House of Commons Journal Volume 4: 3 May 1645

Die Sabbati, Maii 3, 1645.

Prayers.

AN Ordinance, enabling the Members of both Houses, that are of the Committee of both Kingdoms, to grant Commissions to such Persons, as shall be recommended unto them from the Committee of Lords and Commons for the West, for the Service of the West, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent to the Lords for their Concurrence.

Ordered, That Mr. Shuttleworth shall have Leave to go into Lancashire, for his Health and Occasions.

IT is Ordained, by the Lords and Commons, in Parliament, That the Members of both Houses, being of the Committee of both Kingdoms, or any Six of them (whereof One Lord and Two Commoners to be present), shall have Power, and are hereby authorized, to grant Commissions to such Colonels, and such other inferior Officers, as shall be recommended to them by the Committee of Lords and Commons for the Western Associated Counties, for the Service of That Association.

Upon Mr. Whittacre's Report from the Grand Committee of Religion;

It is Resolved, &c. That Power shall be given to the Eldership of every Congregation, to examine any Person complained of for such Matter of Scandal as is passed by Vote of this House; and, upon Confession of the Party before the Eldership to have committed such an Offence, to suspend That Person from the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, pro tempore.

Resolved, &c. That the Eldership of every Congregation shall have Power to suspend any Person from the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper, that is lawfully convicted of any Matter of Scandal, passed by Vote of this House.

Resolved, &c. That the Cognizance and Examination of any capital Offence shall be by the Magistrate thereunto appointed by the Law of the Kingdom: Who, if he shall commit the Party questioned to Prison, or secure him or her by Bail, he shall thereof make Certificate unto the Eldership of the Congregation where he or she did last reside, or to any other neighbouring Eldership: Who shall thereupon have Power to suspend the Party from the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper.

Ordered, That it be referred to Mr. Rous and Mr. Tate, to prepare an Answer to the Paper from the Commissioners of the Church of Scotland, touching the Proceedings of the Houses in the Points of Church-Government; and to draw out all the Votes that have passed, touching the Government of the Church.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth approve of the Exchange of Mr. Lee of Adlington, Prisoner to the Parliament, for Lieutenant-Colonel Alexander Rigby, Prisoner to the King's Forces, at Latham-House in Lancashire.

Ordered, That Mr. Rigby be hereby injoined to put in Suit, for the Advantage of the Publick, the Bond entered into by Sir Bevis Thelwall, for not performing the Condition thereupon, touching the Inlargement of Mr. Alexander Rigby, eldest Son of the said Mr. Rigby; and to do all Acts for the speedy Recovering of the same.

An Ordinance for the Raising of Monies for Payment of the Forces in the County of Derby, by a monthly Assessment, &c. was this Day read the Second time; and, upon the Question, committed unto the Committee for the Northern Ordinances.

Mr. Nicoll carried to the Lords, for their Concurrence, the Ordinances for discharging the Vintners; for prohibiting the Importation of Whale-Oil, &c.; for Payment of Four hundred Pounds, upon Account, to the Commissioners appointed to reside in the Army; for referring the Paper Yesterday presented by the States Ambassador: The Order concerning Four hundred and Ninety Pounds out of Haberdashers-Hall, formerly assigned to Mr. Frost, for the Service of the Publick, and since disposed of: The Order for enabling the Members of both Houses, that are of the Committee of both Kingdoms, to grant Commissions to such Persons, as shall be recommended from the Committee of the West, for the Service of the West: The Order for the Committee of the Militia to pay the Three Months Arrears to Colonel Herriott Washbourne's Troop at Abingdon.

Mr. Wallopp reported, from the Committee of both Kingdoms, the Propositions presented to That Committee, concerning the Defence of the Isle of Elye.

A Letter from the Committee at Elye, of April the 26th 1645, concerning the Government of that Island, was this Day read.

Sir Peter Wentworth reported from the Committee of Lords and Commons, appointed to consider of the nominating to Military Commands, vacated by the Ordinance for discharging the Members, to whom it was referred to consider of, and nominate a Governor for the Isle of Ely; That the Committee had considered of that Reference; and unanimously agreed upon, and nominated Colonel Francis Russell to be Governor of the Isle of Ely.

A Note under Colonel Francis Russell's own Hand, affirming, That he had twice taken the Covenant, was this Day read.

Resolved, &c. That he that shall be Governor of the Isle of Elye, shall be ordered and directed by such Committee, as shall be appointed by both Houses.

Resolved, &c. That Colonel Francis Russell shall be Governor of the Isle of Elye.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired in these Votes.

Ordered, That Mr. Reynolds and Mr. Ellis be added to Sir Anthony Irby, for bringing in the Ordinances concerning the Isle of Ely and Croyland.

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

That the Lords had commanded them to deliver to the House Two Letters; one to the Earl of Leven, touching the Advance of the Scotts Army Southward; the other to be sent to the Committee in the North, for the Delivery of the said Letter to the Earl of Leven: To both which the Lords had agreed; and desired the Concurrence of this House: Also a Report from the Committee of both Kingdoms, touching the Inlargement of Sir William Riddall and Sir John Henderson: To which the Lords had agreed; and desired the Concurrence of this House.

Ordered, That Sir Philip Stapleton and Mr. Wallop do, from this House, represent to the Scotts Commissioners, That, in regard Sir William Riddall, before the Reddition of Newcastle, was excepted, by Ordinance of Parliament; that, since the Reddition of Newcastle, there have been Meetings of dangerous Persons, and Malignants, wearing their Arms, whereof Sir William Riddall was one; and that he is a known Recusant, and so ought to be liable to the Laws of this Kingdom; How unsafe it may be at this time to set him at Liberty.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Members of both Houses, that are of the Committee of both Kingdoms, to write a Letter, to be sent to the King of Denmarke (to give him Reasons, and to satisfy him, Why Sir John Henderson is detained, and not set at Liberty), by the next Post: And Sir Philip Stapleton and Mr. Crewe are to take care of the Writing, and Dispatching of this Letter.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; That the House had taken the Message from the Lords into Consideration: And, as to the Two Letters to be sent to General Leven, and to the Committee, they have agreed: And, as to the Report from the Committee of both Kingdoms, touching the Inlargement of Sir Wm. Riddall and Sir John Henderson, they will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Resolved, That the Members of both Houses, that are of the Committee of both Kingdoms, shall have Power to receive such Messages and Trumpets, as come from Oxford, or any other the King's Quarters; and to give them Dispatches. And

It is further Ordered, That the Trumpets now in Town shall be sent thither this Afternoon: And that the said Committee do take care for Satisfying of such Monies as have been expended for their Maintenance.

Ordered, That the several Messages, sent from the Lords Yesterday, by Doctor Aylett and Doctor Heath, shall be taken into Consideration on Wednesday Morning.

Ordered, That the Propositions, reported by Mr. Wallop this Day, from the Committee of both Kingdoms, concerning the Isle of Ely, shall be taken into Consideration on Tuesday Morning.