Ceelie's Regiment, now before Pendennis-Castle: And that an Ordinance be brought in to this Purpose.