House of Commons Journal Volume 4: 28 March 1646

Die Sabbati, 28 Martii, 1646.

Prayers.

Ordered, That Mr. John Harris, a Member of this House, shall have Leave to go into the Country: And that he be added to the Committee of the Counties of Devon and Cornewall.

Resolved, &c. That Four thousand Pounds be forthwith advanced and provided, to be employed towards the Pay of the Arrears due to the Scotts Officers, according to a List reported from the Committee of Petitions where Mr. John Goodwyn hath the Chair: And that the Committee of Lords and Commons for Advance of Monies, at Haberdashers-Hall, do pay the said Four thousand Pounds to such Treasurer as the said Committee for Petitions where Mr. John Goodwyn hath the Chair shall appoint to receive the same: And that the said Committee do apportion and distribute the same unto the said Scotts Officers.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Upon a Report from the Committee of plundered Ministers;

It is Resolved, &c. That there be paid unto Mr. Grations Frankelyn, Minister of the Church of Heytesbury in the County of Wiltes, for his Maintenance, the Sum of Sixty Pounds per Annum; viz. Forty Pounds per Annum out of the Rent of the Impropriate Rectory of Heytesbury, reserved to the Dean of Sarum; and Twenty Pounds per Annum, out of the Revenues reserved out of Two Prebends, now claimed by Mr. Alesbury and Mr. Hunton: And the Occupiers or Tenants of the said Rectory, and Prebendaries, are hereby ordered to pay the same accordingly, with all the Rents, and Arrears of Rents, unpaid and due for the same, unto this present Day.

Upon a like Report from the Committee of plundered Ministers, upon the humble Petition of the Parishioners of Brewton in the County of Somerset, shewing, That whereas Sir Charles Berkeley, Impropriator of the Rectory of Brewton aforesaid, by whom the Payment for the Cure of the said Church is to be discharged, and the Minister there maintained; the Tythe of which Parish is valued worth Two hundred Pounds per Annum; which Impropriation, together with all the rest of the said Sir Charles Berkeley his Estate, is now under Sequestration, and lett to farm by the Sequestrators of the said County;

It is Ordered, That One hundred Pounds per Annum shall be paid, out of the said sequestred Estate, unto William Parker, Minister of the Word; who is hereby appointed to officiate, and discharge the Cure of the said Church: And the Farmer, or the Farmers, of the said sequestred Estate are hereby authorized to pay the said One hundred Pounds per Annum quarterly, by equal Proportions, unto the said William Parker: And the Sequestrators of the said County are to allow the same.

An Ordinance for allowing and appointing convenient Maintenance for Six godly and able Preachers in the County and City of Hereford, out of the Possessions of the Dean and Dean and Chapter of the Cathedral Church of Hereford, was this Day read the First and Second time; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

An Ordinance for punishing Paul Best with Death, by hanging him by the Neck, till he be dead, for his obstinate and blasphemous Denial of the Holy Trinity, his Denial of the Deity of our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of the Holy Ghost, and for many other horrid, prodigious, and execrable Blasphemies, not fit to be named, was this Day read the First and Second time; and nothing more done at this Time.

Ordered, That a Day be appointed, when Paul Best shall be brought to the Bar: And that he be then charged with the Crimes informed from the Committee against him; and he heard, to make his Answer: And that this Day be Saturday next: And that then he be brought to the Bar by the Serjeant at Arms attending on this House.

Ordered, That it be refered to the Committee of plundered Ministers, to consider of, and sum up, the Charge and Evidence against Paul Best, and of Managing of it against him, on Saturday next.

Ordered, That the Divines, formerly appointed, may have Liberty to go to Paul Best, a Prisoner in the Gatehouse, and endeavour to make him sensible of his Errors, and to reclaim him from them: And that it be lest to the Committee, to allow him such Liberty as they shall think fit; and to give Liberty to such to visit him as they shall see Cause.

Mr. Rigby carried to the Lords; for their Concurrence, the Ordinance for Martial Law within the Lines of Communication: The Ordinance for a monthly Assessment upon the County of Derby for Maintenance of the Forces of the said County: The Ordinance for Six thousand Pounds, out of the Excise, for the Forces in Munster: The Ordinance for Payment of One thousand Pounds per Annum, out of the Customs, to the Judges, respectively: The Order for Three hundred Pounds, out of Haberdashers-Hall, for Colonel Strode: The Order for Four Pounds per Week to Sir Lewis Dive, out of his own Estate in Bedfordshire: The Order for Four Pounds per Week to Sir Henry Anderson, out of his own Estate in the Counties of Yorke and Durham: And the Order for the Earl of Nottingham to have Five hundred Pounds per Annum paid him by the Committee of Sequestrations for the County of Surrey.

He was likewise to acquaint the Lords, That this House hath agreed with their Lordships, in the Adding of the Five Lords, formerly named by their Lordships, to the Committee of the Revenue.

A Letter from Colonel Mytton, from Ruthyn, of 21 Martii 1645, and a Piece of an intercepted Letter inclosed, concerning the concluding a Peace in Ireland, and the Coming over suddenly of Irish to the King's Assistance, was this Day read.

Sir Robert Harley carried to the Lords, for their Concurrence, the Ordinance for Maintenance of Ministers in the County and City of Hereford; and the Order for Four thousand Pounds, out of Haberdashers-Hall, for the Scotts Officers.

Ordered, That the Committee at Goldsmiths-Hall do forthwith give Direction to the Treasurers there, to pay unto the Commissioners of both Houses, residing with the Scotts Army before Newarke, the Five thousand Pounds formerly ordered for the Scotts Army there: And that the said Committee at Goldsmiths-Hall do take care for the speedy Sending and Paying of this Five thousand Pounds accordingly.

Ordered, That Sir Robert Binloes, a Member of this House, shall have Leave to go into the Country for a Month.

Mr. Rigby brings Answer from the Lords, That, as to the Ordinance for Six thousand Pounds, out of the Excise, for the Forces of Munster; the Ordinance for One thousand Pounds per Annum to the Judges; the Orders for Payment of Four Pounds per Week to Sir Lewis Dive and Sir Henry Anderson; the Order for Three hundred Pounds, out of Haberdashers-Hall, for Colonel Strode; and the Order for Five hundred Pounds for the Earl of Nottingham; they do agree: And, as to the Ordinance for Martial Law within the Lines of Communication; and the Ordinance for an Assessment upon the County of Derby; they will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Sir Robert Harley brings Answer from the Lords, That they do agree to the Ordinance for Maintenance of Ministers in the County and City of Hereford; and to the Order for Four thousand Pounds, out of HaberdashersHall, for the Scotts Officers.

Ordered, That Sir Thomas Middleton, Sir John Trevor, Sir Richard Wynn, Mr. Recorder of the City of London, Mr. Theloall, or any Two of them, do forthwith go down into North-Wales, to employ their best Endeavours for the reducing the Counties of North-Wales, and the Castles and Towns there: And that it be referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms, to confer with these Gentlemen; and to prepare Instructions for them, for the better carrying on that Service.

Ordered, That, on Monday next, the first Business, the Business of Ireland be taken into Consideration: And that first, as Part of that Business, the Commission for the Lord Lisle, Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, be read; and taken into Consideration.

Ordered, That the Committee appointed to meet with a Committee of a proportionable Number of the Lords, to confer with the Scotts Commissioners upon the Propositions, do meet this Afternoon.

Ordered, That Mr. Holles and Mr. Jesson be added to the Committee for preparing the Letter to be sent to the Prince.

Ordered, That the Committee, formerly appointed to prepare a Letter to be sent to the Prince, do meet this Afternoon; and bring in that Letter on Monday Morning: And the Care of this Business is particularly referred to Mr. Reynolds.

Ordered, That the Answer of the Commissioners of Excise, this Day delivered in by Mr. Scawen, be taken into Consideration on Tuesday next, the first Business, being the Day appointed for the Business of the Excise.

An Ordinance for the Appointing and Issuing, out of the Fine set upon Mr. Henley for his Delinquency, Four thousand Pounds for the Service of the Forces of Abingdon Garison; and for securing and reimbursing, with Interest, to such Persons as shall lend any Part of the said Four thousand Pounds; was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent to the Lords for their Concurrence.

Mr. Allen is to carry it to the Lords.

A Letter from the Lord Lauderdaill, from WorcesterHouse, of March 26 1646, desiring, That the Earl of Abercorn, a Prisoner, by Order of this House, might have a Pass to go into Scotland, was this Day read.