House of Commons Journal Volume 4: 17 February 1646

Die Martis, 17 Februarii, 1645.

Prayers.

ORdered, That a Warrant shall be issued, under the Hand of Mr. Speaker, directed to the Clerk of the Crown in Chancery, for a Writ to be issued, under the Great Seal of England, for the Election of a Burgess for the Borough of Grimsby in the County of Lincolne, in the place of Sir Christopher Wray Knight, deceased.

Ordered, That a Warrant shall be issued, under the Hand of Mr. Speaker, directed to the Clerk of the Crown in Chancery, for a Writ to be issued, under the Great Seal of England, for the Election of a Burgess for the Borough of Beerealston in the County of Devon, in the place of William Strode Esquire, deceased.

The Desires of Monsieur de Sabran and Monsieur de Mountereul to the House, for a Passport for Monsieur de Mountereul to go into Scotland, there to sollicit the Levies committed unto him by their French Majesties; and to pass by Oxon, or wheresoever the King of Great Brittainy shall be, to deliver unto him the Letters of their most Christian Majesties; were this Day read: And

It is Ordered, That it be referred to the Members of both Houses that are of the Committee of both Kingdoms, to conser with the Scotts Commissioners, upon these Desires of Monsieur de Sabran and Monsieur de Mountereul; and know, Whether they do acknowledge Monsieur de Mountereul to be an Agent to Scotland; and whether they desire, That he should pass by Oxon into Scotland, and return hither.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth declare, That no Person, that shall repair hither, under the Character of an Ambassador, Agent, or other Publick Minister, to any Foreign Prince or State, shall be so accepted or reputed here, or enjoy the Privileges due to such Publick Ministers, until he shall tender his Powers, or Letters of Credence, to the Houses of Parliament; that it may appear from whom he comes, and to whom his Agency is directed.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Resolved, &c. That a Committee be appointed, to consider of the Powers granted to the Committee at Haberdashers-Hall, of regulating them, if Occasion be; and also to consider of the Proceedings of the Under-Officers there, and to regulate them; of the Charges that lie upon the said Committee; and for what Time it will be fit, as Matters now stand, to continue it: And the Gentlemen hereafter named are appointed to be the said Committee; viz. Mr. Grimston, Mr. Nathanael Fiennes, Mr. Holles, Mr. Holland, Mr. Ashurst, Sir Arthur Haselrige, Sir Henry Heyman, Mr. Vassall, Sir Henry Vane junior, Mr. Reynolds, Mr. Thorpe, Mr. Lane, Sir Harbottle Grimston, Sir Thomas Wroth, Colonel Venn, Sir Thomas Soame, Sir Peter Wentworth, Mr. Gourdon, Mr. John Goodwyn, Mr. Serjeant Wilde, Mr. Whitelocke, Mr. Alderman Atkyn, Sir John Potts, Mr. Alderman Pennington, Mr. Maynard, Mr. Salwey, Sir Henry Mildmay, Sir Philip Stapleton, Mr. Liste, Mr. Samuel Browne, Sir John Clotworthy, Sir William Lewes, Mr. Erle, Mr. Recorder, Mr. Allen, Major-General Browne: And all that will come are to have Voices: And Mr. Maynard is to take care of it particularly: And are to meet this Afternoon at Two of the Clock, in the Star-Chamber: And are to make Report hereof upon Tuesday next: And have Power to send for Parties, Witnesses, Papers, and Records.

. . . . . . ., That Twenty Barrels of Powder, and a Ton of Match, be forthwith provided, out of the publick Stores, for the Use of the Garison of Redding: And that the Committee for Ammunition do give Order herein.

The Care of this Business is referred especially to Mr. Vachell and Mr. Ball.

Resolved, &c. That Ten Barrels of Powder, and Half a Ton of Match, be forthwith provided, out of the publick Stores, for the Use of the Garison of Henley: And that the Committee for Ammunition do give Order herein.

Resolved, &c. That Ten Barrels of Powder, and Half a Ton of Match, be forthwith provided, out of the publick Stores, for the Use of the Garison of Alisbury: And that the Committee for Ammunition do give Order herein.

Ordered, &c. That the Letter from Reddinge, this Day offered to the House by Mr. Speaker, be referred to the Consideration . . . . of both Kingdoms.

Ordered, &c. That, on Saturday next, Mr. Lisle do make his Report concerning Sir Wm. Waller's Arrears.

Resolved, &c. That the Committee at Goldsmiths-Hall be desired, upon important Occasions of the Garison of Abingdon, forthwith to furnish the Sum of Three thousand Pounds, by way of Advance and Loan: And that the Committee do propose such Compositions, out of which they desire this Sum to be reimbursed, with Interest: And that this Money be paid to Serjeant-Major-General Browne, to be disposed of by him to the Pay of the Forces at Abingdon: And that the Committee, paying this Three thousand Pounds, shall be discharged of the former Eighteen hundred Pounds charged upon that Committee, for the Service of the Garison of Abington.

Ordered, &c. That the Commissioners of Excise be desired, in regard of the pressing and instant Necessities of the Garison of Abingdon, and of the Importance of that Place, forthwith to advance Two thousand Pounds, the Remainder of Three thousand Pounds charged upon the Receipts of the Excise, in Course, by an Order of this House, of Friday, Novembris 7 1645: And Major-General Browne, Mr. Scott, and Mr. Allen, are appointed to go to the Commissioners of Excise; and to acquaint them with the earnest Desires of this House, That this Money may be speedily furnished.

Ordered, &c. That the Establishment for Abingdon be brought in, and read, To-morrow Morning, the first Business.

Mr. Love is to take care herein.

Ordered, &c. That the Business concerning WindsorCastle be reported To-morrow Morning.

Resolved, &c. That Colonel Thomas Piggott be forthwith sent for, as a Delinquent, by the Serjeant at Arms attending on this House.

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

The Lords have commanded us to return you this Ordinance, for Sir George Vane to be High-Sheriff of the County of Durham: It moved first from you: And the Lords have agreed to it, with this Amendment; to which they desire your Concurrence:- Some Letters taken in a Bark, that came from Dublyn in Ireland; which they have commanded us only to deliver unto you. They desire to put you in mind of the Ordinance for Martial Law at Sea: Which they desire you will take into Consideration. Upon this Desire of the Committee of the Admiralty, they have sent you the Petitions of Captain Fyennes and Captain Blany; which they recommend to you:- The Petition of Joan Wilson: It is for some Money to bury her Husband, who was an Officer in the Army; some of his Entertainment being due unto him:- A Report from the Committee of Lords and Commons for Foreign Affairs, for the Delivery of the Ship called the Becasse to the French, with certain Monies: The Lords have agreed to it; and desire your Concurrence:- For the presenting a Minister to the Benefice of Stoke-Damerell in the County of Cornewall; wherein they desire your Concurrence:- The Petition of * Bacon, to travel: The Lords have agreed to it; and desire your Concurrence therein: There are some Certificates of his Composition for his Delinquency.

The Amendments to the Ordinance for appointing Sir George Vane to be High-Sheriff of the County-Palatine of Durham was read; and, upon the Question, assented unto.

The Letters, intercepted, from Ireland, were inclosed in a Letter of the 23 Januarii 1645, from Captain Robert Moulton, from aboard the Lion in Milford-Haven: The which was read: And the intercepted Letters were read.

A Letter from Roger Brereton, from Dublyn, of 5 Januarii 1645, directed to Colonel Thomas Pigott.

A Letter from Sir Maurice Eustace, of 11 Januarii 1645, directed to Thomas Pigott Esquire.

A Letter from Roger Brereton, from Dublyn, of 5 Januarii 1645, indorsed "To the Countess of Glamorgan."

A Letter from the Lord Herbert of Ragland, signed Glamorgan, of 5 Januarii 1645, to his Lady.

All which Letters were read.

There was likewise inclosed, in the said Letter from Captain Moulton, a Copy of the several Treaties made with the Rebels of Ireland, by the said Lord Herbert, therein stiled Earl of Glamorgan.

Ordered, &c. That these several intercepted Letters, sent this Day from the Lords, in Captain Moulton's Letter, and the Copies . . Treaties agreed by the Lord Herbert of Ragland, stiled Earl of Glamorgan, with the Rebels in Ireland, be referred to the Committee formerly appointed to uncypher other intercepted Letters, where Sir Walter Earle hath the Chair: Who are to make what Use they can of them; and to take care, that they be printed, with other Letters and Papers referred to the Care of that Committee to see them printed.

Resolved, &c. That, as to the Petition of Joan Wilson, this House will return Answer by Messengers of their own.

Answer returned by the same Messengers;

The House hath considered your Message: And, as . . the Amendment to the Ordinance for Sir George Vane to be Sheriff of the County-Palatine of Durham, they do agree: And, as to the rest of the Particulars of your Message, will send Answer by Messengers of their own.