House of Commons Journal Volume 5: 2 September 1647

Die Jovis, 2 Septembris, 1647.

PRAYERS.

Leave of Absence.

ORDERED, &c. That Mr. James Nelthorpe, Mr. John Thomas, and Mr. Alexander Bence, Members of this House, shall have Leave to go into the Country.

Excise.

Ordered, &c. That the respective Sheriffs of the several Counties, Cities, and Places, be hereby enjoined and required, and that they do as well proclaim as publish the Declarations concerning the Excise ordered on Friday last to be published by the said Sheriffs, in the several Market Towns, upon the respective Market Days.

Bristoll Petition.

The House being informed, That divers Gentlemen of the City of Bristoll, and the Parts thereabouts, were at the Door, desirous to present a Petition to the House;

They were called in. The Petition was read, and was stiled, The humble Petition of divers Freemen of England, Inhabitants in the City of Bristoll, and in the adjacent Parts.

Resolved, &c. That this shall be the Answer to the Petitioners; That though there be some Things in this Petition, that this House cannot approve of to be presented by Petition, yet there are some Things in which they have expressed their good Affection to this House, and to the Kingdom; and that, for their good Affections, they shall have the Thanks of this House.

The Petitioners were again called in: And Mr. Speaker, by the Command of this House, did accordingly give them this Answer.

London Militia.

A Message from the Lords, by Mr. Page and Mr. Sadler;

The Lords have commanded us to deliver unto you an Ordinance for the Militia of the City of London, and Liberties thereof: They have agreed unto it, and desire the Concurrence of this House.

The Ordinance for the Militia of the City of London, and the Liberties thereof, was read the First and Second time.

Resolved, &c. That Mark Hildesley be added in this Ordinance to the Committee of the Militia.

Resolved, &c. That these Words, "and no other Person or Persons whatsoever," be added after the constituting the Committee of the Militia.

Resolved, &c. That Colonel Campfield do stand in this Ordinance.

The Ordinance, with these Amendments, upon the Question passed; and was sent unto the Lords, so amended, by Mr. Arthur Annesley.

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

Message to Lords.

Sir Robert Pye carried to the Lords, for their Concurrence, the Order for referring the Letters from Scotland to the Commissioners with the Army: Addition of Sir John Evelyn of Wiltes, and Arthur Annesley Esquire, to the Committee for the Affairs of Ireland, at Derby House: An Addition of Sir Wm. Armyn, and Sir John Evelyn of Wiltes, to the Committee for Examination of the Tumult: An Order for preventing the Access of Officers and Soldiers to the Doors of the Parliament: An Order for enabling the Committee of the Military Garden to state the Accompts of Widows, &c.: An Ordinance concerning the original Seal of Wales, formerly sent from the Lords, and returned with some Amendments made by this House: A Letter to Colonel Jones, in Acknowledgment of his great and faithful Service: An Order for Addition of Mr. Nath. Fienis, and Mr. Thomas Hodges, to the Committee for examining the late Tumult.

Mountagu's Petition.

A Message from the Lords, by Mr. Page and Mr. Sadler;

The Lords have received a Petition from Mr. Walter Mountagu: Which they agree unto; and desire the Concurrence of this House.

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

London Militia.

Mr. Annesley brings Answer, That the Lords do agree to the Ordinance for the Militia of London, with the Amendments sent from this House.

Isle of Guernsey.

A Letter from the General, from Kingston, of 25° Augusti, 1647, with the Petition inclosed, of the Deputies of the Town of Guernsey, were read. And

It is Ordered, That this Petition be referred to the Committee for Complaints: And they have Power, if they see Cause, to prepare an Ordinance for directing a Commission to pass the Great Seal, for the better and easier Examination of Matters according to their Desire expressed in their Petition.

Lancashire Forces.

The humble Petition of Colonels, Lieutenant Colonels, Majors, and Captains, of Lancashire, in behalf of themselves, their Under Officers and Soldiers, was this Day read: And

It is Ordered, That it be referred to the Consideration of the Committee of the Northern Association: Who are to meet upon it this Afternoon; and are to consider of the whole Business, and to state the whole Matter of Fact; and to consider of some fitting Sum to be forthwith paid unto them, towards Satisfaction of the Petitioners, and how the said Sum might be raised; and to report all to the House.

Answer from Lords.

Sir Robert Pye brings Answer, That the Lords do agree to all the Orders, Ordinances, and Votes, carried by him; and to the Letter to Colonel Jones; and to all other Particulars of his Message.

Violence offered to Parliament.

Ordered, &c. That To-morrow Morning, the first Business, and nothing to intervene, Mr. Miles Corbett do make Report from the Committee appointed for the Examination of the Tumult and Force upon the Houses.

Forces for Ireland.

Ordered, &c. That the Reference Yesterday made to the Members of this House, that are of the Committee for the Affairs of Ireland, at Derby House, appointing them to consider and consult with such Officers as the General shall appoint, touching the Forces presently to be sent into Ireland, according to the General's Letter, be now made, and referred to the Commissioners of Parliament residing with the Army.

Clipped Money.

An Ordinance for preventing the Inconveniences by clipped and unlawfully diminished Monies, was this Day read the Second time; and, upon the Question, committed unto Mr. Greene, Sir Wm. Allenson, Sir Jo. Evelyn of Wiltes, Mr. Solicitor, Sir Wm. Strickland, Colonel Copley, Mr. Ashurst, Mr. Fran. Allen, Mr. John Gourdon, Mr. James Nelthorpe, Mr. Crowther, Sir Gregory Norton, Mr. Henry Marten, Mr. Snelling, Sir Wm. Counstable, Mr. Dodderidge, Mr. Gott, Mr. Lisle, Mr. Bulckley, Mr. Edw. Ashe, Mr. Swinfen, Mr. Rolle, Mr. Nath. Fiennes, Colonel Venn, Colonel Birch, Sir Tho. Some, Sir Ralfe Ashton, Mr. John Browne, Alderman Pennington, Mr. Trenchard, Sir John Danvers, Mr. George Fenwick, Mr. Bedding field: And are to meet upon it this Afternoon at Two of Clock, in the Treasury Chamber; and are to report To-morrow Morning. And have Power to send for Parties, Witnesses, Papers, Records: And the Care of this Business is more particularly referred unto Mr. Greene and Mr. Ashhurst.

Propositions for Peace.

Sir Wm. Armyn reports the Papers that passed between the Members of both Houses, that are of the Committee of both Kingdoms, and the Commissioners of Scotland, upon the Matter of the Propositions for a safe and wellgrounded Peace; and upon the References made to that Committee, for desiring and receiving their Answer, touching their joining with such as shall be appointed by the Houses to present the Propositions to the King on Tuesday next.

The which were all read.

Message from Lords.

A Message from the Lords, by Mr. Page and Mr. Sadler;

The Lords have commanded us to bring unto you an Ordinance for slighting the Lines of Communication: In which they desire the Concurrence of this House.

An Answer to the Papers of the Scotts Commissioners: In which they desire the Concurrence of this House: To which if this House do concur, then the Members of both Houses, that are of the Committee of both Kingdoms, are to meet at Four of the Clock this Afternoon: And that the Scotts Commissioners are to be sent unto, and desired to meet at Derby House, accordingly: To whom the said Answer is to be communicated at the same time.

Papers of Scotts Commissioners.

The Answer to the Papers of the Scotts Commissioners was read; and, upon the Question, assented unto.

Ordered, &c. That the Members of both Houses, that are of the Committee of both Kingdoms, do meet at Four of Clock this Afternoon: And that the Scotts Commissioners be sent unto, and desired to meet at Derby House accordingly: To whom the said Answer is to be communicated at the same time.

Slighting the Lines.

An Ordinance for slighting the Lines of Communication, now sent from the Lords, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed.

Answer to Lords.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; That this House hath considered their Lordships Message; and every Particular of it; and do agree in all.

London Militia.

An Ordinance of the Lords and Commons, in Parliament assembled, for the Militia of London, and the Liberties thereof.

THE Lords and Commons, in Parliament assembled, taking into their serious Consideration the present State and Condition of the Kingdom of England, and particularly of the City of London, do Ordain and Declare; and be it Ordained and Declared, by the Authority of the Parliament, That Isaacke Pennington, Sir John Wollaston, Thomas Atkin, John Warner, John Fowke, Wm. Gibbs, Thomas Andrewes, Thomas Foote, Symond Edmonds, Aldermen of the said City of London, Major General Philip Skippon, Colonel John Venn, Francis Allen, Colonel Rowland Wilson junior, Colonel Edmond Harvey, Major Richard Salloway, Richard Terner senior, Samuell Warner, Wm. Bartley, Wm. Hobson, James Russell, Colonel Owen Roe, Colonel Thomas Player, Stephen Estwicke, Colonel Robert Titchborne, Lieutenant of the Tower, Colonel Richard Turner, Tempest Milner, Wm. Antrobus, Thomas Nocll, Christofer Packe, Thomas Arnold, Colonel Nathaniell Camfield, Samuell Moyer, Alexander Normington, Alexander Jones, Maurice Gethin, and Marke Hildisley, Citizens, or any Nine or more of them, and no other Person or Persons whatsoever, be and are hereby constituted and appointed a Committee for the Militia of the City of London, and Liberties thereof: And shall have Power, and are hereby authorized, to assemble and call together all and singular Person and Persons, within the said City of London, and Liberties thereof, that are meet and fit for the Wars; and them to train, exercise, and put in Readiness; and them, after their Abilities and Faculties, well and sufficiently, from time to time, to cause to be arrayed, weaponed, and to take the Musters of them in Places fit for that Purpose: And that they shall have Power to lead, conduct, and employ, the Persons aforesaid, arrayed and weaponed, for the Suppression of all Rebellions, Insurrections, and Invasions, which may happen within the said City, and Liberties thereof: And likewise shall have further Power and Authority to lead, conduct, and employ the Persons aforesaid, arrayed and weaponed, as well within the said City, as within any other Part of this Realm of England, or Dominion of Wales, for the Suppression of all Rebellions, Insurrections, and Invasions, that may happen, according as they shall, from time to time, receive Directions from the Lords and Commons, assembled in Parliament: And that the said Committee, or any Nine or more them, as aforesaid, shall have Power and are hereby authorized, to constitute and make Colonels, Captains, and other Officers: And shall have Power to remove and displace Colonels, Captains, and other Officers, from time to time, as they, or any Nine or more of them, as aforesaid, shall see Cause, and think fit: And that the said Committee, or any Nine or more of them, as aforesaid, shall have the same Power and Authority within the said City, and Liberties thereof, as any Committee for the Militia of the City of London had, the Twentieth Day of July Anno Domini, 1647, by any Order or Ordinance of Parliament: And that all and every Person or Persons, who shall act or do any Act or Thing whatsoever, by virtue of this or any former Order or Ordinances of Parliament concerning the said Militia, shall be saved harmless, and indemnified for and concerning the same by Authority of Parliament. And it is hereby further Ordained, That no Citizen of the City of London, or any of the Forces of the said City or Liberties thereof, shall be drawn forth, or compelled to go out of the said City, or Liberties thereof, for military Service, without his or their free Consent. And this present Ordinance is to continue during the Pleasure of both Houses of Parliament.