House of Commons Journal Volume 4: 18 February 1646

Die Mercurii, 18 Februarii, 1645.

Prayers.

THE Grand Committee of the House for Religion met, to take into Consideration the Business concerning Church-Government.

Mr. Whittacre in the Chair.

Mr. Speaker resumed the said Chair.

Upon Mr. Whittacre's Report;

It is Resolved, &c. That there be forthwith a Choice made of Elders throughout the Kingdom of England, and Dominion of Wales, in the respective Parish-Churches and Chapels, according to such Directions as have already passed both Houses, bearing Date the Nineteenth of August 1645, and since that time: And all Classes and Parochial Congregations respectively are hereby authorized and required forthwith effectually to proceed therein accordingly.

Resolved, &c. That Notice of the Election of Parochial and Congregational Elders, and of the Time when it shall be, be given by the Minister, in the publick Assembly, next Lord's Day but one before: And that, on that said Lord's Day, a Sermon be preached, preparatory to that weighty Business.

Resolved, &c. That such Election shall be made by the Congregation, or the major Part of them then assembled; being such as have taken the National Covenant, and are not Persons under-aged, nor Servants, that have no Family.

Resolved, &c. That these Three Votes be forthwith sent to the Lords; and their Concurrence desired therein; to the end they may be communicated to the Lord Mayor, and immediately put in due Execution.

Mr. Ashburst carried to the Lords, for their Concurrence, an Order for a Collection, To-morrow, for the sick and maimed Soldiers of the Leaguer at Chester: The Order concerning the Ministers of Foreign Princes and States, to shew their Credentials.

Mr. Erle carried to the Lords, for their Concurrence, the Instructions for the Members of the House appointed to go down into Devonshire and Cornewall.

Ordered, &c. That it be referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms, to take special Care to send a sufficient Body of the Horse, belonging to Sir Thomas Fairefaxe's Army, now in these Parts of this Kingdom, to attend the Motions of the Enemy towards the West; and prevent the falling upon the Rear of Sir Thomas Fairefaxe's Army, which is now in the West.

Ordered, &c. That it be especially referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms, to consider, What other Forces the King hath in a Body in any other Parts of the Kingdom; and to draw together the Forces of the several Counties; and to give Directions to a sufficient Strength of them to attend any such Forces of the Enemy, wheresoever they shall direct their Motions; and to prevent the Destruction of the Counties.

Ordered, &c. That the Committee of Lords and Commons for Advance of Monies, at Haberdashers-Hall, do forthwith pay unto Joan Wilson, the Relict of James Wilson, or her Assigns, the Sum of Five Pounds, upon Accompt of what was due unto the said James Wilson, for his Entertainment in the Service of the Parliament, to be employed for his Burial.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Ordered, &c. That the Report concerning Major-General Massie be taken into Consideration, the first Business, on Tuesday Morning next: And that Mr. Speaker do put the House in mind thereof.

The humble Petition of divers Aldermen, CommonCouncil, and others, free Burgesses of King's-Lynn, concerning the Election of Mr. Edmund Hudson, Alderman of the said Town, to serve in this Parliament as a Burgess for the said Town, in the place of Mr. Percivall, deceased, was this Day read. And

It is Ordered, That the Matters of Crime, charged in the said Petition, and in a Remonstrance thereunto annexed, against the said Mr. Hudson, be referred unto the Committee of Examinations; to examine, and to report the same with all Speed to the House.

Ordered, &c. That the Mayor and Sheriffs of the Town of Lynn-Regis do make Return of the Precept for the Election of a Burgess to serve in Parliament for the said Town.

Memorandum: Whereas the House was informed, that Mr. Edmund Hudson was elected, and endeavoured to be returned, to serve as a Burgess in Parliament for the Town of Lynn-Regis; the House was likewise informed, That he had been in Arms against the Parliament; and that such Persons, by Order of the House, ought not to be admitted to sit as Members of this House.

Ordered, &c. That the Business of the Election of Knights to serve in Parliament for the County of Bucks be taken into Consideration, on Thursday come Sevennight, the first Business: And that Mr. Speaker do put the House in mind thereof.

Ordered, &c. That the Petition of the City of Chichester, this Day presented to the House by Sir John Temple, be read on Saturday Morning next.

Ordered, &c. That the List of those that are presented from the Committee of Admiralty and Cinque-Ports, and from the Officers of Trinity-House, to have the Command of the Navy, and the rest of the Business of the Navy, be taken into Consideration on Saturday Morning next, the first Business.

The House was informed, That Messengers from the Lords were at the Door:

And the Debate being, Whether they should be now called in, it being past Twelve of the Clock; and, so, contrary to the Orders of the House;

Resolved, &c. That, notwithstanding the former Order, the Messengers to be now called in.

A Message from the Lords, by Mr. Serjeant Finch and Mr. Page;

The Lords desire a Conference, by Committees of both Houses, on Friday Morning next, in the Painted Chamber, at Ten of the Clock, concerning the Propositions, if it may stand with the Conveniency of this House. They desire to put you in mind of the Lord Savile's Petition; and of the Remonstrance and Petition of the Scotts Officers: And the Lords do agree, according to this Report from the Committee of both Kingdoms, That Captain Phips his Troop may be reduced into Major Shelborne's Troop: To which they desire your Concurrence.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth agree, That a Conference be had with the Lords, on Friday next, concerning the Propositions, as is desired.

The humble Petition of the Lord Viscount Savile was read; and likewise a Paper concerning the Lords Sense upon the said Petition: And

It is thereupon Resolved, &c. That the Lord Savile have Leave to declare to the Earls of Essex and Denbigh, and to Mr. Darley and Mr. Thorpe, Members of this House, What he knows concerning the Letter for which he is in Contempt: And that the said Lords and Members of this House do not reveal the same, until the Party whom it concerns, be either out of his Majesty's Dominions, or within the Parliament's Quarters.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Resolved, &c. That the Lord Savile, for his Accommodation, and the Recovery of his Health, shall have Liberty to reside at Sir Peter Temple's House.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein by Mr. Weston.

Ordered, That the Petition of the Scotts Officers be taken into Consideration, on Monday Morning, next after the Business of Ireland.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth agree with the Lords, that Captain Phips his Troop be reduced into Major Shelborne's Troop.-

Ordered, That the Members of this House that are of the Long Robe, be injoined to attend the Committee for plundered Ministers, on Friday next, in the Afternoon, concerning the Business of Paul Best: And that Mr. Millington to give them Notice; and give the House an Account hereof accordingly.-

Answer returned by the same Messengers;

The House has considered their Lordships Message: And, as to the Lords Desire for a Conference on Friday Morning, and for the Reducing of Captain Phips' Troop, they do agree: And, as to the rest, will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

A Copy of a Letter, from Culpeper to Ashbournham, dated Tavestock, 12 Januarii 1645, intercepted, and uncyphered by Mr. Weckerlyn, together with the Original of the said Letter, were this Day presented to the House by Sir Henry Heyman: And the Copy was read.

Resolved, &c. That the House be adjourned until Friday Morning at Eight of Clock.

And Mr. Speaker adjourned the House accordingly.