House of Commons Journal Volume 4: 16 May 1645

Die Veneris, Maii 16, 1645.

Prayers.

THE Grand Committee of the whole House, according to their former Adjournment, did this Day meet, and fit, to take into further Consideration the Affairs of the Church.

Mr. Whittacre in the Chair.

Ordered, upon the Question, That the Committee of Prisoners do write unto Lieutenant-General Cromwell, and Major-General Browne, to send up to this Town, as Prisoners, in very safe Custody, the considerable Prisoners that are at Abingdon.

Ordered, That Mr. Lisle do, on Monday next, peremptorily, report, from the Committee at HaberdashersHall, the Business concerning Mrs. Murray.

Upon Mr. Holles his Report, from the Committee for nominating Officers:

Resolved, &c. That this House doth approve of Major Ashurst to be Governor of Leverpoole.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

An Ordinance for securing and repaying to the Commissioners of Excise a Thousand Pounds, advanced by them, for Colonel Jo. Fienis his Regiment; An Ordinance for securing and repaying the Commissioners of Excise Four hundred Pounds, advanced by them for the Irish Officers; An Ordinance for securing and repaying the Commissioners of Excise Three thousand Pounds, advanced by them, for furnishing Provisions for Ireland, upon Mr.Davies his Composition; were this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

A Letter from the Commissioners of Scotland, from Worcester-House, of Maii 14 1645, recommending the Condition of James Bosewell Merchant, who furnished Provisions to the Armies of Ireland, upon the Ordinance of Parliament, dated Januar' 27 1641, was this Day read: And

It is thereupon Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Goldsmiths-Hall, to consider of the said Ordinance, and of the said James Boswell's Petition; and to examine, What Monies are justly due to him; and to state the whole Case; and report the same to the House.

Ordered, That, To-morrow, the House do take into Consideration, only the State of the Monies for the Armies; and of some Ways for Providing of a Stock of Monies for the future; and the Business of the Isle of Ely, and Eastern Association.

Ordered, That the Committee of Lords and Commons for Advance of Monies at Haberdashers-Hall do forthwith pay, upon Account, to Mr. Walter Frost, Four hundred and Ninety Pounds; to be disposed of as the Committee of both Kingdoms shall direct.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein: And Mr. Browne to carry it to the Lords.

Mr. Sam. Browne reported, from the Committee, a Paper delivered to That Committee by the Commissioners of Scotland; with a Desire, That it might be communicated to both Houses of Parliament: The which Paper was read; and was concerning the Arrears of some Scotts Officers, not employed now in the Army. And

It is Ordered, That Mr. Browne do acquaint the Scotts Commissioners, That this House has taken Order, that the Accompts of the said Officers shall be very speedily audited, and perfected: And that, so soon as the House shall be informed of the State of those Accompts, they will take Order, that a Proportion of their Arrears shall be paid unto them.

Ordered, That the Committee of Lords and Commons for Sequestration do take speedy and effectual Course to restore, maintain, and continue, the Possession of the Parliament in a House late of the Lord Pawlett's, in Cheswick; sequestred, in pursuance of the Ordinance of Lords and Commons for Sequestrations, by the Committee for Sequestrations in the County of Middlesex; and leased out by the said Committee: And to take care, that the Lessee may freely enjoy the Benefit of his Lease, according to the Conditions thereof.

Mr Nicoll carried to the Lords, an Ordinance for securing to the Commissioners of Excise the Sum of One thousand Pounds, advanced by them for Payment of Colonel Fiennes his Regiment: An Ordinance for securing the Sum of Four hundred Pounds, advanced by the said Commissioners for the Irish Officers: And an Ordinance for securing to them the Sum of Three thousand Pounds, advanced by them; and to be paid to Mr. John Davies, upon his Propositions touching Ireland: Also a Vote of this House for Major Ashurst to be Governor of Liverpoole.

He was also required to desire the Lords to give a speedy Dispatch to the Instructions for the Commissioners residing in the Army; and to the Instructions for the Mustermaster, formerly sent from this House.

Ordered, That the Petition of divers Merchants and Traders in Cloth, and other Woollen Manufactures, in and about the City of London, shall be read on Wednesday next.

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

That the Lords had commanded them to deliver a Letter, to be sent to Sir Thomas Fairfax with all Speed: To which the Lords had agreed; and desired the Concurrence of this House.

They likewise commanded them to deliver a Petition from some Seamen, and Masters of Ships: Which is especially recommended from the Lords to be taken into speedy Consideration.

Ordered, That the Petition of the Seamen, and Masters of Ships and Barques, concerning free Trade, shall be taken into Consideration on Wednesday next, at the same time when the Merchants Petition, concerning the same. Business, shall be considered of.

Ordered, That the Report, now remaining with the Committee of the Navy, whereby the Case is stated between the Merchant-Adventures and the Petitioners, shall be brought in at the same time: And Mr. Speaker is to put the House in mind of it.

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

That the Lords had commanded them to deliver a Paper; to which the Lords had agreed: Wherein they desired the Concurrence of this House: And that the Lords desired the Earl of Salisbury might be added to the Committee of Lords and Commons for the Three Counties of Oxon, Berk', and Buckingham.

The which Paper was in hæc verba;

"Ordered, by the Lords and Commons, assembled in Parliament, That it be referred to the Committee of Lords and Commons for the Three Counties of Oxon, Buck', and Berk', to go to the Common-Council this Afternoon; and to propound unto them, in the Name of both Houses, the great Advantages to the Parliament, and City, and the whole Kingdom, if Oxford could be reduced: That, for this End, they desire a vigorous Execution of the Ordinance for Subscriptions: And to propound further to them, What they shall conceive to be conducing to That Work, by the Raising or Sending out of Forces, or otherwise."

Mr. Nicoll reports from the Lords, That the Lords do agree to the Three Ordinances for Monies out of the Excise, carried by him to the Lords this Day: And to the Vote of this House for Major Ashurst to be Governor of Leverpoole: And that the Lords had passed the Instructions to the Commissioners to reside in the Army; and the Orders for the Mustermaster-General.

The Messengers were called in: And, to their First Message, the House returned this Answer, That, as to the Letter concerning Sir Thomas Fairfax, they do agree: And, as to the Seamens Petition, they will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

The same Messengers were called in again: And, to their Second Message, the House returned this Answer, That they had taken their Message into Consideration; and had agreed to the Order for the Committee of Lords and Commons of the Three Counties of Oxon, Berks, and Bucks, to go to the Common-Council this Afternoon: And had likewise agreed, That the Earl of Salisbury shall be added to the same Committee.

An Ordinance for Colonel Massie to be Commander in Chief of all the Forces of Horse and Foot, raised, or to be raised, for the Western Association, was this Day read the First and Second time; and, upon the Question, committed to the Committee of the West; and the Committee of Gloucester are to join with them: And they are to consider, How the Command, hereby intended to Colonel Massy, may not intrench upon any Power already given to Sir Thomas Fairfax.

Sir Thomas Widdrington, Serjeant Wilde, Mr. Salloway, the Knights and Burgesses of Worcester, and Mr. Recorder, are added to this Committee: And are to meet To-morrow Morning at Seven of Clock, in the inner StarChamber.

A Petition of the Mayor, Aldermen, Common-Council, and other the Inhabitants of the City and County of the City of Gloucester, for Continuance of Colonel Massy in Command there, was this Day delivered in by Mr. Nathanael Stephens: And, upon the Question,

Resolved, That it should not be now read.

The Question being put, Whether Two Petitions, and Articles and Reasons, from the Committee of Gloucester and Hereford, tendered to be delivered in by Mr. Edward Stephens, against Colonel Massy, should be now received;

It was resolved with the Negative.