House of Commons Journal Volume 4: 12 February 1646

Die Jovis, 12 Februarii, 1645.

Prayers.

ORdered, That Justices of Assize, Gaol-Delivery, and Nisi prius, do go their Circuits in usual Manner as formerly hath been accustomed: And that the Commissioners for the Great Seal of England do issue Commissions to the Justices of either Bench, and Barons of the Exchequer, and to the Commissioners of the Peace in the several Counties, respectively, under the Power of the Parliament, where Assizes may be with Safety held, to perform the said Service.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein by Sir Thomas Dacres.

An Ordinance for the regulating the University of Cambridge was this Day read the Third time; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords, for their Concurrence.

Ordered, That Two thousand Pounds, Part of the Three thousand Pounds charged upon the Excise, by Order of 9 Februarii 1645 instant, shall be employed for the Use of the poor Wives and Widows of the Persons employed in the Trains of Artillery of the Earl of Essex and Sir William Waller, and the Waggoners: And that the other One thousand Pounds, Residue thereof, for Officers Widows, in such manner as the Committee of Accompts, or any Five of them, shall appoint.

An Ordinance for paying, out of the Receipts of the Excise, the Sum of Three thousand Pounds, with Interest, to the Committee of Accompts; whereof Two thousand Pounds to be employed for the Payment of poor Women, being the Wives or Widows of poor Persons employed in the Trains of Artillery belonging to the Earl of Essex and Sir William Waller, and of the poor Waggoners, and their Widows; and One thousand Pounds for Officers Widows; was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

Ordered, That the Committee of Accompts, in the Distributing and Disposing of the Four thousand Pounds, ordered by Two several Ordinances to be paid to the said Committee, and by them to be employed in the Pay of the Wives and Widows of Waggoners, and of the Persons employed in the Trains of Artillery belonging to the Earl of Essex and Sir William Waller, and of divers poor Widows of Officers, do take care, in the first place, for the Payment of such Persons as have not yet received any thing at all.

Sir Thomas Dacres carried to the Lords, for their Concurrence, the Order concerning Justices of Assize; and the Ordinance for regulating the University of Cambridge.

An Ordinance for Payment of the Sum of Five-andtwenty hundred Pounds, out of the Receipts of the Excise; being Part of the Five thousand Pounds charged in Course, for and towards the Reducing of Oxon, and Preservation of the Garison of Abington, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

Ordered, That the Business concerning the Election of Knights for the County of Bucks be taken into Consideration on Monday Morning next.

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

The Lords have commanded us to acquaint you, That they are of Opinion, That the Unicorn and Victory be presently set-forth, with the rest of the Fleet, for the better Guarding of the Seas, which at this present much concerns the Safety of the Kingdom; and that, Captain Stansby command the Providence, he having served faithfully in these Troubles. The Lords do approve of this List, and of the Captains: It is a List of the Fleet, with an Order from the Committee of both Houses, of the Admiralty and Cinque-Ports; and a List of the Commanders Names, from Trinity-House: Wherein they desire the Concurrence of this House; and that they may beset-forth presently. They desire that you would give a speedy Dispatch to the Ordinance concerning Mr. Cannon; it being a Business of great Importance for Navigation. They have sent you the Lord Savile's Petition, and the Resolution of the Lords thereupon: The Scotts Officers Petition; which is recommended to you:- An Ordinance for John Lewes; wherein they desire your Concurrence: The Petition of the poor Men of Windsor, with the Resolution of the Lords thereupon; to which they desire your Concurrence:-And the Petition of the poor Men of Chichester; which is recommended to you in the same Manner as is that of Windsor.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth agree with the Lords, That the Unicorn and Victory be presently set-forth, with the rest of the Fleet, for the better Guarding of the Seas.

Ordered, That Captain Cannon's Ordinance, and the Ordinance concerning Mr. John Lewes, be taken into Consideration on Monday next, in the Afternoon.

Ordered, That the List of the Summer's Fleet, and of the Persons that are to command the Fleet, be taken into Consideration on Monday Morning next.

Ordered, That the Establishment for the Garison of Windsor, and the Business of South-Wales, be taken into Consideration To-morrow Morning.

The humble Petition of the Inhabitants of Seven Hundreds, in the Forest Division in the County of Berks, and the several Hundreds of Redding and Theale, was this Day read; and ordered to be taken into Consideration on Monday Morning next, when the Business of Ireland shall be considered of.

Sir Thomas Dacres brings Answer from the Lords, That, as to the Order concerning Justices of Assize, they do agree: And, as to the Ordinance concerning the Regulating of the University of Cambridge, they will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

According to an Order of Yesterday, the Letter from the Scotts Commissioners, of 9 Februarii 1645, touching some Papers delivered in by them, concerning Robert Wright's Letters, and the Informations given in by a Knight, yet unknown, was this Day read; and likewise the Papers themselves, of the Date of Twenty-fourth and Twenty-seventh of January: And the Matter of Fact, touching the Delivery of those Letters, stated by the Members of both Houses that are of the Committee of both Kingdoms; and an Answer to those Papers, prepared by a Committee of this House; was this Day reported; and twice read; and, upon the Question, passed, and assented unto; and ordered to be sent, inclosed in a Letter from Mr. Speaker, to the Commissioners of Scotland.

Sir John Evelyn went to the Lords, upon the Message Yesterday appointed, concerning the Ordinance for Martial Law.

He was likewise to desire the Lords to concurr with this House, in communicating the Vote of both Houses, for reducing the Scotts Horse to the Number prescribed by the Treaty.

Ordered, &c. That an Ordinance be brought in, for the settling the Salaries assigned to the Judges of the Courts at Westminster, by former Order of this House, upon the Customs of the Port of London: And that Mr. Samuel Browne do bring in an Ordinance accordingly.

Answer returned by the same Messengers;

The House hath considered your Message; and, as to the Setting-forth of the Unicorn and Victory, with the rest of the Fleet, they do agree: They will take the Ordinance for Captain Cannon, and the Ordinance for Mr. John Lewes, into Consideration: And, as to the rest, they will send Answer by Messengers of their own.