House of Commons Journal Volume 4: 25 July 1645

Die Veneris, 25 Julii, 1645.

Prayers.

MR. Whittacre proceeded in the Report, from the Grand Committee for Religion, concerning further Directions for Election of Elders: Which were read; and, upon the Question, assented unto; and ordered to be carried to the Lords for their Concurrence; and were in hæc verba; viz.

That it shall be lawful for the Congregations respectively, or any other Person, to exhibit Exceptions against any Person elected as aforesaid, * * * *.

Ordered, That it be referred to a Committee, to inform themselves the best they can, and to consider of Persons fit to be a Committee, to give Directions for the Choice of Elders of Congregational and Classical Presbyteries within the Province of London; and to present the Names to the House; and to prepare a Letter, to be sent from Mr. Speaker, to the respective Committees of the several and respective Counties, to consider of, and nominate, certain Persons, Ministers, and others, to be appointed, by Authority of Parliament; who shall consider, how the several Counties respectively may be most conveniently divided into distinct Classical Presbyteries; and what Ministers and others are fit to be of each Classis: And that they accordingly make such Division and Nomination of Persons for each Classical Presbytery: Which Divisions, and Persons so named for every Division, shall be certified to the Parliament.

Mr. Tate, Mr. Rous, Mr. Selden, Sir John Coke, Mr. Wheeler, Sir Wm. Armyn, Sir Dudley North, Mr. Recorder, Mr. Millington, Mr. Strode, Sir Benjamin Rudyard, Mr. Knightley, Mr. Pury, Sir Wm. Massam, Sir Arthur Heselrige, Mr. Robert Goodwyn, Colonel Venn, Sir Martin Lumley, Sir Richard Onslowe, Sir Wm. Strickland, Sir Gilbert Gerard, Mr. Laurence Whittacre, Sir Samuel Luke, Mr. Blackiston, Sir Robert Pye, Lord Lisle, Mr. Whitehead, Mr. Edward Stephens, Colonel John Moore, Mr. Bond, Sir Edward Boys, Mr. John Browne, Sir Henry Vane senior, Mr. Francis Gerard, Mr. Ashurst, Sir Tho. Middleton, Mr. Greene, Sir Henry Mildmay, Sir Wm. Brereton, Sir John Bampfield, Sir Samuel Rolle, Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Nicoll, Mr. Vassall, Mr. Spurstoe, Alderman Pennington, Sir Thomas Soame;

This Committee are to meet on Monday next, at Two of the Clock in the Afternoon, in the Exchequer-Chamber: And have Power to advise with such Ministers of the Assembly, or otherwise, as they shall think fit, for the speedy putting the above-named Order in due Execution.

Ordered, That the last Paper from the Assembly of Divines, concerning Scandal, be referred to the Consideration of the Grand Committee for Religion.

Mr. Whittacre reported the Amendments to the Ordinance for publishing the Directory for Publick Worship: The which were twice read.

Resolved, &c. That, in the penal Clauses in the said Ordinance concerning the Directory, the Words "declare and speak," and the Clause concerning Incapability, shall be omitted.

The Question being put, Whether the Penalty shall be the Fourth-Part of the Living;

It passed with the Negative.

The Question being propounded, Whether the Penalty shall not be less than Five Pounds, and not exceeding Fifty Pounds;

The Question was put, Whether this Question should be put, or no:

And it passed with the Affirmative.

And then the Question being put, Whether the Penalty shall not be less than Five Pounds, and not exceeding Fifty Pounds;

It passed with the Affirmative.

Resolved, &c. That this Fine shall be toties quoties.

Sir Robert Pye went to the Lords, to desire them to appoint a further Time for the Hearing upon the Impeachment of this House against the Earl of Stanford, Henry Polton, and Matthew Patsall.

Ordered, &c. That the Committee formerly appointed to manage this Impeachment upon the Hearing do meet this Afternoon: And Mr. Sollicitor, Mr. Ellis, and Mr. Samuel Browne, are added to this Committee.

Ordered, &c. That the Ordinance concerning the University of Cambridge be read on Wednesday next.

Sir Robert Pye brings Answer from the Lords, That the Lords do agree to put off the Hearing upon the Impeachment against the Earl of Stanford, and others, to a further Time; and will send Answer of the Day by Messengers of their own.

Mr. Whitlock, Mr. Tate, Mr. Rigbie, Mr. Rouse, and Sir Robert Harley, are appointed presently to withdraw, to prepare the Ordinance for publishing the Directory for Publick Worship, suitable to the Votes and Debate of this House.

Ordered, &c. That all Commanders and Officers belonging to the Army under the Command of Sir Thomas Fairefax, now in the West, do, upon Pain of Cashiering, repair to Readinge, to receive their Recruits of House and Foot there, on Monday next: And that the Committee of the Militia of London and Westminster do cause this Order to be forthwith published by Beat of Drum, or Sound of Trumpet, in all Places in and about the Cities of London and Westminster, and Lines of Communication.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Sir Henry Mildmay carried this Order to the Lords; and was appointed to put them in mind of the Instructions for the Commissioners of the Parliament that are to go into Scotland.

A Letter from Mr. Rushworth, of July the 21th and 22th, relating the whole Business of taking in Bridgwater; and a Letter from Colonel Massie, to the Governor of Lyme, upon the same Subject; were this Day read.

Ordered, &c. That the Committee of the West do bestow, upon the Messenger that brought the Letter of this good News, Ten Pounds.

The Question being propounded, Whether LieutenantColonel Jackson, Lieutenant-Colonel Hewson, and Captain Reynolds, shall have each of them an Horse bestowed upon them;

The Question was put, Whether this Question should be now put, or no:

It passed with the Negative.

Ordered, That the Committee of the West do take Captain Reynolds into Consideration, for his great Losses there.

Resolved, &c. That a considerable Sum of Money be advanced to the General, to enable him to bestow Rewards upon such Officers or Soldiers as do eminent Service.

A Letter to be written to Sir Thomas Fairefaxe, concerning Colonel Henry Bryan, Brother to the Lord Inchiquin, taken Prisoner in Ireland, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, assented unto.

Ordered, &c. That the Petition from the Inhabitants of Leicester shall be read on Monday Morning, the first Business: And Mr. Speaker is to put the House in mind of it.

Ordered, &c. That the Propositions from Mr. Davis, concerning Munster, be taken into Consideration To-morrow, the first Business after Mr. Speaker comes to the Chair: And that Mr. Speaker do put the House in mind of it.

Ordered, &c. That those Regiments of Foot that are now at Abingdon, shall be forthwith recruited to Two thousand, to be reduced and settled in two Regiments: And, that those Troops of Horse that are now there, be likewise forthwith recruited to Six hundred, to be reduced and settled in one Regiment: And

It is further Ordered, That it be especially referred to the Committee of the Three Counties of Oxon, Bucks, and Berks, to consider how these Three Regiments of Horse and Foot may be recruited and settled; and how a constant Establishment of Pay may be provided for them; and to bring in an Ordinance for their Pay and Establishment accordingly.

Sir Henry Mildmay brings Answer from the Lords, That the Lords agree to the Order for the Officers of Sir Thomas Fairefax' Army to repair to Readinge, by Monday next: And, as to the Instructions for the Commissioners that are to go into Scotland, they will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

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

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

The Lords have appointed Monday next for the hearing the Cause of the Earl of Stanford, upon the Impeachment of this House: They desire, That this House will be then ready: It much concerns that Nobleman, in his Honour, not to lie long under the Impeachment of this House. They have likewise sent down an Ordinance for the Relief of the Inhabitants of Laton-Bussard in the County of Bedford; in which they desire the Concurrence of this House.

Ordered, &c. That Major Bridges be forthwith sent for to come up, to be examined as a Witness in the Cause upon the Impeachment of the Earl of Stanford.

Ordered, &c. That Mr. Lisle do, To-morrow, go to the Lords, to acquaint them, That this House cannot be ready for the Hearing upon the Impeachment against the Earl of Stanford, and others, on Monday, by reason some of the Witnesses are at Warwicke, and cannot be here before that Time; and to desire a further Time for the Hearing.

Ordered, &c. That One hundred Barrels of Powder, with Match and Bullet proportionable, be forthwith provided, and issued out of the publick Stores in the Tower, to be delivered to Mr. John Johnson, for the Use of the Scottish Army: And the Committee of the Navy is desired, for the present, to spare the said Hundred Barrels of Powder out of the Navy-Stores: Which are to be supplied with the like Quantity out of the next Provision of Powder that shall be brought into the Magazine: And the said Provisions of Powder, Match, and Bullet, are to be paid for by the Committee appointed by the Ordinance of the 30th of June last, to make Provision of Gunpowder, Match, and Bullet, for the Furnishing of the publick Stores.

An Ordinance for Securing of Five hundred Pounds to the Commissioners of Excise, lent by them for Relief of the Prisoners taken at Nasebey, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent to the Lords for their Concurrence.

An Ordinance for securing Five thousand Pounds, in Course, out of the Receipts of the Excise, for reducing Winchester and Basinge, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, assented unto; and ordered to be sent to the Lords for their Concurrence.

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

The Lords have commanded us to acquaint you, That they have received a Report from the Committee of both Kingdoms; together with a Letter that came from the Committee at Cambridge: And the Lords do agree, That Officers shall be appointed according to the Letter; and that the Lords Lieutenants of the Counties of Cambridge and Huntingdon do appoint Officers accordingly.

The Letter was read; and was, to desire that Officers might be appointed to command Part of those Horses that are to go to the County of Lincolne, and were then at Huntingdon.