House of Commons Journal Volume 4: 23 July 1645

Die Mercurii, Julii 23, 1645.

Prayers.

UPON Mr. Whittacre's Report from the Grand Committee, touching the Matter of Church-Government;

It is Resolved, &c. That the Ruling Elders of a Parochial and Congregational Eldership shall be chosen by the several Ministers and Members of their Congregations respectively; being such as have taken the National Covenant, and are not Persons under Age, nor Servants, that have no Families.

Resolved, That Notice of such Election, and of the Day when it shall be, be given by the Minister, in the publick Assembly, the next Lord's Day but one before; and, on that said Lord's Day, a Sermon be preached, preparatory to the weighty Business.

Resolved, That no Man be chosen for a Ruling Elder, but only for one Congregation; and That in the Place where his most settled Dwelling and Employment doth lie.

Ordered, &c. That it be referred to the Committee of the Army, to take an Account of the Officers of Sir Thomas Fairefaxe's Army now in Town; what Occasions brought them to Town, or stays them here; and to report to the House the Occasions of their particular Employments, and their Stay here.

Ordered, &c. That it be referred to the Committee of the Army, to mount and arm young Sir Robert Pye's Troopers, that lie wounded at Northampton.

Ordered, &c. That the Committee of the Army do prepare a Letter, to be written from the House, and sent to the County of Norfolk; to take notice of their Neglect in not sending up their Recruits, according to former Orders and Directions.

Ordered, That Doctor Barber be added to the Committee for the County of Norfolk.

Ordered, That Doctor Symcotts be added to the Committee for the County of Hunt'.

Resolved, &c. That the Committee do take Order for furnishing Three hundred Pounds for the maimed Soldiers at Northampton, if they shall see Cause.

An Ordinance for disposing the St. Joan's Hospital in Northampton upon Mr. Serjant and Mr. F. Rushworth, Aldermen of Northampton; to improve the Revenue thereof to the Relief of maimed Soldiers, and impotent Persons; was this Day read the First time; and ordered to be read the Second time To-morrow Morning.

The House being informed, That a Committee of the Common-Council were at the Door;

They were called in: And Sheriff Gibb represented the Desire of the Common-Council of the City of London, in the Behalf of Alderman Foulke, committed Prisoner to the Fleet, by the Committee for taking the Accompts of the Kingdom; where he lies without Bail: The CommonCouncil desire he may be bailed; and that this House would appoint a Committee to hear his Cause; he being committed not upon the Matter of his Accompt, but upon the Manner of his Accompting.

Ordered, &c. That the Committee of Accompts do, with all convenient Speed, certify the State of the Cause of the Commitment of Alderman Foulke; to the end that the House may take the Business into speedy Consideration.

The Committee of the Common-Council were again called in: And Mr. Speaker acquainted them, That the House had sent to the Committee to state the Case; and will thereupon take it into speedy Consideration.

Whereas, by Ordinance of Parliament, the Committee for Sequestrations at Campden-House is required to pay One hundred Pound unto Mrs. Langhorne, and Five Pounds per Week, for the Maintenance of her and her Children: It is this Day Ordered, That the Treasurers at CampdenHouse do forthwith pay the said One hundred Pound and the Arrears of the weekly Five Pounds, to Mrs. Langherne, or such as she shall appoint to receive the same: And that they do continue to make Payment of the said weekly Five Pounds, as they will answer the contrary at their Peril.

Ordered, &c. That the Committee of Middlesex, Westminster, and London, do take care to furnish a House for Mrs. Langherne with necessary Houshold-stusf: And the Care of providing her a House Rent-free, and furnishing it, according to this and former Order, be referred to the special Care of Mr. Recorder and Mr. Wheeler.

Resolved, &c. That a Conference shall be desired upon the whole Matter of the Sixth Instruction, for the Continuance of it.

Ordered, &c. That the humble Remonstrance of the Justices of Peace of the County of Northumberland, at the last Quarter's Sessions, be referred to the Consideration of the Commissioners of both Houses appointed to go into Scotland; to take into Consideration at their coming to Newcastle.

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

The Lords have commanded us to deliver unto you this Petition from Sir Wm. Balfour; which they desire you to take into speedy Consideration, in regard of the Worth of the Person, and of the many and great Sufferings of the Petitioner.- Whereas the Lord Savile hath informed the Lords, That a Messenger from the Committee of Examinations did seize and take away certain Jewels of his; which he did desire might be delivered to the GentlemanUsher of the Black Rod, for his Fees, and Charge of Diet, having been twice committed to him; their Lordships do desire they may be accordingly delivered to the Gentleman-Usher; he having been at great Charge, and the Jewels, as is informed, not worth . . . . than will justly satisfy him.-The humble Addition of Mongie Mondie, by way of Remonstrance, with a Certificate, concerning his Carriage at Ferne-Island. Two Reports from the Committee of the Admiralty; which they desire may be taken into Consideration. They have nominated Alexander Crawford to be Lieutenant-Colonel to Colonel Thomas Browne, Governor of Lincolne; and Captain John Blythe to be SerjeantMajor to the same Regiment.

Whereas the House was informed, by Letters from Sir Wm. Armyn, Henry Darley, and Richard Barwys, Esquires, Commissioners of both Houses appointed to reside with the Scotts Army, from Penrith, of Junii 27, at Two in the Afternoon, 1645; and by a Copy of the Letter, dated at Hescatte, Junii 26 1645, from the said Commissioners; they did, in the Name of both Houses, in their Letter of Junii 26, to Lieutenant-General Lesley, protest against whatsoever should be done concerning the Town of Carlisle without their Knowledge and Consent: It is this Day Resolved, &c. That this House doth approve of the Commissioners protesting in this Kind and do take it for very good Service, and in pursuance of their Duty; and do return them Thanks for it.

And accordingly, by Command of the House, Mr. Speaker did return Sir Wm. Armyn and Mr. Barwys, then present, particular Thanks for this Service.

Sir Wm. Massam carried to the Lords the Ordinance for charging upon the Excise Ten thousand Pounds for the Northern Forces: The Order for adding Committees to the Committee of Westminster and Middlesex: The Ordinance for providing Maintenance for some Ministers at Darby: The Addition of divers Gentlemen as Committees to the several Counties: And the Order for Major Le Hunt to have Commission: And he was to desire a Conference, by a Committee of both Houses, if it should stand with the Lords Conveniency, upon the whole Matter of the Sixth Instruction to the Commissioners of Parliament that are to go into Scotland.

Ordered, &c. That the Petition of Sir Wm. Balfour, and the rest of the Message this Day sent from the Lords, be taken into Consideration To-morrow, next after the Report from the Committee of the Revenue.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; That the House will take the Petition of Sir Wm. Balfour into speedy Consideration: And, to that, and to the rest of the Message, they will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Ordered, &c. That the Clerk do deliver unto Mr. Whitelocke the Examinations taken in Mr. Cranford's Business; to the end they may be delivered to the Lord that is to make the Report of that Business.

Resolved, &c. That Mr. Hawkins, now under Restraint, by Order of this House, be forthwith bailed.

Sir Wm. Massam brings Answer from the Lords, That the Lords do agree to the Ordinance for Ten thousand Pounds for the Service of the Forces in the North; To the Commission for Richard Le Hunt to command the Five hundred Horse now upon their March towards Lincolnshire, under Colonel Rossiter: And they do agree to a present Conference, by a Committee of both Houses, in the Painted Chamber: And, as to the other Messages carried by him to the Lords, they will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Sir Thomas Widdrington, Mr. Ellis, and Mr. Whitelocke, are appointed Managers of this Conference.

Ordered, &c. That, on Saturday next, the Report of the Information given in by Mr. Lelbourne, Mr. Robinson, and others, be made on Saturday next, peremptorily.

Upon Sir Robert Herle's Report concerning the Pictures at Yorke-House, from the Committee to whom the Consideration of these Pictures was referred;

Ordered, &c. That all such Pictures and Statues there, as are without any Superstition, shall be forthwith sold, for the Benefit of Ireland, and the North.

Ordered, &c. That all such Pictures there, as have the Representation of the Second Person in Trinity upon them, shall be forthwith burnt.

Ordered, &c. That all such Pictures there, as have the Representation of God the Father upon them, shall be forthwith burnt.

Ordered, &c. That all such Pictures there, as have the Representation of the Virgin Mary upon them, shall be forthwith burnt.

Ordered, &c. That all such Pictures there, as have the Representation of the Holy Ghost upon them, shall be forthwith burnt.

Ordered, &c. That it be referred to the same Committee, to view these Pictures; and consider, What Pictures are superstitious, according to the Intent of these Votes, that the same may be burnt, accordingly.

Ordered, &c. That Mr. Robinson be forthwith taken, and kept in safe Custody, by the Serjeant at Arms attending this House.

Ordered, &c. That an Ordinance be brought in for Sale of so much of the Woods and Lands belonging to the Duchess of Buckingham, as amounts to the Value of these Pictures; to be employed for the Relief of Ireland and the North, in lieu of the Proceed of those Pictures.

Ordered, &c. That the Two Letters from the Lord Inchiquine to Captain Swanley be referred to the Committee of Lords and Commons for Irish Affairs: Who are to report, What they think fit to be done thereupon, with all convenient Speed.