House of Commons Journal Volume 5: 21 July 1648

Die Veneris, 21 Julii, 1648.

Prayers.

Leave of Absence.

ORDERED, That Mr. Samuell Browne, Mr. Jesson, Mr. Francis Godolphin, and Mr. Thomas Arundell have Leave to go into the Country.

Navy.

Sir Gilbert Gerard reports Instructions from the Committee of Lords and Commons at Derby House, touching Walter Strickland Esquire, and Alexander Bence Esquire, their accompanying the Lord Admiral to Sea, in this Expedition.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth approve of the late Instructions; and agree with the said Committee thereupon.

Which Instructions were in hæc verba; viz.

Instructions for Walter Strickland Esquire, and Mr. Alexander Bence, appointed, by the House of Commons, to accompany the Lord Admiral to Sea, in this Expedition.

WHEREAS the House of Commons, by their Order of the Thirteenth Instant, have appointed you to be sent with the Lord Admiral to Sea, according to the Desire of the said Lord Admiral, in the Letter of the Twelsth instant, that he might consult with you, from time to time, as there shall be occasion, how to transact the Affairs at Sea, with most Advantage to the Service of Parliament, and Safety of the Kingdom:

1. You are therefore, with all convenient Speed, to make your Repair to the Lord Admiral; and shall accompany him in this present Expedition to Sea.

2. You are, from time to time, upon all Occasions, to consult with the Lord Admiral, according to the Desire in his said Letter, about the Transaction of the Affairs at Sea, and for the most Advantage to the Service of the Parliament, and Safety of the Kingdom: And shall therein give him the best Assistance you can, with your Advice and Counsel, for the best managing of those Affairs.

3. You shall put in Execution such further Instructions as you shall, from time to time, receive from both Houses of Parliament; or from any by them appointed to give them.

4. You are to give frequent and constant Intelligence to the Houses, and this Committee, of what Occurrences shall be necessary to be signified unto them.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Letter read.

Mr. Solicitor reports a Letter from Colonel Mitton, from Denbigh, of the Fifth of July 1648: Which was this Day read.

Prisoners of War.

Ordered, That such Persons as have been for the Parliament, and are revolted from the Parliament, that have been taken Prisoners, be sent to the General, and be tried by a Council of War.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Ordered, That the General be desired to grant Commissions to try such Persons as have revolted from the Parliament, and been in Arms against the Parliament, by Martial Law.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Grant to Yarrington.

The House being informed, that Captain Yarrington was at the Door;

He was called in; and related to the House the Discovery of the Design of the Enemy to take Doyley House, Hereford, and other Strongholds; and how the same was prevented.

Ordered, That the Sum of Five hundred Pounds be advanced and given to Captain Yarranton, for his good Service in discovering the dangerous Design in surprising Dawley Castle, Hereford, and other Strongholds, out of the first Monies that shall be raised out of Sir Henry Lingen's Estate, and out of other Delinquents Estates, who had an Hand, or were Actors, in that Design: And that the several Sequestrators of the several Counties of Hereford, Salop, Worcester, and Stafford, do pay the same to the said Captain Yarranton, or his Assigns, accordingly, by equal Portions: And the Acquittance of the said Captain Yarranton, or his Assigns, for Receipt thereof, shall be a sufficient Warrant and Discharge to the said several Committees or Commissioners of Sequestrations, for Payment thereof: And the several Committees of the said several Counties are enjoined to sequester the Estates of the said Sir Henry Lingen, and the said other Delinquents, in the said several Counties, accordingly.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Worcester, and that Captain Yarrington be especially recommended to the said Committee, to furnish the said Captain Yarrangton with such Horses as shall be necessary for carrying on the Service, for further Prevention of this Design; and for preserving of the Peace, and Safeguard of the said Counties.

Ordered, That the Thanks of this House be given to Captain Yarranton, for his Ingenuity, Discretion, and Valour, in the discovering and preventing the dangerous Design of surprising Doylie Castle, Hereford, and other Strongholds.

The said Captain Yarranton being again called in; Mr. Speaker did accordingly give him the Thanks of this House.

Message from Lords.

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

The Lords have sent to you the Order for taking off the Embargo from the Coal Ships: To which they desire the Concurrence of this House. The Lords have sent you a Petition of Lovell Scott, and others, of the Isle of Wight; which they recommend to this House: An Ordinance for taking off the Sequestration of the Estate of Stephen Anderson, according to the Articles upon the Rendition of Hartlebury Castle: An Ordinance for granting the Office of Gentleman Porter of the Tower of London unto John Baldwyn Gentleman: Wherein they desire the Concurrence of this House.

Navy.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth approve of the Engagement of Alexander Bence Esquire, made to the Seamen that lifted themselves to serve the Lord Admiral in this present Expedition; and of his making Stay of the Colliers Ships, until they had paid their Wages to such Men as had voluntarily listed themselves for the Parliament's Service.

It is Ordered, by the Lords and Commons, in Parliament assembled, That if the Coal Ships shall furnish the Lord Admiral with Two Men out of a Ship, if he shall need so many for the Manning of his Ships, and shall think sit to take them; that then it is left to him to take off the Embargo from the Coal Ships, and suffer them to go to Sea for Harwich, if his Lordship think they may do it with Safety.

Scott's, &c. Petition.

Ordered, That the Petition of Lovell Scott, Gentleman, and others of the Isle of Wight, be read, the first Business, To-morrow Morning.

Baldwin's Grant.

Ordered, That the Business touching a Grant of the Place of Gentleman Porter of the Tower unto John Baldwin, recommended from the Lords, be taken up Tomorrow Morning.

Answer to Lords.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; That the House has considered their Lordships Message: And, as to the taking off the Embargo of the Coal Ships, the House doth agree: To the rest they will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Haliburton's Pass to the King.

Mr. Scott reports the Packet of Letters from Scottland.

Ordered, That Mr. Halliburton have free Liberty forthwith to go to the King, according to his Instructions from the Committees of Estates of Scottland.

Ordered, That Captain Spencer and Lieutenant Colonel Osborne do go along with Mr. Halliburton to the King, for the Safety of the said Mr. Halliburton: And the said Captain Spencer and Lieutenant Colonel Osborne are to take care, that Mr. Halliburton do hold no Correspondence, in his Passage thither, or in his Return, to the Prejudice of the Parliament and Kingdom.

Letter to Scotts General Assembly.

Ordered, That a Committee be appointed to prepare a Letter to be signed by Mr. Speaker, and sent to the General Assembly of the Church of Scottland, to acquaint them, how far the Parliament have proceeded concerning settling Religion and Church Government; and for preservation of the Union between the Two Kingdoms.

Mr. Smith, Mr. Dodderige, Mr. Bond, Mr. Sallwey, Mr. Ashhurst, Mr. Bacon. Mr. Swynfen, or any Two of them, are to prepare the said Letter.

Scotts' Declaration.

Ordered, That the Declaration of the Committee of the Estates of the Parliament of Scottland be read, the first Business, To-morrow Morning.

Message from Lords.

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

The Lords desire, That the Committee, formerly appointed for Peace, meet this Afternoon at Three of Clock, in the Painted Chamber, to confer touching the Scotts Declaration; and of some Expedient, that the Treaty between the King and Parliament may be speeded; and how to prevent the English and Scottish Army from engaging. The Lords have commanded us to deliver unto you an Ordinance, made for Henry Stewart; wherein the Lords desire, That Major William Stewart's Name may be inserted, in the stead of Henry Stewart:-An Ordinance for the Placing of Mr. George Bradshawe in the Headship of Baylioll College in Oxford; wherein the Lords desire the Concurrence of this House. The Lords desire to put you in mind of Mr. Jessop's Petition, formerly recommended from them to this House.

Answer.

Resolved, &c. That to the First Part of this Message, Answer be sent by Messengers of their own.

Circourt's Pass.

Ordered, That Mr. Speaker do grant a Pass to Mr. John Circourt, a Frenchman, to go beyond Seas.

Answer to Lords.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; That the House has considered of their Lordships Message: As to the Alteration of the Name of Mr. Henry Stewart, and to put in the Name of Major William Stewart into the Ordinance, instead of the said Henry Stewart; and to the Ordinance for making Mr. George Bradshawe Head of Baylioll College in Oxford; they do agree: To the rest of the Particulars of the Message they will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Transactions with Scotland.

Ordered, That the Committee, formerly ordered to draw up Transactions between the Kingdoms of England and Scottland, do forthwith draw up the Declaration. And.

It is further Ordered, That Mr. Ashhurst and Mr. Weaver be added to that Committee.