House of Commons Journal Volume 5: 14 September 1647

Die Martis, 14 Septembris, 1647.

PRAYERS.

Leave of Absence.

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

Napier's Sequestration.

The humble Petition of Sir Robert Napier Knight and Baronet, a Member of this House, was this Day read.

Resolved, &c. That the Sequestration of Sir Robert Napier's Estate, real and personal, be forthwith discharged, and taken off: And the Committees of the Counties, where his Estate lies, are to take notice hereof, and to discharge it accordingly.

Ordered, That the Reporter, in whose Hand the Report is concerning Sir Robert Napier's Absence, do make Report of that Business on this Day Sevennight.

Pigott's Arrears.

Ordered, That the Committee of Lords and Commons for Advance of Monies, at Haberdashers Hall, do forthwith advance and pay unto the Lady Susanna Pigott, Relict of Sir Thomas Pigott, deceased, the Sum of Twenty Pounds; to be accounted in Part of the Arrears due unto her said Husband, upon his Entertainment in the Service of the Parliament; for the Relief of her crying and instant Necessities.

Petition presented.

The House being informed, That divers Gentlemen were at the Door, desiring to present a Petition to the House;

They were called in; and did present a Petition.

Letter to Scotland.

A Letter, to be sent to the Committee of Estates in Scotland, in Answer to theirs of 21 Augusti last, was this Day read the First and Second time; and, upon the Question, assented unto.

Sir Robert Pye carried it to the Lords.

The Lords and Commons, assembled in Parliament, do Order, That Mr. Wm. Rowe do carry and deliver the Letters, agreed upon by both Houses to be sent to the Chancellor of Scotland, the Council of Scotland, and the Committee of Estates of Scotland; and observe such further Directions as he shall receive from the Committee at Derby House.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Sir Robert Pye carried it to the Lords.

Great Seal.

He likewise carried the Ordinance for continuing the Custody of the Great Seal in the same Hands it now is, until the Tenth of December next.

Pass granted.

Resolved, &c. That a Safe Conduct, as is desired, be granted to the Chancellor of Scotland.

Army.

Ordered, That, To-morrow Morning, the first Business, the Report made on Thursday last by Mr. Scawen, concerning the Forces to be kept up in this Kingdom, or to be sent into Ireland, be taken into Consideration.

Earl of Lanerick.

Sir Wm. Strickland, Mr. Ashhurst, Sir Wm. Allenson, Mr. John Corbett, Sir Arthur Hesilrige, or any Two of them, are appointed to search and state the whole Matter of Fact concerning the Earl of Lanerick, What has been done by this Parliament in relation to him.

E. of Portland's Sequestration.

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

The Lords have commanded us to put you in mind of the Message, in behalf of the Earl of Portland, of the Twenty-fourth of September 1646; a Copy whereof they now send with this Petition, with a Paper containing their Lordships Sense thereupon; which they conceive just to be granted, in Consideration of the said Message; and for that both Houses have now passed away the Isle of Wight, and therein the greatest Part of the Petitioner's Fortune: and therefore the Lords desire Concurrence for the taking off the Sequestration, according to the Contents of the Petition.

The Lords Message, in the behalf the Earl of Portland, of 24Septembris 1646; the Petition of the Earl of Portland, now sent from the Lords; and their Sense upon this Petition; were all read.

The Question was propounded, That this House doth concur with the Lords, in taking off the Sequestration of the Earl of Portland's Estate, according to the Contents of the Petition. 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 this House doth concur with the Lords, in taking off the Sequestration of the Earl of Portland's Estate, according to the Contents of the Petition.

Mr. Weston is appointed to bring in an Ordinance accordingly.

Answer from Lords.

Sir Robert Pye brings Answer, That the Lords do agree to all the Particulars of the Message carried to them by him.

Answer to Lords.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; That this House has considered their Lordships Message; and do concur with the Lords in taking off the Sequestration of the Earl of Portland's Estate, according to the Contents of the Petition.

Lilburne's Imprisonment.

Mr. Marten reports the State of the Case concerning the Commitment and Imprisonment of Lieutenant Colonel John Lilburne.

Resolved, &c. That this Report be re-committed to the same Committee: and they are to meet upon it this Afternoon at Three of Clock, in the former Place; and so de die in diem: And they are to search Precedents, what has been done in Cases of like Nature; and to present their Opinions to the House with all Speed, what they think fit to be done in this Business.

Loan from the City.

The humble Answer and Petition of the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Commons, in Common Council assembled, touching the Loan of Fifty thousand Pounds, upon the Security of the Arrears of Assessments, &c. was this Day read.

There was with it presented the Concept of an Ordinance concerning the same Business, annexed.

Ordered, That Mr. Alderman Pennyngton do bring in an Ordinance, for enabling the Common Council the better to raise and bring in the Arrears of the Assessments for the Army; and to secure the Monies advanced by them, according to the former Orders.

Ordered, That this House, notwithstanding this Answer, doth expect the Advance of the Fifty thousand Pounds, at the time limited in the former Orders of this House.

Mr. Vassal is appointed to acquaint the Common Council with this Order.

Tythes, &c.

The House being informed, That divers Inhabitants of the County of Bucks were at the Door, desiring to present a Petition to the House;

They were called in; and did present a Petition, styled, The humble Petition of the Inhabitants of the County of Bucks.

The which (the Petitioners being withdrawn) was read; and was, concerning Tythes, and concerning Free Quarter.

Resolved, &c. That the Answer to that Part of the Petition as concerns Tythes, shall be, that this House will take that Business into Consideration in due time; and that, in the mean time, till other Provision be made, they do expect the Payment of Tythes should be made, and continued: And as to that which concerns Free Quarter, the Answer shall be, That the House is now in Consideration of that Business; and will speedily take a Course for theirs and others Relief and Redress in that Business: And that Mr. Speaker do give them Thanks for their continual very good Affections to the Parliament.

The Petitioners were called in: And Mr. Speaker did deliver them their Answer, to this Purpose, accordingly.

King's Answer to Propositions.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Edward Leech and Mr. Page;

The Lords have commanded us to deliver this Answer of his Majesty, to the Propositions sent unto him from both Houses: And they think fit it should be communicated to the Scotts Commissioners, by the Members of both Houses, that are of the Committee of both Kingdoms; wherein they desire the Concurrence of this House.

Sir John Holland made a Narative of the Proceedings of the Commissioners, in the Delivery of the Propositions for Peace to his Majesty; and the Answers made by the Commissioners; and what the Commissioners returned to the King upon their Receipt of his Answer.

The King's Answer was read.

Resolved, &c. That this Answer be taken into Consideration on Friday Morning next, the first Business.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth concur with the Lords, That the Members of both Houses that are of the Committee of both Kingdoms, do communicate the Answer from the King to the Propositions, to the Scotts Commissioners.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; That this House has considered their Lordships Message; and do agree, That the King's Answer to the Propositions be communicated to the Scotts Commissioners, as is desired.

Persons under Commitment.

Ordered, That the Business concerning some Persons, Prisoners in the White Lion, committed by Mr. Justice Bacon and Serjeant Creswell, be referred to the Consideration and Examination of the Committee of Indemnity; to release them as they shall see Cause, if they have Power; otherwise to make speedy Report to the House.