House of Commons Journal Volume 4: 5 March 1645

Die Mercurii, Martii 5, 1644.

Prayers.

AN Ordinance for settling the new Commissioners of the Customs in the Collection of the Customs, and securing them Fifty thousand Pounds, advanced by them, was this Day read the Second time; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence: And to be carried up by Mr. Green.

He likewise carried the Order for the Pay of Fifty Pounds, out of Haberdashers-Hall, to the Committee of the West, for the Messengers employed out of the West.

Whereas Mr. Harris was, by Order of both Houses, desired to preach before both Houses, at Christ's-Church, on Wednesday next, being a Day set apart for a Day of Publick Thanksgiving; and hath excused himself, by reason of his old Age, and the Lowness of his Voice: It is Resolved, &c. That Mr. Vine be desired to supply his Turn, and to preach on Wednesday next, the Day of Publick Thanksgiving.

Sir Walt. Erle is to desire the Lords Concurrence herein.

Upon Sir Hen. Vane's Report from the Committee of the Revenue;

It is Resolved, &c. That this House doth allow of, and confirm the Allowance of, Two hundred Pounds per Annum, to be paid by the Committee of the Revenue, to Mr. Wm. Cowper, appointed Chaplain to the Queen of Bohemia, during the Time that he shall continue in this Service.

Resolved, &c. That the Committee of the King's Revenue shall pay unto the Queen of Bohemia the Two thousand Pounds per Annum, granted unto her by Pension, with the Arrears thereof, at such Times, and in such Proportions, as may stand with the great Occasions of the Commonwealth.

Resolved, &c. That the Allowance of Fifteen hundred Pounds per mensem, granted unto the Queen of Bohemia for the Expence of herself and Children, be referred to the Committee lately appointed for the Prince Elector; to consider how, and what Proportion of the said Allowance may be made unto her; and to report their Opinions to the House: And Mr. Strode and Mr. Hill are added to this Committee. And it is further referred to this Committee, to consider of the assigning some Delinquents Estates, Lords or others, towards the Maintenance of the Queen of Bohemia, and the Prince Elector, that the Commonwealth may thereby be eased.

Resolved, &c. That Mr. Love, Minister, formerly sent for in safe Custody by Order of this House, be forthwith discharged from any further Restraint; there having nothing been laid to his Charge since his Restraint.

Ordered, That Mr. Scawen do, to To-morrow Morning, make Report of the Business concerning the Waggoners.

Resolved, &c. That a Declaration be forthwith prepared, promising Pardon to the mutinying Soldiers, if they shall come in within a Time limited.

Mr. Pierrepont, Mr. Whitelock, and Sir Hen. Vane junior, are appointed to withdraw, and to prepare this Declaration.

Resolved, &c. That it be referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms, to raise such a Force that may be able to force the Soldiers that have mutinied to their Duty, if they shall not come in within the Time limited by the Declaration: And if they shall come in, and conform themselves to such Orders and Directions, and to such Officers as shall be put over them by Authority of Parliament, according as it is expressed in the said Declaration, to put them into Service.

Mr. Lisle is appointed to go to the Lords, to desire them to expedite the List of the Officers; and to send the Names to this House of such Officers as they have, or shall concurr in, from time to time, as they shall so agree them.

An Ordinance concerning the Signing of Bills upon the Granting of Wardships, and compounding for them, was this Day read the First and Second time; and, upon the Question, committed unto Mr. Grimston, Mr. Maynard, Mr. Morley, Mr. Pelham, Mr. Prideaux, Sir Edw. Partheriche, Sir Tho. Widdrington, Mr. Lane, Mr. Cage, Mr. Ellys, Sir Dud. North, Mr. Tate, Mr. Rolle, Sir Anth. Irby, Mr. Strode, Mr. Corbett, Mr. Reynolds, Sir Jo. Corbett, Sir Jo. Potts, Mr. Smythe, Sir Hen. Mild may, Mr. Selden, Mr. Scawen, Sir Jo. Coke, Mr. Rigby, Mr. Theloall, Sir Hen. Vane Senior, Mr. Wheeler, Mr. Serjeant Wilde, Mr. Whitelock: And are to meet Tomorrow at Two of Clock, in the Exchequer-Chamber: And the Care of it is especially referred to Mr. Maynard: And they have Power to send for Parties, Witnesses, Papers, Records; and to consider of the Fees of the Officers of the Court of Wards; and of the Information given into the House concerning the Wardship of one Mr. Shelly of Sussex.

Ordered, That Mr. Ellis and Mr. Serjeant Wilde do, on Monday next, bring in the Ordinance for taking away the Court of Wards.

Mr. Lisle brings Answer, That the Lords will take his Message into present Consideration; and send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Mr. Green brings Answer, That the Lords do agree to the Ordinance for Two thousand Pounds for my Lord General's Foot; to the Ordinance for Fifty Pounds for the Messengers employed out of the West; to the Ordinance for securing the Monies advanced by Mr. Sam. Avery, and the rest of the new Commissioners of the Customs; and for settling their Salary, &c.

A Declaration, promising Pardon to the Mutineer Soldiers, was read the First and Second time; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence by Mr. Whitelock. He is likewise to desire the Lords, that, upon their Concurrence in this Ordinance, that it may be sent unto the mutinous Soldiers by an Express from both Houses.

Mr. Pelham went up to the Lords, to desire them to sit awhile, in regard this House shall have Occasion to come unto them upon Business of great Importance.

Mr. Tate reported, from the Assembly, some few Alterations, desired by the Assembly of Scotland, to be made in the Directory for Publick Worship: The which were read; and, upon the Question, assented unto; and carried to the Lords, for their Concurrence, by Mr. Tate.

Mr. Pelham brings Answer, That the Lords will sit awhile, as is desired.

Mr. Scawen reports, from the Committee, the List of the Train of Artillery: The which was read; and, upon the Question, assented unto.

Ordered, That, notwithstanding any former Order, the Chaplains employed in this Army, upon the new Model, shall have the full Allowance as formerly, during the Time of their Employment.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee at Goldsmiths-Hall be proceeded in, and taken into further Consideration To-morrow Morning.

Ordered, That the Committee of the Associated Counties, joined by former Order to the Committee for the Army upon the new Model, be injoined to meet this Afternoon, and so from time to time; that the Business lying upon that Committee, which is of so great Importance, may receive Dispatch.

The humble Petition of Major Gilb. Carr was this Day read: And

It is Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of the West, to consider of it, to examine the State of his Arrears, and to report to the House some Way for furnishing him with some convenient Sum of Money for his present Subsistence and Relief, to be allowed out of his Arrears.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of the West, to consider the Petition of sundry Officers of the Scottish Nation, whose Names are subscribed; and to report their Opinions to the House upon it.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of the West, to consider of the Condition of the Soldiers that were formerly Prisoners in Cornewall, and are come to Kingston upon Thames; and to take some Course for providing Two hundred Suits of Cloaths for them, and a Fortnight's Pay.

Mr. Whitelock brings Answer, That the Lords do agree to the Declaration concerning the Mutineers.

Ordered, That such of the Prisoners as are aboard the Hector, whereof Captain Bedle is Master, sent from Newcastle, and are sick, and unfit to come by Sea, be delivered over to the Bailiffs of Ipswich; to be kept in Restraint, and safe Custody: And Mr. Cage is desired to write to the Bailiffs of Ipswich to send the said Prisoners up by Land to the Parliament, as soon as they are in a Condition to come by Land.

Ordered, That Sir Samuel Luke, Governor of NewportPagnell, do send forth his Warrants for Carts, Men, and Work-horses, to require them to come and assist in the Making and Repairing of the Works there; provided they be allowed and paid the ordinary Wages for their Service.

Ordered, That the Lieutenant of the Ordnance, and Clerks of the Stores, do forthwith deliver Forty Pair of Pistols, Twenty Carbines, and Thirty Saddles, to Sir Samuel Luke, for Captain Ennis his Troop.

THE Lords and Commons, assembled in Parliament, taking Notice that divers inferior Officers and Soldiers of Horse, raised by their Authority, have lately been, and still are, in Disorder and Mutiny, refusing to obey Command, which, in the Example to others, may be of great Danger to the Publick, and, by the Discipline and Rules of War published, is to be punished with Death: Nevertheless, the Lords and Commons, having had Experience of the Dutifulness and good Service heretofore performed by these Officers and Soldiers (of the Fruit and Reward whereof they are most unwilling these Officers and Soldiers should make themselves incapable), do therefore hereby Declare, That if these Officers and Soldiers, or any of them, do, before the Fifteenth Day of this Instant March, return to their Duty, and shall obey the Commands of their Officers, according to the Discipline of War, and observe such Orders and Directions as they shall receive from the Two Houses of Parliament, or the Committee of both Kingdoms, and, from the Time of their having Notice of this Declaration, shall forbear any Plundering or Violence upon the Country under the Protection of the Parliament, that then they shall be, and they are hereby, fully pardoned and acquitted of this Mutiny and Disorder. And the Lords and Commons do further Declare their Pleasure to be, That they shall forthwith be taken into the like Care for Pay, and all fitting Accommodations with the other Officers and Soldiers in their Service: But if, after the Day herein appointed for their Return to their Duty, they shall still continue in Mutiny and Disorder, and not submit to the Mercy hereby offered, they shall then be proceeded against as Traytors and Enemies to the Commonwealth; and are to expect the severe Punishment due to their Demerits.