House of Commons Journal Volume 5: 1 August 1647

Die Dominico, 1 Augusti, 1647; Post Meridiem.

Printing Ordinances.

ORDERED, That the additional Ordinance that enlarges the Power of the Militia, and the Ordinance by which the Committee of the Safety sits and acts; and the Ordinance that revives it; be forthwith printed and published.

Publishing Declaration of City.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth approve of the Order, made by the Committee of the Safety, for the publishing and directing to be read in the several Churches and Chapels, the Declaration, intituled, "A Declaration of the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Commons, of the City of London, in Common Council assembled."

Suspected Persons.

Ordered, That a Committee be appointed to prepare and bring in an Ordinance, To-morrow Morning, to enable the Committee of the Safety, and the Committee of the Militia of London, or either of them, to secure and disarm all such Persons as shall discover their Disaffection to the present Safety and Defence of the Parliament and City; and likewise all such Persons as they shall have just Grounds to suspect to be disaffected, as aforesaid.

It is further Ordered, That, upon Emergency of any imminent Danger, the Committee of the Safety, and the Committee of the Militia of the City of London, or either of them, shall have Power to act according to this Order, in the mean time, till an Ordinance can pass.

Mr. Holles, Mr. Gott, Colonel Copley, Mr. Fowell, Mr. Baynton, Mr. Stevens, or any Two of them, are appointed to prepare an Ordinance to this Purpose.

Answer from Lords.

Mr. James Herbert brings Answer, That the Lords do agree to the Ordinance, carried to them last Night, to enable the Committee of the Militia to set fines on those who refuse to bring in their Horses; and likewise on Soldiers, if they do not appear at Beat of Drum.

Raising Horses.

Resolved, &c. That the Persons authorized to seize and list Horses, for Defence of the Parliament and City, shall have, and hereby have, Power, in case of Refusal and Denial, to break open Locks and Doors.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Raising Mariners.

An Ordinance for authorizing the Trinity House to raise and list Mariners was this day read the First and Second time; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

Declaration of Parliament.

Mr. Walker, Colonel Copley, Mr. Gewen, Mr. Ashurst, Sir Edward Partheriche, or any Two of them, are appointed to prepare a Declaration, and to bring it in To-morrow Morning, to be sent to the Committee of Kent, and to all other Counties; to represent unto them the State the Parliament is in; the Considerations that forced them to elect a new Speaker; the Designs and Carriages of the Army towards the Parliament and City; the Vote that explains the Power given to the General over the Land Forces, &c. the Letter written to Sir Thomas Fairefax, not to come nearer than Thirty Miles of London with his Army; and to desire the Compliance and Assistance of the Counties to the Parliament: And the Care of this Business is more particularly referred to Mr. Walker.

Declaration concerning the King.

Resolved, &c. That the Declaration passed both Houses, for his Majesty's coming to such Place as both Houses shall appoint, be forthwith printed and published.

Letters to the King, &c.

Sir Wm. Lewes, Mr. Oldesworth, and Sir Philip Percivall, are to prepare Letters to be sent to the King, the Commissioners with the King, the Commissioners with the Army, and Sir Thomas Fairefax; and therein to inclose the Vote of both Houses, for his Majesty's coming to such Place as both Houses shall appoint.

Resolved, &c. That an Addition be made to the Letter, written to Sir Thomas Fairefax, to require an Obedience unto the Vote, passed both Houses, for his Army not to come nearer than Thirty Miles of London.

They are likewise, in the Letter to the Commissioners with the Army, to signify unto them the State of the House, in relation to the Necessity that enforced the House, for Preservation of the Authority of the Parliament, to nominate a Speaker; the late Speaker having withdrawn himself from the House: And Mr. Gewen is added to this Committee.

Army Proceedings.

Mr. John Southwood, of London, was called to the Bar of the House; and there made a Relation of some certain Troopers of Sir Thomas Fairefax, who had slain some Troopers of Sir Robert Pye's near Deptford.

Army Commissioners.

Ordered, That Power be given to the Committee of Safety to grant Commissions to all such Commanders and Officers of Horse, Foot, and Dragoons, as they shall think fit, for the Service of the King, Kingdom, and City, and Safety thereof, according to the Power given them by Ordinance of Parliament.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Message to Lords.

Mr. * Herbert carried to the Lords, for their Concurrence, an Ordinance, giving Power to the Trinity House to raise Mariners and Seamen, for the Defence of the King, Kingdom, Parliament, and City: An Order for the Persons that have Power to seize Horses, to have Power to break open Locks and Doors: And an Order, giving Power to the Committee of Safety to grant Commissions to Commanders and Officers.

Answer.

Mr. * Herbert brings Answer that the Lords do agree to the several Orders carried up by him to them.

Letter to Fairefax.

A Letter to Sir Thomas Fairefax, for his Army not to come within Thirty Miles of London, and for not hindering his Majesty's coming to such Place as both Houses shall appoint, was twice read; and ordered to be sent to the Lords for their Concurrence.

Army.

Ordered That it be referred to the Committee of the Safety, to take Care for the Quartering of the Forces that came off from the Army, and were designed for Ireland; and afterwards ordered to be disbanded, and are not yet disbanded; and to make use of them, as they shall see Occasion, for the Defence of King, Parliament, and City.