House of Commons Journal Volume 4: 2 June 1645

Die Lunæ, Junii 2, 1645.

Prayers.

REsolved, &c. That the Lord Howard of Escrig shall have bestowed upon him the Benefit of the Two next Assessments of the Twentieth-Part, as shall come in to the Committee at Haberdashers-Hall, by the Discovery of such as his Lordship shall employ therein, and are not as yet discovered to the said Committee.

A printed Petition, directed to the Knights, Citizens, and Burgesses, assembled in the Commons House of Parliament, intituled, "The humble Petition of Sir Frederick Hamilton Knight and Colonel," was this Day read: And likewise a Copy of the like Petition, in Writing, was read. And

It is Ordered, That the whole Matter of these Petitions, and the whole Business of the Informations of Sir Fred. Hamilton against Sir Jo. Clottworthy and Sir Wm. Cole, and the whole Business concerning Mr. Alexander, and the Privilege of the House, are referred to the Consideration of the Committee for Examinations: And they are to take All into present Consideration; and to make Report of All to the House; and withal to deliver in their Opinions upon all the Particulars to the House.

Resolved, &c. That Mr. Nath. Stephens shall forthwith go down to Gloucester.

Resolved, &c. That Mr. Hodges shall forthwith go down to Gloucester.

Resolved, &c. That Colonel Massie shall forthwith go into the West, to take his Charge there.

Resolved, &c. That Colonel Massie's Regiment shall go into the West.

Resolved, &c. That all the Horse, now under the Command of Major Buller, shall go into the West.

Resolved, &c. That Fifty Barrels of Powder shall be forthwith furnished out of the publick Stores, by the Officers of the Ordnance, unto Mr. Stephens, Mr. Hodges, Mr. Pury, or one of them, for the Service of the Garison of Gloucester.

Resolved, &c. That the Committee of Gloucester do presently withdraw; and consider of some Person or Persons fit for the Care of Gloucester: And the Garisons to be put into . . . ., till the Governor appointed come down.

Resolved, &c. That Mr. Nurse, now Mayor of Gloucester, Alderman Wm. Singleton, and Colonel Blount, or any Two of them, shall have the Command of the Garison of Gloucester, and of the Forces and Garisons of Gloucestershire, in as ample Manner as Colonel Massie had; until Colonel Lloyd, the appointed Governor, come down to his Charge there; or that the House take other Order.

Ordered, That Mr. Holles do prepare a Letter, to be signed by Mr. Speaker, and sent to Colonel Massie presently, to go and take his Charge in the West.

Resolved, &c. That the Disposal of all the Forces be wholly left to the Committee of both Kingdoms; notwithstanding any former Order.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Resolved, &c. That Serjeant-Major-General Browne be Forthwith sent down to his Charge at Abingdon.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Ordered, That the Thanks of this House be returned to Serjeant-Major-General Browne, for his very faithful and great Services done to the Publick.

Resolved, &c. That the Forces, formerly designed to be sent to Oxon, shall be speedily sent away thither.

Sir Robert Harley carried the Three Votes before-mentioned, concerning Disposal of the Forces, and Oxford, to the Lords for their Concurrence.

Mr. Nicoll carried to the Lords an Ordinance for bringing in Monies in Arrear upon several Ordinances of Parliament in the City of London: An Ordinance for Securing and Repayment of Twelve thousand Pounds, charged upon the Excise, for the Service of the West: An Ordinance to enable the Committee at Goldsmiths-Hall with Power to bring in the One-and-twenty thousand Pounds per mensem, taxed by a former Ordinance, for Payment of the Scotts Army: An Ordinance, appointing a Committee of the Commons House to regulate the Affairs of the Excise: An Ordinance for Payment of Three hundred Pounds to the Captain of Brunksea-Castle, out of the Moiety of the Excise in the County of Dorsett, and Town of Poole: And a Letter to be writ to the several Committees in the Countries, to accommodate the Scotts Army with Provisions in their March Southwards.

Serjeant-Major-General Browne was called in: And Mr. Speaker, by Command of the House, acquainted him, That the House had taken notice of the great Service he had done in a Garison, once a Forlorn-Hope, but now, by his Industry, made considerable; as also of the Diligence and Care in his own Person; and of his Wisdom in managing all his Actions with so great Judgement, especially manifested in the discreet Ordering of that Passage between the Lord Digby and himself; wherein as he had gained Honour to himself, so no less Thankfulness from the Parliament: And the House did return him Thanks for it.

He likewise acquainted him with the great Occasion there was for his present going down to his Charge; and that the House had taken care for supplying him with some further Forces for his Assistance.

Mr. Nicoll brings Answer from the Lords, That the Lords do agree to the several Ordinances carried up by him, except to That for constituting a Committee for regulating the Affairs of the Excise: To which they will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Sir Robert Harley brings Answer from the Lords, That the Lords had agreed to the Two Votes concerning Oxon: And, as to the Vote concerning the Disposal of the Forces by the Committee of both Kingdoms, they will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

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

The Lords have commanded us to bring this Report: It came from the Committee of Lords and Commons for the Admiralty and Cinque-Ports: They have agreed to it; and desire the Concurrence of this House in it.

They have likewise sent a Pass for the Countess of Devon to go beyond Sea into France; in which they desire the Concurrence of this House. And

The Lords do desire, That the Lord Roberts may be added to the Committee of Plymouth, Lyme, and Poole.

The Report was read; and was, for Approbation of John Elliott Esquire to be Vice-Admiral of the County of Devon.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth approve of John Elliott to be Vice-Admiral of the County of Devon: And that the Committee of Lords and Commons for the Admiralty and Cinque-Ports do grant him a Commission for that Place, accordingly.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth agree, That the Lord Roberts be added to the Committee of Plymmouth, Lyme, and Poole.

Resolved, &c. That Sir John Northcott and Mr. Dennis Bond be added to the Committee of Plymmouth, Lyme, and Poole.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

A Message from the Lords, by Serjeant Whitfield and Serjeant Finch;

The Lords have received a Vote this Day from this House, concerning the Disposal of the Forces by the Committee of both Kingdoms: To which they do agree; with such Additions as are set down in this Paper.

The Additions were read; and were in bæc verba; viz.

After the Word "Kingdoms," and before the Word "notwithstanding," add, "according to the Ordinance or Ordinances, by which the said Committee was constituted."

The First Messengers were called in: And the House returned this Answer, That they had taken their Message into Consideration; and do agree with the Lords; and approve of Mr. Elliott to be Vice-Admiral of the County of Devon; and for the Lord Roberts to be of the Committee of Plymmouth, Lyme, and Poole: And, as to the Pass for the Countess of Devon, they will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

The Second Messengers were called in: And the House returned this Answer, That they had taken their Message into Consideration; and do agree with the Lords in the Addition to the Vote for Disposal of the Forces by the Committees of both Kingdoms.

An Ordinance for the raising Men in the Cities of London and Westminster, and divers adjacent Counties, to be sent to Oxon; and for Raising of Monies for Maintenance of the said Men; was this Day read the First and Second time; and, upon the Question, committed unto the Committee of the Three Counties of Oxon, Buck', and Berk': And that the Knights and Burgesses of Middlesex and Westminster, and Sir Robert Pye, Mr. Wheeler, and Mr. Whittacre, are added to this Committee: And they are to report this Ordinance To-morrow Morning.

Resolved, &c. That the City be desired forthwith to send Two Regiments of Foot to the Blocking-up of Oxon.

Mr. Recorder, Mr. Whitelock, and Mr. Nicoll, are appointed to press the City herein; and to signify unto them the very great Importance of it at this present Conjuncture of Affairs.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms, to consider, What Forces may speedily, and with most Conveniency, be sent to Oxon: And they are herein to confer with the Committee of the Three Counties of Oxon, Buck', and Berks; and with the Knights and Burgesses of Herts.