House of Commons Journal Volume 4: 11 July 1646

Die Sabbati, 11 Julii, 1646.

Prayers.

AN Ordinance for presenting John White Clerk, Master of Arts, a godly, learned, and orthodox Divine, to the Rectory of Pimperne in the County of Dorsett, was this Day read; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

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

The Lords have commanded us to put you in mind of a Petition of Mr. Blackmore, Mayor of Liverpoole, which they formerly sent unto you; and desire you will take it into Consideration: To return you this Ordinance concerning Papists, and such Irish as have adhered to the Enemy: It moved from you; and they have agreed unto it, with these Alterations: To deliver you this Order concerning the Captives of Argier and Tunis; to which they desire your Concurrence: These Two Reports from the Committee of the Admiralty; one for the Earl of Bristoll to pass beyond Sea; the other, for Colonel Trevor to go to Carickfergus; which the Lords have agreed unto, and desire your Concurrence. The Lords likewise think fit, that Mr. Wolfe be discharged of his Delinquency; to which they desire your Concurrence: His Case, and the Opinion of the Committee of Lords and Commons for Sequestrations, were formerly sent unto you:-These Four Petitions of the Viscountess Lumley; of the Inhabitants of Barnestable and Taunton in the County of Devon; of Colonel Devereux; and of Major William Balfoure; all which the Lords have thought reasonable, and desire your Concurrence in them.

The humble Petition of Thomas Blackmore, Mayor of Leverpoole, in Behalf of himself and others, was read: And

It is thereupon Resolved, That this House doth agree with the Lords, and give Licence unto Thomas Blackmore, Mayor of Leverpoole, to send the Order, obtained from his Majesty, to the Marquis of Ormond, at Dublyn, for the Re-delivery of his Ship and Goods taken from him by Captain Thomas Bartlett, the said Ship being called the Gift of Leverpoole; and likewise, that the said Thomas Blackmore shall have Licence to freight a Bark with Coals to Dublyn, the better to enable him to recover his said Ship and Goods again.

The Amendment to the Ordinance concerning Papists, and such Irish as have adhered to the Enemy, was read; and was, after the Word "thereof," in the Twelfth Line, to omit all to the End of the Ordinance; and was, upon the Question, assented unto.

The Order concerning the Captives of Argier and Tunis was read; and, upon the Question, passed.

The Report from the Committee of the Admiralty and Cinque-Ports, concerning a Pass for the Earl of Bristoll to go beyond the Seas, was read. And

It is thereupon Resolved, &c. That this House doth agree with the Lords, That it be referred to the Committee of the Admiralty and Cinque-Ports, to grant a Pass unto the Earl of Bristoll to go beyond the Seas, according to the Articles of Exeter.

The Report for Colonel Trevor to go to Carickfergus was read. And

It is thereupon Resolved, &c. That, as to this Report, and to the rest of the Particulars of this Message, this House will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

The Amendments, sent from the Lords, to the Ordinance for the Ten thousand Pounds, out of the Excise, for the Forces in the Counties of Yorke, Northumberland, Cumberland, Westmerland, and Durham, were read; and; upon the Question, passed.

Answer returned by the same Messengers;

The House hath considered your Message: And, as to the Petition of Mr. Blackmore, the Amendment to the Ordinance concerning Papists and Irish, the Order concerning the Captives of Argier and Tunais, and the Pass for the Earl of Bristoll, they do agree: And, as to the rest, they will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Upon Mr. Pierpont's Report from the Committee of Lords and Commons that are of the Committee of both Kingdoms;

It is Resolved, &c. That the Garisons of the Town and Castle of Shrewsbury, and the Castle of Ludlowe, be for the present continued Garisons: And that all the Garisons of Shropshire (except those of Shrewsbury and Ludlowe-Castle) be disgarisoned; and all the Works (except of the Garisons of Shrewsbury and Castle of Ludlowe aforesaid) be slighted: And that all the Forces of the said County be disbanded, except only Four hundred Foot, and Threescore Horse, besides Officers.

Resolved, &c. That the Governor of Shrewesbury shall be Colonel of the Forces of the County of Salop; and shall have Pay as Colonel only, for his Entertainment as Governor and Colonel.

Resolved, &c. That the Governor of Ludlowe-Castle shall be Lieutenant-Colonel of the Forces of the County of Salop, and shall have Pay as Lieutenant-Colonel only, for his Entertainment as Governor of the said Castle, and Lieutenant-Colonel.

Resolved, &c. That an Ordinance be prepared and brought in, to enable Mr. Francis Newport to sell Lands to enable him to pay such Fine as shall be set upon him by the House for his Delinquency: And that it be referred to Mr. Corbett, of Shropshire, to prepare and bring in this Ordinance.

Resolved, &c. That the Forces of the County of Nottingham be reduced to the Number of Three hundred Foot, besides Officers, to be employed for the Security of the Castle of Nottingham, and the Fort at the Bridge there; the House being satisfied, upon the Report, that the Country can maintain no more Foot than the said Number of Three hundred, besides Officers.

Resolved, &c. That the Regiment of Horse be kept up during the Time of the Northern Association: And that the Two supernumerary Troops of Horse be reduced.

Resolved, &c. That Six thousand Pounds be allowed to the County of Nottingham, out of the Compositions of Delinquents of that County, towards Satisfaction of their Debts, for maintaining their Forces, and the better to enable them to reduce their Forces, according to the Report this Day made.

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

Upon a Report from the Committee of the Members of both Houses that are of the Committee of both Kingdoms, upon a Paper delivered into that Committee, from the Committee of the Three Counties;

It is Resolved, &c. That this House doth agree with the Committee; and doth order, That the Garison of Ailesbury be slighted, the Fortifications thereof demolished: And that the Soldiers raised for Defence of the said County or Garison be disbanded, except the Parliament shall think fit to employ the said Soldiers in some other Service.

Resolved, &c. That it be referred to the Members of both Houses that are of the Committee of both Kingdoms, to consider what Number and Strength of Forces will be fit to be kept up and maintained for the Defence and Safety of the Garison of Lynne-Regis, during the Time it shall be thought fit that a Garison be continued there; and whether any Part of the Works may with Safety be slighted; and to settle those Forces in such a Way of Regulation, as may be most for the Ease of the People, and the Safety of the Kingdom.

Ordered, That Sir Edward Baynton, a Member of this House, shall have Leave to go into the Country.

Resolved, &c. That the Garison of Cambridge be slighted.

Resolved, &c. That the Garison of Huntingdon be slighted.

Resolved, &c. That the Garison of Bedford be slighted.

Resolved, &c. That the Garison of Newport-Pagnell be slighted.

Mr. Samuel Browne is appointed to go to the Lords, presently, to desire them to hasten their Answer to the Propositions.

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

The Lords have commanded us to let you know, the French Ambassador hath sent to their Lordships, to acknowledge the good Respect.... hath been given him by the Houses in his Reception; and desires Audience with all convenient Speed: But, because the Forms here are not so well known in France, and he is desirous to avoid all Occasions of Exception or Disgust, he doth offer, that his Credential Letters shall be seen privately by such as the Houses shall appoint: To which End their Lordships have appointed Two of their House; and desire you will appoint a proportionable Number, if you think fit:-To put you in mind of the Earl of Cleveland's Leave to go into the Country; which he now more desires, because the Sickness is in the Tower, very near him; and of the Ordinance for dissolving the Committees in the Country: Both which they desire you to take into Consideration.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth agree with the Lords, to appoint a proportionable Number to join with the Lords, to peruse the French Ambassador's Credential Letters.

Mr. Holles, Sir William Waller, Mr. Nathanael Fiennes, Sir Peter Wentworth, are appointed to join with a proportionable Number of the Lords, to peruse the French Ambassador's Credential Letters.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth agree with the Lords, That the Earl of Cleveland, now Prisoner in the Tower, shall have Liberty to go, upon Bail, into the Country, for Three Weeks; and that he return a Prisoner again to the Tower, at the End of the said Three Weeks.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; That this House hath considered their Lordships Message; and do agree with the Lords; and have appointed a Committee, of a proportionable Number, to go and view the French Ambassador's Credentials, as is desired: That they do agree, That the Earl of Cleveland shall have Liberty to go into the Country for Three Weeks, upon Bail, as is desired: And, as to the rest, they will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

A Letter from Shafton, of 8 Julii 1646, from the Committee of Dorsetshire, representing the great Disorders committed by Soldiers under the Command of ColonelGeneral Massie, was this Day read.

Ordered, &c. That the Commissioners of Excise be injoined forthwith to advance and lend the Residue of the Twenty thousand Pounds appointed for Colonel-General Massie's Forces, and not yet provided.

Mr. Prideaux, Mr. Bond, Mr. Nicholls, Sir John Bampfeild, Mr. Holles, and Mr. John Browne, or any Three of them, are to go to the Commissioners of Excise; and press them for the speedy Advancing and Lending of this Money.

Ordered, &c. That a Declaration be set forth and published, That all such Soldiers, English and Foreigners, as have come out of any of the King's Armies or Garisons, or have borne Arms for the King, and have been entertained into Colonel-General Massie's Brigade since the First Day of January last, shall, within Three Days after Publication thereof in the said Brigade, be disbanded without Pay: And that such of them as shall refuse or neglect to be disbanded, shall be apprehended and taken as Felons: And that all such Persons, of what Quality or Condition soever, that have been entertained into the said Brigade, since the Time that this House did vote the Reducement of the said Brigade, shall likewise, within Three Days after Publication hereof in the said Brigade, be disbanded without Pay.

Ordered, &c. That the several Captains, or other Officers chief of every Troop, that shall continue any of the Persons hereby declared to be disbanded, in their Troops, above Three Days after Publication hereof, shall forfeit and lose his Part of the Pay of his Arrears.

Ordered, &c. That the Twenty thousand Pounds, ordered for Colonel-General Massie's Brigade, be sent down to Sir Thomas Fairefaxe General, to be by him sent to a Place of Rendezvous; and shall be issued out and paid proportionably to the Officers and Soldiers of the said Brigade, upon their Reducement.

Ordered, &c. That such of the Officers of the said Brigade as shall be reduced, and not taken on upon a further Employment, and no others, shall, upon the Stating of their Accompts, be taken into Consideration, to have a proportionable Part of their Arrears paid to them.

Ordered, &c. That Colonel Ceelye's Ordinance be read on Wednesday Morning next.

Resolved, &c. That the Members of this House that serve for the City of London, do acquaint the Lord Mayor, and Common-Council, That the City of London are, together with the whole Kingdom, included in the Propositions to be now sent to the King: And that this House cannot approve of their sending any Petition to the King.

Mr. Nathanael Fyennes, Mr. Prideaux, Mr. Corbett, Sir Jo. Evelyn of Wiltes, Sir Peter Wentworth, Mr. Samuel Browne, Sir Samuel Luke, Colonel Thompson, Mr. Oxenden, Mr. Wallop, Mr. Ludlowe, Sir Gilbert Gerrard, Mr. Boyse, Sir Arthur Haselrige, Sir Thomas Wroth, Mr. Nath. Stephens, Sir John Coke, Mr. Scott, Mr. Reynolds, Sir Edward Aiscough, Mr. Francis Allen, Mr. Rous, Mr. Challenor, Lieutenant-General Cromwell, Mr. Blague, Mr. Palmer, Mr. Sydenham, Mr. Jesson, Mr. Sollicitor, Mr. Maynard, Mr. Alderman Pennington, Sir Wm. Allenson, Mr. Baynton, Sir John Bampfeild, Mr. Fleetwood, Mr. Gott, Mr. Ball, Mr. Gourdon, Mr. Vassall, Mr. Bunkley, Mr. Morley, Sir Henry Mildmay, Mr. Scawen, Mr. John Corbett, Colonel Massie, Sir John Temple;

This Committee are to inquire concerning the first and principal Contrivers and Framers of the City Remonstrance, and concerning such as have or do labour to disaffect the People and the City from the Parliament: And are to meet upon it upon Wednesday next, at Two of the Clock in the Afternoon, in the Court of Wards: And have Power to send for Parties, Papers, Witnesses, and Records.

Mr. Bunkley, Mr. Morley, Mr. Maynard, Mr. Oxenden, Sir Arthur Heselrigg, Mr. Shuttleworth, Mr. Prideaux, Sir Edw. Hungerford, Mr. Wm. Hay, Mr. Broxholme, Mr. Henry Smith, Mr. Baynton, Mr. Armyn, Mr. Walker, Sir Wm. Waller, Sir John Francklyn, Sir Peter Wentworth, Sir Simonds D'Ewes, Mr. Gourdon, Mr. Maynard, Mr. Samuel Browne, Mr. Robinson, Mr. Gott, Sir Thomas Wroth, Mr. Holles, Mr. Nicholls, Mr. Aiscoughe, Sir Gilbert Gerrard, Mr. Strode, Mr. Ravenscrofte, Mr. Blakiston, Mr. Hunt, Mr. Sydenham, Mr. Francis Allen, Sir John Coke, Mr. Martyn, Mr. John Corbett, Sir Wm. Allenson, Sir Walter Erle, Mr. Reynolds;

This Committee are to examine and find out the Author, Printer, and Publishers, of a scandalous Pamphlet, intituled, "A Remonstrance of many thousand Citizens, and other free-born People of England, &c.:" And are to meet upon it on Wednesday next, at Two of Clock in the Afternoon, in the Exchequer-Chamber: And have Power to send for Parties, Papers, Witnesses, and Records.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee where Mr. Whitelock hath the Chair, formerly appointed to consider of the Privilege of the Commons of England, to examine and find out the Author, Printer, and Publishers, of Two scandalous Pamphlets, informed to be Lieutenant-Colonel Lilbourne's; the Names of which said Books were, as is informed, mistaken in the Order of the Third of this instant July, and are now in the Hands of Mr. Gott.

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

Ordered, &c. That the Committee appointed to examine the Affront, informed to be done to Mr. Bossevile, a Member of this House, by one Meisey and one Sheppard, who are Prisoners in the Gatehouse, shall have Power to release them, if they shall see Cause.

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

The Lords have commanded us to let you know, That they have agreed to the Fifteenth Proposition, as you sent it up at first, and as they received it Yesterday at the Conference: That they have appointed some of their Members that are of the Committee of both Kingdoms, and desire you will appoint some of yours, to acquaint the Scotts Commissioners with it; and to let them know, that they have appointed Two of their House, and you Four of yours, to carry them to the King; that the Scotts Commissioners may appoint some for Them to accompany them, if they think fit; and that they are to go hence on Monday next: To which they desire your Concurrence: And also to bring you this Letter, from the Scotts Commissioners; which they have thought fit to communicate unto you.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth agree with the Lords, That some of the Members of this House that are of the Committee of both Kingdoms, do join with some of the Members of the House of Peers, of the said Committee, to communicate the Fifteenth Proposition to the Scotts Commissioners; and to let them know, that Two of the Members of the House of Peers, and Four of the Members of this House, are appointed to go with them to the King; that they may appoint some of their Number to accompany them, as they shall think fit.

The Letter from the Scotts Commissioners was from Worcester-House, of 11 Julii 1646; and was read.

Resolved, &c. That the Day of Thanksgiving for the Taking in and Reducing of Oxford be put off and deferred until Tuesday come Sevennight: And that Colonel Venne and Mr. Vassall do acquaint the Lord Mayor with this Order; and to desire him, that Notice hereof may be given in the several Churches within the Cities of London and Westminster, and Lines of Communication.

Answer returned by the same Messengers;

The House has considered your Lordships Message; and do agree, That the Members of this House that are of the Committee of both Kingdoms, do join with the Lords of that Committee, to communicate the Fifteenth Proposition to the Scotts Commissioners; and to acquaint them, that there are Four of the Members of this House, and Two of the Members of the House of Peers, appointed to go with them to the King: And, as to the rest, they will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Resolved, &c. That this House be adjourned till Tuesday Morning at Eight of the Clock.

It is Ordered, by the Lords and Commons, assembled in Parliament, That Edmund Cason Esquire be sent as Agent to Argier, with the Ship and Goods prepared for the Redemption of the Captives in Argier and Tunis, and Renewing of the ancient Peace with them.

And it is further Ordered, That the Committee of the Foreign Affairs do draw up Letters Credential, Commission, Instructions, and all other Documents fit for him: Which the Speakers of both Houses are, upon Presentation of the same unto them, to subscribe: And the said Letters are to be sealed up with the Seal of the Admiralty-Court; whereof the Officers, whom it may concern, are to take notice, and observe accordingly.