House of Commons Journal Volume 5: 1 September 1648

Die Veneris, 1 Septembris, 1648.

Relief of Farringdon.

Prayers.

THE humble Petition of the poor distressed Inhabitants of the Town of Great Farringdon, was this Day read.

Whereas the Town of Great Farringdon and Westbrooke, and the Parish Church there, were demolished and burnt by Fire, by the Enemies Garison, to the Ruin and Damage of the Inhabitants in their Habitations, Goods, and Church, to the Value of Fifty-six thousand Nine hundred Seventy-six Pounds Four Shillings, as by Certificate of Fifteen able and substantial Workmen appeared to be true, before the Judges of Assize, Ten Justices of the Peace, and the Grand Inquest, at the Assizes and Goal-delivery holden at Reading, for the said County of Berks, 12 Martii 1646; and the Desires of the Petitioners thought fit, by the said Judges of Assize Justices of Peace, and Grand Inquest, to be recommended to the Parliament: The Lords and Commons, taking the great Sufferings and sad Condition of the said poor distressed Inhabitants into a pious and serious Consideration, do Order and Ordain, and be it hereby Ordered and Ordained, That the Commissioners of the Great Seal do pass, under the said Great Seal, a Brief or Letters Patents, in usual Form prepared, for a Collection of the free and charitable Benevolence of all well-disposed People in all the Counties, Cities, Towns Corporate, and Places within the Kingdom of England, and Dominion of Wales, for Relief of the said Inhabitants, Repair of their Habitations and Parish Church: The said Brief, or Letters Patents, to continue in Force for the Space of Two Years, from the Date thereof, and no longer.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

* * * *

Army Accompts.

Ordered, That the Ordinance for taking, stating, and determining the Accompts of all such Officers and Soldiers that have served the Parliament in the late Wars, and have not been under the Entertainment and Pay of the particular Counties or Associations of this Kingdom, nor are of the present Army under the Command of Thomas Lord Fairefax, passed both Houses on Thursday 20 Julii 1648, be forthwith printed and published.

Ordered, by the Lords and Commons, assembled in Parliament, That the Committee for Sequestrations for Westminster, do assign convenient Rooms in Worcester House (now in Sequestration) to the Auditors appointed by Ordinance of the Twentieth Day of July 1648, for the Making and Stating of the Accompts of the Soldiery: Which Rooms the said Auditors may make use of as a publick Office for the said Service, until both Houses of Parliament shall give further Order.

Conveyance to Lenthall.

Ordered, That Mr. Myles Corbett do prepare and bring in an Ordinance for passing and conveying unto William Lenthall Esquire, Speaker of the House of Commons, and his Heirs for ever, for valuable and full Consideration, a Parcel of Lands and Glebe in Burford, containing about Twelve Acres, or thereabouts.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Mr. Armyn, a Member of this House, shall have Leave to go into the Country.

Impropriations.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth declare, that their Intentions are, and they do so order, That all the Impropriations belonging to the Estates of the Lord Cottington, and all others, assigned for the Service of Ireland, do continue and be disposed and employed for the Augmentation of Ministers Maintenance, to such Person or Persons respectively, to whom the Rents and Revenues of the said Impropriations, or any Part thereof, have been or shall be ordered or assigned by the Committee for plundered Ministers.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Delinquents Estates, &c.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Lords and Commons for Advance of Monies, usually fitting at Haberdashers Hall, to examine and proceed upon the Discoveries of all such Papists or Delinquents Estates, or of any Monies assessed for the Parliament, Four Years since, that have been ever since concealed, as are or shall be discovered by Colonel John Moore, Colonel Anthony Hungerford, Colonel Hercules Hunckes, Captain Spicer, Captain Ley, Captain Durburne, Captain Peter Kennard, Captain Thomas Mollineux, Captain John Crosse, Captain Green, Ensign Tope, Ensign Potter, Lieutenant Dudleston, Wm. Hodges, Thomas Ellis, Widow Heepie, Widow Wood, and Ensign Douse, or by any by them employed; And the Committee, upon the Discovery of any such, are to call the Delinquents, or Persons concerned, before them; and, with all Speed, to give Order for the Seizing and Securing of all such Monies, Plate, Jewels, Goods, or other Estates of such Delinquents, until Judgment be given against the Delinquent: And, after Judgment given, the Committee is to pay unto the Discoverer, out of the Monies, Plate, Jewels, Goods, or other Estate, so discovered, secured, and adjudged, all the Arrears that shall appear due unto the Discoverer, upon his Accompts, stated and determined, according to the Ordinances of Parliament in that behalf: And, if the Discoveries shall amount to the full of the Discoverers Arrears, then his or their Debentures are to be taken in by the said Committee.

It is further Ordered, That, if any of the Discoverers Accompts be not yet stated and determined, as aforesaid, then Auditor Broad, and the rest of the Auditors appointed by the late Ordinance, are required to state, determine, and certify the same, to the said Committee And the Discoveries of such are to be secured, till it may appear unto the said Committee what ought to be paid unto the said Discoverers, upon their Accompts, so stated, as aforesaid: Then the said Committee is to pay the same accordingly.

Impropriations.

Ordered, That the Committee at Goldsmiths Hall do certify unto this House, on this Day Sevennight, an Account what Impropriations of Delinquents are purchased by them, upon Allowances therefore made to the said Delinquents, upon passing their Fines; and what Impropriations are, in pursuance thereof, settled effectually by Law.

Payments to Backhowse, &c.

Ordered, That Four hundred Pounds be paid, out of the Sequestration of the Earl of Newcastle's Estate in the County of Stafford, to the Two Troops of Horse, as followeth; One hundred Pounds to Captain Backhowse, One hundred Pounds to Lieutenant Hill, and the other Two hundred Pounds to be paid to the rest of the Officers and Troopers of the Two Troops; to be distributed at the Discretion of Captain Stone and Captain Backhowse: And the Committee for Sequestrations for the County of Stafford are to pay the said Sum of Four hundred Pounds accordingly: And an Acquittance for the Receipt of the said Sum of Four hundred Pounds, and every Part thereof, under the Hands of the said Captain, Lieutenant, Officers, and Troopers, shall be a sufficient Discharge to the Committee of Sequestrations, and the said Treasurer.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Impropriations.

An Ordinance for disposing of the Impropriations vested, by Ordinance of Parliament, in the Trustees for Sale of Bishops Lands, in such Manner as are or shall be appointed by the Committee for plundered Ministers, was this Day read the First and Second time.

And the Question being put, for Committing of it;

The House was divided.

The Yeas went forth.

So that the Question passed with the Negative.

And then the Ordinance, upon the Question, passed; and is ordered to be sent to the Lords for their Concurrence.

Ly. Harecourt.

Ordered, That Colonel Jones, Governor of Dublyn, be hereby authorized and required to put the Lady Anne Harecourt, the Relict of Sir Symon Harecourt, slain in the War of Ireland, or any Person whom the shall authorize thereunto by Warrant under Hand and Seal, into the Possession of the Lands and Estates in Corballis in Ireland, in pursuance of the Ordinance of Parliament, that disposes and settles the said Lands upon the Heirs of the said Sir Symon Harecourt.

Prisoners taken at Colchester.

Ordered, That it be referred to Mr. Scawen, Mr. Allen, Mr. Leman, Mr. Hodges, Sir Henry Mildmay, Mr. John Gurdon, or any Three of them, and they, or any Three of them, are hereby authorized and required, to send for the Gentlemen of the Committee of Essex, late Prisoners in the Town of Colchester, and to examine them upon such Matters as may concern the Publick: And have Power to send for Parties, Witnesses, Papers, Records. They have further Power to send for those Papers that were taken from the Prince's Agent; and to examine that Business: And the Committee at Derby House are required to deliver the said Papers accordingly.

Suffolke Sequestrations.

Ordered, That Mr. Bacon do prepare and bring in the like Ordinance as was granted to the County of Surrey, for disposing the Sequestrations of the Estates of the now Delinquents of the County of Suffolke, not formerly sequestered, nor compounded for, for defraying the Maintenance of their Forces.

Treaty with the King.

Upon Sir John Potts' Report from the Committee of Peace, the Instructions prepared by that Committee were read; and, upon Vote, one by one, particularly passed; and were as followeth;

Instructions for Algernoun Earl of Northumberland, Phil. Earl of Pembroke and Montgomery, Wm. Earl of Salisbury, James Earl of Middlesex, Wm. Lord Viscount Say and Seale, Member of the House of Peers; Thomas Lord Viscount Wenman, Denzell Holles, Wm. Pierrepont, Esquires, Sir Harbottle Grimston, Sir John Potts, Baronets, Sir Hen. Vane junior, Knight, John Crew, Sam, Browne, John Glyn, John Bulkeley, Esquires, Members of the House of Commons; nominated and appointed Committees by both Houses of Parliament, to repair to Newport in the Isle of Wight, and there to treat personally with his Majesty upon Propositions for a safe and well-grounded Peace.

1. YOU shall repair to Newport to the Isle of Wight, where you, or any Eight of you (whereof some of either House of Parliament shall be present) to treat with his Majesty for the Space of Forty Days, from the Beginning of the said Treaty, upon the Propositions which were presented to his Majesty at Hampton Court concerning the Kingdoms of England and Ireland, and for the Taking away of Wards and Liveries, now delivered unto you, and such other Propositions as by both Houses of Parliament shall be agreed upon.

2. You shall receive such Propositions as his Majesty shall offer, and forthwith transmit them to both Houses of Parliament, that you may have further Directions from them how to proceed thereupon.

3. You shall proceed to treat upon the Propositions for recalling Declarations, &c. the Propositions concerning the Church, the Propositions concerning the Militia, the Propositions concerning Ireland, in the first Place, in Order, and receive the King's Answer to each of them; and upon the rest, in the same Order as they are now placed.

4. You shall use your best Endeavours, that the aforementioned Propositions may be agreed unto without receding from the Matter of them.

5. You shall deliver your Demands, and receive his Majesty's Answer to them, in Writing.

6. You shall give frequent Advertisement to both Houses of Parliament of your Proceedings in this Treaty,

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

1. Resolved, &c. That the Lord Wenman be appointed a Commissioner for the personal Treaty with the King.

2. Resolved, &c. That Mr. Denzell Holles be appointed a Commissioner for the personal Treaty with the King.

3. Resolved, &c. That Mr. Wm. Pierrepoint be appointed a Commissioner for the personal Treaty with the King.

4. Resolved, &c. That Sir Henry Vane junior be appointed a Commissioner for the personal Treaty with the King.

5. Resolved, &c. That Sir Harbottle Grimston be appointed a Commissioner for the personal Treaty with the King.

6. Resolved, &c. That Mr. Samuell Brown be appointed a Commissioner for the personal Treaty with the King.

7. Resolved, &c. That Mr. John Crew be appointed a Commissioner for the personal Treaty with the King.

8. Resolved, &c. That Mr. Recorder of the City of London be appointed a Commissioner for the personal Treaty with the King.

9. Resolved, &c. That Sir John Potts be appointed a Commissioner for a personal Treaty with the King.

10. Resolved, &c. That Mr. Bulkley be appointed a Commissioner for the personal Treaty with the King.

King's Children.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth concur with the Lords, That the Monies remaining of the old Customs be paid to the Earl of Northumberland, or such as he shall appoint to receive the same, for the Service of the King's Children, towards the Satisfying of those Monies that are in Arrear unto him, as appears upon his Accompt attested by Mr. Auditor Collins and Mr. Fauckenberdge.

Loan by the City.

Ordered, That Mr. Vassall be appointed to go to the Lord Mayor, to desire him to call a Common Council, to meet on Monday next, at Three of Clock in the Afternoon; this House having appointed a Committee to come unto them.

Sir Harbottle Grimston, Mr. Holles, Sir John Potts, Sir Richard Onslow, Mr. Bulkeley, Mr. Crew, Sir Thomas Dacres, Mr. Dodderidge, Sir John Evelyn of Surrey, Colonel Birch, Sir Walter Erle;

This Committee, or any Four of them, are appointed to go to the Common Council appointed to be called on Monday next, at Three of Clock in the Afternoon, to desire the City of London, for the necessary Carrying on of this Treaty, to lend the Sum of Ten Thousand Pounds, to be paid by Two Thousand Pounds a Week, upon such Security to be given from the Parliament as the City shall make Choice of, either on the Excise, in Course, or the Moiety of Goldsmiths Hall Receipts, in Course, or the Estates of such Delinquents as are excepted, and not pre-engaged; or such other Security as they shall propose, being in the Power of the Parliament.

Publick Fast.

Resolved, &c. That Tuesday come Sevennight, the Twelfth of this instant September, be appointed and observed as a Day of Publick Humiliation, by the Members of both Houses, and in all the Churches and Chapels within the late Lines of Communication, and weekly Bills of Mortality, to seek God earnestly for a Blessing upon the Treaty.

Preachers appointed.

Ordered, That Mr. Hicks and Mr. Calamy be desired to preach before the Commons at Margaret's, Westminster, on Tuesday the Twelfth of this instant September being appointed for a Day of Publick Humiliation to seek God for his Blessing upon the Treaty.

Governor of I. of Wight.

Ordered, That the Letter from the Governor of the Isle of Wight, concerning some Scruples in his Instructions, be read To-morrow Morning.

Comm rs to treat with the King.

Resolved, &c. That Mr. Marshall, Mr. Vynes, Mr. Seaman, and Mr. Herle, be desired to go along with the Commissioners nominated and appointed to treat with the King.

Reward to Messenger.

Ordered, That the Sum of Ten Pounds be bestowed upon Thomas Hawkesworth, the Messenger that brought the Information and Intelligence from the revolted Ships: And that the said Sum of Ten Pounds be paid unto the said Thomas Hawkesworth, by order of the Committee of Lords and Commons for Advance of Monies, usually sitting at Haberdashers Hall.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Bailing Chapman.

Ordered, That Mr. * Chapman, formerly sent for as a Delinquent, by the Serjeant at Arms attending on this House, be referred to the Committee for Informations: And that, in the mean time, the said Mr. Chapman be bailed.

Delinquents Estates, &c.

Ordered, That it . . referred to the Committee of Lords and Commons for Advance of Monies, usually sitting at Haberdashers Hall, to examine and proceed upon the Discoveries of all such Papists or Delinquents Estates as shall be discovered by Captain Thomas Evens, Captain Wm. Spering, John Muskett Cornet, and Mirtine Cosen Commissary, or by any of them employed: And the Committee, upon the Discovery of any such, are to call the Delinquents, or Persons concerned before them; and, with all Speed, to give Order for the Seizing and Securing of all such Monies, Plate, Jewels, Goods, or other Estate of such Delinquents, until Judgment be given against the Delinquent: And, after Judgment given, the Committee is to pay unto the Discoverer, out of the Monies, Plate, Jewels, Goods, or other Estate, so discovered, secured, and adjudged, all the Arrears that shall appear due unto the Discoverer, upon his Accompts, stated and determined according to the Ordinances of Parliament in that Behalf: And, if the Discoveries shall amount to the Full of the Discoverers Arrears, then his or their Debentures are to be taken in by the said Committee.

It is further Ordered, That if any of the Discoverers Accompts be not yet stated and determined, as aforesaid, then Auditor Broad, and the rest of the Auditors appointed, by the late Ordinance, are required to state determine, and certify the same to the said Committee: And the Discoveries of such are to be secured, till it may appear unto the said Committee, what ought to be paid unto the said Discoverers, upon their Accompts, so stated, as aforesaid; then the said Committee is to pay the same accordingly.