House of Commons Journal Volume 4: 7 July 1645

Die Lunæ, Julii 7, 1645.

Prayers.

AN Ordinance for allowing to Mr. Thomas Jackson Two hundred Pounds per Annum, for being Preacher in the Cathedral Church of St. Peter's, Gloucester, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent to the Lords for their Concurrence.

Resolved, &c. That Colonel Thomas Carne, Thomas Hughes, Matthew Herbert, and John Walter, Esquires, be added to the several Committees of Gloucester, Hereford, Monmouth, Glamorgan, Brecknock, and Radnor.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

A Letter from Leonard Watson, Scoutmaster-General of the Army, from Bermister, of July 4 1645, relating the Relieving of Taunton, and the Drawing off of Goring, was this Day read.

The House being informed, That divers Gentlemen of the City of Westminster were at the Door;

They were called in: And Mr. Fauconbridge acquainted the House, How sensible that City, and the Inhabitants thereof, were, of the many Benefits and Advantages they had received from this Parliament; in Acknowledgment whereof, many Hundreds of the best-affected of the said City did present their humble Petition of Thankfulness, for the great Benefit they have received to their Souls by the constant Morning Exercise daily held in the AbbeyChurch of Westminster; and for the Continuance thereof; of which they humbly prayed a good Acceptance, present Reading, and a favourable Answer; promising to adventure not only their Estates and Fortunes, but their Lives also, if Need require, in the Service of the Parliament.

The Petition was read.

An Ordinance for regulating the College and Collegiate Church at Westminster was this Day read the First and Second time; and committed unto the Committee formerly appointed for the College of Westminster; with the Addition, as to this Business, of Mr. Ashherst, Mr. Selden, Sir Hen. Cholmeley, Sir Anth. Irby, Sir Hen. Vane senior, Mr. Recorder, Mr. Whitelock, Mr. Rigby, Sir Wm. Lewes, Sir Wm. Strickland, Sir Robert Pye, Mr. Rich. Browne, Mr. Hoyle, Mr. Crew, Sir Wm. Alanson, Mr. Oldisworth, Sir Tho. Widdrington, Sir Gilbert Gerard, Sir Hen. Vane junior, Mr. Millington, Mr. Knightley, Mr. Wheler, Mr. Long, Sir Jo. Corbett, Sir Dud. North, Sir Ro. North, Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Pelham, Sir Jo. Curson, Sir Martin Lumley: And are to meet To-morrow at Two post meridiem, in the Chamber in the College of Westminster, where the Committee of Westminster was wont formerly to sit: And have Power to send for Parties, Witnesses, Papers, Records.

The Gentlemen of the City of Westminster were again called in: And Mr. Speaker, by the Command of the House, acquainted them, That the House had read their Petition; and did approve it: That this House sits here to do Service to the Commonwealth, and advance the Glory of God; and are glad their Endeavours find any Success. This is the first Petition of this Kind that hath been presented to them; and therefore to be taken notice of in a special Manner: The House returns you Thanks for it, and for your good Affections; and doubt not, but you will continue them according to your Promise expressed by Mr. Fauconbridge. They have taken your Petition into Consideration; and have put it in a Way, both for regulating the College, and appointing a Maintenance for those Ministers that have taken Pains there: And they should have a speedy Account of it, for their Satisfactions.

Ordered, That the Ordinance concerning the Regulation of the Government of the University of Cambridge be taken into Consideration on Wednesday next, the first Business, after Mr. Speaker comes to the Chair.

The House being informed, That divers Gentlemen of the County of Middlesex were at the Door;

They were called in: And Sir William Roberts acquainted the House, That they were commanded to present to this House their humble Thanks for the Displacing of scandalous Ministers, and Placing of good religious Ministers in their Places: And did deliver a Petition to that Effect; desiring, That Consideration might be had for affording competent Maintenance to the said religious orthodox Ministers.

The Gentlemen withdrew:

And the Petition was read.

Ordered, That the Lord Fairfax and Sir Walter Erle be added to the Committee of plundered Ministers.

Resolved, &c. That this Petition from the County of Middlesex be referred to the Consideration of the Committee of plundered Ministers: And they are to take into Consideration all Petitions of the like Nature: And are to consider of some Means for providing a competent Maintenance for settling a good Ministry in such Counties and Places as shall desire it; and to present it to the House: And that they begin first with this Business of Middlesex.

It is further referred to the Committee of plundered Ministers, and they have hereby Power, to remove out of the same Town and Parish, all such scandalous Ministers as they have or shall put out of any Benefices or Livings.

The Gentlemen of Middlesex were again called in: And Mr. Speaker, by Command from the House, acquainted them, That the House had read their Petition; and was sensible of their Care, that the Church and Religion should be advanced; and did thank them for it: And that the House had put their Petition in a Way for their speedy Satisfaction, and the Satisfaction of the County.

The House being informed, That some of the Assembly of Divines were at the Door;

They were called in: And Mr. Marshall acquainted the House, That, whereas this House had been pleased, at several Times, to order the Assembly of Divines to send to them such Propositions as they had finished; which they had done; that there are some more which needed some Proofs out of Scripture, and had been under Debate with them; and were now finished: They had cast their Votes into a Model and Method; and now the House may see all before them. They have left out the Proofs, both of Scripture and Reason, having sent them in with their former Votes; but, if the House please to command the Assembly to give in the Proofs, they are ready to do it. Some of these Votes are plainly held out by Scripture; others have Reasons agreeable to Scripture, and have been alleged: And such as have the Light of Nature, are received and practised in all Reformed Churches. This Work, though it appears short, yet hath spent much Time, by reason of dissenting Judgments; that, if possible, they might be satisfied. To this short Paper of additional Votes, they have given in the Proofs out of Scripture: And if those Proofs, at the first Reading, be not convictive, in regard that God hath not laid down the Points of Church-Discipline in such clear Texts; they desire they may not be laid aside, but that the House will command them to give in the Proofs at large.

Ordered, That the humble Advice of the Assembly of Divines concerning Church-Government, together with the Proofs of several additional Votes concerning ChurchGovernment, presented this Day to the House by Mr. Marshall, shall be read on Wednesday next, in the House, the first Business after Mr. Speaker comes to the Chair.

Resolved, &c. That Mr. Robert Goodwyn be appointed one of the Commissioners to go to the Parliament of Scotland, in the place of Mr. Tate, formerly appointed, who earnestly desired to be excused in regard of his very great Indisposition of Health.

Ordered, That Sir Henry Vane senior do, To-morrow Morning, the first Business, make his Report from the Committee of the King's Revenue.

Sir Robert Pye is appointed to go to the Lords, to acquaint them, That this House hath named those Members that they intend to send Commissioners into Scotland; and to desire them to name theirs; and to desire further, That the Committee appointed to prepare Instructions for the said Commissioners may meet this Afternoon at Four of the Clock; and to put them in mind of the Votes concerning Carlile.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Edward Leech and Mr. Page;

The Lords have commanded us to deliver unto you these Two Papers; the one is from the Scotts General, and other Officers of the Scotts Army, from Nottingham, directed to the Committee of both Kingdoms; the other is a Paper of some Particulars from the Commissioners of Scotland here: The which they recommend unto the speedy Consideration of this House; and desire, That a Committee might be named to go and reside with the Scotts Army, according to the Treaty, and according as is desired in the Paper.

The Letter was of the First of July, and the Paper of the Fourth of July: And were both read.

Sir Thomas Widdrington reports, from the Committee appointed to consider of the State of the Garisons of the most Northern Counties, and upon the Borders of England and Scotland, a Narrative of the State of the Garisons of those Parts; and the Opinion of the Committee.

Resolved, &c. That this Narrative be referred to the Committee appointed to prepare Instructions for the Commissioners to go into Scotland, to make use of in the Preparing of these Instructions.

Resolved, &c. That a Committee be named to go and reside with the Scotts Army.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Members of this House, that are of the Committee appointed to prepare Instructions for the Commissioners that are to be sent to the Parliament of Scotland, to review the Instructions formerly given to such Commissioners as were appointed to reside with the Scotts Army; and to consider, What Alterations or Additions are necessary for the Committee now to be sent to the Scotts Army; and, upon Perusal of the said former Instructions, to prepare Instructions for this Committee.

A Message from the Lords, by Serjeant Finch and Mr. Page;

The Lords have received a Report from the Committee of both Kingdoms; a Letter, and some Papers, from Sir Thomas Fairfax; with a Report from the Committee of both Kingdoms.

Ordered, That Mr. Crew do make the Reports in his Hands, from the Committee of both Kingdoms, the first Business on Monday Morning.

Ordered, That Mr. Wallop do make the Reports in his Hands To-morrow Morning.

Ordered, That the Business concerning Money be peremptorily taken into Consideration To-morrow Morning: And that Mr. Speaker do put the House in mind of it.

Sir Robert Pye brings Answer from the Lords, That the Lords have appointed their Members of the Committee that are to prepare Instructions for the Commissioners that are to go into Scotland, to meet this Afternoon at Three of the Clock: And, as to the other Particulars, they will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Ordered, That the Ordinance, concerning the Rents belonging to the University of Oxon, be taken into Consideration on Thursday Morning.

Ordered, &c. That the Committee, appointed to consider of the intercepted Letters, do meet this Afternoon, peremptorily; and dispose these Letters in such manner, as they may be, with all Care and Speed, printed and published.

Resolved, &c. That Mr. Thomas May shall be desired to join with Mr. Sadler, and Mr. Henry Parker, in the preparing and setting forth the Declaration upon the Treaty at Uxbridge: The Letters intercepted with the Declaration, or Observations upon it: The Great Declaration to the World; to set forth the Justness of the Cause undertaken and maintained by the Parliament.

Ordered, &c. That Mr. Edward Stephens shall have Leave to go into the Country.

Answer returned by the First Messengers; That this House has considered their Lordships Message; and will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Answer returned by the Second Messengers; That this House has considered their Lordships Message; and will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Ordered, &c. That the Committee of the West do write Letters into the West, concerning the Clubmen.

Mr. Greene carried to the Lords the Declaration to be sent to the States of Holland, concerning Reprisal of Ships: The Ordinance for continuing the Ordinance of 28 Jan. 1644, for raising Monies for Redemption of Captives: And the Ordinance for the better Levying of One-Fourth of One per Centum, for Redemption of the Captives.