House of Commons Journal Volume 5: 15 April 1647

Die Jovis, 15 Aprilis, 1647.

Prayers.

Ordinances to be read.

ORDERED, &c. That the Ordinance in the Hands of Mr. Lisle, concerning Lieutenant General Cromwell; and the Ordinance in the Hand of Mr. Whitelocke, concerning the Officers of the Court of Wards; be read on Tuesday Morning next, the first Business.

Castles in Wales.

Ordered, &c. That the Letter appointed to be sent from the House, and signed by Mr. Speaker, concerning the Slighting and Demolishing of the Castles of North Wales, be prepared by Mr. Recorder: And that Sir Wm. Middleton, the present Governor of Denbigh Castle, shall have the Materials of the Works about the Castle, and of the Buildings and Castle, to be slighted and demolished, upon Account, towards the Satisfaction of the Arrears due upon his Entertainment.

Letter to be read.

Resolved, &c. That the Letter from Major General Skippon, shall be read To-day at Eleven of Clock.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, &c. That Mr. Barrow, a Member of this House, shall have Leave to go into the Country.

Oxford University, &c.

Mr. Wheeler reports the Conference had with the Lords on Friday last, concerning the Ordinance for regulating the University of Oxon, and concerning Country Committees: That the Earl of Manchester said, That the Lords out of a Desire to concur with the House of Commons, and for the Speeding of this Ordinance, do recede from all Additions, but only the Names: The Reason is, because otherwise, there would bean Inequality: And whereas there is a different Number in Committees, in them the Voting is apart; each House voting for itself, and the one not binding the other.

As to that Part concerning Country Committees, the Earl of Manchester said, viz.

The Lords have long since desired your Concurrence, for the taking away of the Committees now settled in the several Counties: To the which they are now pressed further to urge your speedy Agreement; in regard of the great Cries that come to their Ears from all Parts of the Kingdom, where divers Persons lie under very great Pressures, by reason of the Partiality and Injustice that is used by those Committees: They are very sensible of the great Odium that this hath brought upon the Parliament; and how far it may alienate the Hearts of the Generality of the Kingdom from them, if such an arbitrary Power shall be still continued; from which the Hope of being delivered, hath been one of the chiefest Motives for the Engaging of their Lives and Fortunes in this dangerous and expensive War: And it would be now the more grievous unto the Kingdom, because that which was submitted unto in Time of War, as necessary, will now appear to be a continued Pressure; only the Benefit of some private Persons, without any considerable Advantage to the State: The Lords having offered a Means, which they conceive will be of more Advantage to the Parliament, and more satisfactory to the Kingdom; they desire your Concurrence.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth adhere to their former Vote, concerning the Addition of Names, in the Ordinance concerning the regulating the University of Oxon.

Mr. Selden, Mr. Rouse, Mr. Swinfen, Mr. Wheeler, Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Whitlocke, Mr. Lisle, Mr. Scotts, Mr. Hoskins;

This Committee, or any Three of them, are appointed to prepare Reasons to be offered to the Lords at a free Conference, for adhering to their Vote, concerning their Addition of Names, in the Ordinance for regulating the University of Oxon: And are to bring them in To-morrow Morning. And a Conference is to be desired To-morrow Morning, upon the Business.

Mr. Strode is appointed to desire this Conference.

Universities.

Ordered, &c. That the Committee formerly appointed for the University of Oxon be revived; and do meet this Afternoon at Two of Clock, in the usual Place: And that they do consider of a fit and competent Maintenance, for the Heads and Masters of the Colleges and Halls of both the Universities of this Kingdom: And where and how such a settled competent Maintenance may be raised; and report their Opinions to this House.

Monuments at Oxford.

Resolved, &c. That the Monuments erected in Christ Church in Oxon, for Sir Wm. Penyman and Sir Henry Gage, be defaced and demolished; and likewise all other Monuments erected in the University or City of Oxon, that are any ways scandalous or reproachful to the Parliament, or the Proceedings thereof: And the Proctors of the University of Oxon are hereby required and enjoined, to see all such Monuments of Scandal and Reproach to the Parliament . . . . . . . . And the Burgesses that serve for the University of Oxon, are ordered to send this Order to the Proctors of the University, accordingly.

Country Committees.

Resolved, &c. That the next Day after that the Time allotted for the Business of the Church shall be expired, That the Report and Business concerning Country Committees be taken into Consideration.

Late Bishops.

Resolved, &c. That the Committee formerly appointed to consider of Maintenance for the late Bishops, or any Five of them, do meet this Afternoon at Two of the Clock, in the usual Place; and so de die in diem, till they have dispatched: And that they do consider from whence, and how, this Maintenance shall be raised: And they are to report their Opinions concerning all the late Bishops together: And are to report with all convenient Speed.

London Militia.

Mr. Gott reports from the Committee the Additions and Amendments to the Ordinance concerning the Militia of the City of London, formerly sent from the Lords: The which were twice read.

The Question being put, Whether these Words, "And all other Places within the Line of Communication and weekly Bills of Mortality," shall be added in this Ordinance;

The House was divided.

The Yeas went forth.

So that the Question passed with the Affirmative.

The Amendments were put to the Question; and, upon the Question, assented unto.

A Proviso was tendered to be added unto this Ordinance, for the Powers granted by this Ordinance not to be put in Execution, until the Five-and-twentieth Day of December next: The which was read the First time.

And the Question being put, for reading it the Second time;

It passed with the Negative.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth concur with the Lords in this Ordinance thus amended: And that this Concurrence with the Lords in this Ordinance be communicated to the Lords at the Conference To-morrow Morning.

Mr. Recorder, Mr. Gott, Sir John Maynard, Colonel Harvey, are appointed Managers of this Conference.

Irish Affairs.

Ordered, upon the Question, That the Members of this House, that are of the Committee for the Affairs of Ireland, sitting in . . . Star Chamber, do sign such Warrants for issuing Monies for the Service of Dublyn, as are or shall be ordered by the Committee for the Affairs of Ireland sitting at Derby House: And that the Lords be desired to give the like Power and Injunction to the Members of their House, that are of the said Committee for the Affairs of Ireland, in the Star Chamber.

Message to Lords.

Mr. Hollis is appointed to go to the Lords with this Message; and to desire a Conference concerning the Ordinance for the Militia of the City of London.

Proceedings against Devereux.

The House being informed, That a Gentleman, one Mr. George Devereux, sat and voted in the House, against whom there were great and grievous Charges; and that he had taken the Lord Capell's Protestation and Oath;

And Copies of the Depositions of Richard Morris, of Poole in the County of Mountgomery, Gentleman, aged about Forty-three Years, sworn and examined at Redd Castle, 11 Novembris 1646; of Lloyd Pierce Esquire, of Edward Lloyd, of Trefuant in the County of Mountgomery, Esquire, taken before the Committee at Redd Castle; 13 Novembris 1646; the Deposition of the Lord Powis; the Deposition of Wm. Edwards, of Llanhangell, taken before the Committee at Redd Castle, 16 Novembris; were all read: And likewise, a Copy of the Lord Capell's Protestation and Oath.

It was further informed, That the said Mr. George Devereux stands actually sequestered.

Resolved, &c. That the Examination of this whole Business be referred to the Committee formerly appointed for the Business concerning Mr. Vaughan: And they are to examine and Report this Business, and likewise the Business concerning Mr. Vaughan, on Tuesday next.

The Question was propounded, That Mr. George Devereux be suspended from the House, till the Report of this Business be made.

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

It passed with the Affirmative.

The Question being put, Whether Mr. George Devereux shall be suspended from the House, till the Report of this Business be made;

The House was divided.

The Yeas went forth.

So that the Question passed with the Affirmative.