House of Commons Journal Volume 4: 17 March 1645

Die Lunæ, Martii 17, 1644.

Prayers.

Ordered, That Mr. Whitelock and Mr. Winwood do forthwith repair unto my Lord General; and acquaint him with the Murder committed upon a Countryman of Buckinghamshire by one Captain Smythe of Colonel Martin's Regiment; and to desire his Excellency, that he would take some Course, that he may be forthwith brought up in safe Custody, to receive condign Punishment.

A Letter from the Committee at Namptwiche, of March 13, 1644, was this Day read: And

It is Ordered, That the Letter from the Committee at Namptwich, of March 13, 1644, be referred to the Consideration of the Committee of both Kingdoms; with a special Recommendation from this House, that the Scotts Commissioners be desired, that some speedy Orders may be taken, that the Party of Scotts Foot and Dragoons, that are now in Yorkeshire, or thereabouts, may be dispatched to the Relief of the Parts of Cheshire, and thereabouts.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms, to consider what Supply of Monies is fit to be sent to the Yorkeshire Horse, and the other Forces under Sir William Brereton, in the Parts of Cheshire, and thereabouts, for the Encouragement of those Forces at this Conjuncture of Time.

A Letter from the Committee at Manchester, of March the 6, 1644, was this Day read: And

It is Ordered, That it be referred to the Gentlemen of this House, of Lancashire and Yorkeshire, to consider of some Means for Supply of those Forces with Monies and Arms; and to report it to the House.

And it is Ordered, That the Lieutenant of the Tower do make his Propositions, for the Advantage of the Forces of Lancashire, to the Committee of both Kingdoms.

Ordered, That the Ordinance concerning Newcastle be reported To-morrow Morning; and likewise the Report in Mr. Green's Hand, concerning the Coasters and CoalTraders.

A Letter from Sir Wm. Waller, of the Thirteenth of March, was read; informing the House of the Defeat of Colonel Long's Forces in Wiltshire, about the Lavingtons; and of the Taking of the Colonel Prisoner; and some Three hundred more Prisoners; and above Three hundred and Forty Horse; was this Day read. And

It is Resolved, &c. That this House doth approve of the Exchange of Colonel Long, Prisoner to the Parliament, for Colonel Stephens, Prisoner to the King's Forces: And that Sir Arthur Hesilrig do write to Sir Wm. Waller, to acquaint him with the Order of this House concerning this Exchange.

Ordered, That the humble Petition of the Inhabitants of the City and County of the City of Gloucester, and of the Parts adjacent of the County of Gloucester, be referred to the Consideration of the Committee of both Kingdoms.

Mr. Prideaux reports the Conference with the Lords concerning the List of the new Model:

That the Earl of Denbigh acquainted them, That the Lords desired to expedite the List of the new Model; and had therefore desired this Conference: And had communicated the Matter of the Conference, in Writing.

The which was read at the Conference, and likewise here.

The Lords do adhere to their Exceptions against such Persons nominated by Sir Thomas Fairefaxe in this List to be Officers in the new Model of the Army, against whom they did formerly except: And in regard, by the Ordinance of Parliament concerning the Raising of this new Army, the Approving or Disapproving of such as Sir Thomas Fairefaxe shall nominate, have left free to the Houses of Parliament, they conceive, that, as far as this Power is left to them, they have discharged their Duty, by their excepting against those Persons left out in this List: And This they have done with due Regard to the Defence and Safety of the Kingdom. They further conceive, it may prove very inconvenient to declare and publish the Grounds and Reasons of their Votes and Resolutions in Things personal; which may tend much to the Nourishing of Difference, and to the Protracting of Time: And they hold it necessary to be the more circumspect at this time in their Approbation of such Officers as shall be employed in this Army; because this Army is intended to be the cheif visible Strength, upon which we are to rely for the Safety of the Parliament, and the Kingdom. The Lords do wave their former Recommendation to Sir Thomas Fairefax; to leave it to him to nominate Persons, in the place of those whom they have excepted.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth adhere to the Officers of the List of the new Model, as they were approved of by this House.

Ordered, &c. That the Managers of the last Conference concerning the new List be appointed, with the Addition of Sir Arth. Haselrigg, Mr. Recorder, Mr. Samuel Browne, Sir Peter Wentworth, to prepare Reasons for the adhering to the Officers approved of by this House, to be delivered at a free Conference: Which is Ordered to be desired upon this Business.

Ordered, &c. That the Lieutenant of the Ordnance do furnish a Ton of Match, and a Thousand Bandaleers, for the Garison of Henley; to be disposed of by the Warrant of the Committee of both Kingdoms.

Resolved, &c. That the Officers of the Companies of Sir Tho. Fairefaxe's Army, to be recruited, shall have a Fortnight's Pay, as well as the Soldiers.

Ordered, &c. That the Committee of both Kingdoms do give their Warrants and Directions for the present Payment and Sending the Thousand Pounds to Abington.

Ordered, &c. That the Report from the Committee of both Kingdoms, concerning Farneham Castle, be made on Wednesday Morning next.

Ordered, &c. That Mr. Corbett and Mr. Nicoll do desire Serjeant-Major-General Skippon to go down to Reddinge to the Army, with all the convenient Speed his Occasions will permit.

Ordered, &c. That the humble Petition of the Committee for the Isle of Elye be referred to the Consideration of the Committee for the Earl of Manchester's Association, together with the Members of those Counties, that are charged with Payments to Newport-Pagnall; to report their Opinions upon the whole Petition to the House: And have Power to send for Parties, Witnesses, Papers, &c.

Ordered, &c. That the humble Petition of George Devereux Esquire, reported from the Committee of both Kingdoms, be re-committed to the same Committee; to examine the Matter of Fact; and to present their Opinions to the House.

Ordered, &c. That the Remonstrance of the Committee of Adventurers for Ireland, concerning Sir Frederick Hamilton, with the Papers annexed, be re-committed to the Committee of both Kingdoms; to take them, and likewise the Petition in Mr. Vassall's Hand, concerning Londonderry, into speedy Consideration; and to bring a Report in to the House; with an Opinion, What is fit to be done upon the Whole.

Ordered, &c. That it be referred to the Committee of Examinations, to examine the Matter of Fact concerning the Carriage of Captain Poe, upon his Apprehension, upon a Warrant of this House; and to report the Business to the House To-morrow Morning.

Sir Robert Pye is appointed to go to the Lords, to desire a free Conference, by Committees of both Houses, so soon as it may stand with their Lordships Conveniency, upon the Matter of the last Conference, touching the List of the new Model.

The humble Petition of Captain Fowlke Martin, Captain Thomas Highfeild, Lieutenant Hastings Love, Lieutenant Christopher Batten, and Cornet John Downes, reported from the Committee of both Kingdoms, as to the Exchange of the Prisoners mentioned in the Petition; and to consider of some present Relief of the Petitioners, and some fitting future Employment.

Sir Robert Pye brings Answer, That the Lords do agree to a free Conference, as is desired; and that it be presently, in the Painted Chamber.

Sir John Evelyn reports, from the Committee that went out to prepare Reasons, to be offered, at a free Conference, to the Lords, to pass the List of the new Model, as it was presented by Sir Thomas Fairefaxe, and approved of, and sent up by this House,

"For that the Time of Year is far spent; the King's Forces are in the Field; the Condition of our Affairs will be very bad, if Sir Wm. Brereton should receive a Blow: That the chief visible Means left us in this Army, to be raised by Ordinance of Parliament: That the List of the Officers sent up were all named by Sir Thomas Fairefaxe, and approved of by this House: That the Lords having disapproved many of them that this House sent up, this House gave Reasons to make good their Approbation; and to those Reasons no Answer is given, nor Notice taken of them: That this Course makes the Business endless: That, if no Reason be given, it will render this Ordinance ineffectual: That Delay, in this Business, gives the King Time to recruit, and Opportunity to break into the Association: Likewise to represent, That the Commissions, that are received by those Officers that are excepted against, were given by the Lord General, the Earl of Manchester, and Sir Wm. Waller; and not any Exception hereof against any of these Men."

For Answer to the Lords Reasons:

I. That it may prove inconvenient to publish Reasons in Things personal.

* * * *

That this House hath again desired this Conference, to satisfy their Lordships, and all the World, that they are desirous to use all Ways and Means to induce their Lordships to concurr with the Commons of England for the Saving of the Kingdom.

The Reporters of the last Conference are appointed Managers, and Reporters of this free Conference.

Mr. Wallopp reports, from the Committee of both Kingdoms, That, if the Fifteen thousand Pounds, now designed for the Scott's Army, may be made Twenty, it may be divided; or otherwise, not conveniently: And that there is an Opportunity now of sending it away.

It is Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Goldsmiths- . . ., to make up the Fifteen thousand Pounds Twenty.

It is further referred to this Committee, to take into speedy Consideration the Providing of the Remainder of the Fifteen hundred Pounds formerly assigned to my Lord Fairefaxe's Army.

A Message from the Lords, by Dr. Aylett and Dr. Heath;

The Lords desire, That this free Conference, concerning the List of the new Model, may be adjourned till Tomorrow at Eleven a Clock; and desire, That they may have then a free Conference, if it may stand with the Conveniency of this House.

They have likewise received Two Papers, one from Don Alonso, the King of Spain's Ambassador; another from Monsieur Sabran, the French King's Resident. The Lords are of Opinion, That these Papers be referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms; to give their Opinion to the House, What is fit to be done in these Matters; and desire the Concurrence of this House.

They do concurr with this House to the Ordinance for the settling the Committee of Lecestershire; and desire the Addition of these Persons under-named; Sir Edw. Hartopp Knight, Mr. Thomas Beaumont, Mr. Wm. Quarles, Mr. Tho. Goddard, Mr. Tho. Cotton, Mr. Wm. Sherman, Mr. Wm. Danvers.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth consent to a free Conference, to be To-morrow at Eleven of Clock, as is desired.

Ordered, &c. That, as to the Paper from the Spanish Ambassador, the Answer shall be, That this House will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Ordered, &c. That as to the Paper from the French Resident, that this House doth concurr, That it be referred to the Consideration of the Committee of both Kingdoms; to prepare a general Answer unto it, to this, or the like Effect; "That there being Amity between the Crowns of England and France, there needs no particular Licence in this Business."

As to the Lords Desire for the Names to be added to the Committee of Leicestershire; the House will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; That this House hath considered their Lordships Message: And, as to the free Conference desired to be To-morrow at Eleven of Clock, they do agree unto it: As to the Paper from the Spanish Ambassador, they will send Answer by Messengers of their own: They have referred the Paper from the French Resident to the Committee of both Kingdoms: As to the Names desired to be added to the Committee of Leicestershire, they will send Answer by Messengers of their own.