House of Commons Journal Volume 4: 19 February 1645

Die Mercurii, Februarii 19, 1644.

Prayers.

REsolved, &c. That Sir Tho. Widdrington, Colonel Rigby, Sir Arthur Hasilrig, and Sir Peter Wentworth, do forthwith go to Sir Tho. Fairefaxe; and desire him to come to the House this Morning, if with Conveniency he may; otherwise, To-morrow Morning.

Mr. Green reports the Proviso to the Ordinance concerning Tonage and Poundage, sent from the Lords, touching the Importation of Currans: The which was read; and assented unto; with this Addition:

"Provided, That One Third-Part of the Profit that shall arise out of the Customs, payable upon Currans, shall be appropriated to the Garison of Gloucester."

A Conference to be desired with the Lords upon this Addition.

Resolved, &c. That Five hundred Pounds be forthwith paid to Colonel Massie, Governor of Gloucester; Two hundred and Fifty Pounds thereof charged upon the King's Revenue, and Two hundred and Fifty Pounds more charged upon the Monies that come in at Haberdashers-Hall.

Ordered, That the Committee of Lords and Commons for Advance of Monies, at Haberdashers-Hall, do forthwith pay unto Mr. Coxe Two hundred and Fifty Pounds, to be immediately sent, and paid, upon Account, to Colonel Massie, Governor of Gloucester.

Colonel Long carried up to the Lords the Order for an additional Instruction to the Commissioners at Uxbridge concerning Ireland: The Order for Arms out of Haberdashers . . . . for Portesmouth: The Ordinance for making the Buyer liable as well as the Merchant.

Resolved, &c. That it be left to the Committee of both Kingdoms, to dispose of the Horse, formerly assigned for the West, and are now come back, in such Manner, for the best Service of the Publick, as they shall think fit.

A Letter from Sir Wm. Waller to Mr. Speaker, and a Letter from him to the Committee of both Kingdoms, from Petersfield, of Februar' 17, were both this Day read.

Sir Rob. Pye went up to the Lords to desire them to sit a while; in regard this House is in Debate of great Matters that concern the Treaty, and shall have Occasion to repair unto them.

A Letter from the Commissioners at Uxbridge, of Februar' 18, 1644, with divers Papers included, relating the Proceedings of the Commissioners upon the Treaty.

Resolved, &c. That an Instruction shall be prepared for the Commissioners at Uxbridge, to give them Liberty to employ the Three last Days upon any of the Propositions appointed to be treated on in the Twenty Days, as they shall find it to be most necessary for the publick Good, &c.

Mr. Long brings Answer, That the Lords do agree to all the Orders carried up by him.

Sir Rob. Pye brings Answer, That the Lords will sit awhile, as is desired.

Resolved, &c. That there shall be a Limitation of Time for settling the Militia in the Hands of Commissioners, according to the Seventeenth Proposition.

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

The Lords have agreed upon an Order for further Instructions to be sent to the Commissioners at Uxbridge; in which they desire the Concurrence of this House.

The Order was read; and, upon the Question, passed.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; That this House has considered their Lordships Message; and do agree to the Order sent by you.

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

The Lords do intend to sit this Afternoon at Three of Clock; and desire this House to do the like, if it may stand with their Conveniency.

Ordered, That the humble Petition of divers Masters and Owners of Ships, and their Company, trading to Newcastle, be referred to the Consideration of the Committee of the Navy: Who are to take it into speedy Consideration; and to give a speedy Account thereof to the House.

Answer returned by the same Messengers, That this House has resolved to sit this Afternoon at Three of Clock.

Ordered, That Sir Philip Stapilton do make Report of the Papers in his Hands, from the Committee of both Kingdoms, To-morrow.

Ordered, That Mr. Wallopp shall have a Pass to bring his Evidences from Oxon; and for that Purpose to send a Messenger, if Occasion shall be.

Ordered, That the House do meet this Afternoon at Three of Clock.

Sir Thomas Fairfax was called in; and had a Chair set him; and the Serjeant stood by with his Mace: And Mr. Speaker, by the Command of the House, acquainted him, "That the Parliament of England hath commanded up your Service hither from the Northern Parts: They have heard of your Valour; and have had Experience thereof, for their Safety; and have now thought fit to put upon you the greatest Trust and Confidence, for the Security of the Kingdom, this House, Religion, and Liberty, as was ever put in the Hands of a Subject. They have resolved to put a Trust upon you, the Command of a very great Army; which they do not intend to employ you in for a Matter of Discouragement, but will take care such Provisions be made, to enable you to go on in this great Business, that your Thoughts shall be solely on Action: And they are consident of your Fidelity, Care, and Diligence in this Cause of God, and the Kingdom, that lie at Stake. And, for the faithful Services you have done for the Publick, I am commanded, by the House, to return their hearty Thanks; and, under God, hope you may be a Means to preserve this Kingdom: And if you have any Propositions to make now, or hereafter, concerning the Army, the House will take them into speedy Consideration."

Resolved, &c. That the Commissioners of both Houses shall have Power to confer with the Scotts Commissioners; and, upon Conference had with them, shall have Liberty to limit the Power of the Militia in Commissioners, according to the Seventeenth Proposition, to continue for Three Years after the Peace shall be settled in the Three Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland; shall be so declared by the King, and both Houses of Parliament of England, and the King and Estates of the Parliament of Scotland; or for Seven Years at least: And shall have Liberty to propound both or either to the Commissioners sent by the King.

WHereas, by former Instructions, the Commissioners were appointed, amongst other Things, to treat upon the Propositions concerning Religion, Militia, and Ireland, Three Days apiece, alternis vicibus, during the Space of Twenty Days: It is now Ordered, by the Lords and Commons, That the Commissioners for the Parliament of England, with the Commissioners for the Kingdom of Scotland, or any Ten or more of them, whereof some of either House of the Parliament of England, and some of the Commissioners of the Kingdom of Scotland, to be present, shall have Power and Liberty to treat with the Persons sent by his Majesty, during the Three last Days of the said Twenty Days, upon all or any of the said Propositions, as they shall think fit for the publick Good, notwithstanding the before-mentioned Instructions of treating upon those Three forementioned Propositions Three Days apiece, alternis vicibus.

Post Meridiem.

SIR Gilbert Gerard carried up to the Lords the Vote for giving Power to the Commissioners for the Treaty to limit the Power of the Militia in Commissioners, according to the Seventeenth Proposition.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms, to consider of the Peninsula of Lovingland; and whether it may be for the Advantage of the Publick to secure it by Fortifications; and in what Manner it may be best done; and what will be the necessary Charge thereof.

Sir Gilbert Gerard brings Answer, That the Lords will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Ordered, That To-morrow Morning the Reports concerning the Navy be made.

Ordered, That on Friday Morning next, peremptorily, the House do take into Consideration the Business of the Church.

Upon an Order Yesterday made to the Committee at Goldsmiths-Hall, forthwith to provide the Thirty thousand Pounds to enable the Scotts to advance;

Sir Anthony Irby reports, from the Committee, That whensoever the Scotts Army shall advance, the Thirty thousand Pounds shall be ready to meet them at any Place on this Side Yorke.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms, to consider which Way the Scotts Army shall advance; and of the Place where the Thirty thousand Pounds, assigned to that Army, shall be paid: And

It is further Ordered, That the Committee of both Kingdoms do take into Consideration the Securing of the Seven Associated Counties in the mean time.

Ordered, That an Ordinance be brought in To-morrow for Ten thousand Pounds out of the Excise for the Earl of Calender's Army; and an Ordinance for Four thousand Pounds out of the Excise for the Lord General's Army; and Two thousand Pounds for Sir Wm. Waller's, according to former Order.

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

The Lords do agree to the Vote, from this House, concerning the Limitation of Time for settling the Militia in Commissioners, with some Additions, which they have herewith sent: and desire the Concurrence of this House therein.

The Additions were read; and, upon the Question, assented unto.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; That this House has considered their Lordships Message; and do agree to the Alterations sent by the Lords.

WHereas John Towse Esquire, Alderman of the City of London, and the rest of the Commissioners of Excise, for the present Supply of the Garison of Windsore-Castle, have advanced and lent the Sum of Four hundred Pounds: Be it therefore Ordained, by the Lords and Commons, in Parliament assembled, and by the Authority of the same, That the said Commissioners of Excise shall and may satisfy and reimburse themselves of the said Four hundred Pounds, with Interest, after the Rate of Eight Pounds per Cent. for so long time as they shall be out of the same, or any Part thereof, out of such Intervals of Receipts as shall happen between such Times as other Ordinances, already assigned upon the Excise, shall not fall due; or, in Default of such Intervals, shall and may repay themselves in such Order and Course as this Ordinance, according to its Date, doth take Place; and shall not, by any Order or Ordinance of one or both Houses of Parliament, be secluded from satisfying and reimbursing themselves accordingly: And that the said Four hundred Pounds be paid unto Colonel John Venn, Governor of the Castle of Windsore; whose Receipt shall be a sufficient Discharge for the Payment thereof.

ORdered, by the Lords and Commons, in Parliament assembled, That the Commissioners of both Houses shall have Power to confer with the Scotts Commissioners; and, upon Conference had with them, shall have Liberty to limit the Power of the Militia in Commissioners, according to the Seventeenth Proposition; to continue for Three Years after the Peace shall be settled in the Three Kingdoms of England, Scotland, and Ireland; and shall be so declared by the King, and both Houses of the Parliament of England, and the King and Estates of the Parliament of Scotland; or for Seven Years at least, from the Time of the Passing of the Act for the Militia: And that, after the Expiration of such Term as shall be agreed upon, the Militia of the Kingdoms shall be settled by his Majesty, in such Manner as shall be advised by both Houses of the Parliament of England, and the Estates of the Parliament of Scotland, respectively: And the Commissioners shall have Liberty to propound both or either of these Limitations to the Commissioners sent by the King.