House of Commons Journal Volume 5: 6 September 1647

Die Lunæ, 6 Septembris, 1647.

PRAYERS.

Leave of Absence.

ORDERED, That Mr. Grove, a Member of this House, shall have Leave to go into the Country.

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

Irish Affairs.

A Letter from the Lord Inchiquin, from Corke, of 25 Augusti, 1647, was this Day read: And

It is Ordered, That this Letter be referred to the Consideration of the Committee for the Affairs of Ireland, at Derby House: And likewise all the Informations that Colonel Jephson can give to the said Committee, either by the Letters he hath received, or by the Examination of his Servant, or any other than can give Information in this Business, are referred to this Committee: And, upon all the Intelligence and Informations they can get, in this Business, they are to consider what is fit to be done; and to present their Opinions to the House.

Clipped Money.

Mr. Greene reports the Amendments to the Ordinance concerning clipped and unlawfully diminished Monies: The which were twice read: And the Ordinance, so amended, upon the Question, passed; and is ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

Ordered, That the Committee of the Revenue do call before them the Master and Warden of the Mint, and other the Moniers at the Tower of London; and take effectual Course for the round and regular Making and Coining of all Monies that are or shall be coined there.

Publication of Proceedings, &c.

An Ordinance for inhibiting and preventing the Printing and Publishing of all Pamphlets, Libels, Occurrences, and Proceedings of Parliament, was this Day read the First and Second time; and, upon the Question, committed unto Mr. Wheeler, Mr. Knightley, Mr. Scott, Mr. Selden, Mr. Blakiston, and to the Citizens and Burgesses of London and Westminster, and the Borough of Southwarke: Who are to meet upon it this Afternoon, in the Exchequer Chamber, at Two of the Clock; and to report it To-morrow Morning.

Petition for Macquire.

The humble Petition of Colonel Henry Sanderson, on the Behalf of Captain Rosse Macquire, was this Day read; and nothing done upon it.

Governor of Isle of Wight.

Mr. Ball reports the Amendments to the Ordinance, sent from the Lords, 3 Septembris 1647, for constituting Colonel Robert Hamond, Captain and Governor of the Isle of Wight, &c.: The which were twice read; and, upon the Question, assented unto.

Resolved, &c. Instead of the Words, "quam diu se bene gesserit," to insert these Words, "until the Lords and Commons, in Parliament assembled, shall otherwise order."

The Ordinance, thus amended, upon the Question, passed: And

It is Ordered, That the Lords be acquainted, That this House agrees to the said Ordinance, so amended; and desires their Concurrence to the said Amendments.

Mr. Ball is to carry the Ordinance and Amendments to the Lords.

Propositions for Peace.

Resolved, &c. That Sir William Armyn be enjoined to acquaint this House with the Papers and Proceedings that have passed between the Members of both Houses, of the Committee of both Kingdoms, and the Scotts Commissioners, concerning the Propositions; notwithstanding no Report be thereof ordered by the said Committee.

The Plague.

Upon Information, That there are Two or Three Prisoners dead of the Plague in Woodstreete Compter, where Colonel Baynes is now a Prisoner;

It is Ordered, That the said Colonel Baynes be forthwith removed from Woodstreete Compter unto the Lord Peter's House, in Aldersgate-street, there to remain a Prisoner under like Restraint and Commitment, as he now stands committed to Woodstreete Compter.

Leave of Absence.

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

Propositions to the King.

Ordered, That the Members of both Houses that are of the Committee of both Kingdoms, do meet this Afternoon; and send to the Scotts Commissioners, to desire them to meet; and give them their positive Answer concerning their joining to present the Propositions to his Majesty on Tuesday the Seventh of this Instant September; the Houses not intending hereby any way to prevent or delay the presenting the said Propositions, To-morrow, to his Majesty.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Message to Lords.

Mr. Green carried to the Lords, for their Concurrence, the Ordinance concerning clipped Monies: The Ordinance, That no Person that hath been in Arms against the Parliament shall be Mayor, Bailiff, or other Head Officer, in any City, Borough, or Town Corporate: The Order to enable the Committee of Sequestrations, of the County of Stafford, to put in Execution the Ordinances of Sequestrations, in the City and County of the City of Lichfield.

He likewise returned the Concurrence of this House to the Ordinance for making Colonel Robert Hammond Captain and Governor of the Isle of Wight, with some Amendments made by this House; in which they desire the Concurrence of this House.

Lords to sit.

Sir Robert Pye went to the Lords, to desire them to sit awhile; in regard this House shall have some Occasion to come unto them upon Matters of great Importance.

Blasphemous Pamphlet.

The House being acquainted with a blasphemous Pamphlet, in Print, intituled, "Twelve Arguments drawn out of the Scripture; wherein the commonly received Opinion, touching the Deity of the Holy Spirit, is clearly and fully refuted; by John Bidle, Master of Arts;"

It is thereupon Ordered, that all the printed Copies of the said Book be forthwith seized on: And that the Master and Wardens of the Company of Stationers, London, do make diligent Inquiry to find out the said blasphemous Pamphlet, and the Printer or Printers thereof: And the Sheriffs of London and Middlesex are required to take care, that all Copies of the said Book, that can be seized on, may be publickly burnt by the Hand of the common Hangman, in Cheapside, and the New Palace Yard, at Westminster.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of plundered Ministers, to examine the aforesaid John Bydle, concerning the said blasphemous Pamphlet; and to commit him, if they see Cause.

They are further to examine the said printed Pamphlet, and compare it with a Manuscript formerly referred to their Examination; and likewise the Printer or Printers, if they can be found, concerning the Printing thereof; and report the same on Wednesday Morning next.

Lords to sit.

Sir Robert Pye brings Answer; the Lords will sit awhile.

Propositions to the King.

The Instructions for the Commissioners of both Houses, that are to present the Propositions for a safe and wellgrounded Peace to the King, were this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent to the Lords for their Concurrence; and were in hæc verba; viz.

Instructions for Philip Earl of Pembroke and Mountgomery, Basill Earl of Denbigh, Edward Lord Mountague, Sir John Holland Baronet, Sir Walter Earle, Sir John Cooke, Sir James Harrington, Knights, John Crew, and Richard Browne Esquires, or any Three or more of them, appointed Committees of both Houses of the Parliament of England, to join with the Commissioners of the Kingdom of Scotland, to present to the King's Majesty the Propositions for a safe and well-grounded Peace; and to receive his Majesty's Answer thereupon.

You are to observe the Instructions following:

YOU, or any Three or more of you, shall present to the King, at Hampton Court, or elsewhere, where the King's Residence shall be, on Tuesday, being the Seventh Day of this instant September, from the Lords and Commons, assembled in the Parliament of England, the Propositions herewith sent unto you for a safe and wellgrounded Peace.

You, or any Three or more of you, are to desire from the King his positive Answer and Consent to the said Propositions.

Any Three of you are to repair, with all Diligence and Speed, to the Parliament, at Westminster, as soon as you, or any Three or more of you, shall have received the said Answer from his Majesty: In Expectation of the said Answer, you are not to make Stay above the Space of Six Days next after you shall receive these Instructions.

But, the said Time of Six Days being expired, any Three of you are forthwith, without any Delay, to repair to the Parliament of England, to give them an Account of your Proceedings.

And in case the Scotts Commissioners be not at Hampton Court, or at such Place where the King's Residence shall be, on Tuesday the said Seventh of this instant September, present, to join with you, when you shall present the said Propositions to his Majesty; then you, or any Three or more of you, are to present the said Propositions to his Majesty alone; and to receive his Majesty's Answer thereunto, according to the preceding Instructions.

Message to Lords.

Sir John Eveyln carried to the Lords, for their Concurrence, the Instructions for the Commissioners of both Houses, who are to present the Propositions for Peace to the King; and the Order for Members of both Houses that are of the Committee of both Kingdoms, to meet with the Scotts Commissioners at Derby House this Afternoon.

Answer from Lords.

Mr. Green brings Answer, That the Lords do agree to the Ordinance concerning clipped Monies: The Amendments to the Ordinance for appointing Colonel Hamond Governor of the Isle of Wight: And that they do likewise agree to the Ordinance for putting in Execution the Ordinances of Parliament for Sequestrations, in the County of Stafford, and the County and City of Lichfield: And as to the Ordinance, That no Person that hath been in Arms against the Parliament, shall be Mayor, Bailiff, or other Officer, in any City, Borough, or Town Corporate, they will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Reprieving Macquire.

The House took into Debate the Reprieving of Captain Rosse Macquire, condemned, at the late Sessions holden in the Old Bayly for the City of London, for Murder: And

It is Resolved, upon the Question, That this Debate be laid aside.

East India Company.

A Proposition from the East India Company for following the Trade thither this Year, in a general Voyage, by Subscriptions of such Persons as shall, according to their said Proposition, underwrite any Sum or Sums, for the Advancement of the said Trade; and their Desires to acquaint this House therewith; were this Day read.

And the House was further acquainted with the Time they had given for Members, if they thought fit, to subscribe in: And

It is thereupon Ordered, That the Thanks of this House be given to the said Company for their Respects to the House, in enlarging the Time formerly limited for Subscriptions, with reference to Members of the House: And that this House doth approve of any the Members of this House, that shall think fit to subscribe any Sum for the better Advancement and Carrying on of the said Trade.

Answer from Lords.

Sir John Evelyn brings Answer, That the Lords do agree to the Instructions for the Commissioners of both Houses, that are to present the Propositions to the King; and to the Order for the Members of both Houses, that are of the Committee of both Kingdoms, to meet with the Scotts Commissioners at Derby House this Afternoon.

Report deferred.

Ordered, That the Report concerning Mr. Recorder be made by Mr. Corbett, To-morrow Morning the first Business.

Forged Order.

A Letter, directed, "For Mr. Palmer, Vicar of West Haddon, These;" and subscribed, "George Tomkins;" together with a forged Order, pretended to be an Order of this House, therewith delivered in to the House; were both this Day read: And

Ordered, That the Examination of the whole Business, concerning the Forging of the said pretended Order, be referred to the Examination of the Committee for Complaints.