House of Lords Journal Volume 7: 5 March 1645

DIE Mercurii, 5 die Martii.

PRAYERS by Doctor Hoyle. Ds. Grey de Warke, Speaker.

Ministers near London complain of the heavy Taves laid on them.

Upon reading the Petition of the Ministers within the Counties near unto the City of London; complaining, "That, by reason of the great Taxes, they have not a Competency to live upon; therefore desires that some competent Maintenance and comfortable Encouragement may be settled upon them:"

Hereupon this House appointed the Lords Committees following to consider of this Petition, and what is incident to it, for a Competency of Maintenance for Church Living:

Any Five, to meet To-morrow Morning, at Nine a Clock, and when after they please.

Message from the H.C. about a Preacher at the Fast; and with Orders, &c.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Gyles Greene Esquire;

To desire their Lordships Concurrence in these Particulars:

1. That whereas Mr. Harris was appointed to preach this Day Sevennight at Christ Church, before both the Houses, (fn. 1) he hath desired to be excused, in regard of his low Voice; instead of whom, the House of Commons hath propounded Mr. Vynes to supply his Place, wherein they desire their Lordships Concurrence.

Agreed to.

2. An Order to pay Fifty Pounds to the several Messengers that brought the good News of the Re-taking of Weymouth. (Here enter it.)

Agreed to.

3. An Ordinance to pay Two Thousand Pounds, to pay the Lord General's Foot. (Here enter it.)

Agreed to.

4. An Ordinance concerning the Advance of Fifty Thousand Pounds, by the new Customers.

(Here enter it.)

Agreed to.

The Answer returned was:

Answer.

That this House agrees to all the Particulars now brought.

Lord Mayor, &c. desired to be present at the Thanksgiving.

Ordered, That the Gentleman Usher attending this House do (fn. 1) give Notice to the Lord Mayor of London, and desire he and his Brethren would be present at Christs Church this Day Sevennight, at the Thanksgiving for the Taking of Shrewsbury and Weymouth.

Message from the H. C. to expedite the List of the Officers to be employed in Sir T. Fairfax's Army.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by John (fn. 2) Lysle Esquire:

To desire their Lordships would please to give a speedy Passing to the List of the Names of the Officers that are to be employed in the Army under Sir Thomas Fairefaix, which hath been approved of by the House of Commons: And, because there is great Inconvenience for Want of the raising of this Army, they desire that such Names as their Lordships do approve of, there may be Notice given to the House of Commons of it, that so they may be employed in putting the Forces into a Readiness.

The Answer returned was:

Answer.

That this House will take this Message into Consideration, and send an Answer by Messengers of their own.

Message from thence, to expedite the Ordinance for the Dutchy Seal;

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Mr. Pelham, &c.

To desire their Lordships to give Expedition in the Ordinance concerning the putting the Seal of the Dutchy into Execution.

Ordered, To be taken into Consideration Tomorrow.

and to fit a while.

2. To desire their Lordships would sit a while, for they have some Business of Importance to impart.

The Answer returned was:

Answer.

That their Lordships will take the Ordinance concerning the Dutchy Seal into Consideration, and send an Answer by Messengers of their own; and they will sit a while, as is desired.

Message from the H. C. with a Paper from the Assembly of Divines, containing Alterations in the Directory for Worship.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Zouch Tate Esquire:

To let their Lordships know, that the House of Commons have received a Paper from the Assembly of Divines, wherein they offer some Alterations in the Directory, to which the House of Commons have (fn. 3) agreed; and their Lordships Concurrence is desired therein.

The Alterations were read, as follow:

"In the Administration of the Sacrament of Baptism, after the Word ["negligent"], add these Words ["requiring his solemn Promise for the Performance of his Duty"]: After these Words, ["It is recommended to the Parent, to make a Profession of his Faith, by answering to these or the like Questions"] is to (fn. 4) be left out: And these Three Questions following are to be left out; videlicet,

"["Dost thou believe in God the Father, Son, and Holy Ghost?

"Dost thou hold thyself bound to observe all that Christ hath commanded thee, and wilt thou endeavour so to do?

"Dost thou desire to have this Child baptised into the Faith and Profession of Jesus Christ?"]

"Instead of these Words in the Directory for the Solemnization of Marriage, ["in the Place of the Public Meeting of the Congregation in some Church or Chapel"], these Words to be inserted ["in the Place appointed by Authority for Public Worship"]".

Agreed to.

The Answer returned was:

Answer.

That this House agrees to these Alterations now brought up.

List of Officers to be employed in Sir Tho. Fairfax's Army.

Ordered, That this House will take into Consideration the List of Officers To-morrow Morning; and the Lord Wharton is appointed to desire Sir Thomas Fairefaix to give in the Christian Names of the Officers in the List.

Message from the H. C. with a Declaration concerning the mutinous Soldiers.

A Message was brought from the House of Commons, by Bolstrode Whitlocke Esquire:

To desire Concurrence in a Declaration to be published, concerning the Soldiers that are in Mutiny.

(Here enter.)

Read, and Agreed to.

Order for printing the Directory sent to the H. C.

An Order was brought in, and read, for the Printing of the Directory, and Agreed to; and sent down to the House of Commons, by Dr. Aylett and Dr. Heath, to desire their Concurrence therein.

Order for 50 l. to the Messengers from the West.

"It is this Day Ordered, by the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, That the Committee at Habberdashers Hall, for Advance of Monies, do forthwith advance and pay, unto the Committee for the West, Fifty Pounds, to be disposed of by them to the several Messengers that brought the good News from Weymouth, and have been employed upon their Occasions out of the West."

Order for the Commissioners of Excise to-pay themselves 2000 l. advanced for Payment of the Lord General's Foot.

"Whereas John Towse Esquire, Alderman of the City of London, and the rest of the Commissioners of Excise and new Impost, have advanced and lent the Sum of Two Thousand Pounds, for Payment of the Lord General's Foot about Farnham and Reading: Be it Ordained, by the Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, That the said Commissioners of Excise shall and may satisfy and reimburse themselves the said Two Thousand Pounds, together with Interest for the same, after the Rate of Eight Pounds per Cent. for so long Time as the same, or any Part thereof, shall be forborn, out of such Intervals of Receipts to come in upon the Office of Excise as shall happen when other Payments already assigned shall not fall due, or, for Want of such Intervals, then as the same shall follow in Course; and shall not, by any other Order or Ordinance of One or both Houses of Parliament, be secluded from satisfying themselves accordingly; and that the said Commissioners shall pay the said Two Thousand Pounds to Sir Gilbert Gerrard Baronet, Treasurer at Wars, whose Receipt shall be their sufficient Discharge in that Behalf."

Ordinance appointing Messrs. Bateman, Lloyd, & al. Commissioners of the Customs, and to raise 50,000 l. upon them.

"Whereas Samuell Avery, Richard Bateman, Charles Lloyd, Christopher Packe, and Walter Boothby, Merchants, according to divers Propositions voted and assented unto by the House of Commons the 15th Day of February last past, are, by Ordinance of both Houses of Parliament, bearing Date the 21th Day of the said Month of February, ordained Commissioners and Collectors, and enabled to receive all such Sums of Money as shall at any Time hereafter, from the 25th Day of the said Month of February inclusive, be paid for Customs, or advanced by Way of Loan, or otherwise, for and in respect of Goods and Merchandize exported out of, or imported into, the Port of London, and all other Ports within the Realm of England, Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwicke; and, out of their good Affection to the Public, have undertaken to advance, by Way of Loan, for the carrying on the Affairs of the Navy, the Sum of Fifty Thousand Pounds, Part whereof, videlicet, the Sum of Thirty-two Thousand Five Hundred Pounds, is already paid, and the Residue of the said Fifty Thousand Pounds is to be forthwith paid and advanced: It is thereupon Ordained, by the Lords and Commons in this present Parliament assembled, That the said Commissioners be allowed the Sum of Four Thousand Pounds per Annum, in Recompence of their Attendance on the said Service; and shall re-pay unto themselves, by Way of Defalcation out of the said Receipts of the Customs, the Sum of Twenty Thousand Pounds, Part of the said Fifty Thousand Pounds, with Interest for the Forbearance thereof, after the Rate of Eight per Cent. for a Year, to be accounted from the Time of the Lending thereof, as the same shall arise out of the said Receipts, from and after the Five and Twentieth Day of July next coming: And, for the further Security and Encouragement of the said Commissioners, it is likewise Ordained, by the said Lords and Commons, That the said Commissioners shall continue in the said Employment, and shall not be dismissed or removed from the same, until they be reimbursed the remaining Thirty Thousand Pounds, so advanced and lent as is aforesaid, and all other Sum and Sums of Money which they have already advanced, or shall at any Time or Times hereafter further advance or disburse, for the Use of the Navy, or for carrying on the said Service, with Interest after the Rate of Eight per Cent. pro Anno, for the same; and be likewise paid all such Allowances and Salaries for the said Service, as shall be in Arrear, and unpaid at the Time of such their Dismission and Discharge; and the said Commissioners are hereby enabled and authorized, during the whole Time of their Employment in the said Service, Quarterly, to defaulk out of the said Receipts, as well the Sum of One Thousand Pounds, in regard of their Salaries, for their Pains and Personal Attendance upon the said Service, as the Interest of the said Thirty Thousand Pounds, until they shall be fully reimbursed the same; all which shall be allowed unto them upon their Accompts; and as for all Payments to be from Time to Time made by the said Commissioners, or their Deputies, to Merchants and others, for Custom of Goods exported, which formerly were imported, according to the Orders annexed to the last Book of Rates, the said Commissioners, or their Deputies by their Appointment and Order, shall issue the said Payments out of the Receipts aforesaid, and be likewise allowed the same upon their Accompts."

Declaration, concerning the Soldiers in Mutiny.

"The Lords and Commons in Parliament assembled, taking Notice that divers inferior Officers of Horse, raised by their Authority, have lately been, and still are, in Disorder and Mutiny, refusing to obey Commands, which, in the Example to others, may be of great Danger to the Public, and, by the Discipline and Rules of War published, is to be punished with Death; nevertheless the Lords and Commons, having had Experience of the Dutifulness and good Service heretofore performed by those Officers and Soldiers, of the Fruit and Reward whereof they are most unwilling those Officers and Soldiers should make themselves uncapable, do therefore hereby Declare, That if those Officers and Soldiers, or any of them, do, before the 15th Day of this Instant March, return to their Duty, and shall obey the Commands of their Officers, according to the Discipline of War, and observe such Orders and Directions as they shall receive from the Two Houses of Parliament, or the Committee of both Kingdoms, and, from (fn. 5) the Time of their having Notice of this Declaration, shall forbear any Plundering or Violence upon the Country under the Protection of the Parliament, that then they shall be, and they are hereby, fully pardoned and acquitted of this Mutiny and Disorder: And the Lords and Commons do further Declare their Pleasure to be, That they shall be forthwith taken into the like Care for Pay and all fitting Accommodations with the other Officers and Soldiers in their Service; but if, after the Day herein appointed for their Return to their Duty, they shall still continue in Mutiny and Disorder, and not submit to the Mercy hereby offered, they shall then be proceeded against as Traitors, and Enemies to the Commonwealth, and are to expect the severe Punishment due to their Demerits."

Adjourn.

House adjourned till 9^a cras.