House of Commons Journal Volume 4: 1 March 1645

Die Sabbati, Martii primo, 1644.

Prayers.

AN Ordinance for reimbursing the Commissioners of Excise Four thousand Pounds, advanced and lent by them to Sir Walt. Erle, Lieutenant of the Ordnance, for furnishing the publick Stores with Ammunition, was read; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

An Ordinance for reimbursing the Commissioners of Excise Five hundred Ninety-two Pounds Ten Shillings, advanced and lent by them, for providing and furnishing One hundred Barrels of Powder, and Ten Ton of Match, sent to Hull, for the Service of the Lord Fairefaxe, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

Mr. Grymston reports the Amendments to the Ordinance for putting the County of Essex into a Posture of Defence, and for paying their Adjute-Officers: The which were assented unto; and the Ordinance, with the Amendments, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence: And appointed to be carried up by Mr. Grimston.

A Letter from Captain Batten, from aboard his Majesty's Ship The Reformation, in Weymouth Road, of Feb' 25, 1644, and from the Governor to Captain Batten, and from Captain Pett to Captain Batten, relating the good Condition of the Town of Melcombe; and likewise a Letter from Sir Wm. Waller, from Wickam, of Februar' 27; were all this Day read.

Ordered, That the Committee of the Navy do take care, and give Order, that a Month's Provision of Victuals may be forthwith sent to Captain Batten, and the Ships with him, in Portland Road.

Ordered, That the whole Business of the West, together with Sir Wm. Waller's Letter of the Twenty-seventh of February, be referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms; with special Care to observe the Motions of Colonel Goring, as they shall see Cause.

Ordered, That Mr. Nicoll and Mr. Trenchard do sollicit the Commissioners of Excise for the Two thousand Pounds formerly appointed for Sir Wm. Waller's Forces: And that Mr. Trenchard do take care for the Sending down of the said Two thousand Pounds.

Upon Sir Tho. Fairefaxe his Letter of the First of March, 1644;

It is Resolved, &c. That this House doth approve of Major Harrison to be Major of Colonel Flectewood's Regiment; and Captain Le Hunt to be one of the Captains of Colonel Fleetewood's Regiment.

Ordered, That the Letter from the Garison at Malmesbury, received this Day, be referred to the Consideration of the Committee of both Kingdoms.

Memorandum, The Letter was delivered to Sir Hen. Vane senior; and not read.

The Question being put, Whether this House would approve Colonel Riche to be Colonel;

It passed with the Negative.

Upon Sir Tho. Fairefaxe his Nomination;

It is Resolved, &c. That this House doth approve of Captain John Reynolds.

Resolved, &c. That the Consideration of the Dragoons in a Regiment be referred back to Sir Tho. Fairefaxe.

Upon Sir Tho. Fairefaxe his Nomination;

It is Resolved, &c. That this House doth approve of Colonel Rainsborough.

Resolved, &c. That Thomas Simcott, a Soldier, who killed a Man going over the Works, and is now upon his Tryal at the Sessions at Newgate, be referred to be tried by a Council of War: And that his Tryal at the Common Law be stayed: And the Justices and others, whom it may concern, are required to forbear to proceed to the Tryal of the said Tho. Simcott at the Sessions.

Resolved, &c. That Colonel Davies be from this House recommended to the Committee of the West, to have some Employment worthy of him.

Resolved, &c. That the Information, this Day given to the House, of a Paper given to the Militia concerning Sir Philip Stapilton, be referred to the Examination of the Committee for Examinations, to take the whole Business into Consideration with all Speed.

Ordered, That, on Monday next, Mr. Rose be demanded, Where he had that Information he gave to the Committee of Examinations, concerning a List that was seen in the Prison of the Compter in Southwarke, with the Names of divers Members of the House.

A Letter from Sir Wm. Balfour, from Beckonsfield, of Februar. 28, 1644, directed to my Lord General, concerning the mutinying Troops there, and their Demand of a Month's Pay, was this Day read: And

It is Ordered, That it be referred to the Consideration of the Committee of both Kingdoms.

Resolved, &c. That Sir Tho. Soame, and the Lieutenant of the Tower, do desire the Lord Mayor of the City of London to call a Common-Council, to meet on Tuesday next, at Two of Clock.

Resolved, &c. That a Declaration be prepared and published upon the Proceedings of the Treaty: And that it be referred to the Commissioners of both Houses, employed upon the Treaty, to prepare the same; and to have Power to meet with the Scotts Commissioners, and to advise with them herein.

The Lords be desired to concurr herein.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Commissioners of both Houses that were employed upon the Treaty, to prepare Heads to be offered to the Common-Council for the Borrowing of Monies: And that they do consider of Security to be tendered to the City for the same: And that, among other Propositions, they shall have Power to propound to the City, That they shall nominate the Treasurers for receiving the Monies upon the Ordinance for raising Forces to be under the Command of Sir Tho. Fairefaxe.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

WHereas John Towse Esquire, Alderman of the City of London, and the rest of the Commissioners of Excise or New Impost, have advanced and lent the Sum of Five hundred and Ninety-two Pounds Ten Shillings, for the Provision of One hundred Barrels of Powder, and Ten Ton of Match, to be sent to Hull, for the Use of the Lord Fairfax: Be it Ordained, by the Lords and Commons, in Parliament assembled, That the said Commissioners of Excise shall and may satisfy and reimburse themselves the said Five hundred and Ninety-two Pounds Ten Shillings, together with Interest for the same, after the Rate of Eight Pounds per Cent. for so long time as the same, or any Part thereof, shall be forborn, out of such Intervals of Receipts coming in upon the Office of Excise as shall happen when other Payments shall not fall due; or, for want of such Intervals, then as the Reimbursement thereof shall follow in Course: And shall not, by any other Order or Ordinance of one or both Houses of Parliament, be debarred from satisfying themselves, accordingly: And the Receipt of Bartholomew Wormell shall be a sufficient Discharge for the said Five hundred and Ninety-two Pounds Ten Shillings to the said Commissioners in that Behalf.

WHereas, by Ordinance of both Houses of Parliament, of the Seventh of December, 1644, Six thousand Pounds was ordained to be raised and paid out of the Excise or New Impost, for furnishing the publick Stores with Gunpowder, Ammunition, Match, and Bullet, as therein is expressed; of which Six thousand Pounds, John Towse Esquire, Alderman of the City of London, and the rest of the Commissioners of Excise and New Impost, did advance and pay unto Sir Walter Erle Knight, Lieutenant of the Ordnance, the Sum of Two thousand Pounds, according to a later Declaratory Ordinance, of the Twelsth of December last; in which later Ordinance, Four thousand Pounds is ordained to be paid to the said Sir Walter Erle in Course, after the former Payments then assigned, as thereby appeareth: And whereas the said Commissioners, for Supply of the pressing Necessities of the Kingdom, have now advanced and lent the said Four thousand Pounds, the Residue of the Six thousand Pounds: Be it Ordained, by the Lords and Commons, in Parliament, That the said Commissioners of Excise shall and may satisfy themselves the said Four thousand Pounds now advanced, in the place and stead, and in the time when the same should have been payable by the said Ordinance of the Twelfth of December 1644, unto the said Sir Walter Erle, together with Interest for the same, after the Rate of Eight Pounds per Cent. for so long Time as the same, or any Part thereof, shall be forborne, as the same shall fall due in Course: And shall not, by any other Order or Ordinance of one or both Houses of Parliament, be secluded from satisfying themselves, accordingly: And that the said Commissioners shall pay the said Four thousand Pounds to the said Sir Walter Erle; whose Receipt shall be their sufficient Discharge in that Behalf.