House of Commons Journal Volume 5: 2 May 1648

Die Martis, 2 Maii, 1648.

Prayers.

Holy Island.

ORDERED, That the Letter from the Governor of Holy Island be referred to the Consideration of the Committee at Derby House.

Army, &c.

A Letter from the Lord General, from Windsore, of 1 Maii 1648, was read.

Ordered, That a Letter be sent to the Lord General, to desire, that the Orders for calling away the Regiments from Whitehall and the Mewes, be recalled, till the House take further Order: And that Thanks be returned to the General, for his Care expressed to the Parliament, and their Safety.

Ordered, That the Colonels that command the Regiments of Horse and Foot at the Mewes and Whitehall, be, and are hereby, required to forbear to remove their Forces, until they receive further Orders from the Lord General.

Resolved, &c. That the Members of this House that are of the City of London, do, this Afternoon, communicate to the Common Council the Letter from the Lord General; and leave a Copy of it with them, if they shall desire it.

Garisons, &c.

Ordered, That the Sum of Five thousand Pounds be charged upon the Moiety of the Receipts of the Excise not engaged, in Course, with Interest for the same, payable every Six Months, after the Rate of Eight Pounds per Cent.; to be employed for the Reparations and Fortifications about Newcastle and Tynmouth Castle.

Ordered, That the Sum of Six thousand Pounds be charged upon the Moiety of the Receipts of the Excise not engaged, in Course, with Interest for the same, payable every Six Months, after the Rate of Eight Pounds per Cent.; to be employed for the Reparations and Fortifications about Hull.

Ordered, That the Sum of Five hundred Pounds be charge upon the Moiety of the Receipts of the Excise not engaged in Course, with Interest for the same, payble every Six Months, after the Rate of Eight Pounds per Cent.; to be employed for the Fortifying of Scarborough Castle, and accommodating that Place for the better Entertainment of the Garison.

Sir Henry Cholmeley and Mr. Blackiston are appointed to prepare and bring in several Ordinances accordingly.

Ordered, That the Sum of Five hundred Pounds be charged upon the Moiety of the Receipts of the Excise not engaged, in Course, with Interest for the same, after the Rate of Eight Pounds per Cent. payable every Six Months; to be employed for Reparations, and other necessary Occasions, at Bristoll.

Mr. Aldworth is appointed to prepare and bring in an Ordinance to this Purpose.

He is likewise to prepare a Letter to be sent to the City of Bristoll, to furnish this Five hundred Pounds, for these present Occasions, upon this Credit.

Message to Lords.

Mr. Tate carried to the Lords, for their Concurrence, the Ordinance for punishing of Blasphemies and Heresies, returned to the Lords: The Ordinance for settling Maintenance for a Preaching Ministry in the City of Bathe, with some Amendments: In which he is to desire the Lords Concurrence.

Comm rs of Assessments.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth nominate and approve of Mr. Richard Bradapp, Mr. John Hurding, Mr. Edward Checker, Mr. Edward Hodges, Mr. Richard Coker, Mr. John Salter, Mr. John Eares, of Purbecke, senior, Mr. James Dewe, Mr. James Baker, to be added to the Commissioners for Assessments in the County of Dorsett.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Mr. Tate carried it to the Lords.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth nominate and approve of Sir Edward Gilbourne, Mr. George Duke, Mr. George Hall, Mr. Edward State, Mr. Samuell Short, Mr. William Boyes of Hawkherst, Mr. John Osborne, Mr. Michaell Belke, Mr. Richard Tilden, Captain John Seyliard, Mr. John Polhill of Of ord, Mr. William Draper of Crayford, to be added to the Commissioners for Assessments in the County of Kent.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Sir Michael Levesey is appointed to carry it to the Lords.

He delivered it to Mr. Tate, who delivered it in to the Lords, with his Message.

Navy Supply.

Ordered, That, on Thursday Morning next, the first Business, the Committee of the Navy do make Report concerning the Monies of the Navy.

Arrears of Assessments.

Ordered, That the Knights and Burgesses of the several Counties delivered in a List, to be in Arrear in the Payment of the Assessments for the Army, do meet this Afternoon with the Committee of the Army, and do write effectually to the several Committees of those respective Counties, that they take speedy Course, that the Monies in Arrear in those Counties may be speedily paid in; and require an Account from them who are behind; and to acquaint them, that in Default of Payment thereof, the great Inconvenience of Free Quarter must necessarily follow, and be taken upon those Parties that pay not in their Assessments.

Free Quarter.

Ordered, That the Gentlemen of the Counties of Devon and Cornewall do confer with the Committee of the Army, and take some effectual Course, by writing to Sir Hardres Waller, or otherwise, for remedying the Matters now informed and complained of, touching Free Quarter.

Settling the Kingdom.

Resolved, &c. That, To-morrow Morning, the first Business, peremptorily, and nothing to intervene, the Debate be resumed concerning the Settlement of the Kingdom, according to the Order appointed for this Day.

Answer from Lords.

Mr. Tate brings Answer, That the Lords do agree to the Ordinance concerning Blasphemies and Heresies; to the Amendments in the Ordinance for settling the Maintenance of a Preaching Ministry in the City of Bath; and to the Names of the Committees and Commissioners to be added to the Ordinances for Assessments in the Counties of Kent and Dorsett.

Blasphemies and Heresies.

Ordered, That the Ordinance concerning Blasphemies and Heresies be forthwith printed: And that the Knights and Burgesses, respectively, that serve for the several Counties and Places of the Kingdom, do send Copies of the said Ordinance to the said several Counties and Places: And the Ministers of the several Parishes are hereby required to read and publish the same, in their respective Parish Churches the next Lord's Day after the Receipt thereof.

Free Quarter.

It is further Ordered, That the Knights and Burgesses do likewise send down to the several Counties and Places, the Ordinance, lately passed, touching Free Quarter, to be likewise published in the several Counties.

Message from Lords.

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

The Lords have commanded us to bring unto you a Report from the Committee at Derby House, with a Warrant from one . . . . the High Constable of Surrey to the Town of Mortlacke: Their Lordships think fit, an Order should be sent to the Sheriff, and to the Deputy Lieutenants, of that County, for the Preventing of Tumults, and Preservation of the Peace: To which their Lordships desire the Concurrence of this House. Their Lordships recommend the Petition of Mrs. Pigott: Which they desire you to take into speedy Consideration.

Pigott's Petition.

The humble Petition of Martha Pigott Widow, was this Day read.

Answer to Lords.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; That the House do agree with the Lords, to the Order for Suppressing of Tumults: And, for other Particulars of the Message, the House hath taken the same into Consideration; and will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Preventing Tumults in Surry.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth concur with the Lords, in ordering and enjoining the Sheriff of the County of Surry, and the Deputy Lieutenants of the said County, to take speedy and effectual Course for Preventing of Tumults, and Preservation of the Peace of that County.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee at Derby House, to take effectual Care for Preventing of Tumults, and Preservation of the Peace of the County of Surry; and in pursuance of an Order of both Houses to that Purpose.

Reports, &c. deferred.

Ordered, That, on Saturday Morning next, Mr. Miles Corbett do make his Reports from the Committee at Haberdashers Hall: And that then the Consideration of Mrs. Pigott's Petition be resumed.

Sheriff of Essex.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth nominate and appoint Robert Bourne, of Bovinger, Esquire, to be Sheriff of the County of Essex: And that a Patent do pass, under the Great Seal, accordingly.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

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