House of Commons Journal Volume 5: 12 April 1648

Die Mercurii, 12 Aprilis, 1648.

Prayers.

Peck's Claims.

Mr. Knightley reports from the Committee, the State of Mr. Peck's Losses, in relation to the Iron Works in the Forest of Dcane; and the Opinion of the Committee for the Repair of his Losses.

Deane Forest.

Resolved, &c. and be it Ordered, That no Wood or Timber be cut or selled, within the Forest of Deane, until the House take further Order: And that the Wood or Timber, now cut, be forthwith seized upon, and preserved for the Use of the State; notwithstanding any former Grant, Order or Ordinance of Parliament.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of the Revenue, together with the Gentlemen of the County of Gloucester, as to this Business, to take speedy and effectual Care for the Preservation of the Wood and Timber in that Forest, according to the former Order.

Resolved, &c. That it be referred to the former Committee, to examine the Abuses that have been committed in felling Timber in the Forest of Deane, upon Pretence of Cordwood; and by whom the Abuses have been committed; and to send for Parties, Witnesses; and to report the Abuses committed, and by whom; together with their Opinions, for effectual Redress of the like for the future.

Resolved, &c. That such Timber as is already cut and selled in the Forest of Deane, be viewed; and such as shall be judged fit for Shipping, be preserved for that Use, and brought into the Stores of the Navy.

Ordered, That the Committee of the Revenue do send to the Committee of the Navy; desiring them to give Order to the Commissioners of the Navy, to appoint Commissioners, or other Officers, that may be employed to view the Timber already cut or felled, in the Forest of Deane; and to set apart such as shall be fit for Shipping; and to take care, that it may be speedily brought into the Stores of the Navy, there to be employed for Shipping, for the publick Safety.

New Forest.

Ordered, That it be referred to the same Committee in the like manner, and with the same Power, to consider of the New Forest; and to take care of the Preservation thereof; and to examine the Abuses there; and to take the like Care for preventing and redressing them: And that no Wood or Timber be cut or felled there, until the House take further Order: And that such as is there already cut, be preserved for the Use of the State: And that there be the like Care taken for setting apart, bringing into the Stores of the Navy, and employed for the Use of the publick Shipping, such Timber, as, within the New Forest, is already cut, that is fit for Shipping.

Great Seal.

Mr. Love is appointed to go to the Lords, to desire them to appoint a speedy Time for the Swearing the Commissioners of the Great Seal.

Pecke's Claims.

Resolved, &c. That this Report concerning Mr. Pecke be re-committed: And that the Gentlemen of the County of Gloucester be added to this Committee: And they are to send for Mr Gonning, or any other Person, as they shall think fit; the better to enable them to state the whole Matter to the House.

Preacher appointed.

Ordered, That Mr. Gower be desired to preach before the House the next Fast Day; Mr. Bargesse, formerly desired, excusing himself upon great Indisposition of Health.

Colonel Lee is appointed to desire Mr. Gower.

Publick Accompts.

Ordered, That, on Tuesday Sevennight, Sir Gilbert Gerard's Mr. Peck's and the Accompts of Sir Henry Vane's junior, be brought in, and reported.

Southwarke Militia.

Mr. Wheeler, Colonel Thompson, Mr. Snelling, Mr. Humfrey Edwards, Mr. Trenchard, Sir Greg. Norton, Colonel Wilson, and Mr. Holland.

This Committee, or any Three of them, are presently to withdraw; and to consider of the additional Ordinance for the Committee of the Militia in the Borough of Southwarke: And are presently to bring it in again.

Westminster Militia.

An additional Ordinance for giving further Power to the Committee of the Militia of Westminster, and Parts adjacent, was this Day read the First and Second time; and upon the Question, committed unto the Committee formerly appointed for the Militia of Southwarke, with the Addition of Sir Robert Pye, Sir John Danvers, and Sir John Hippesley, and Mr. Whittacre: And this Committee is likewise to bring a Clause in this Ordinance, to enable the Committees of the Militia to call Treasurers to Account, and to punish them upon Refusal: And they are to bring in this Ordinance To-morrow Morning.

Sheriff of Dorset.

Ordered, That William Sacage Esquire, formerly appointed by both Houses to be Sheriff of the County of Dorsett, have Liberty to come out of his County, and to come to London, upon his own Occasions.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Transactions with Scotland.

A Letter from the Commissioners of Parliament, from Edinburgh, of 4 Aprilis 1648, with the Copy of a Paper delivered in, by them, to the Parliament of Scottland, touching the Demand of Sir Thomas Glemham, and others; and a Letter from the Chancellor of Scotland to the Commissioners of Parliament; were all this Day read.

Middlesex Writ.

Ordered, That a Warrant do issue forth, under Mr. Speaker's Hand, directed to the Clerk of the Crown in Chancery, to issue forth a Writ, for the new Election of a Knight of the Shire to serve in this present Parliament for the County of Middlesex, in the room and place of Sir John Francklyn Knight, deceased, formerly chosen to serve as Knight of the Shire for that County.

Great Seal.

The House being informed, that the Gentleman Usher of the House of Peers was at the Door;

He was called in; and acquainted the House, That the Lords were ready to give the Oaths to the Commissioners of the Great Seal, if this House were ready to come to them.

Relief of Ireland.

Ordered, That on Saturday Morning next, peremptorily, the first Business, the additional Ordinance for Relief of Ireland be read.