House of Commons Journal Volume 4: 24 September 1646

Die Jovis, 24 Septembris, 1646.

Prayers.

Ordered, That, upon Wednesday next, being the monthly Fast-Day, there shall be a Collection within the several Churches and Chapels within the Cities of London and Westminster, the Liberties of the said Cities, and other Parishes within the Lines of Communication, and weekly Bills of Mortality: And that all such Monies, as shall be then collected in the several Parishes within the said City of London, and Liberties thereof, shall be employed for the Relief of the poor visited and infected Persons of the said several Parishes, and disposed of by the Order and Directions of the Lord Mayor and Aldermen of the said City: And that all such Monies, as shall be then collected in the several Parishes within the City of Westminster, and Liberties thereof, and other Out-Parishes within the Lines of Communication, and weekly Bills of Mortality, shall be employed for the Relief of the poor visited and infected Persons of the said Parishes; and shall be disposed of by the Order and Directions of the Justices of the Peace within the said City of Westminster, and Liberties thereof, and other Out Parishes.

Ordered, That, notwithstanding the Order for Employment and Disposal of the Monies to be collected on Wednesday next, being the monthly Fast-Day, for the Relief of poor visited and infected Persons, One full Moiety of all such Monies, as shall be then collected within the Parishes of Margarett's Westminster, and Martin's in the Fields, shall be employed for the Relief of the Poor, in general, of the said Two Parishes respectively; the other Moiety to be employed according to the former Order.

An Ordinance for settling the Affairs, and Military Forces, of the County of Chester, and of the City of Chester, and County of the same, was this Day read the Second time; and, upon the Question, committed unto Mr. Walter Long, Mr. Ashurst, Sir Gilbert Gerard, Mr. Wheeler, Mr. Swinfen, Mr. Recorder, Sir William Brereton, Sir William Lewes, Mr. Baynton, Mr. Pury, Mr. White, Sir John D'Anvers, Sir Walter Erle, Mr. John Crewe, Sir Robert Harley, Mr. Prideaux, Mr. Gerard, Mr. Liegh, Mr. Clive, Mr. Harvey, Mr. Massie, Mr. Wm. Pierpont, Mr. Boys, Mr. Robert Goodwyn, Mr. Charleton: And the Committee formerly appointed for Cheshire, and the Gentlemen of North Wales, are added to this Committee: And are to meet upon it at Two of the Clock in the Afternoon, in the Exchequer-Chamber: And are to consider of the speedy Disbanding of their Forces, and of the Preservation of the City of Chester, and of the County, for the best Safety of the Kingdom, and at the least Charge that may be: And are to consider of, and present the Names of, sitting Persons, in whom the Places for Administration of Justice may be placed, for the Filling up of the Blanks that are now in the Ordinance.

Resolved, &c. That the Sum of Twelve thousand Pounds be allowed unto the County of Chester, out of the Fines and Compositions of the Delinquents Estates of that County; to be employed, by the Order and Directions of the Committee of the said County, for the present Disbanding of their Forces, and Discharge of their Engagements; and paid by the Committee at Goldsmiths-Hall unto Mr. James Croxton, or his Assignee: Whose Acquittance or Acquittances shall be a sufficient Warrant and Discharge unto the Committee and Treasurers at Goldsmiths-Hall, for the Payment of the said Twelve thousand Pounds accordingly.

An Ordinance for appointing and constituting the Speakers of both Houses Chamberlain of the County-Palatine of Chester, formerly sent from the Lords, was this Day read the Second time; and was in hæc verba; viz. "The Lords and Commons, assembled in Parliament, taking into Consideration how much the Inhabitants within the County-Palatine of Chester do suffer for want of a Chamberlain, do therefore Ordain, and be it Ordained, by the said Lords and Commons, That the Speakers of both Houses of Parliament be Chamberlain of the said County-Palatine of Chester, until the Houses take further Order therein;" and was, upon the Question, passed.

Ordered, That the Ordinance for settling and regulateing the University of Oxford be read To-morrow Morning, the first Business.

The Question was propounded, Whether it should be referred to the Gentlemen of the County of Wiltes, to consider of a Sum of Monies for the present Disbanding of the Forces of that County; and to bring in an Ordinance for the Raising of the same out of the Fines and Compositions of the Delinquents of the said County:

And the Question being put, Whether this Question should be now put;

The House was divided.
The Noes went forth.

So as the Question passed with the Negative.

Ordered, That the Letters, and other Businesses, concerning Herefordshire, be taken into Consideration on this Day Sevennight.

A Message from the Lords, by Doctor Aylett and Doctor Heath;

The Lords have commanded us to acquaint you, That the Lords agree to the Votes, as they were brought up on Tuesday the Two-and-twentieth of September last: And have appointed a Committee of Fourteen, to confer, consult, and debate, with the Commissioners of Scotland, concerning the Disposal of the Person of the King: And desire, That the House of Commons will appoint a proportionable Number of their House, to meet with the Committee in the Painted Chamber, at what Time it shall be desired by the Scotts Commissioners: And this to be communicated to the Scotts Commissioners by the Members of the Committee of both Kingdoms. They have sent you this Petition of the Earl of Portland's; with the Lords Sense upon it, in this Paper: Which they especially recommend to your Consideration. The Lords have thought fit, upon the Request of the Spanish Ambassador, to appoint the Committee of Foreign Affairs to give the said Ambassador a Meeting, at Three of the Clock this Day, at Sir Abraham Williams' House; to receive what he hath to deliver. They have sent you the Ambassador's Letter: This Report from the Committee of the Admiralty, concerning Dover Harbour: It is of great Consequence for the Safety of the Kingdom: And therefore they desire there may be speedy Care taken of it. They have commanded us to put you in mind of the Ordinance for the Great Seal; of a Pass for Six Horses, for the Princess of Orange; and of a Pass for Six Horses, for Monsieur Dorembergh.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth agree with the Lords in appointing a Committee, to meet with a Committee of a proportionable Number of the Lords, to confer, consult, and debate, with the Commissioners of Scotland, touching the Disposal of the King's Person.

Resolved, That these Words, "according to the Votes of both Houses," be added: And that the Words "at what Time shall be desired by the Scotts Commissioners" be altered into these Words, "if it shall be desired by the Scotts Commissioners."

Mr. Pierepoint, Mr. Fienis, Mr. Holles, Mr. Morley, Mr. Crew, Sir John Evelyn of Wiltes, Lieutenant-General Cromwell, Sir Wm. Lewes, Sir Phil. Stapilton, Mr. Sollicitor, Mr. Selden, Sir Thomas Widdrington, Mr. Grimston, Mr. Boys, Mr. Wallop, Sir Henry Vane senior, Mr. Ashhurst, Sir Wm. Armyn, Lord Lisle, Sir Robert Harley, Sir Gilbert Gerard, Mr. Recorder, Sir Samuel Rolle, Lord Fairfax, Mr. Robert Goodwyn, Sir Wm. Allenson, Sir Henry Vane junior, Mr. Rous;

This Committee is appointed to meet with a Committee of a proportionable Number of the Lords, in the Painted Chamber, to confer, consult, and debate, with the Commissioners of Scotland, concerning the Disposal of the Person of the King, according to the Votes of both Houses, if it shall be desired by the Scotts Commissioners: And this to be communicated to the Scotts Commissioners by the Members of both Houses of the Committee of both Kingdoms.

Sir Wm. Lewes is appointed to acquaint the Lords with the Agreement of this House to this Part of their Message, with these Alterations.

The Letter from Don Alonso de Cardemas, Ambassador to the King of Spaine, desiring speedy Audience, to communicate Business of great Importance to the Parliament, was read: And

It is Ordered, That this House doth agree with the Lords, That, upon the Request of the Spanish Ambassador That the Committee of Foreign Affairs do give the said Ambassador a Meeting, at Three of Clock this Afternoon, at Sir Abraham Williams' House, to receive what he hath to deliver.

A Letter from Mr. Bois, Lieutenant of Dover-Castle, of the Twentieth of September 1646, concerning Two great Breaches in the Harbour of Dover; and the Report, concerning the same, from the Committee of the Admiralty and Cinque-Ports; were this Day read: And

It is thereupon Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of the Navy, to take special Care of the Repair of the Breaches of Dover Harbour; and to provide Monies, not exceeding the Sum of One thousand Pounds, for the Repair thereof, and Securing of the said Harbour.

And it is further Ordered, That whatsoever Monies shall be disbursed by the said Committee for this Service, not exceeding the said Sum of One thousand Pounds, shall be reimbursed and paid to them, out of the Fine or Composition of Sir Wm. Campion, of Camwell in the County of Kent.

Ordered, That the House do take into Consideration the Business concerning the Disposal of the Great Seal of England, and the Regulation of the Chancery, and likewise the Ordinance, sent from the Lords, concerning the Disposal of the Great Seal, upon Thursday Morning next, the first Business: And that Mr. Speaker do put the House in mind hereof.

The humble Petition of the Earl of Portland, this Day sent from the Lords, and the Lords Sense upon it, were this Day read.

Resolved, &c. That the Earl of Portland be referred, for his Composition, for his Delinquency, to the Committee of Goldsmiths-Hall.

The Question being propounded, For agreeing with the Lords in the Pass for Six Horses, for Monsieur de Harambure;

The Question was put, That his Question should be now put:

The House was divided.
The Noes went forth.

So the Question passed with the Negative.

Ordered, That there be a Restraint from Transporting of Horses out of the King's Dominions: And that this House will grant no Pass for Transporting of any Horses out of the King's Dominions into any the Parts beyond the Seas, during the Space of Six Months: And the Committee of the Navy are to take especial Care, that this Order be duly observed in all the Ports of this Kingdom, and of the Dominion of Wales.

Answer returned by the same Messengers;

The House has considered their Lordships Message: And, as to the meeting with the Spanish Ambassador this Afternoon, they do agree: They have taken the Repair of the Harbour of Dover into Consideration: And, as to the rest, they will send Answer by Messengers of their own.