House of Commons Journal Volume 6: 13 November 1648

Die Lunæ, 13 Novembris, 1648.

Prayers.

Precedence in Courts of Westminster.

WHEREAS, the First of October 1646, it was ordered, That the Members of this House, late Commissioners of the Great Seal, as a Mark of Honour unto them, and in Acknowledgment of their faithful Discharge of that Trust, should, in all Courts of Westminster, practise within the Bar, and have Precedence next after his Majesty's Solicitor General: It is now Ordered, That the said Mark of Honour shall continue, and hereby is continued, unto Samuel Browne Esq. who is to be sworn one of the Justices of the King's Bench, next before Serjeant Germyn.

Chief Justice of King's Bench.

Whereas Mr. Justice Rolle is ordained, by both Houses of Parliament, to be Chief Justice of the King's Bench, who is now, by Letters Patents, one of the Justices of that Court, quam diu se bene gesserit: The Lords and Commons do Ordain, to the Intent he may be constituted Chief Justice, according to the said Ordinance, the said Mr. Justice Rolle be desired to surrender the said Letters Patents: Which the Commissioners of the Great Seal are hereby ordered and authorized to accept, and immediately thereupon to constitute him Chief Justice, according to the said Ordinance, without any Supersedeas to his said Letters Patents.

Serjeants at Law.

Ordered, That, the Commissioners of the Great Seal do call, and swear to be Serjeants at Law, in the First place, Mr. St. Johns, Solicitor General; then, the Commissioners of the Great Seal, that now are; next, in order, Mr. Samuel Browne, formerly one of the Commissioners of the Great Seal; Then Sir Thomas Beddingfield; and next, John Glyn Esquire, Recorder of the City of London; and the rest of the Gentlemen now called to be Serjeants, in Order, according to their Writs and Antiquity.

Col. Lilbourne, &c.

Ordered, That Lieutenant Colonel Lilbourne's Business be reported, the First Business, To-morrow: And that Colonel Gould's Business be the next after that Tomorrow Morning.

Nominating Sheriffs.

Ordered, That, on Thursday Morning next, peremptorily, the House do take into Consideration the Nomination of the Sheriffs for the several Counties.

Languard Fort.

Ordered, That the Lieutenant of the Ordinance be required to give Order for the issuing, out of the publick Stores, Fifty Barrels of Powder, and Half a Ton of Match, for the Service of Languard Fort; and likewise for the furnishing and issuing of such other Provisions of Ammunition, for the necessary Defence thereof, as Conel Thomas Ireton, Governor of the same, shall, by Writing, under his Hand, demand, the same not exceeding the Sum of Threescore Pounds; the same to be paid by the said Lieutenant out of the Monies arising on the additional Excise, unto him allotted for Land Service,

Keymishe's Fine.

Ordered, That the Committee at Goldsmiths Hall do call Sir Charles Keymish before them this Day: And that they take care that he make Payment of his Fine within Two Days; or otherwise to make Report thereof to the House.

Free Quarter.

A Letter from the General, from St. Albans, of 9 Novembris 1648, directed to Mr. Scawen, was this day read; and was, earnestly to recommend unto the House to take effectual Care to prevent the Burden and Inconvenience of Free Quarter.

Ordered, That this Letter be taken into Consideration To-morrow Morning, peremptorily, the first Business.

Reduced Officers.

Ordered, That the Committee of the whole House, appointed to sit To-morrow, upon the Ordinance concerning the reduced Officers, do meet on Thursday Morning next, at Eight of Clock: And that Mr. Speaker do not then take the Chair.

Thanks to Sir H. Grimston.

According to former Order, Mr. Speaker, in the Name of the House, gave Thanks to Sir Harbottle Grimston, now present, for his faithful Endeavours and Services, performed to the Parliament, in his Employment upon the Treaty in the Isle of Wight.

Message to Lords.

Mr. Love carried to the Lords, for their Concurrence, Order concerning Mr. Justice Rolle's Surrender of his Patent for one of the Justices of the King's Bench: Order touching the Call and Swearing of Mr. Samuel Browne to be one of the Justices of the King's Bench: Order touching the Swearing and Call of Mr. Solicitor, the Present Commissioners of the Great Seal, the late Commissioners, and the other Gentlemen, to be Serjeants at Law (fn. 1) : Order for Mr. Whitelock to have his Place and Precedency, notwithstanding his Suspension from being sworn a Serjeant at this Time: Order for Mr. Laurence Whittacre to lay his Judgment upon the Lands of Mr. Denham, now under Sequestrations, for a Debt of Two hundred Pounds due unto him.

Mr. Love brings Answer, That the Lords do agree to all the Particulars of his Message.

Treaty with the King.

According to former Order, the House took into Consideration his Majesty's Propositions.

The which were read; and likewise the Lords Votes thereupon.

Mr. Swynfen, Sir Wm. Lewes, Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Tate, Sir John Potts, Mr. Pryn, Colonel Birch, Mr. Lisle, Sir Harbottle Grimston, Mr. Ellis, Mr. Selden, Sir Christopher Yelverton, Sir Wm. Armyn, Mr. Nath. Fienis, Mr. Bulkley, Sir Gilbert Gerard, Sir John Evelyn;

This Committee is upon the Debate of the House, to frame an Answer to his Majesty's First Proposition, concerning his being settled in a Condition of Honour and Safety, and having the Faith of the Two Houses for the same.

Resolved, &c. That his Majesty's Second Proposition be referred to the former Committee, with the Addition of the Members of this House that are of the Committee of the Revenue, and the Knights that serve for the several Counties; and are to meet this Afternoon at Two of Clock, at Sir Abraham Williams his House, in the Place where the Committee of the Revenue usually meets: And it is more particularly referred to the Care of Sir Henry Vane, and Sir Wm. Lewes, to take care of this Business.

Resolved, &c. That his Majesty's Third Proposition be referred to the same Committee as the second Proposition is referred.

Resolved, &c. That an Act of Oblivion and Indemnity may be passed, to extend to all Persons, for all Matters; with such Limitations and Provisions as shall be agreed between his Majesty and his Two Houses.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Sir T. Beddingfield.

Ordered, That Sir Thomas Beddingfield be sworn next after Mr. Samuel Browne.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Parliament Guards.

An Ordinance for securing the Sum of Ten thousand Pounds, with Interest, after Eight Pounds per Centum per Annum, for Payment of the Horse Guards, out of particular Sequestrations and Compositions, and out of the Excise, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent to the Lords for their Concurrence.