House of Commons Journal Volume 5: 11 July 1648

Die Martis, 11 Julii, 1648.

Prayers.

Excise.

AN Ordinance for continuing the Receipts of the Grand Excise for a longer Time, with a Blank for the Time, was this Day read the First and Second time.

Resolved, &c. That the Receipts of the Excise shall be continued, by this Ordinance, from the Twenty-ninth Day of September 1648, until the 29th of September 1650.

The Ordinance, so amended, upon the Question, passed; and is ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

An Ordinance for allowing to the Sub-Commissioners of Excise, upon passing their Accompts, all such Sums of Money, as have been taken from them by Force, was this Day read the First and Second time; and, upon the Question, committed unto the Members of this House that are of the Committee for regulating the Excise: And are to report it with all convenient Speed.

Answer from Lords.

Mr. Sandys brings Answer from the Lords, That the Lords do agree to all the Particulars of the Message, by him carried to them Yesterday.

Reading Election.

Upon Mr. Waller's Report, touching the Return of a Burgess to serve for the Borough of Reading; whereby it appeareth, that the Sheriffs of the said County hath returned Two several Indentures affixed to the Writ; the one by the Mayor, Aldermen, and Burgesses, under the Common Seal of the said Borough; whereby Daniell Blagrave Esquire is returned Burgess to serve in Parliament, as aforesaid; the other Indenture by the Aldermen, and divers Burgesses, of the said Borough; whereby George Starchie Esquire is returned Burgess to serve in Parliament, as aforesaid.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth agree with the Committee, That Daniell Blagrave Esquire is well and duly returned, and ought to sit in Parliament, till the Matter of Election be determined.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee for Elections, to examine the Matter of the Election for the Borough of Reading; and likewise the Misdemeanor of the Sheriff of the County of Berks, in making Double Returns of Two Indentures for the Election of a Burgess for that Borough.

Lincolneshire Forces.

An Ordinance for enabling the Committee for the County of Lincolne to raise Fifteen hundred Pounds per mensem, for maintaining of Forces for Defence and Safety of the said County, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

Affairs in Worcester.

A Letter from the Committee at Worcester, of 8 Julii 1648; with the Examinations of divers Prisoners upon Oath, tending to the Surprising of some Garisons, and the Garisoning of some Place for the Service of the King.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth approve of the Raising of Forces in the County of Worcester, for Defence thereof; and of the Garisoning of Hartlebury Castle; and do declare it to be an acceptable Service.

Ordered, That Mr. Serjeant Wylde and Mr. Sallwey do prepare a Letter of Thanks, to be sent to the Committee of Worcester, and the Governor of Hartlebury Castle.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Gentlemen of this House, of the County of Worcester, to consider of some Means to maintain the Forces raised in the County of Worcester; and to report it to the House.

Reward to Messenger.

Ordered, That the Messenger, that brought these Letters, have the Sum of Ten Pounds bestowed upon him; And that it be referred to the Gentlemen of the County of Worcester, to take care, that this Ten Pounds be paid unto him, out of the new Sequestrations of the Estates of those Persons, that have been engaged in this late Design.

Dawley, &c. Castles.

Ordered, That Power be given to the Committee of Shropsheire, to demolish Dawley Castle, and Bramcroft Castle, and to make the same untenable.

Insurrection in Surrey.

Colonel Harvey, Colonel Puresoy, Sir John Evelyn of Surry, Colonel Bossevile, Mr. Ellis, Sir Peter Wentworth, Sir James Harrington, Sir Walt. Erle, Sir Robert Harley, Mr. Scott, Colonel Moore, Sir Gilbert Gerard, Lord Cramborne, Mr. Weavor, Sir John Potts, Sir Tho. Wroth, Mr. Edward Ashe, Mr. Nicoll, Mr. Waller, Mr. Snelling, Mr. Cary, Mr. Niclas, Mr. Trenchard, Sir John Evelyn of Wiltes, Mr. Priestley, Mr. John Stephens, Sir Dudley North, Sir Martin Lumley, Major General Skippon, Sir Harbottle Grimston, Sir Thomas Dacres, Sir Sam. Luke, Alderman Pennington, Mr. Sallway junior, Colonel Lee, Mr. Lechmore, Mr. Challoner, Mr. John Goodwyn, Mr. Knightley, . . Lilibone Long, Mr. Doddridge, Mr. Serjeant Wilde, Colonel Harvey, Mr. Greene, Mr. John Corbett, Sir Symonds D'Ewes, Colonel Ven, Sir Edward Fowell, Mr. Wheeler, Colonel Thomson, Mr. Crowther;

This Committee, or any Five of them, are to examine, who were Actors in the late Insurrection in Surrey, and Engagement with the Earl of Holland, or the Lord Goreing, or Sir Charles Lucas; who were privy to it, Promoters of it, by Contribution or Furnishing of any Money, Horse, Arms or Ammunition: And are to receive Informations concerning any Persons touching the Premises, as well Members as others: And have Power to send for Witnesses, Parties, Papers, Records; and to secure such as they shall find Cause for, until Report can be made; and to make Search in all Places, for any such Persons as they shall receive Information against: And it is further referred to this Committee, to consider of the Examinations, and Informations from Worcestersheire, and the Papers from and concerning the Earl of Holland; and to prepare a Declaration, upon Consideration of the Premises, to indeceive the People: And are to meet this Afternoon at Two of Clock, in the Star Chamber.

Inlisting Soldiers.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth approve of what Major General Skippon, or any other well-affected Person or Persons, have done, or shall do, in the voluntary Raising and Inlisting of Men, for the Defence and Safety of the Parliament, City, and Kingdom, in pursuance of the Order of this House to that Purpose: And that he and they shall be indemnified, and saved harmless therefore.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Ordered, That the Committee of the Militia of the City of London be desired to give Assistance to Major General Skippon, in the Inlisting of Volunteers, Horse and Foot, for the Defence and Safety of the Parliament, City, and Kingdom; and to encourage such as shall come in voluntarily, to inlist themselves to the End aforesaid.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Ordered, That the Lords Concurrence be desired in the Order of this House, made on Wednesday last, for the Inlisting of such Persons, Horse or Foot, as shall voluntarily inlist themselves under his Command, for the Defence of the Parliament and City.

Suppressing Tumults, &c.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of the Militia of the City of London, to examine and inquire into the several Affronts given to such as act for the Service of the Parliament, in Securing of Prisoners, searching for or disarming Delinquents, or otherwise: And that they take Course for the speedy Suppressing of Tumults; and punishing or securing such Affronters.

Navy, &c.

Upon a Report, this Day made from the Committee at Derby House, expressing a Report from the Lord Admiral, and Committee of the Navy.

1. It is Resolved, &c. That a Declaration be passed, thereby setting forth the Detestableness of their Act of the Revolters; containing likewise a Grant of Two Months Pay extraordinary, to such Seamen as shall engage in the present Service, and effectually endeavour the Reducing of the revolted Ships; the same to be paid . . . they shall be reduced and brought into Port; as also an Offer of Indemnity to such Persons aboard the said Ships, as shall within the Time, which the Parliament shall in their Wisdom think fit to limit, render themselves and their Ships to the Parliament's Obedience: And that all Persons aboard the said respective Ships, who shall not submit within the Time so to be limited, and all other the Subjects of this Kingdom, who shall hereafter join with them, or assist them, shall be declared Traitors to the Kingdom, and their Estates confiscate.

2. That there be an Embargo of all Ships within the River of Thames, till the Lord Admiral shall be at Sea, with the Fleet.

3. That Thirty Masters and Masters-mates, of approved Ability and Faithfulness (to be chosen by the Lord Admiral), be added to the Fleet, and borne upon such Ships as the Lord Admiral shall think fit to assign them to.

4. That Order be given for the Employment of some Fisher Boats, or other small Vessels, at Plimouth and Silly, and thereabouts, to ply forth to Sea, to give Notice of this Revolt to all Merchants Ships passing that Way, homeward-bound; together with Caution to repair into some of the Western Ports, for their Security, until the Lord Admiral shall be at Sea, with the Fleet.

5. That the Harbour of Portsmouth being of so great Concernment to the Navy, be especially taken care of: And that it be referred to the Committee at Derby House, to take care hereof.

6. That the Commissioners of the Navy have Order to treat for the taking up of Six Merchants Ships of Force, such as are ready for Service; that thereupon the Owners may be contracted with, for their Assistance to the said Reduction, if there shall be Cause.

Revolted Ships.

A Declaration concerning the revolted Ships was read several times; and, upon the Question, committed unto the Committee of the Navy: Who are to report it Tomorrow Morning.

Message to Lords.

Sir Robert Harley carried to the Lords, for their Concurrence, the Ordinance for continuing the Excise; for determining the Accompts of the Soldiery; for giving a Salary to the Accomptants: And . . . to put the Lords in mind of the Ordinance touching the County of Essex; and of the other Ordinances of that Nature.

Militia.

Ordered, That Sir Robert Harley do report the Ordinance touching the Militia, on Thursday Morning next.

Isle of Sylly.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of the Navy, to provide and set forth a small Pinnace, for the Safety of the Isle of Sylly.

Plimouth.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee at Derby House, to take care for the Securing and Safeguard of Plimouth.

Reward to Messenger.

Ordered, That Ten Pounds be given to Thomas Noone, the Messenger, that brought the Intelligence out of Hertfordsheire: And that the said Ten Pounds be charged upon Haberdashers Hall.

Maj. Rolse.

Ordered, That the Keeper of the Gatehouse be sent unto, to accommodate Major Rolfe with a convenient Lodging, as a Prisoner: And that his Friends, Physicians, and Surgeons, be permitted to resort to him.

Answer from Lords.

Sir Robert Harley brings Answer from the Lords, That, to the Ordinance for continuing the Excise; and to the Ordinance for Lincolne; they agree: To the rest, they will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Col. Hamond.

Ordered, That a Letter, to be signed by Mr. Speaker, be sent to Colonel Hamond; taking notice of his Faithfulness and good Service; and desiring the Continuance thereof.

Sir Antho. Irby and Sir Peter Wentworth are to prepare this Letter.

Col. Lilburne.

Ordered, That, on Tuesday next, the House do proceed in the Business touching Colonel Lilburne.

Letter from Hamond.

Ordered, That the Letter from Colonel Hamond, from Carisbrooke Castle, of July the Fourth 1648, be forthwith printed and published.