House of Commons Journal Volume 4: 6 March 1645

Die Jovis, Martii 6, 1644.

Prayers.

THE House being informed, That divers Divines of the Assembly were at the Door;

They were called in: And Dr. Stanton acquainted the House, That they had received an Order from the Lords for the making a Title to the Directory for Publick Worship: In Obedience to which Order they have framed a Title; which they humbly present to this House. They said, They had further in Charge from the Assembly, to represent something to this House of very great Concernment; which was expressed in their Paper.

The Divines being withdrawn; the Title to the Directory was read; and referred to the Consideration of the Members of this House, that are of the Committee for the Assembly.

The Paper was read; and was concerning the Settling of a Preaching Ministry; and touching the Keeping of ignorant and scandalous Persons from the Sacrament.

Ordered, That the Consideration of this Paper be resumed on Monday Morning next, at Nine of Clock, peremptorily: And that Mr. Speaker put the House in mind hereof: And that no other Business intervene.

Ordered, That, on Tuesday Morning next, the humble Petition of Edmund Earl of Mulgrave, and of Edmund Lord Sheffield, his Grandson, be read.

Sir Christ. Yelverton is appointed to go to the Lords, to desire them to expedite the Lists of the Officers of Horse and Foot, in regard of the extreme and important Necessity of it.

Sir Christ. Yelverton brings Answer, That the Lords will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Ordered, That the Serjeant at Arms do forthwith send a Servant to Lieutenant-Colonel Thorpe's House; and injoin him from this House forthwith to send the Letters taken with General Forth's Lady to the Committee for Examinations.

An Ordinance for securing the Commissioners of Excise Two thousand Pounds advanced and lent by them for the Garisons of Weymouth and Melcombe Regis, and for paying the same Two thousand Pounds to Michael Herring Merchant, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed; and sent unto the Lords, for their Concurrence, by Mr. Erle.

Resolved, &c. upon Mr. Scawen's Report from the Committee, That the One thousand and Thirty-eight Horses, for the Service of the Train of Artillery, shall be provided by the Commonwealth.

Resolved, That what Number of Horses of these One thousand and Thirty-eight shall be wanting, shall be supplied by the Counties, according to the Proportion of the Money for weekly Assessments: And the Countries to reimburse themselves out of the Third Month's Assessment: And Mr. Grimston is ordered to prepare an Ordinance for the Committees of the Counties to provide the Horses; and to defalk Monies to pay the Country, according to this Order.

Ordered, That the Fines of such Men as shall be nominated by Mr. Scawen to the Committee at GoldsmithsHall, not exceeding Four thousand Pounds, shall be employed for paying the Arrears due to the Waggoners.

Resolved, &c. That, from the Rising of the House, the House be adjourned till Monday Morning next: And that Mr. Sollicitor, Mr. Crew, Sir Henry Vane, Sir Henry Mildmay, Mr. Wallope, Mr. Lisle, Mr. Holland, Mr. Reynolds, Sir Anthony Irby, Mr. Ellys, Sir Martin Lumly, Serjeant Wilde, Colonel Ven, Mr. Purefoy, Sir Tho. Soame, Sir Wm. Strickland, Mr. Trenchard, Mr. Whitelock, Sir Phil. Stapilton, Sir Christopher Wray, Mr. Prideaux, Mr. Hodges, Col. Rigby, Mr. Knightly, Mr. Bond, Mr. Green, Sir Gilb. Pickering, Sir John Curson, Mr. Noble, Mr. Moore, do meet To-morrow at Eight of Clock, at Grocers-Hall: And all that will come are to have Voices: And have Power to conser with the Common-Council, the Committee of the Common Council, or any other Persons, and to employ their Endeavours with them for the Procuring of Eighty thousand Pounds for the present Setting forth of the Army under the Command of Sir Tho. Fairfax; and to consider of, and to procure all other Things as shall be necessary for the setting forth of this Army; and likewise to consider of the Providing of other Monies, and other Necessaries, for the Summer Service, and all the other Armies: And have Power to propound any such Security as they shall think fit: And have Power to send for Parties, Witnesses, Papers, Records, &c.: And have Power to make Sub-Committees: And all the Members of this House are desired to attend the Service of the House mentioned in this Order.

It is further Ordered, That, during this Time of Adjournment, no other Committees shall sit, but such as are for the Associations for the Army, for the Navy, and for Procuring of Monies: And that all these sit in London.

And it is further Ordered, That it be referred to this Committee that is to sit at Grocers-Hall, to consider of the Raising of Monies for the Sending of additional Forces into Cheshire and Shropshire; and how this Money may be speedily provided.

Ordered, That Mr. Ashurst do bring in a Letter to the House, to be sent to the several Counties, that have any of their Forces employed in Cheshire and Shropshire, to desire them to pay those Forces, so employed, that they may be encouraged to continue there, and do Service.

Upon Mr. Serjeant Wilde's Report from the Committee of Lords and Commons for Sequestration; It is this Day Ordered, That the Sequestration of so much of the Estate of Sir John Hotham, and Captain Hotham, wherein both Father and Son were Tenants for Life, and that the same descends to the Heir at Law, as hath appeared by Deeds produced to the said Committee, shall be forthwith taken off, and discharged.

Mr. Erle brings Answer, That the Lords do agree to the Ordinance for Two thousand Pounds out of the Excise, for Weymouth and Melcombe Regis.

Ordered, That One thousand Musquets, with their Furniture, and Five hundred Pikes, be forthwith supplied out of the Arms bought of Mr. Pennoyer; and sent to MajorGeneral Langhorne.

Resolved, &c. That One hundred Pair of Pistols, One hundred Saddles, One thousand Swords, with Belts, Three Ton of Match, and Ten Barrels of Musquet-Bullet, be forthwith furnished out of the publick Stores: And that they be paid for out of the Excise.

Resolved, &c. That Major-General Langhern shall have Five hundred Pounds conferred upon him for a Reward, in Testimony and Acknowledgment of his great and faithful Service.

Resolved, &c. That One thousand Pounds shall be charged upon the Excise, and forthwith provided, for the Furnishing of the Arms and Ammunition appointed for Major-General Langherne; and for paying Five hundred Pounds to Major-General Langherne, conferred upon him by the House, in Acknowledgment of his great Services.

Mr. Prideaux, Mr. Theloall, Mr. Reynolds, and Sir John Clotworthy, are appointed to go to the Excise, to press them for the speedy Lending of these Monies.

Sir Philip Stapilton is to acquaint the Lords, To-morrow Morning, That this House has adjourned till Monday next, upon the great Occasions of procuring Monies and Necessaries for the Army under Sir Thomas Fairfax, and the other Armies; and do hope, their Lordships will dispatch the List of the Officers in the mean time: And

It is Ordered, That Sir Henry Vane junior, Sir John Clotworthy, Sir Rob. Pye, Sir Gilb. Gerard, Sir Samuel Rolle, Mr. Whaddon, Sir Edmund Fowell, Mr. Wheeler, Sir Henry Worsley, and Sir John Trevor, do accompany him in this Message.

A Letter from Sir Wm. Brereton, from Christleton, of March the Third, was this Day read; and ordered to be referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms.

It is further referred to the same Committee, to consider of the Informations given to the House of the Gathering of great Bodies of Forces, and Marching towards Cheshire and Shropshire, and the Expectation of great Forces of Irish to come over into those Parts; and to consider of the Advance of the Scotts Army Southward.

The House resumed the Report from the Committee at Goldsmiths-Hall.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth accept of the Fine of One thousand Pounds of Thomas Conings by Esquire, for his Delinquency: And that a Ordinance be brought in, to discharge the Sequestration of his Estate, and Delinquency.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth accept of the Fine of Three thousand Pounds of Sir Roger Twisden Knight, for his Delinquency: And that a Ordinance be brought in, to discharge the Sequestration of his Estate, and Delinquency.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth accept of the Fine of Fifty Pounds of Edward Maynard, for his Delinquency: And that a Ordinance be brought in, to discharge the Sequestration of his Estate, and Delinquency.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth accept of the Fine of Two thousand Pounds of Sir Edward Hearn Knight, for his Delinquency: And that a Ordinance be brought in, to discharge the Sequestration of his Estate, and Delinquency.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth accept of Four thousand Pounds Fine of Sir Thomas Littleton, for his Delinquency: And that an Ordinance be brought in, to discharge the Sequestration of his Estate, and Delinquency.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth accept of One thousand Pounds Fine of Sir Wingfield Badenham Knight, for his Delinquency: And that an Ordinance be brought in, to discharge the Sequestration of his Estate, and Delinquency.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth accept of One thousand Pounds Fine of Sir Thomas Peyton Knight, for his Delinquency: And that an Ordinance be brought in, to discharge the Sequestration of his Estate, and Delinquency.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth accept of One thousand Pounds Fine of Sir Richard Norton Knight, for his Delinquency: And that an Ordinance be brought in, to discharge the Sequestration of his Estate, and Delinquency.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth accept of the Fine of Six thousand Pounds of Nevil alias Smith Esquire, for his Delinquency: And that an Ordinance be brought in, to discharge the Sequestration of his Estate, and Delinquency.

Resolved, &c. That the House doth accept of Two thousand Pounds Fine of Sir John Butler Knight, for his Delinquency: And that an Ordinance be brought in, to discharge the Sequestration of his Estate, and his Delinquency.

Sir Anthony Irby further reports, from the Committee at Goldsmiths-Hall,

"That this Committee doth further crave Leave to represent to this Honourable House, That, if they shall be pleased to pass an Ordinance, for to enable the Committee of Accounts in London with Power, for to receive all such Sum and Sums of Money as they shall find to be due and owing to the State, upon such Examinations of Accounts as they shall take before them concerning the Sequestrations of Delinquents Estates; and that, upon Receipt thereof, they shall pay and satisfy the same unto this Committee, to be disposed of as shall be ordered by Parliament; and that this Committee may be intrusted by the said Ordinance to assist the said Committee of Accounts in this Particular, as they shall think fit; it may conduce very much to raise Monies for the Service aforesaid."

Resolved, &c. and agreed to: And That the Committee of Accounts be conferred withal herein; and an Ordinance be brought in accordingly.

"And That, whereas now this Committee doth only take into Consideration such Delinquents as come recommended unto them by particular Orders; if this Honourable House shall think fit to give this Committee a general Power, to receive, treat, and compound, with whatsoever Delinquents shall immediately tender themselves unto this Committee to be compounded withal (they first representing unto this Honourable Assembly such Compositions made, or Fines set upon them, before any thing be concluded); it will much promote the present Affair: And have Power to send for such Persons as they think fit, to attend that Committee about their Composition and Fine."

Resolved, &c. That this House doth assent to the Proposition; and order it, accordingly.

WHereas John Towse Esquire, Alderman of the City of London, and the rest of the Commissioners of Excise or New Impost, have advanced and lent the Sum of Two thousand Pounds for the Garisons of Waymouth and Melcomb Regis: Be it Ordained, by the Lords and Commons, in Parliament assembled, That the said Commissioners of Excise shall and may satisfy and reimburse themselves the said Two 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 forborne, out of such Intervals of Receipt to come in upon the Office of Excise, as shall happen when other Payments already assigned 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 secluded from satisfying themselves, accordingly: And that the said Commissioners shall pay the said Two thousand Pounds to Michael Herring Merchant: Whose Receipt shall be their sufficient Discharge in that Behalf. The same to be disposed in such manner, as the Committee of Lords and Commons for the Associated Western Counties shall be directed and appointed.