House of Commons Journal Volume 4: 21 February 1645

Die Veneris, Februarii 21, 1644.

Prayers.

AN Ordinance for discharging the Delinquency of Sir Jo. Morley Knight was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

A Letter from the Commissioners at Uxbridge, of February the 20. 1644; and an Order desired to be passed both Houses, for limiting the Time of the Militia in Commissioners, according to the Seventeenth Proposition: The which was read; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

An Ordinance for Continuance ... the Payments and Assessments in the County of Northampton for Six Months longer was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

An Ordinance for establishing Mr. Sam. Avery, &c. Commissioners of the Customs, to begin to collect the Receipts of the Customs on the Twenty-fifth of this Instant February, was this Day reported from the Committee; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

An Ordinance for discharging the present Commissioners of the Customs, and easing them from their Attendance upon the said Service, from the Twenty-fifth of this Instant; and for evening and adjusting their Accounts, and paying their Salary, until March Twentyfive, was this Day passed upon the Question; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

An Ordinance for impressing Mariners, Sailors, Watermen, Surgeons, &c. for the Service of this next Summer's Fleet, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

An Ordinance for the Enabling of the Commissioners of the Navy to prepare Ships, and perform divers other Things under the Lord High Admiral of England, concerning the Navy, sent from the Lords, was this Day read the Second time; and, upon the Question, committed unto, Mr. Green, Mr. Whitehead, Mr. Wheeler, Mr. Maynard, Mr. Bond, Sir H. Vane senior, Mr. Strode, Mr. Ashurst, Mr. Scowen, Mr. Richard Browne, Mr. Toll, Sir Wm. Lewes, Mr. Reynalds, Mr. Rolle, Mr. Holland, Sir Robert Pye, Mr. Rigby, Sir Christopher Wray, Mr. Corbett, Sir H. Mildmay, Sir Peter Wentworth, Mr. Recorder, Mr. Bence ambo, Mr. Dowse, Mr. Grimston, Sir Samuel Roll, Mr. Vassall, Mr. Knightley, Mr. Ash, Sir Phil. Stapilton, Mr. Lisle, Mr. Millington, Mr. Cage, Mr. Blackiston, Sir Gilbert Gerard, Mr. Hodges, Mr. Selden: And are to meet upon it To-morrow in the Afternoon at Three of Clock, in the Exchequer-Chamber: And have Power to send for Parties, Witnesses, Papers, Records: And that the Care of this Business is especially recommended unto Mr. Reignolds: And they are to send for the Commissions formerly granted for carrying on the Business of the Navy, to inform themselves by them: And are to consider what Officers are necessary for carrying on the Affair of the Navy; what Salaries and Privileges are fit to be allowed unto them; and what Instructions are requisite to be given them, for the better Dispatch of the Service.

Sir Robert Pye, carried up the Ordinance for discharging Sir John Morlie's Delinquency; and the Order, desired by the Commissioners at Uxbridge, for limiting the Time of the Militia in Commissioners, according to the Seventeenth Proposition.

Ordered, That the Commissioners of the Navy do, with all Speed, proceed to the Setting-forth of the Summer's Fleet; and to continue the Acting of the other Affairs of the Navy, according to the Directions and Power given them by former Ordinance of Parliament of the Fifteenth of September 1642.

An Ordinance for injoining the Officers and Soldiers to repair to their Colours forthwith, upon Pain of Death, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

Sir Christopher Yelverton is appointed to carry up this Order to the Lords for their Concurrence.

He likewise carried up the Ordinance for continuing the Payments upon the County of Northampton.

Ordered, That this House doth leave it to the Committee of both Kingdoms, to dispose of Sir Wm. Waller, and the Forces under his Conduct and Command, in such Manner as they shall think most advantageous for the Publick, notwithstanding any former Order of this House: And that it be recommended unto the Committee of both Kingdoms, to take care, that Supplies of Men, Arms, Ammunition, and Provisions, may be sent for the Relief of Weymouth and Melcomb. And it is referred to the Committee of the West, to apply their best and speediest Care and Assistance herein.

Resolved, &c. That the Five thousand Pounds now informed of to belong to Mrs. Dorothy Seymour, a Delinquent, and in the Hands of Sir Paul Pinder, and other the old Customers, shall be disposed of; One thousand Pounds, upon Account, to the Garison of Abingdon; One thousand Pounds, upon Account, to the Garison of Portesmouth; One thousand Pounds, upon Account, to the Garison of Gloucester; Fifty Pounds to Mr. Erbury, Minister; and the Remainder, upon Account, for the Service of the West; to be employed according to the Directions of the said Committee: And that it be referred to the Committee at Haberdashers-Hall to levy and get in the said Five thousand Pounds; and to pay it according to these Assignments.

Ordered, That out of the first Monies that shall be sent to Abingdon, the Horse there, and also Colonel Martyn's Horse, shall be paid in Proportion with the Foot.

Ordered, That it be re-committed to the Committee at Goldsmiths-Hall, to supply the Scottish Army with Seven thousand Musquets, and Three thousand Weight of Powder, with Match and Ball proportionable: And that the Committee do consider of some Propositions, and tender them to the House, for the giving further Credit to advance Monies for the carrying on this and other Services.

Mr. Green carried up to the Lords the Ordinance for enabling Mr. Samuel Avery, &c. Commissioners, to collect and manage the Receipts of the Customs: The Ordinance for discharging and easing the present Commissioners of the present Service on the Twenty-fifth of this Instant February, &c.: The Ordinance for impresting Mariners, Watermen, Sailors, &c.

A Letter from my Lord Fairfax, from York, of Februar' 15, to Mr. Speaker, concerning Colonel Sandys, and his Regiment, was this Day read.

Ordered, That it be left to Sir Thomas Fairfax, upon Consideration of the Letter from my Lord Fairfax to Mr. Speaker, concerning Colonel Sandys, to employ Colonel Sandys, and his Regiment, in the Army here under his Command, if he shall think fit.

A Letter from the Prince Elector his Highness to the Committee of both Kingdoms; and from thence reported by Sir Philip Stapilton; and likewise the humble Remonstrance of James Harrington Esquire, concerning the Affairs of his Highness the Prince Elector, made to the House of Commons; were both this Day read; and referred unto Sir Henry Vane senior, Sir Ben. Rudyard, Sir Anthony Irby, Mr. Recorder, Mr. Baynton, Sir Gilb. Gerard, Sir ChristopherWray, Sir Phil. Stapilton, Sir John Clotworthy, Sir Wm. Stricland, Sir H. Mildmay, Sir John Evelyn, Mr. Wallop, Mr. Wheeler, Mr. Bond, Col. Long, Sir John Corbett, Mr. Cage, Mr. Gourdon, Mr. Holland, Sir Peter Wentworth, Sir Robert Harley, Sir Ralph Ashton, Sir Gilbert Pickering, Sir John Curson, Sir * Hasilrig, Mr. Salloway, Mr. Nicoll: Are to consider of the Letter and Remonstrance, and of some fit and constant Way of providing Means for the future Subsistence of the Prince Elector: And have Power to send for Parties, Witnesses, Papers, Records, &c.: And are to meet on Monday next, at Two post meridiem, at Sir Abraham William's House in Westminster.

Ordered, That the Commissioners of the Excise be earnestly desired forthwith to advance and lend unto the Committee of the King's Revenue One thousand Pounds, to be forthwith advanced and paid by them, to supply the present Occasions of the Prince Elector; the said Committee promising to pay the said Commissioners the said One thousand Pounds at Six Months End, with Interest.

Mr. Nicoll is to press the Commissioners herein.

Sir Christopher Yelverton brings Answer, That the Lords do agree to the Ordinance for continuing the Assessments upon the County of Northampton: And, as to the Ordinance for injoining Officers and Soldiers to repair to their Colours, they will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Ordered, That the Committee for the Complaints of Bedford and Buck' be revived; and do meet this Afternoon at Three of Clock, in the Exchequer-Chamber.

Ordered, That Sir Phil. Stapilton do proceed in his Report To-morrow Morning.

Ordered, That the Business of the Church be taken into Consideration on Monday Morning next, peremptorily.

A Letter, to be sent from Mr. Speaker to the several and respective Committees of the Counties, Liberties, and Places, charged with any Payments to Sir Thomas Fairfax his Army, was this Day read; and assented unto.

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

The Lords have received these Letters from the Commanders of the Army in Ireland: They have considered of them; and do think fit they should be referred, the Letters and the Messenger, to the Committee of both Kingdoms; to consider of; and to report their Opinions to both Houses, what is fit to be done upon them.

Three Ordinances, One for reimbursing the Commissioners of Excise Four thousand Pounds, advanced and lent by them, for the Service of the Army under the immediate Command of my Lord General; One for reimbursing them Two thousand Pounds, advanced and lent by them, for the Service of the Forces under the Command of Sir Wm. Waller; One for reimbursing them Ten thousand Pounds, advanced and lent by them, for the Service of the Army brought in by the Earl of Calender; were all this Day read; and carried up to the Lords for their Concurrence by Mr. Nicoll.

Ordered, That this House doth concurr with the Lords in referring the Letters and Messenger, from the Commanders of the Army in Ireland, in manner as is desired by the Lords.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; That this House has considered their Lordships Message; and do agree to the Referring of the Letters and Messenger, from the Army in Ireland, in manner as is desired.

Ordered, upon the Desire of Count Maurice, Lieutenant-General of the Horse in Holland, That he shall have Mr. Speaker's Warrant to transport Eight Horses or Geldings into Holland, with Four Grooms; namely, Henry Browne, Wm. Huntley, Paul Johnson, and Francis Williams; provided that they ship them all at one Time, and at one Port.

Ordered, That Two thousand Pounds, out of the first Monies that shall come in at the Committee of Accompts, next after the Assignments and Engagements already passed upon that Committee, shall be advanced and paid to Mr. James Harrington Esquire, upon Account, for the Supply of the urgent Necessities of the Prince Elector: And that a Receipt under the Hand of the said James Harrington, shall be a sufficient Discharge to the said Committee: And Sir Robert Harley is appointed to acquaint the said Committee with this Order.

ORdered, by the Lords and Commons, in Parliament, 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 consented unto, the Militia of the Kingdoms shall be settled and exercised in such Manner as shall be agreed upon by his Majesty, and the Two Houses of the Parliament of England, and by his Majesty, and the Estates of the Parliament of Scotland, respectively, and not otherwise: And the Commissioners shall have Liberty to propound both or either of these Limitations to the Commissioners sent by the King.