House of Commons Journal Volume 5: 29 April 1647

Die Jovis, 29 Aprilis, 1647.

Prayers.

Register of Chancery.

THE humble Petition of Walter Long Esquire a Member of this House, was this Day read.

Ordered, by the Lords and Commons, That Walther Long Esquire, a Member of this House, shall continue, hold, and enjoy the Office and Place of Register of the Chancery, according to his Patent under the Great Seal, formerly granted him: And do declare, That the said Patent doth and shall stand good to all Intents and Purposes, notwithstanding any Order or Ordinance of both or either House of Parliament, formerly made to the contrary.

Ordered, That the Lords Concurrence be desired herein.

Great Seal.

Ordered, That the Ordinance for committing the Custody of the Great Seal to the Hands of the Speakers of both Houses be continued from the Expiration thereof, until Ten Days after the next Term: And that the Commission for hearing Causes in Chancery be continued for the same time.

Ordered, That the Lords Concurrence be desired herein.

Sir Wm. Lewes is appointed to carry it to the Lords.

Justice of Com. Pleas.

Ordered, by the and Commons, That Sir John Brampston, Knight, Serjeant at Law, be hereby constituted and appointed one of the Justices of the Court of Common Pleas: And that Oliver St. John Esquire, his Majesty's Solicitor General, do prepare a Patent for constituting and appointing the said Sir John Brampston one of the Justices of the Common Pleas accordingly: And that the Commissioners of the Great Seal do pass the said Patent under the Great Seal; and do swear the said Sir John Brampston into the said Place.

Ordered, That the Lords Concurrence be desired herein.

Message to Lords.

Mr. Samuell Browne is appointed to carry it to the Lords.

He is likewise to put the Lords in mind of the Ordinance for regulating the University of Oxon; and of the Votes concerning the Scotts Army in Ireland.

Dr. Juxon.

Ordered, That the Petition of Dr. Juxon, late Bishop of London, be read To-morrow Morning, the first Business.

Bowyer's Accompts.

Ordered, That the Reports concerning Colonel Bowyer's Accompts be made To-morrow Morning.

Message to Lords.

Sir Wm. Lewes carried to the Lords the Vote for continuing the Great Seal in the Hands it is, until Ten Days after the next Term: And was to desire a Conference by Committees of both Houses, so soon as might stand with their Lordships Conveniency, concerning the Alterations made by their Lordships in the Votes of this House, upon the Proposition for borrowing Two hundred thousand Pounds.

Confession of Faith, &c.

The House being informed; That, according to the Order on Tuesday last, divers of the Divines of the Assembly were at the Door;

They were called in: And Dr. Smyth acquainted the House, that, according to Two Orders that the Divines of the Assembly had received from this House, he was commanded to present to this House the Texts of Scripture applied to the Articles of the Confession of Faith; and the Proceedings they have made upon the Nine-andthirty Articles.

Resolved, &c. That, on Wednesday next come Sevennight, the first Business, and nothing to intervene, the House do take into Consideration the Confession of Faith, with the Places of Scripture annexed; and the Proceedings the Divines have made in the Nine-and-thirty Articles.

Ordered, That Six hundred Copies, and no more, of the Advice of the Assembly of Divines, concerning the Confession of Faith, with the Quotations and Texts of Scripture annexed, presented to this House; and likewise Six hundred Copies of the Proceedings of the Assembly of Divines, upon the Nine-and-thirty Articles of the Church of England; be forthwith printed for the Service of both Houses, and the Assembly of Divines: And the Printer is enjoined at his Peril, not to print more than Six hundred Copies of each; or to divulge or publish any of them.

It is further Ordered, That no Person presume to re-print, divalge, or publish the said Advice, or Proceedings, or any Part of them, till further Order be taken by both or either of the Houses of Parliament.

Ordered, That Thanks be given to the Assembly of Divines for their great Pains in these Services.

The Divines of the Assembly were called in: And Mr. Speaker, by the Command of the House, did accordingly give them Thanks, for their great Pains in these Services; and did acquaint them, That this House had appointed a Day to take into Consideration the Matters now presented; and had made an Order for their printing Six hundred of each, with all Speed as may be.

Ministers of Religion.

Ordered, That the Report concerning the Maintenance of a Ministry through the Kingdom be made on Wednesday next, the first Business.

Norfolk Writ.

Ordered, That a Warrant do issue, under Mr. Speaker's Hand, directed to the Clerk of the Crown in Chancery, for issuing a Writ for Electing of a Knight of the Shire to serve in this Parliament for the County of Norfolk, in the Place of Sir John Hobart, formerly chosen to serve as Knight of the Shire for the said County, and since deceased.

Lambeth Library.

Mr. Bond presented to the House a Book to be kept as a Record in this House, containing, as appears by the Subscription of the Persons employed in the Collection of it (John Spencer and Samuell Thompson) a true Catalogue of all the Books sent from Lambeth Library to the University of Cambridge, by Order of both Houses.

Ordered, That the old Chests in the Entrance to Lambeth Library, and the Pictures in the Gallery, and at the End of the Terrace there, be given to Mr. Recorder, Mr. Bond, and Mr. Selden; that they may, out of the Proceed of them, make Satisfaction to such as they there employed about the Library sent to Cambridge: And to give such further Account of them as shall by this House be required.

General Skippon.

Mr. Holles reports the Answer and Resolution of Major General Skippon, concerning his engaging in the Service of Ireland: That though he was conscious to himself of his Inabilities, and Indisposition in Health; yet he was resolved so far to comply with the Commands of both Houses, as wholly to deny himself, and to accept of the Employment in that Service designed: And did recommend divers Particulars to the Committee, to be reported to the House, concerning godly and able Officers; able and godly Ministers, good Surgeons; Encouragements for them that were to go; convenient and competent Provisions for them, when they shall be there.

Bristoll, &c. Garisons.

He did further recommend some Considerations, concerning Bristoll and Newcastle; and concerning the Officers and Soldiers in those Garisons.

Answer from Lords.

Sir Wm. Lewes brings Answer, That the Lords do agree to the Order, concerning the Continuance of the Great Seal; and the Commission for hearing Causes in Chancery; and will give a Conference presently, in the Painted Chamber, as is desired.

General Skippon.

Resolved, &c. That Field Marshal Skippon shall have the publick and hearty Thanks of this House, for his former great and good Services performed to this Kingdom, and for the free denying of himself, and complying with the Commands of both Houses, in accepting this Employment in the Service of Ireland.

Ordered, by the Lords and Commons, That the Sum of One thousand Pounds be freely bestowed upon Philip Skippon Esquire, Field Marshal of the Kingdom of Ireland, in Testimony of his great and faithful Services performed to this Kingdom: And that this Sum of One thousand Pounds be charged upon the Receipts at Goldsmiths Hall, in Course, with Interest for the Forbearance thereof, after the Rate of Eight Pounds per Cent. payable every Six Months: And that the Treasurers at Goldsmiths Hall do pay the said Sum of One thousand Pounds, and Interest, unto the said Field Marshal Skippon, or such as he shall appoint to receive the same, accordingly: And that an Acquittance under the Hand of the said Field Marshal Skippon, or such as he shall appoint to receive the same, shall be a sufficient Warrant and Discharge to the said Treasurers, for the Payment of the said Sum of One thousand Pounds, and Interest, as aforesaid.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Answer from Lords.

Mr. Samuell Browne brings Answer, That the Lords will send Answer to the several Messages, carried by him to them, concerning Sir John Brampston being one of the Justices of the Common Pleas; concerning the Disbanding of the Scotts Army in Ireland; concerning the Ordinance for regulating the University of Oxon; by Messengers of their own.

Message from Lords.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Edward Leech and Dr. Aylett;

The Lords have commanded us to deliver this Letter from the Parliament of Scotland: It is directed to both Houses, and the Lords accordingly have thought fit to impart it unto you: This Report also from the Commissioners of Scotland; which they likewise impart unto you: And likewise Remedies for removing some Obstructions in Church Government: These moved from this House; and the Lords have agreed to them; with these Alterations; wherein they desire the Concurrence of this House: And that they may be published; that the Ministers may proceed to elect to the Provincial Meeting-This Petition of Sir Francis Willoughby; which the Lords think fit to recommend to the Committee for Irish Affairs, at Derby House; wherein they desire the Concurrence of this House: A Copy, likewise, of the Earl of Stamford's Letter to the Speaker of their House, desiring Leave to return; which the Lords agree to; and desire Concurrence: The Petition of Sir Edward Povey Knight: The Petition of the Warders of the Tower: Which they recommend unto the Consideration of this House: The Petition of Captain Wm. Hawkeridge; which they think fit to refer to the Committee of Foreign Affairs; and desire the Concurrence of this House.

Church Government.

The Alterations to the Remedies for removing Obstructions in Church Government were read; and, upon the Question, assented unto.

And it is Resolved, &c. That this House doth concur with the Lords in the Printing and Publishing of these Remedies.

Scotch Affairs.

The Letter from the Parliament of Scotland, from Edenburgh, of 25 Martii 1647, signed Crawford, Lyndesay, President of Parliament; and a Paper from the Commissioners of Scotland, of Aprilis 26, 1647, signed John Chieslye; both sent from the Lords; were this Day read.

Answer to Lords.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; That this House has considered their Lordships Message; and do agree to the Alterations made by the Lords, in the Remedies for removing Obstructions in Church Government, and to the publishing of them: To the rest, they will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Mr. Nathaniell Stephens, a Member of this House, shall have Leave to go into the Country.

Propositions to the King.

Ordered, That the Committee to whom the Propositions were re-committed, do meet this Afternoon; and bring in that Report To-morrow Morning, the first Business: And that no other Business do intervene.

Irish Affairs.

Ordered, That Field Marshal Philip Skippon be added to the Committee for the Affairs of Ireland, at Derby House.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Sir Philip Stapleton is appointed to carry it to the Lords.

Conference with Lords.

The Names of the Managers of the Conference concerning the Alterations in the Votes upon the Propositions, touching the Borrowing of Two hundred thousand Pounds, were read.

And the House went to the Conference.

Commissioners to Scotland.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth concur with the Lords in giving Liberty to the Earl of Stamford, one of the Commissioners of both Houses, employed to the Parliament of Scotland, to return.

Resolved, &c. That Robert Goodwyn and Wm. Ashhurst Esquires, employed from both Houses to the Parliament of Scotland, shall have Liberty to return home.

Ordered, That the Lords Concurrence be desired herein.

Mr. Pierpoint is appointed to carry it to the Lords.

Irish Affairs.

Sir Philip Stapleton brings Answer, That the Lords do agree to the Addition of Field Marshall Skippon, to the Committee for the Affairs of Ireland.