House of Commons Journal Volume 4: 15 January 1646

Die Jovis, 15 Januarii, 1645.

Prayers.

THE Grand Committee of the House, according to Order, sat, to examine the Business complained of by Mr. Allen, a Member of this House, against Mr. Long, another of the Members.

Mr. Thorpe in the Chair.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

The House being informed, That divers of the Aldermen and Common-Council of the City of London were at the Door;

They were called in: And Alderman Gibbs informed the House, That they were commanded by the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Common-Council, of the said City, to deliver a Petition to this House, for the speedy Settling of Church-Government.

He further informed the House, That they were commanded to acquaint the House with some Instances of private Meetings of Women-Preachers of new and strange Doctrines and Blasphemies that are vented; and of great Rents and Divisions in divers and sundry Families in and about the City.

The Occasion of this Petition was, several Petitions, to the same Effect, from every Ward, upon their late Chusing of Common-Councilmen.

The Petitioners withdrew.

And the Petition was read; and was intituled, "The humble Petition of the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Commons of the City of London, in Common-Council assembled; desiring, That Church-Government may speedily be settled, according to our most Solemn League and Covenant, in such Manner and Form, as to your Wisdoms shall seem most agreeable thereunto."

Resolved, &c. That this Petition be referred to the Consideration of the Grand Committee that is appointed to sit upon the Affairs of the Church To-morrow.

Resolved, &c. That Thanks be given to the Petitioners: And that Notice be taken of the Seasonableness of this their Petition.

Resolved, &c. That the Informations concerning Women-Preachers be referred to the Consideration of the Committee of Examinations: Who are speedily to examine the Truth of the said Informations; and to report the Business, with all Speed, to the House.-

Ordered, That To-morrow, the first Business after the Grand Committee meets, that they do resume the Debate and Consideration of keeping scandalous Persons from the Sacrament of the Lord's Supper.-

Ordered, That, the next Business after the Petitioners have their Answer, That Mr. Serjeant Wilde make his Report of the Conference with the Lords, touching the Ordinance concerning the Continuance of the Committee for the Army, and of the Treasurers at Wars.

The Petitioners were again called in: And Mr. Speaker, by Command of the House, acquainted them, That the House doth acknowledge it a very great Mercy of God, that they have not only found in themselves a full Desire to settle the Peace of the Church; but the concurrent Desires of this famous City therein also, which they have expressed so clearly in their Petition, so full of Piety, Godliness, and Weight: And the House doth hope to satisfy the Kingdom, and the City, in it. For their Petition, so full of Piety and Religion, the House did return them their hearty Thanks.

Mr. Speaker likewise acquainted them, That the House had referred that Particular of the Women-Preachers to the Committee of Examinations; and did desire, That such, as could inform any thing concerning them, would repair to that Committee: And that they had taken the other Particulars into Consideration; and would take a speedy Course in them.

Colonel Norton carried to the Lords, for their Concurrence, the Ordinance for Two thousand Pounds, Remainder of Five thousand Pounds, out of the Excise, for Portesmouth.

Mr. Serjeant Wilde reported the Conference with the Lords, touching the Amendments to the Ordinance for the Continuance of the Committee of the Army, and the Treasurers at Wars: The which were read; and, upon the Question, assented unto.

Resolved, &c. That the House do meet this Afternoon, to consider of the Reports from the Committee of Lords and Commons for Irish Affairs, for the dispatching away Colonel Jephson's Regiment of Horse into Ireland.

A Message from the Lords, by Doctor Aylett and Doctor Heath;

The Lords have commanded us to bring an Information concerning the Marquis of Winchester's Distress: The Information, and the Lords Desire concerning it, in this Paper:-An Ordinance for Pressing of Mariners; to which they desire your Concurrence:-An Ordinance for Martial Law for Colonel Birch: To which they do agree, with this Proviso; and desire your Concurrence:-An Ordinance for Martial Law for Colonel Morgan: To which they agree, with this Proviso; and desire your Concurrence therein:-A Report from the Committee of both Kingdoms, concerning a Letter to the State of Genoa: The Lords have agreed to it; and desire your Concurrence. The Lords have received a Vote from this House, concerning some Rooms in the Castle of York to be made a Gaol: They desire the said Vote may be vacated; and have, in this Paper, sent their Reasons:-The Petition of the Lady Drake; which is especially recommended.

Resolved, &c. That Five Pounds per Week be allowed to the Marquis of Winton, for his necessary Relief and Maintenance, out of the Sequestration of his Estate in Hants: And that the Committee for Sequestrations for the said County do make him the said Allowance, accordingly.

Resolved, &c. That the Lord Marquis of Winton be forthwith impeached, at the Bar of the House of Peers, of High-Treason, for levying War against the King, Parliament, and Kingdom: And the Committee where Mr. Stephens has the Chair, and the Gentlemen of the County of Hants, are appointed to prepare an Impeachment, accordingly.

Ordered, That this Vote of the Lords, for Making of Colonel Edward Harley to command in Chief all the Horse of the Counties of Hereford and Radnor, and the Petition of divers Gentlemen of the County of Hereford, be referred to the Committee of the Army; to state the Matter of Fact upon Ordinances formerly passed, concerning the Forces of those Counties; and to report their Opinions to the House.

The Proviso, sent from the Lords, to the Ordinance for Martial Law in the City of Hereford, was read; and, upon the Question, assented unto.

The Proviso, sent from the Lords, to the Ordinance for Martial Law in the County of Gloucester, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, assented unto.

The Letter to be sent to the State of Genoa, sent from the Lords, in the Behalf of the East-India Company, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, assented unto; and ordered to be signed by the Speakers of both Houses.

Answer returned by the same Messengers;

The House has considered their Lordships Message: And, as to That concerning the Marquis of Winton, they have taken it into Consideration: And, as to the Two Ordinances for Martial Law for Colonel Birch, and Colonel Morgan; and the Letter to Genoa; they do agree: And, as to the rest, they will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Ordered, That Mr. Thorpe do make his Report, from the Grand Committee, of the Business concerning Mr. Allen's Complaint against Mr. Long, on Tuesday Morning next.

Post Meridiem.

THE House being informed, That divers Gentlemen and Ministers of the County of Rutland were at the Door;

They were called in: And Mr. Cheseldine Minister acquainted the House, That they came to present a Petition to the House.

The Petitioners withdrew.

And the Petition was intittuled, "The humlbe Petition of the Committee, Ministers, Gentlemen, and Freeholders, of the County of Rutland;" and was read; and was, That the Writ might go down for Election of Knights of the Shire for the said County.

The House was likewise informed, That the Committee, and divers other of the County of Rutland, were at the Door;

They were called in: And Sir James Harrington presented a Petition to the House.

The Petitioners withdrew.

And the Petition was intituled, "The humble Petition of the Committee, and divers others, of the County of Rutland:" Which was read; and was, That, till the Hearing of the Differences between Colonel Wayte and the Committee there, Writs might not be sent down for Election of Knights for the said County.

Ordered, That the Mortar-piece, Shells and Equipage thereto belonging, now at Redding, shall go from thence to Belvoir, to be made use of for the reducing that Castle.

Ordered, That the Committee of the Eastern Association do make good the Mortar-piece now at Redding, lent them for the Service against Belvoir-Castle, to the Three Counties of Oxon, Buck', and Berk'; and also all such Shells, and other Materials, as they shall make use of of theirs: And that it be referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms, to take Security for the Performance hereof, accordingly.

Ordered, That the Sum of One thousand Seven hundred Forty-six Pounds Fifteen Shillings and Eight-pence shall be forthwith provided for the Use of, and the speedy Sending away of the Regiment of Horse under the Command of Colonel Jephson, into Ireland.

Ordered, That the Committee of Lords and Commons for Irish Affairs, upon Consultation and Advice with the Lord Mayor and Court of Aldermen of the City of London, shall have Power to raise the Sum of One thousand Seven hundred Forty-six Pounds Fifteen Shillings and Eight-pence, for the Use of Colonel Jephson's Regiment of Horse, by making Sale of such Scaffolds as are in the Outside of Paul's, and may be conveniently spared, without Prejudice to the Fabrick; or out of such Monies as are in the Hands of the Treasurer for Paul's.

Ordered, That the Sum of Five hundred and Four Pounds and Six Shillings, due to Colonel Jephson's Regiment of Horse, for their Service against Basing, be paid by the Committee of Hants, out of the Twelve hundred Pounds assigned for the said County, out of Haberdashers-Hall.

Ordered, That the Committee of Hants shall be allowed such free Quarter as hath been taken by Colonel Jephson's Regiment of Horse, or any of them, and such Monies as have been levied by the said Regiment, or any of them, contrary to the Orders and Ordinances of Parliament, in the said County; out of such Assessments as shall be set upon the said County, for the Maintenance of the Forces in Ireland, and defalked out of the Pay of the said Regiment; provided that Certificates of the said Free-Quarter, and Monies so levied, be brought in to the Committee of Lords and Commons for Irish Affairs, within one Month.

An Ordinance to enable Colonel Jephson to execute Martial Law upon such as are under his Command, during their Abode in England, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, assented unto; and ordered to be sent to the Lords for Concurrence.