House of Commons Journal Volume 4: 4 June 1645

Die Mercurii, Junii 4, 1645.

Prayers.

WHereas Mr. John Gryffyth, committed by the Parliament Prisoner to Newgate, is escaped:

It is this Day Ordered, That all Officers of Forts, Courts of Guard, and Ports, respectively, do make diligent Search after the said Mr. Gryffyth; and him to stay, seize, and apprehend; and, in very safe Custody, to send him Prisoner to the Parliament.

Ordered, That the Business concerning the Earl of Manchester, and the Government of the University of Cambridge, be taken into Consideration on Friday Morning next.

Ordered, That my Lord Grey be heard To-morrow Morning concerning Leicester.

Mr. Baynton reports the Amendments to the Ordinance for the better taking the Accompts of the Kingdom: The which were twice read; and the Ordinance, with the Amendments, re-committed: And are to meet upon it this Afternoon, and so from time to time; and are to report it on this Day Sevennight.

It is further Ordered, That it be referred to this Committee, to consider of some speedy Course for the Punishment of that Person represented from the Committee of Accompts, that perjured himself.

Ordered, That Mr. Holles be added to the List of those Members that have the Allowance of Four Pounds by the Week.

Resolved, &c. That Sir Henry Cholmeley be added to the List of those Members of this House that have the Allowance of Four Pounds by the Week.

Whereas Mr. Strode was, unknown to him, put into the List of those Members that have the Allowance of Four Pounds by the Week; and hath earnestly desired, that he may be left out of this List:

It is Ordered, upon his own earnest Desire, That Mr. Strode be left out of the said List.

Ordered, That, on Friday Morning next, the Ordinance concerning the North be reported.

A Message from the Lords, by Serjeant Finche and Doctor Heath;

The Lords have passed an Ordinance for the placing of a godly Minister in the new Church at Plymouth: The speedy Placing of him there will be of great Advantage to that Place; and they therefore desire the speedy Concurrence of this House.

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

The Lords desire a Conference, by Committees of both Houses, in the Painted Chamber, presently, if it may stand with the Conveniency of this House, touching a Business of great Importance, concerning the Town of Leicester.

Ordered, That the Ordinance concerning the placing a Minister in Plymouth be read on Monday Morning next.

Resolved, &c. That Mr. Nath. Stephens and Mr. Tho. Hodges be added to the Three Persons appointed, on Monday last, to have the Government of the Garison of Gloucester, according to the said Order: And any Three of them to be of the Quorum.

Answer returned by the First Messengers; That this House will send Answer to this Message by Messengers of their own.

Answer returned by the Second Messengers; That this House has considered their Lordships Message; and will give a present Meeting, at a Conference, by Committees of both Houses, as is desired.

Sir Jo. Evelyn, Mr. Millington, Lord Grey, Mr. Reynolds, are appointed Reporters of this Conference.

An Ordinance for securing and reimbursing the Commissioners of Excise Two thousand Four hundred Pounds, advanced by them, to be employed according as the Committee of both Kingdoms shall direct, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

An Ordinance for charging Two thousand Pounds upon the Receipts of the Excise, to be paid to the Earl of Essex, in its Course, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

Mr. Whitelock carried to the Lords, for their Concurrence, the Order for Addition of Mr. Nath. Stephens and Mr. Tho. Hodges to the Government of Gloucester: The Order for Two thousand Four hundred Pounds, out of the Excise, to be disposed of by the Committee of both Kingdoms: The Order for One thousand Pounds, out of the Excise, for the Isle of Elye: The Order for Two thousand Pounds, out of the Excise, towards the Payment of the Arrears due to the Earl of Essex.

Sir John Evelyn reports, from this Conference, That the Earl of Manchester delivered a Paper, in nature of an Examination, from one Henry Purefoy: That the Earl of Kent is mentioned in the Paper; and the Lords had given him Leave to declare himself: That the Earl of Kent did thereupon declare, That Mr. Purefoy's Wife was in Town about the Time mentioned in the Paper; that all she applied herself to him for was a Pass; and that she acquainted him with no other Business: That Mr. Purefoy himself came to him: And he went with him to the Committee of both Kingdoms; and found there Sir Gilbert Gerard and Mr. Pierpoint: That Mr. Pierpoint directed him to go to the Committee of Examinations: That Mr. Purefoy desired Mr. Corbett would examine him in private, in regard he had a good Estate at Bristoll: Whereupon Mr. Corbet required him to come to him to his own House.

That the Lords do desire, That this Business may be put into some Way of Examination, that such Mischiefs may be prevented for the future.

The Paper was read: And

It is thereupon Resolved, &c. That the Business of this Conference, and the whole Business concerning Leicester, and touching the Informations given in by Mr. Henry Purefoy, be referred, as to the Members of this House, to the Examination and Consideration of Mr. Prideaux, Mr. Holles, Sir Peter Wentworth, Lord Grey, Mr. Maynard, Mr. Ashurst, Mr. Ellys, Sir Philip Stapleton, Mr. Lisle, Sir Martin Lister, Sir Henry Heyman, Mr. Grimston, Mr. Knightley, Mr. Purefoy, Mr. Tate, Sir John Evelyn junior, Sir William Lewes, Mr. Rigby, Sir Walter Erle, Mr. Reynolds, Sir Robert Pye, Mr. Hill, Mr. Robert Goodwyn, Sir John Corbett, Mr. Whittacre: And are to meet this Afternoon at Two of the Clock, in the Exchequer-Chamber: And have Power to send for Parties, Witnesses, and Papers: And the Care of this Business is especially referred to Mr. Rigby.

Ordered, That Mr. Purefoy and Mr. Rigby do acquaint the Committee of both Kingdoms with any Informations they have received, concerning the Intentions of the Enemy to surprise or assault any the Towns or Garisons under the Power of the Parliament.

Mr. Whitlock brings Answer, from the Lords, That the Lords do agree to the several Ordinances carried up by him.

The House being informed, That divers Aldermen, and other Citizens, were at the Door;

They were called in: And Alderman Fulke acquainted the House, That the late News of storming of Leicester, and the sad Consequences of it, had made so deep an Impression on the Hearts of many of the Citizens and Inhabitants in and about the City of London, that they addressed themselves to the Lord Mayor to call a CommonCouncil: That, according to their Desires, my Lord Mayor did summon a Common-Council: That they had chosen a Committee, and considered of a Petition; whereby their Sense might be represented of it to both Houses: That they had therefore chosen a Committee to deliver This Petition; which contains in it as well their Sense of this Disaster, as the Causes (as they conceive) of it, and their Opinions and Desires for the Remedies thereof; and how the like Mischiefs may be prevented for the future: And desire further, That they may have Leave to deliver a like Petition to the Lords.

Resolved, &c. That the Answer to the Petitioners shall be, That the House will take the Particulars of the Petition into serious Consideration; and do return them Thanks for their good Affections: And, as to their Desire of Leave to present the like to the House of Peers, this House leaves it to themselves, and to their own Discretions.

The Petitioners were called in: And Mr. Speaker accordingly acquainted them with the Answer of this House to the Effect of the Vote abovesaid.

Ordered, That the Declaration, upon the Conclusion of the Treaty, be brought in on Saturday next, peremptorily: And that the Members of this House do press the other Persons concerned in preparing any Parts of this Declaration: And that if the whole Declaration cannot be brought in at That time, that then the particular Members of this House do bring in their particular Parts.

Ordered, That the Ordinance for Sale of Delinquents Estates be taken into Consideration To-morrow Morning; And that the Business of Monies, and the other Ordinances concerning Sequestrations, and Bringing in of Monies, be then proceeded in: And that no other Business do intervene, after Mr. Speaker comes to the Chair.