House of Commons Journal Volume 5: 7 December 1647

Die Martis, 7 Decembris, 1647.

PRAYERS.

Leave of Absence.

RESOLVED, &c. That Sir Nicholas Marten, a Member of this House shall have Leave to go into the Country.

Free Quarter.

The House being informed, that divers Gentlemen of Middlesex were at the Door, desiring to prefer a Petition to this House;

They were called in:

And (the Petitioners being withdrawn) the Petition was read; stiled, "The humble Petition of the Committee and Inhabitants of the County of Middlesex, without the late Lines of Communication;" desiring to be totally freed from this intolerable Burden and Bondage of Free Quarter.

Resolved, &c. That the Petitioners have Thanks given them for their constant good Affections: And that Mr. Speaker do acquaint them, That the House has now in Consideration the Matter of the Petition: And doubt not but they shall give them speedy Relief, to their Satisfaction.

The Petitioners were again called in: And Mr. Speaker gave them Answer accordingly.

Information against Weaver.

Ordered, That the Information given in to this House, concerning Mr. Weaver, of Hereford, having been in Arms against the Parliament, be referred to the Examination of the Committee for the Members that have put in their Cases.

Invalid Soldiers.

The humble Petition of above Two hundred sick and wounded Soldiers in the Savoy Hospital, was this Day read.

Ordered, That the Committee, formerly appointed for the Wood Business, or any Three of them, do meet, peremptorily, this Afternoon at Three of Clock, where they shall think fit: And so de diem in diem, constantly: And that they do take care to bring in the Monies remaining, and Arrear upon that Business; and issue the same, according to former Orders and Ordinances, for Relief of the sick and wounded Soldiers in the Savoy Hospital; and give an Account hereof to the House on Wednesday Morning next.

Ordered, That on Wednesday Morning next, the first Business, the Committee for maimed Soldiers do make Report of the Ordinances and Instructions concerning the Provision for wounded and maimed Soldiers.

Free Quarter.

The House being informed, that divers Gentlemen of the County of Herts were at the Door;

They were called in; and did present a Petition, stiled,

"The humble Petition of the Inhabitants of the County of Herts."

The which (the Petitioners being withdrawn) was read; and did complain of the Burden of Free Quarter; and desired to be eased of it.

Ordered, That the like Answer be given to these Petitioners as was to those of the County of Middlesex.

The Petitioners were again called in: And Mr. Speaker accordingly did give them Thanks for their constant good Affections; and did acquaint them, That the House had now in Consideration that Part of the Petition that concerns Free Quarter; and doubt not but that in very short time they shall give the Petitioners, and the whole Kingdom, Relief, in that Particular, to their Satisfaction.

Irish Affairs.

Ordered, That, on Friday Morning next, the Reports and Ordinances concerning Ireland be made and reported.

Free Quarter.

Colonel White reports from the Grand Committee appointed to consider of taking off Free Quarter, some Resolutions of that Committee touching that Business.

Resolved, &c. That the Forces to be kept up for the Service of England shall be paid out of the Assessments of the Sixty thousand . . . . . per mensem.

Ditto.

The House being informed, that divers Gentlemen of the County of Bucks were at the Door:

They were called in; and did prefer a Petition to the House, stiled, "The humble Petition of divers Freeholders, Farmers and Labourers, in that Part of the County of Bucks, which is near adjoining to Windsore Castle;" with the Copy of a Petition, annexed, formerly presented to the General.

The which (the Petitioners being withdrawn) were read.

It is Resolved, &c. That Notice be taken of their constant good Affections; and Thanks returned for the same: And that the like Answer be given them touching Free Quarter, as was given to the former Petitioners of the Counties of Middlesex and Herts.

The Petitioners were again called in: And Mr. Speaker did give them the same Answer, in Substance, accordingly.

Army Representation.

The House being informed, That Sir Hardres Waller and Colonel Whalley were at the Door, with something they had in Command to deliver from the Army;

They were called in: And Sir Hardres Waller acquainted the House, He was commanded to deliver some Papers from the General, and the General Council of the Army: The which, because they are of high Concernment they are commanded to desire they may be taken into speedy Consideration; and shall attend an Answer.

They delivered the Paper in. Which was read; and intituled, "An humble Representation from his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairefax, and the Council of the Army, concerning their past Endeavours, and now final Desires, for the putting of the Soldiery into constant Pay, for the immediate disburdening the Kingdom of Free Quarter; the Prevention of any further Increase of Arrears; and in order to the Disbanding of Supernumeraries, and other Things concerning the Soldiery:" Dated, Windsore, 5 Decembris 1647; and signed, "By the Appointment of his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairefax, and the General Council of the Army. "John Rushworth, Secretary."

Ordered, That it be referred to the Consideration of the Committee following, to extract out of the said Representation the Heads of such Matters, as are most fit for the Consideration of the House, and will be most advantageous for their Service; and report them to the House with all convenient Speed;

Colonel White, Colonel Ven, Mr. Scawen, Mr. Weaver, Mr. Strode, Mr. Bond, Sir Gilbert Gerard, Colonel Birch, Sir Marten Lumley, Mr. Swynfen, Colonel West, Colonel Ludlow, Colonel Bowyer, Colonel Morley, Mr. Trenchard, Mr. Tate, Sir Rich. Onslowe, Mr. Boys, Sir John Evelyn, Mr. Dodderiche, Sir Wm. Massam, Major General Skippon, Sir John Francklyn, Sir Edward Hungerford, Mr. Hodges, Mr. Allen, Mr. Fenwick, Mr. Pury; or any Three of them: and are to meet this Afternoon at Two of Clock, in the Court of Wards: And the Care of this Business is more particularly referred to Sir Wm. Massam.

Great Seal.

The Question being put, That the Great Seal of England shall remain in the Custody of the Commissioners it now is in, for the Space of Twenty Days after the End of the next Term, from the Expiration of the Time it is now continued for; and that the Commission for Hearing of Causes in Chancery be renewed, and continued for the like Term of Twenty Days after the End of the next Term;

The House was divided.

The Yeas went forth.

So that the Question passed with the Affirmative.

Ordered, That the Lords Concurrence be desired in this Vote.

Sir John Evelyn is appointed to carry it to the Lords.

Free Quarter.

Ordered, That To-morrow Morning, the first Business, the House do take into Consideration the Report made from the Grand Committee, concerning the taking off Free Quarter.

Impeachments.

Ordered, That Mr. Miles Corbett do bring in the Impeachments To-morrow, after the Business of Free Quarter.

Business to be done.

Resolved, &c. That, for the Space of Eight Days longer from this Day, nothing shall be moved, or taken into Consideration, except only what concerns the Settlement of the Peace of the Kingdom, providing for the Army, and taking off Free Quarter, providing for the Navy, and the Affairs of Ireland.