House of Commons Journal Volume 5: 27 April 1647

Die Martis, 27 Aprilis, 1647.

Prayers.

Assembly of Divines.

MR. Rouse is appointed to go to the Divines of the Assembly that are now at the Door; to acquaint them, That the House is now upon very great and important Business; and to desire them to come on Thursday next.

Mr. Peck.

Ordered, &c. That the Report concerning Mr. Peck, a Member of this House, be made on Friday next, the first Business.

Irish Service.

Sir John Clottworthy delivered in to the House,

1. The Sum of the Commissioners Proceedings at Saffron Walden, in order to this Service of Ireland: The which was read.

2. Copies of divers Letters, Informations, and Examinations, of divers Persons, concerning some Disservices and Discouragements to the Service of Ireland: The which were read.

A printed Pamphlet, intituled, "A new-found Stratagem, framed in the old Forge of Machiavelism, and put upon the Inhabitants of the County of Essex, &c." sent by one Captain Style, as the Information says, to one Mr. James Willett, Rector of Little Chessull, by one Roger Craft, Serjeant to the said Captain Stile: The which was likewise read.

A Letter dated 20 Aprilis, Suffolke, concerning some discontented Speeches and Resolutions uttered by some Soldiers of the Army against the Parliament, delivered in by a Member of the House, was likewise read.

The Question was propounded, That Captain Styles be forthwith summoned to appear before this House:

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

It passed with the Affirmative.

Resolved, &c. That Captain Styles be forthwith summoned to attend this House.

Resolved, &c. That Serjeant Roger Crafts, Serjeant to Captain Styles, be forthwith summoned to appear before this House.

Resolved, &c. That Major Robert Sanders be summoned forthwith to appear before this House.

Ordered, &c. That these Gentlemen, before summoned, be referred to the Examination and Consideration of the Committee to whom the Consideration of a printed Pamphlet, intituled, "A new-found Stratagem, framed in the old Forge of Machiavelism, &c." was referred: And that the Committee have Power to send for Witnesses, Papers.

The Question was propounded, That Colonel Robert Lilbourne be forthwith summoned to attend the House:

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

It passed with the Affirmative.

The Question being put, That Colonel Robert Lilbourne be forthwith summoned to attend the House;

The House was divided.

The Yeas went forth.

So that the Question passed with the Affirmative.

Resolved, &c. That Colonel Robert Lilbourne be referred likewise to the Examination of the former Committee: And that the whole Business of these Informations, now read, be referred to the Consideration and Examination of the said Committee: And that the Committee shall have Power to dismiss the foresaid Persons, and others concerned in these Informations, from further Attendance upon the Committee, as they shall see Cause.

Ordered, &c. That Ensign Nicoll, sent up by the Commissioners employed to the Army, be in like manner referred to the Consideration and Examination of the said Committee.

Leave of Absence.

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

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

Message from Lords.

A Message from the Lords, by Mr. Justice Bacon and Mr. Justice Phesant;

The Lords have commanded us to deliver unto you this Message, in this Paper: In which they desire the Concurrence of this House.

The Message in the said Paper was twice read: And was in hæc verba; viz.

"The Lords having received a Report from those Lords that were sent down to the Army, do think it necessary, that speedy Care be taken for providing of Money; that such of the Army as shall not engage themselves in the Service of Ireland, may be disbanded, and have Six Weeks Pay of their Arrears; and that those that shall engage themselves in that Service, may have such a present Proportion of Pay paid unto them, as may give them Encouragement to go chearfully on in the Service.-To be sent to the House of Commons for Concurrence."

Resolved, &c. That the Answer to this Message shall be, That this House will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Answer.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; That this House has considered their Lordships Message; and will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Lords interference in Money Matters.

Resolved, &c. That Friday come Sevennight be appointed to take into Consideration, Whether the Lords may send such a Message to this House, in respect of the Privilege of this House in the Matter of Money.

Forces for Ireland.

The Question was propounded, That such of the Army as shall be disbanded, and shall not go for Ireland, shall have Six Weeks Pay of their Arrears paid them, upon their Disbanding:

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

The House was divided.

The Noes went forth.

So that the Question passed with the Affirmative.

Resolved, &c. That such of the Army as shall be disbanded, and shall not go for Ireland, shall have Six Weeks Pay of their Arrears paid them, upon their Disbanding.

Candles.

Resolved, &c. That Candles be brought in.

Ordered, &c. That the Committee for the Affairs of Ireland do, on Thursday Morning next, give an Account to the House of Serjeant Major General Skippon's Resolution for the Service of Ireland.

A Person committed.

Resolved, &c. That Ensign Nicoll be committed to the Custody of the Serjeant at Arms attending on this House.

The House being informed, That some Affront was done to the Lieutenant and Serjeant that brought to the House Ensign Nicoll;

They were called in; and gave an Account of the Business.