House of Commons Journal Volume 4: 15 January 1645

Die Mercurii, Januarii 15, 1644.

Prayers.

ORdered, That the Scribes of the Assembly shall have Liberty to deliver unto the Prince Elector one of the Printed Books of the Reasons of the Dissenting Brethren, with the Answers and Solutions of the Assembly.

Ordered, That the One thousand Pounds from Haberdashers-Hall, and the One thousand Pounds out of the Excise, assigned for Abingdon, be paid to Mr. Frost: And that his Acquittance shall be a Discharge: And that it be referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms, to take care to send away the said Two thousand Pounds with all Care and Speed.

Ordered, That the Committee of Lords and Commons, for Advance of Monies at Haberdashers-Hall, do forthwith advance and pay a Thousand Pounds to Mr. Walter Frost; to be sent, by the Care and Order of the Committee of both Kingdoms, to Abingdon, and paid, upon Account, for the Relief of that Garison.

Ordered, That the Oats informed of, and discovered to be in some of the King's Magazines at Wapping, or St. Katharine's, be delivered to the Committee of the King's Revenue; and by them delivered over to the Committee of the West, to be sent for the Relief of the Garison of Plymouth.

Resolved, &c. That this Party of Six thousand Horse and Foot be forthwith sent down into the West: And that it be referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms, to take Order, and give Directions, that this Party do forthwith march into the West accordingly.

Ordered, That the Commissioners of my Lord General's Army be injoined to see this Party of Six thousand Horse and Foot, designed for the West, to be forthwith well and perfectly mustered; and to take care, that there may be Six thousand Horse and Foot effective sent down into the West, according to the Expectation of this House, and the Orders of the Committee of both Kingdoms: And it is referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms to write to the Commissioners; and send them Injunctions to this Purpose: And they are to give an Account to this House of their Doings herein.

Ordered, That Mr. Tate do prepare a Letter, to be signed by Mr. Speaker, and sent to the Commissioners of my Lord General's Army; to give them Thanks for the Services they have already done to the Publick; and to assure them, that if this House did know what they did desire for their Encouragement, and further to enable them to do Service to the Publick, they should not want the Encouragements of this House.

Resolved, &c. That Eleven hundred Dragoon Horse shall be forthwith provided for the present Service that is designed for the West: And that it be referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms, to consider where, and by what Proportion, these Horse are forthwith to be raised and provided; and to take care, that the Party designed for the West may not be stayed upon the Coming-in of these Dragoons.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms, to add some more Forces to be joined to the Party of Six thousand Horse and Foot already designed for the West.

Resolved, &c. That Sir Wm. Waller shall command in chief this Party of Six thousand Horse and Foot designed for the present Service of the West, together with all such Forces as shall be joined to this Party; there to remain during the Pleasure of this House: And

It is Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms, to appoint him to go down upon this Service forthwith accordingly: And that the Committee of the West do take care of fitting him with all Accommodations; and press the Committee of both Kingdoms for the speedy ordering and sending down Sir Wm. Waller, and the Party, into the West.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of the Revenue, to take care of providing for the Divines of the Assembly out of the late Archbishop of Canterbury's Estate.

Ordered, That the Report of the Earl of Manchester's Narrative, and the Narrative made by Lieutenant-General Cromwell, be made on Friday next.

Ordered, That the Lords be desired, that the Committee, formerly appointed to treat with the States Ambassadors, may meet this Afternoon.

Sir Hen. Mildmay went up to the Lords for their Concurrence in this Order.

He likewise carried up to the Lords, an Order for One thousand Pounds out of Haberdashers-Hall for Abingdon: The Order for Mr. Edw. Corbett to be added to the Assembly of Divines, in the Place of Mr. Hall of Norwich, deceased: The Ordinance for One thousand Pounds out of the Excise for the Reformadoes: The Order for the Commissioners of the Great Seal, to pass, under the Seal, the Commission for the Lord Inchiquin to be Lord President of the Province of Munster in Ireland.

According to former Order, the House proceed to the Consideration of the Business concerning Church-Government.

Resolved, &c. That, in the Ordinance that shall be framed for Church-Government, a Pastor shall be one of the Officers of the Church.

Resolved, &c. That, in the Ordinance that shall be framed for Church-Government, Doctors and Teachers shall be Officers of the Church.

Resolved, &c. That, in the Ordinance that shall be framed for Church-Government, Elders shall be Officers of the Church.

Resolved, &c. That, in the Ordinance that shall be framed for Church-Government, Deacons shall be Officers of the Church.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth nominate and approve of Sir Edward Powell, Samuel Wightwich, Mr. Wm. Cstale, Mr. Tisdale, and the Mayor of Abingdon for the Time being, to be added to the Committees for the County of Berk'.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth nominate and approve of Sir Wm. Drake Knight and Baronet, and Thomas Challoner Esquire, to be added to the Committees for the County of Buck'.

An Ordinance for securing and reimbursing the Commissioners of Excise a Thousand Pounds advanced by them for the present Service of Abingdon, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

Mr. Whitelock carried up this Ordinance; and likewise the additional Names of Committees to the Counties of Berk' and Buck'.

Sir Henry Mildmay brings Answer, That, as to the Meeting of the Committee with the States Ambassadors, the Lords will send Answer by Messengers of their own; and do agree to all the rest of the Orders carried up by him.

A Message from the Lords, by Doctor Aylett and Doctor Heath;

The Lords desire, that the Committee formerly appointed, of this House, to treat with the States Ambassadors, may meet with the Committee of Lords To-morrow at Three of Clock, in the Prince's Lodgings; to consider of the Papers lately received from the States Ambassadors; and what Answer is fit to be given them; and to report the same to the House. The Lords agree, that there be Fourscore Attendants to attend upon the Commissioners of both Houses to Uxbridge upon the Treaty; and Thirty to attend the Scotts Commissioners: They have sent down the Names of the Lords Commissioners, and their Attendants.

Ordered, That this House doth agree, that the Committee of this House, appointed to treat with the States Ambassadors, may meet with the Committee of the Lords To-morrow, as is desired: As to the Attendants upon the Commissioners, they will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Ordered, That the Members of this House, appointed Commissioners for the Treaty, do meet this Afternoon with the Lords, and the Scotts Commissioners, to consider of the Number and Names of their Attendants, to attend them to Uxbridge upon the Treaty.

A Message from the Lords, by Serjeant Finch and Doctor Heath;

There being a Letter to be sent from both Houses to Oxon, in which there is a Blank; the Lords think it fit to refer it to the Committee of both Kingdoms, to fill up the Blank.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth agree with the Lords in referring it to the Committee of both Kingdoms, to fill up the Blank in the Letter to be sent from both Houses to Oxon.

Ordered, That the Members of this House, that are of the Committee of both Kingdoms, do report to this House the Filling up of the Blank in the Letter to be sent to Oxon.

Answer returned by the First Messengers; That this House has considered their Lordships Message: And, as to that Part, concerning the Meeting of the Committee, they do agree: As to the other Part of the Message, concerning the Attendants upon the Lords, they will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Answer returned by the Second Messengers; That this House has considered their Lordships Message; and do agree, that it be referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms, to fill up the Blanks, as desired.

Ordered, That, on Friday next, the first Business, the House do take into Consideration, What is fit to be done upon the Ordinance That no Member of either House shall bear Office, &c.: And Mr. Speaker is to put the House in mind hereof.

Ordered, That To-morrow, the first Business, the House do take into Consideration the whole Business of the Navy; and, after That Business, they do proceed to the Consideration of the Business concerning Church-Government.

Mr. Whitelock brings Answer, That the Lords do agree to the Ordinance for reimbursing the Commissioners of Excise a Thousand Pounds advanced by them for Abingdon; and to the Addition of the Committees for Berk' and Buck'.

Ordered, That, on Saturday next, the Newcastle Business be taken into Consideration peremptorily: And Mr. Speaker is to put the House in mind hereof.

Ordered, That Mr. Scawen be added to Mr. Recorder and Sir Tho. Widdrington, for the Drawing up of the Ordinance for raising Twenty-one thousand Pounds per mensem for the Scotts Army: And likewise, that he be added to the Committee appointed to prepare the Ordinance for raising Monies to maintain the Forces raised according to the new Model.

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 One thousand Pounds for and towards the Relief of the Garison of Abingdon, under the Command of Major-General Browne: Be it Ordained, by the Lords and Commons, in Parliament assembled, That the said John Towse, and the rest of the Commissioners of Excise, shall and may satisfy and reimburse themselves the said One 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 as shall happen when other Payments upon the Monies coming in upon the Office of Excise 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 debarred from satisfying and reimbursing themselves accordingly out of the Receipts of the said Office: And that the said Commissioners shall pay the said One thousand Pounds unto Mr. Walter Frost, for the Use aforesaid; whose Receipt shall be their sufficient Discharge in this Behalf. And it is further Ordained, by Authority aforesaid, That the said Commissioners shall be secured, indemnified, and reimbursed, the said One thousand Pounds out of the Receipts to come in upon the Excise, before the same shall be disposed of into any other Hands.