House of Commons Journal Volume 5: 18 May 1648

Die Jovis, 18 Maii, 1648.

Prayers.

Message to Lords.

MR. Vassall carried to the Lords, for their Concurrence, the Ordinance for settling the Militia in the City of London; and the Order for putting Captain Skinner into the Possession of his House at Bromely, the late Bishop of Rochester's.

Fast Day.

Resolved, &c. That a particular Day be appointed for a Day of Humiliation by both Houses.

Resolved, &c. That the Day of this Humiliation be Wednesday next come Sevennight.

Resolved, &c. That this Day of Humiliation be kept by this House in this House.

The Lords to be acquainted with these Votes.

Preacher appointed.

Resolved, &c. That Mr. Whittacre be desired to preach before this House on Wednesday next come Sevennight, being appointed to be observed by this House, in this House.

And Colonel Thomson is desired to acquaint Mr. Whittacre with this Order.

Margaret's Church.

Ordered, That it be recommended to the Care of Mr. Marshall and Mr. Greene, to take such Course that there may be Sermons in Margaret's Church, Westminster, on Wednesday next come Sevennight, the Day of publick Humiliation; the House having resolved to observe that Day in this House.

Members having Offices.

Ordered, That the Committee where Mr. Bulkley has the Chair, formerly appointed to consider what Office, or Places of Advantage are enjoyed by Members of the House, be revived; and do meet To-morrow at Two post meridiem, in the usual Place; and so de die in aiem, to put the Powers * * * *.

Design against Parliament, &c.

The Houses being informed, by a Report from the Committee at Derby House, That there is a Design of very dangerous Consequence ready to be put in Execution against the Parliament, the City, and Kingdom, by Forces being listed for that Purpose, under the Oath of Secrecy, do Order, and it is Ordered, by the Lords and Commons, That the several Militias of London, and Parts adjacent, be in a Posture to prevent or resist the same.

It is further Ordered, by the Authority aforesaid, That all Keepers of Prisons, unto whose Custody any Persons are committed Prisoners, for acting any thing against the Parliament; be and are streightly enjoined strictly and securely to keep all such Persons within their several Prisons.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Mr. Crew carried it to the Lords.

Gen.Skippon.

An Ordinance for constituting and appointing MajorGeneral Philipp Skippon Major General and Commander in Chief of the Forces within the late Lines of Communication, was this Day read the First and Second time; and, upon the Question, passed; and is ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

Mr. Crewe likewise carried it to the Lords.

Answer from Lords.

Mr. Vassall brings Answer, That the Lords do agree to the Ordinance for the Militia of the City of London; and to the Ordinance concerning Captain Skynner.

London Militia.

Ordered, That all the Commissioned Officers, and others, within the City of London, and Liberties thereof, be, and are hereby, required to act upon the Commissions they now have, until the Committee of the Militia, now constituted, shall think fit to appoint others; to the Intent no Prejudice may happen to the Parliament or City, in the Interim, till the Militia be settled: And that they do obey all such Orders and Directions, as they shall, from time to time, receive from Major General Skippon.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Answer from Lords.

Mr. Tate brings Answer, That the Lords do agree to the Order brought by him.

London Militia, &c.

Ordered, That Mr. Vassall and Colonel Venne do communicate to the City the Ordinance for settling the Militia of the City of London; and the Order for preventing Mischiefs that may happen in this Interim, till the Militia be settled; and the Ordinance for constituting MajorGeneral Philipp Skippon Major General of all the Forces within the late Lines of Communication.

Marquis of Winton.

The Question being put, For concurring with the Lords, That the Marquis of Winton may be continued upon his former Bail for Three Months longer;

The House was divided.

The Yeas went forth.

Answer from Lords.

Mr. Crew brings Answer, That the Lords do agree to the Order made upon the Report from the Committee at Derby House; and to the Ordinance for constituting Major General Philipp Skippon to be Major General of all the Forces within the Lines of Communication.

Message from Lords.

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

The Lords do again desire the Concurrence of this House, touching the Marquis of Winchester's having his Liberty upon his former Bail for Three Months longer:- And to deliver you Sir James Bannatyne's Petition, with the Sense, That this House thinketh it fit to grant the Desire to the Petitioner, in regard of his great Merit: And, conceiving it may be of Service to the State, The Prince Elector's Letter, in the Behalf of his Brother, for One thousand of those Prisoners, taken in Wales, to be transported for Service of the State of Venice:- The humble Petition of the Supernumerary Officers, whose Accompts are stated, to have a Moiety, or considerable Part, of such Arrears as appear due upon their several Debentures:- The like for Colonel Morgan's Officers, whose Accompts are stated:- The Petition of the reduced Officers and Gentlemen of Colonel Sanderson's late Regiment:- The Petition of several Thousands of reduced Officers and Soldiers:- The Petition of divers Officers of Munster:- The Petition of Edward Lord Herbert of Cherbury.

The Lords do earnestly recommend to this House the Condition of Captain Grigg, that he may have speedy Supply and Employment; being a Person who hath faithfully served the Parliament, and is now in much Want and Extremity: The Petition of Catharine Wollascott, the Relict of Wm. Wollascott Esquire, deceased: The Petition of Henry Stephens, Merchant: An Order, That the Prince Elector be permitted to transport Four Horses into France: Wherein they desire the Concurrence of this House:- An Order for Mrs. Catharine Highlord for vacating the Recognizance of Two thousand Four hundred Pounds; whereupon the Sum of One thousand Two hundred Pounds was due unto Roger Nott, from Francis Wayte; and the Record thereof; and the Judgment obtained upon the said Recognizance:-A Report from the Committee of Lords and Commons for Foreign Affairs, touching the Duke of Lorraine: Wherein they desire the Concurrence of this House:- A Report from the Committee of Lords and Commons for the Affairs of Ireland, sitting at Derby House, touching the Lord Inchiquin's Son: An Ordinance for the uniting the Parish Churches of Poltimore and Hokisham alias Huxham; and making them one Parish Church: An Ordinance for settling a faithful Minister in Windsor Chapel, in the Parish Church of New Windsor: An Ordinance to make Mr. Anthony Tuckney Master of Emanuel College in Cambridge: An Ordinance for making Mr. Benjamine Woodridge Rector of the Church of Newberry: An Ordinance for appointing Mr. Arthure Wingham to be Rector of the Rectory of Walgrace in the County of Northampton: An Ordinance for adding some Persons to the Committee for Sequestrations within the County Palatine of Lancaster: Wherein they desire the Concurrence of this House.

Transporting Prisoners.

The Desire of Sir James Bannatyne, now sent from the Lords, was this Day read: And

It is Resolved, &c. That this House doth concur with the Lords, in granting the Desire of Sir James Bannatyne, for the Entertaining and Transporting of Eight hundred, such as will voluntarily go, upon the Conditions and Securities offered by him: And that it be referred to the Committee for Prisoners, to take Security for Performance of the Conditions tendered.

The Letter from the Prince Elector, now sent from the Lords, was this Day read.

Upon the Desire of the Prince Elector, in the Behalf of Prince Phillipp his Brother;

It is Ordered, That Prince Phillipp shall have Power to entertain and transport such Persons as shall willingly go, not exceeding the Number of One thousand, upon the Conditions tendered in the Prince Elector's Letter: And that it be referred to the Committee for Prisoners, to take care, that the said Cautions and Conditions may be observed.

Reduced Officers, &c.

The humble Petition of several Thousands of reduced Officers and Soldiers, now in and about the City, was this Day read.

Ordered, That, on Tuesday Morning next, peremptorily, and nothing to intervene, the several Petitions concerning the Soldiers and Widows be taken up: And Sir Thomas Dacres is desired to be then present.

Poltimore, &c. Parish.

An Ordinance for the Union of Parish Churches of Poltimore and Hokisham in the County of Devon, . . . . . . one Parish, and one Church, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed; and agreed unto.

Wollascott's Jointure.

The humble Petition of Catherine Wollascott, the Relict of William Wollascott Esquire, deceased, was this Day read.

It is Ordered, That the said Petition be referred to the Committee of Lords and Commons at Goldsmiths Hall, to permit the said Catherine Wollascott to sell her Jointure, as is desired, to satisfy her Debts; and for her Subsistence; provided the said Catherine Wollascott hath not been in Arms against the Parliament.

Stephens' Claims,

The humble Petition of Henry Stephens, Merchant; and a Report from the Committee of Lords and Commons for Ireland; were both this Day read.

Resolved, &c. That the Sum of Fourteen hundred Pounds and one Shilling be allowed of, as the Debt of the State.

Ordered, That the Sum of Five hundred Pounds, Part of the said Fourteen hundred Pounds and one Shilling, be paid unto Henry Stephens, Merchant, or his Assigns, and be charged upon the Excise, in Course: And that the Sum of Nine hundred Pounds and One Shilling, Residue of the said Sum of Fourteen hundred Pounds and One Shilling, be paid out of such concealed Delinquents Estates, as he shall discover, at Haberdashers Hall, in Satisfaction of Three thousand One hundred salt Hides, taken from him by the Lords Justices and Council in Ireland, for the Use of the Army.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Message from Lords.

A Second Message from the Lords, by Dr. Bennett and Dr. Aylett;

The Lords desire a Conference with this House, Tomorrow Morning, at Ten a Clock, concerning the King's Children, if it may stand with your Convenience; and that a Committee of both Houses be sent to the Lord Mayor, to desire him to call a Common Council; and to acquaint them with the Care the Houses have taken for the Safety of the City; and that they expect the like Care from them, that the Militia of the City be disposed of for the Safety of the Parliament.

The Lords have returned to you, an Ordinance, with some Additions, for punishing Defaulters at Musters: And a Report from the Committee of the Revenue; with an Order thereunto annexed, to authorize John Savile Esquire, Sheriff of the County of Yorke, to receive the Revenue of the Crown in the County, until the Differences between John Bland and Walter Fowkes, touching the Receivership of Yorkshiere, be determined: Whereunto the Lords do agree; and desire the Concurrence of this House:-An Ordinance, granting Licence to Thomas Marsh Esquire, High Sheriff of the Counties of Cambridge and Huntington, to reside out of the said Counties: Whereunto they desire the Concurrence of this House:-A Petition of Colonel Bolfore: Which they recommend to this House.

Conference agreed to.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth agree to a Conference with the Lords To-morrow at Ten of Clock, as is desired.

Mr. Crew, Mr. Annesley, Mr. Erle, Mr. Bulkley, Mr. Tate, Major General Browne, Sir Robert Harley, Sir Wm. Brereton, Mr. Lemon, Mr. Doddridge, Mr. Grove, Mr. Waller, Sir John Bamfeild, Mr. Crompton;

Communication to the City.

This Committee, or any Four of them, is appointed to meet and join with a Committee of a proportionable Number of the Lords, to go to the Common Council; and signify, That the Houses of Parliament, as they have been ready to satisfy the Desires of the City for their Security; so they expect, that the City be careful so to dispose of the Militia, that the Safety of the Parliament and Kingdom be provided for.

Ordered, That Colonel Venne do desire the Lord Mayor to call a Common Council, to meet To-morrow at Three of Clock; the Houses having appointed a Committee to come unto them at that time.

Resolved, &c. That a Committee be appointed to consider of some Heads to be communicated to the City, for preserving a good Agreement and Correspondence between the Parliament and City, upon the Debate now had in the House.

It is further Ordered, That the Committee appointed to go into the City, or any Four of them, . . . . . . with the Addition of Mr. Samuell Browne, Mr. Swynfen, Mr. Ellys, Sir Henry Vane, junior, Sir John Potts, and Mr. Nathaniell Stephens, as to this Business: And that they do meet this Afternoon at Three of Clock, in the Queen's Court: And they are to bring in their Report To-morrow Morning: And the Care of this Business is more particularly referred to Mr. Annesley.

Answers to Lords.

Answer returned to the First Message by the same Messengers; That, as to Sir James Bonnatine's Petition, the Prince Elector's Letter, and the Ordinance for the Union of the Churches of Poltimore and Hokysham, the House doth agree: To the rest, they will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Answer returned to the Second Message; That, as to the Conference desired To-morrow Morning, and that a Committee of both Houses do go to the Lord Mayor, as is desired, this House doth agree: To the rest of the Particulars of the Message, the House will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Transactions with Scotland.

Mr. Swinfen reports a Letter of Instructions to be sent to the Commissioners of the Parliament of England, to be communicated to the Parliament of Scottland, in Answer to the Desires of the Parliament of Scottland: Which was twice read; and, upon the Question, agreed unto; and ordered to be sent to the Lords for their Concurrence.

Exeter.

Ordered, That, To-morrow Morning, the Report concerning Exeter be made.