House of Commons Journal Volume 4: 25 November 1645

Die Martis, 25 Novembris, 1645.

Prayers.

ACcording to former Order, the Grand Committee of the whole House sat, to take into further Consideration the Propositions for a safe and well-grounded Peace.

Sir Thomas Widdrington in the Chair.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Sir Thomas Widdrington reports the Propositions for a safe and well-grounded Peace.

1. Proposition to be insisted upon, and now sent, totidem verbis, as before.

2. Proposition to stand, and now sent, and a Bill to be prepared for injoining all the Subjects of England and Ireland, to take the National Covenant.-A Committee appointed to this Purpose.

3. Proposition to stand as before, and to be turned into an Act, and to be sent as a Proposition.

4. Proposition to stand, and to be confirmed by Act of Parliament.

5. Proposition concerning the confirming the Settlement of Reformation by Act of Parliament, to be divided into Two Propositions: The First Part, to the Word "Divines," Resolved, as a

6. Proposition by itself.

The Second Part, Resolved, as a Proposition by itself.

7. Proposition, made the Seventh, to stand.

8. Proposition, Resolved.

9. Proposition, Resolved.-Bills brought in concerning these.

10. Proposition, Resolved: And

Ordered, &c. That the Sub-Committee of the Grand Committee be made a Committee of this House: And that it be left in general to them, to prepare a Bill for effectual putting in Execution the Desires of the now Tenth Proposition.

Mr.Tate, Mr. Grimston, Mr. Rowse, Mr. Lane, Sir Gil. Gerrard, Mr. Corbett, Mr. Boys, Mr. Holland, or any Two of them, are the Committee that are to prepare this Bill: Mr. Lane is to take care hereof.

11. Proposition, Resolved.

12. Proposition, Resolved.

13. Proposition, Resolved.

The Branches thereof, concerning the King's giving his Assent to an Act for the Suppressing of Innovations, and against Pluralities, for regulating both the Universities with these Words, "This Act to be perpetual," to be left out: The Suppression of Interludes and Stage-Plays: For takeing the Accompts of the Kingdoms: For Relief of sick and maimed Soldiers, and poor Widows and Children of Soldiers: And to such Act and Acts for the Taxing and Levying of Monies for Payment of the Debts of the Kingdom, and other publick Uses, &c. All Resolved, &c. with this Addition to be made Part of this last Proposition; viz. "That, if the King do not give his Assent thereunto, then, it being done by both Houses of Parliament, the same shall be as valid to all Intents and Purposes, as if the Royal Assent had been given thereunto."

Ordered, &c. That the Propositions be proceeded with, so soon as the House returns from the Conference.

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

The Lords desire a Conference, by Committee of both Houses, presently, in the Painted Chamber, concerning Plymouth, if it may stand with the Conveniency of this House. They have returned the Ordinance for Two thousand Pounds, out of the Excise, for the Service of Mounster, with some Amendments: In which they desire the Concurrence of this House. They have likewise sent an Order concerning the Assembly of Divines: In which they also desire the Concurrence of this House. They further desire to put the House in mind of the Petition of the Scotts Officers: The Votes concerning Mr. Hancock: The Business concerning Captain Batten: And do recommend to the Consideration of this House, a Report from the Committee of both Kingdoms, and a Paper from the Scotts Commissioners, of Novembris 22 1645.

Resolved, &c. That this House will meet the Lords at a present Conference, touching Plymouth, as is desired.

Ordered, &c. That the Lords be desired, That, at this Conference, this House may have a free Conference, concerning their Privilege, in the Case of Mr. Gurdon's Servant.

The Amendments to the Ordinance for Two thousand Pounds, out of the Excise, for Munster, were read: And

It is Resolved, &c. That this House will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Sir Robert Pye carried to the Lords, for their Concurrence, the Answer to the Scotts Papers; the Letter to the Parliament of Scotland, touching Belfast: The Names of the Committees for the City and County of the City of Coventrie: The Names of the Committees for Cumberland: And was to desire the Lords, That, at this Conference, this House may have a free Conference, touching their Privileges.

Answer returned by the same Messengers;

This House hath considered their Lordships Message; and are resolved to give a present Meeting at a Conference, as is desired: To the rest, they will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Mr. Corbett presents, in Writing, the Conference desired by the Lords, touching one Grove, a Servant of Mr. Gurdon: The which was read: And did recite the Warrant, under Mr. Speaker's Hand, directed to the GentlemanUsher of the Lords House; requiring to set at Liberty Mr. Gurdon's Servant in his Custody, avowed by him to be his Servant: And did likewise express their Opinions, That this House should first have conferred with them, before this Warrant had issued.

Mr. Corbett, Mr. Pierrepont, Mr. Prideauxe, are appointed Reporters of the Conference, and Managers of the free Conference.

Resolved, &c. That the Lord Roberts be referred to the Committee of Accompts; to state and perfect his Accompts.

Resolved, &c. That the Lord Roberts be referred to the Committee, formerly appointed to consider of the Earl of Essex, and other principal Officers of the Army; to take into Consideration the Losses and Services of the Lord Roberts; and to present some Way of Recompence and Acknowledgment thereof.

Resolved, &c. That the Lord Roberts shall have forthwith allowed and paid unto him, Two thousand Pounds, upon Account, to be deducted out of his Arrears, out of such Delinquents Compositions as he shall present to the Committee at Goldsmiths-Hall.

Sir Robert Pye brings Answer, That the Lords do agree, That this House shall have a free Conference, as is desired: And, as to all the rest, they will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Mr. Prideauxe reports the Conference: That my Lord Roberts said, That, by the Command of the Lords, he was to acquaint the House of Commons, That they had lately received a Petition from the Town of Plymouth; and read it.

The which Petition was likewise read in this House; and was from the Major-General, Committees of Government and Sequestration, Field-Officers, and CommonCouncil, of the said Town, for themselves, with the Inhabitants and Soldiers.

He farther reported, That the Lords, upon this, and some other Advertisements from other Places, did think fit to recommend the Relief thereof to the Consideration of this House: Arguments are drawn from Sea and Land for it: And the Lords do desire, That there may speedily go to them, Monies for the Pay of the Soldiers, Arms, Ammunition, Cloaths, and other Necessaries: And that this House would join with the Lords, in recommending it to Sir Thomas Fairefaxe, to advance with such a considerable Strength to them as may be for their Relief.

Resolved, &c. That Ten thousand Pounds be forthwith provided and advanced, for the Furnishing of Pay and Cloaths for the Soldiers, Arms; Ammunition, and other Necessaries, for the Town of Plymouth: And that it be referred to the Committee of the West, to present some Way for the Providing of this Ten thousand Pounds.

Ordered, &c. That the Eastland Merchants, and the Merchants Adventurers, do pay the several Duties due by Englishmen, for all such Goods as were consigned to them by the King of Denmarke, and were upon the King of Denmark's Ship, which was made Stay of by the Parliament.

The Question was propounded, Whether this House would agree with the Lords in recommending, that the Army should march to the Relief of Plymouth:

Then the Question being put; Whether this Question should be now put;

It passed with the Affirmative:

And the Question being put, For concurring with the Lords;

It passed with the Negative.

Resolved, &c. That it be referred to the Committee of the Admiralty and Cinque-Ports, and the Committee of the Navy, to appoint constant Convoys to lie at Portsmouth, and at Plymouth, to convoy Necessaries to the Town of Plymouth.

Resolved, &c. That it be referred to the Committee of the West, to consider, What will be farther requisite for the Supply and Relief of the Town of Plymouth; and to propound it to the House; and likewise the Way, How it may be raised; so that it do not exceed the Sum of Ten thousand Pounds more than is this Day voted for them.

It is further referred to this Committee, to consider of enlarging the Allowance to the Officers at Plymouth, and of supplying the Necessities of the poor Exiles there; and of the Collection this House is informed of, to go up and down in sundry Places, for the Relief of that Town; by what Authority it is done, and what is the Condition of it.

Resolved, &c. That it be referred to the Committee of the West, to consider of the Differences that are in the Town of Plymouth, if any such be; and to take into Consideration some Course for the Settling and Composing of them; and to send the Governor to Plymouth to his Charge.

Resolved, &c. That Sir Thomas Fairefaxe be left to himself, to draw into Winter-Quarters, in order to Recruiting: And that this Vote be communicated to the Army: And that the Committee of the Army do certify the same by Letter unto Sir Thomas Fairefaxe.