House of Commons Journal Volume 4: 6 January 1645

Die Lunæ, Januarii 6, 1644.

Prayers.

Resolved, &c. That notwithstanding the Order made on Saturday last, That this House doth adhere to the former Ordinance, which appoints, that all such Matters, as shall be presented from the Assembly of Divines, and shall be thought fit, by both Houses, to be published, shall be remitted to the Care of the Assembly, to take Order for the Printing thereof; and, in pursuance of the said former Ordinance, do appoint, That the Printing of the Ordinance for taking away the Book of Common Prayer, and establishing the Directory, and of the Directory itself, be referred to the Assembly of Divines, to take care of the Printing thereof.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Sir Robert Harley is appointed to carry it up.

Resolved, &c. That a Presbytery, consisting of Ministers of the Word, and other publick Officers, may be in a Church.

The Question being put, Whether the Word "Congregational" shall be added to the former Question;

It passed with the Negative.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms, to consider of fit Persons to be sent as Commissioners into Ireland, to take the Muster of the Armies there; and to prepare fit Instructions for their Directions therein; and to represent all to the House.

Mr. Reynolds is appointed to go to the Lords, to desire them to expedite the Ordinance for disenabling the Members of either House to bear Office; in regard of the Posture the Armies are now in, and that the Houses are now upon the Treaty.

Resolved, &c. That Execution shall be done upon the Body of Wm. Laud Archbishop of Canterbury, upon Friday next, being attainted of High Treason by Judgment of both Houses of Parliament: And the Lieutenant of the Tower is hereby injoined to deliver his Body over to the Sheriffs of London: And the Sheriffs of London are hereby required to see Execution done, accordingly, upon TowerHill.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Mr. Niclas is appointed to carry this Order to the Lords, for their Concurrence.

Mr. Niclas brings Answer, That the Lords do agree to the Order sent up, concerning the Execution of the Archbishop of Canterbury.

Ordered, That the Report be made To-morrow from the Committee at Haberdashers-Hall, concerning Monies.

Ordered, That the Business of the Church be proceeded in To-morrow, the first Business.

The House, according to former Order, went to the Consideration of the Paper concerning the Treaty. And

It is Resolved, &c. That this House doth concurr with the Lords in the Number of the Commissioners of both Houses to be appointed for the Treaty.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth concurr for the Place to be Uxbridge.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth concurr, that the Treaty be by Commissioners.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth consent to that Part; videlicet, the Number of the Commissioners from his Majesty not to exceed Sixteen.

Resolved, &c. That the Propositions for Religion, the Militia, and concerning Ireland, be first treated on, and agreed.

Resolved, &c. To agree to the Time to be Twenty Days.

Resolved, &c. To agree to the last Clause.

Sir Wm. Lewis is appointed to go to the Lords, to acquaint them, That this House doth agree to the Paper concerning the Manner of the Treaty, with the Addition of the Propositions for Ireland, to be treated in the first place, next after Religion and the Militia: And to desire it may be referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms; to the end the Scotts Commissioners may be acquainted with this Alteration, and treated with upon it.

Ordered, That the Letter directed from both Houses to the Parliament of Scotland be likewise addressed to their Committees, to be delivered to them, in case the Parliament be not sitting: And that the Letter and Instructions be immediately sent to Sir Wm. Armyn, to deliver them, according to the Direction, with the best Speed he may; and likewise to put in Execution the Instructions.

A Message from the Lords, by Mr. Page and Doctor Aylett;

The Lords desire a Conference, by Committees of both Houses, To-morrow at Ten of Clock, in the Painted Chamber, if it may stand with the Conveniency of this House, concerning the Ordinance for disabling Members of either House to bear any Office Military or Civil.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; That this House has considered their Lordships Message; and have resolved to give a Meeting at a Conference, as is desired.

Mr. Peirpoint, Mr. Whitelock, Mr. Prideaux, and Mr. Ellys, are appointed Managers of this Conference.

Ordered, That the Paper, this Day presented by Mr. Crew, from the Committee of both Kingdoms, concerning the Business of the Coal, be taken into Consideration Tomorrow Morning, the first Business.

An Answer to a Paper from the Church of Scotland; wherein they desire to know what is done, and in doing, of the Matters of the Church.

The House of Commons, having received, from the Honourable and Reverend the Commissioners of the Church of Scotland, a Paper, dated January the 1st, 1644; wherein they desire to know what is done, and what is in doing, concerning Uniformity of Religion, returneth this Answer:

That Episcopacy, and the Jurisdiction of it, is, by Bill (which hath passed both Houses, and been presented to the King for his Royal Assent), taken away, and abolished.

The Book of Common Prayer, and Festival Days, commonly called Holidays, are, by Ordinance of Parliament, taken away; and a Directory for Publick Worship established by the same Ordinance.

Some Propositions concerning Church Government being presented to the House of Commons from the Assembly of Divines, This One, of great Concernment, that the Scripture doth hold forth, "That many particular Congregations may be under One Presbyterial Government," is appointed to be debated in the said House, upon the Sixth Day of this Instant January, 1644.

And the House of Commons hath, by Order, sent to the Assembly of Divines, recommended to their Care the Fitting of Psalms to be sung in Congregations.

Ordered, That Mr. Byfield do deliver unto every one of the Scotts Commissioners one of the printed Books of the Reasons of the Dissenting Brethren; and the Answer and Solutions of the Assembly of Divines touching the Third Proposition concerning Church Government.