House of Commons Journal Volume 4: 9 January 1645

Die Jovis, Januarii 9, 1644.

Prayers.

The House being informed, that divers of the Divines of the Assembly were at the Door;

They were called in: And Mr. Marshall acquainted the House, That Yesterday the Assembly received Letters from Yorkeshire; and in it a Petition to this House: The Sum of the Letters was, That the Assembly would recommend their Petition to the House. The Business is of such publick Concernment for the Glory of God, that they need not use many Words in the Recommendation of it to this Assembly.

The Divines withdrew.

And the Petition was read; and, not being brought in regularly, the House proceeded no farther upon it.

Ordered, That, on Saturday next, peremptorily, the House take into Consideration the Business of the Church: And that Mr. Speaker put the House in mind thereof.

Mr. Ellis reports, from the Committee appointed to prepare the same, the Reasons to be offered to the Lords, at a Conference concerning the Matter of the late Conference, touching the Ordinance That no Member of either House shall bear Office, &c.: The which were read; and, upon the Question, assented unto; and ordered to be delivered unto the Lords at a Conference.

Sir Tho. Widdrington went up to the Lords, to desire a free Conference, by Committees of both Houses, touching the Matter of the last Conference concerning the Ordinance That no Member of either House shall bear Office, &c.

He likewise carried up to the Lords, for their Concurrence, the Ordinance for mitigating the Sentence upon the Archbishop of Canterbury, and doing Execution upon him, by taking off his Head only: The Order for the Committee at Haberdashers-Hall to satisfy the Damages to Alice Mansfeld, which she sustained by the Parliament Forces: The Order for Repayment of Six thousand Pounds, advanced by the Commissioners of Excise upon the Ordinance of Flesh and Salt: The Order concerning the granting Excise and Custom to the States Ambassadors upon the Consumption of Commodities.

Sir Tho. Widdrington brings Answer, That, as to the Order concerning Alice Mansfeld, they will send Answer by Messengers of their own; and, as to the rest, they do agree; and do agree to a present Conference, as is desired.

Ordered, That the Commissioners of the Great Seal be required to grant Patents to all such Persons as both Houses shall name to be Sheriffs in any County in this Kingdom; and to grant all such Patents, Commissions, and Writs, which usually are granted, for the Discharge of the former Sheriffs; and for giving Power to the new Sheriffs.

Mr. Ellis, Mr. Crewe Mr. Pierrepont, are appointed Managers, and Reporters of this Conference.

Mr. Ellis reports, That they had delivered the Reasons as they were appointed: That the Lords withdrew into their own House; and then came out again; and told them, That they would take the Matters delivered into Consideration; and that they needed not stay to expect an Answer.

Upon Mr. Sollicitor's Report from the Committee of both Kingdoms;

It is Resolved, &c. That Ten thousand Pounds shall be forthwith provided; whereof Six thousand Pounds for the Forces of my Lord General, and Four thousand for Sir Wm. Waller's Forces.

Resolved, &c. That this Ten thousand Pounds shall be charged upon the Excise, and raised from thence: And Mr. Nicoll, Mr. Prideaux, Mr. Green, and Mr. Pury, are appointed to go to the Commissioners of Excise; and to acquaint them with the great important Necessity of the present Raising and Advancing of the said Sixteen thousand Pounds; and to press them earnestly for the Advance thereof.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Edw. Leech and Doctor Heath;

The Lords have received a Petition from the Merchants of the Intercourse; to which they agree; and desire the Concurrence of this House. They desire, That the Committee appointed to treat with the States Ambassadors may meet on Saturday next, at Three of Clock, in the Prince's Lodgings. They have likewise passed an Order concerning the Lady Ann Viscountess Willmott, agreed upon by the Committee of Lords and Commons for Sequestrations; in which they desire the Concurrence of this House. They have formerly received an Order concerning the Pardon of divers Prisoners in Newgate; to which they do agree, with some Amendments; in which they desire the Concurrence of this . . . . They do agree to the Order concerning Alice Mansfeld, with some Amendments; in which they desire the Concurrence of this House.

Ordered, That the Petitions of the Merchants of the Intercourse be referred to the Committee of GoldsmithsHall, and the Committee at Haberdashers-Hall respectively: And they are to forbear all Proceedings against the Petitioners, until Report be made of this Business; and that the House take further Order herein.

Ordered, That the Committee appointed to treat with the States Ambassadors on Saturday next, at Three of Clock....: And the Members of that Committee are injoined to take particular Notice hereof.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth concurr with the Lords in passing the Order, made at the Committee of Lords and Commons for Sequestrations, in the Case of the Lady Ann Viscountess Willmott, upon her Petition, recommended from both Houses to that Committee; and that it shall be made an Order of both Houses.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth concurr with the Lords in the Amendments to the Ordinance concerning the Pardon of divers Prisoners in Newgate.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth agree with the Lords in the Amendments to the Order concerning Alice Mansfeld.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; That this House has considered their Lordships Message: And, as to the Petition of the Merchants of the Intercourse, they have put it into a speedy Way of Consideration; and will send Answer by Messengers of their own: And, as to all the other Particulars of the Message, they do agree unto them.

Mr. Pierrepont reported, from the Committee of both Kingdoms, the new Model of the Forces: And

It is Ordered, That this Report be taken into Consideration To-morrow at Nine of Clock, peremptorily: And that Mr. Speaker put the House in mind hereof.

Mr. Whitelock reports the Ordinance concerning the Regulating of Billet and Free-Quarter: The which was twice read; and, after much Debate, upon the Question; passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence by Mr. Whitelock: Who is to desire, that it may be printed, and sent to the Armies: And that the Officers, and others whom it may concern, may take Notice hereof.

Ordered, That the Committee sent Yesterday to my Lord General and Earl of Manchester, about the Line to be kept by the Soldiers, be reported To-morrow.

Ordered, That the Business concerning Newcastle be reported To-morrow.

Ordered, That the Committee of the Navy do bring in the Ordinance on Monday next, for the Continuance of Tonage and Poundage.

Mr. Peirpoint reports from the Committee of both Kingdoms the Bargain made with Mr. Davies for Victuals, Cloaths, and Ammunition, to be sent into Ireland; and of the Dividend made by the said Committee, apportioning and dividing to the several Provinces a Proportion of the said Victuals, Cloaths, and Ammunition.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth allow of the Bargain and Contract, made by the Committee of both Kingdoms, with Mr. Davies, touching Victuals, Cloaths, and Ammunition, to be sent into Ireland; and of the Dividend made by the said Committee of the said Victuals, Cloaths, and Ammunition: And do Order, That the said Victuals, Cloaths, and Ammunition, be sent away accordingly.

Ordered, That the rest of the Report be considered of To-morrow.