House of Commons Journal Volume 4: 22 January 1646

Die Jovis, 22 Januarii, 1645.

Prayers.

AN Ordinance for the advancing, by way of Loan, the Sum of Two-and-thirty thousand Pounds, by such Persons of Ability as inhabit, or have any Stock or Trade going, within the City of London, and Liberties thereof, in like manner to be raised as is expressed in an Ordinance of the First of July 1645, for the Raising of Twenty thousand Pounds for Reducing of Oxford; and for securing the said Two-and-thirty thousand Pounds to the Persons lending the same, out of the Receipts of the Excise, with Interest, at the End of every Six Months, to be paid after other Sums, charged upon the said Receipts, for the Use of the Army, are first satisfied; was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

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

The Lords have commanded us to bring you (fn. 1) An Ordinance for the Selling of some Materials about Paul's Church, for the Payment of some Workmen there: To which they desire your Concurrence.

They desire to put you in mind of an Ordinance, which they formerly sent unto you, for the Regulating of Arms; which they desire you to take into Consideration.

Ordered, That the Particulars of this Message be taken into Consideration, the first Business, on Saturday Morning next: And that Mr. Speaker do put the House in mind hereof.

Answer returned by the same Messengers;

The House hath taken your Message into Consideration; and will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth nominate and appoint William Briscoe, of Crofton, Esquire, to be High-Sheriff of the County of Cumberland: And that the Commissioners for the Great Seal of England do grant him a Commission accordingly.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth nominate and appoint Robert Clavering, of Brenkborne, Esquire, to be High-Sheriff of the County of Northumberland: And that the Commissioners for the Great Seal of England do grant him a Commission accordingly.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Resolved, &c. That Captain Charles Vane, Commander of Raby-Castle, be added to the Standing Committee of Durham.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Resolved, &c. That Mr. Thistlethwayte, High-Sheriff of the County of Wiltes, be injoined to make Return of the Writ, for Election of a Burgess for the Town of Hindon, within one Fortnight at the furthest.

A Letter from Mr. John Rushworth, from Dartmouth, of 19 Januarii 1645, relating the Taking of Dartmouth, with all Forts, Works, Castles, Ordnance, Arms, and Ammunition, and Two Men of War and a Pink in the River, was this Day read.

Ordered, That this Day Fortnight shall be set apart for a Day of Publick Thanksgiving to Almighty God, for his great Blessing upon the Parliament's Forces, at the Taking in of Dartmouth and Hereford; and for the several other late great Successes against the Enemy in the West; to be observed and kept in all Churches and Chapels in the Cities of London and Westminster, Lines of Communication, and within Ten Miles thereof: And that the Lord Mayor of the City of London be desired to give Notice hereof to the several Ministers within the Limits aforesaid.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Ordered, That this Day Three Weeks shall be set apart for a Day of Publick Thanksgiving to Almighty God, for his great Blessing upon the Parliament's Forces at the Taking in of Dartmouth and Hereford; and for the several other late great Successes against the Enemy in the West; to be observed and kept in all Churches and Chapels in the several Counties of the Kingdom of England, and Dominion of Wales, above Ten Miles from London, and within the Power of the Parliament: And that the Members of this House, that serve for the said several Counties and Places, do take care, that this Order may be published, and Notice given hereof to the several Ministers within the Limits aforesaid.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Ordered, That Mr. Bond and Mr. Harford be desired to preach on this Day Fortnight, being the Day of Publick Thanksgiving, before the Parliament.

The House being informed, That the Messenger that brought the Letter from Mr. Rushworth, was at the Door;

He was called in; and related the Manner of the Storming of Dartmouth.

Ordered, That the Messenger that brought the Letter from Mr. Rushworth, concerning the Taking in of Dartmouth, shall have the Sum of Twenty Pounds for his Pains: And that the Committee for Plimmouth do pay the same accordingly.

Mr. Nicholls carried to the Lords, for their Concurrence, The Order for One hundred Pounds for Mr. Parker, out of Haberdashers-Hall: The Ordinance for Edward Birkhead Esquire to be Serjeant at Arms attending the Speaker of the House of Commons, after the Death of Mr. Serjeant Hunt: The Ordinance for continuing Sir William Brereton in his Command for Forty Days: An Ordinance for a Pardon for Bridget Gowee, for Bigamy: An Order for Forty Shillings per Week, out of Haberdashers-Hall, for Mr. Teise: The Ordinance for Two-and-thirty thousand Pounds out of the Excise for the City of London; and the Votes concerning Church-Government.

He was to acquaint the Lords, That this Day Fortnight was appointed for a Day of Publick Thanksgiving, within London and Westminster, and Lines of Communication, and Ten Miles about; and this Day Three Weeks for the rest of the Kingdom; for the Taking in of Dartmouth: And that Mr. Bond and Mr. Harford were appointed to preach before the Parliament; and to desire their Concurrence herein.

He was likewise to desire a Conference with the Lords, concerning the Ordinance for Martial Law.

Resolved, &c. That One thousand Pounds be forthwith advanced by the Committee of the Army, for Providing and Furnishing of Horse to be bestowed upon Sir Thomas Fairfax, General of the Parliament's Forces, for his own Use: And that the especial Care of providing these Horse be referred to Sir Thomas Widdrington, and Colonel William White.

Sir Thomas Widdrington reports the Amendments to the Ordinance for appointing Sir George Vane Knight to be High-Sheriff of the County-Palatine and Sadbery; and for regulating some other things concerning the said Office, and Supply of Justice in that County: The which were read; and, upon the Question, assented unto: And the Ordinance, with the Amendments, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

An Ordinance for Continuation of the Excise, from the Eleventh of September 1646, to the Twenty-fourth of March 1647, was this Day read the Second time.

Resolved, &c. That the Excise be continued from the Eleventh of September 1646, to the Twenty-fourth of March 1647.

Resolved, &c. That this Ordinance be committed unto the Members of this House that are of the Committee of Excise: And all that will come are to have Voices: And are to meet upon it To-morrow at Two of Clock in the Star-Chamber: And they have Power to conser, and use their Endeavours, with the Commissioners of Excise, or any other, for the Advance of Fifty thousand Pounds for the Use of the Army, upon the Security of the Excise, at the Times propounded. They have further Power to consider and confer thereupon, with such Persons as they shall think fit, How the Revenue of the Excise may be improved, and the Charge of bringing in the Excise may be abated and lessened, to the best Advantage of the Publick.

Ordered, That, on Tuesday next, peremptorily, Mr. Green be heard to make his Reports concerning the Navy: And that the Committee do then likewise bring in the List of the Officers of the next Summer's Fleet.

Ordered, &c. That it be referred to the Committee of the West, to consider of some considerable Recompence to be bestowed upon Mr. Scawen, a Member of this House, that may remain to Posterity, as a Mark of the Favour and Acknowledgment of this House to him, for the great Pains, and the faithful and extraordinary Service he hath performed in the Affairs of the Army, and Service to the Parliament and Kingdom.

Ordered, That the Lord Brudenall, Sir Henry Bedingfield, Sir Walter Blunt, Sir Francis Howard, Sir Thomas Lunsford, and Mr. David Jenkins, be committed Prisoners to the Tower of London, for High-Treason, for levying War against the Parliament.

Ordered, That Sir Richard Weston, Sir Nicolas Kemershe, Sir Richard Bassett, Sir George Vaughan, and Sir John Stepney, be committed Prisoners to the Compter in South wark, for High-Treason, for levying War against the Parliament.

Ordered, That Sir Francis Lloyd, and Richard Seaborne Esquire, be committed Prisoners to the Serjeant at Arms attending this House, to the end they be brought to the Bar of this House, that the House may further dispose of them.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee at Goldsmiths-Hall, to examine the Desires or Intentions of Sir Francis Lloyd to come in and submit to the Parliament before the First Day of December last, or before he was taken Prisoner at Herefford.

Ordered, That Two-Thirds of the Goods and Estate of the Earl of Dorsett, not exceeding the Sum of Five hundred Pounds, now at Knolle in the County of Kent, and lately discovered there, shall be employed for the Use of the Garison at Dover-Castle, towards the Pay of their Arrears.

Ordered, That the Ordinance for the Establishment of the Garison of Kingston upon Hull be read on Monday Morning next.

Resolved, &c. That the Lifeguard shall be reduced: And that the whole Troop shall be suddenly paid off, except such as shall be employed as Officers in a Regiment of Firelocks.

Resolved, &c. That there shall be a Regiment of Firelocks raised, for the General's Guard, instead of the Lifeguard, consisting of Five hundred, divided into Five Companies, under a Major and Four Captains: The common Soldier to have Twelve-pence each per diem; the Officers, as Foot-Officers of their Qualities: And that as many of the Lifeguard as the General shall think fit, be employed as Officers in this Regiment of Firelocks.

Resolved, &c. That in regard Sir Thomas Fairfax hath found it necessary for the Service, and employed a Commissary-General of the Horse, that the Houses do allow of him to be added to the Establishment, and to have the Entertainment of the Place, from the Date of his Commission; viz. Fifteen Shillings per diem, Half-Pay, and Fifteen Shillings per diem on publick Faith:

That the Waggonmaster General be allowed a Deputy, at Three Shillings and Four-pence per diem:

That the Quartermaster-General, and the Mustermaster-General, be allowed a Carriage between them.

Ordered, That Sir Thomas Fairfax be injoined to reduce his Lifeguard to a Regiment of Firelocks, according to these Votes of both Houses.

Resolved, &c. That this Regiment of Firelocks be taken in, and be made Part of his Army: And that the General do put Officers over them.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

A List of the daily and monthly Pay of the Five hundred Firelocks, with Officers necessary for the same, for the General's Guard.

The Pay of the Officers, according to the Entertainment of the Foot-Officers in the Army, under Sir Thomas Fairfaxe's Army, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent to the Lords for their Concurrence.

A List of the daily and monthly Pay of the Officers and Soldiers belonging to the Garison of Hull was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed.

A List of the daily and monthly Pay and Entertainment of the Officers and Soldiers belonging to the Garison of Dover-Castle, and the Two Forts of Archcliff and MoatesBulwark, with the Charges incident thereunto by way of Addition (The same to begin . . . . .), was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed.

An Ordinance for allowing a Fifth-Part of the Arrears of the Officers of the Foot-Regiments of Gloucester, out of the Fines, Estates, or Compositions, of divers Persons taken at Hereford, was this Day read the First and Second time; and laid aside.

Resolved, &c. That Six thousand Pounds be charged upon the Receipts of the Excise, of 11 Septembris 1643, in Course, to be paid to the Officers of the Foot-Regiments of Gloucester, upon the Auditing of their Arrears; and to be accounted for so much of their Arrears: And that Mr. Pury do take care of this Business, and bring in an Ordinance to this Purpose.

Ordered, That the Letter from the Governor of Hereford, from Hereford, of Januarii 17 1645, be referred to the Consideration of the Committee of both Kingdoms.

An Ordinance for securing and reimbursing, out of the Receipts of the Excise, the Sum of Two thousand Eight hundred and One Pounds Three Shillings and Four-pence, to such Persons as shall lend the same, with Interest for the Forbearance, after the Rate of Eight Pounds per Centum; being for Ammunition and Arms for some of the most Northern Counties; was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent to the Lords for their Concurrence.