House of Commons Journal Volume 4: 31 March 1646

Die Martis, 31 Martii, 1646.

Prayers.

ORdered, That Mr. John Ash, a Member of this House, shall have Leave to go into the Country.

Six several Letters from Sir Thomas Fairfax General, of 6 Martii 1645, from Bodman, recommending Colonel Edgecombe, Major Nicolas Sawle, Mr. Thomas Lower, Mr. Glanvill, Mr. Coryton, Mr. William Trevisa, Lieutenant-Colonel William Scawen, Major Richard Edgecombe, and Mr. Ambrose Mannaton, to the Favour of the Parliament, as Persons whose Interests and Endeavours have been very useful in Reducing of the West, were this Day read.

Resolved, &c. That these Gentlemen be referred to the Committee of the West; to state the Matter of Fact concerning them; and their particular Cases, upon these Letters of Recommendation from the General; and upon the particular Treaties that have been with them; and to report the same to the House: And Mr. Peters is to attend this Committee.

Ordered, That Mr. Roe be recommended, upon the Letter from the General, to the Committee of the West; to take into Consideration the Services he hath done in the West; and any Charges or Expences he hath been at in the said Service.

A Letter from Sir Thomas Fairfax General, from Crediton, of 13 Februarii 1645, concerning Sir Hugh Pollard, was this Day read.

Resolved, &c. That Sir Hugh Pollard and Mr. Mathewes be referred to their Composition for their Delinquency to Goldsmiths-Hall: And that the Committee shall bail them, being now Prisoners, if they shall see Cause.

Sir Robert Pye went to the Lords, to press them to pass the Ordinance, remaining with them, for the Taking off the Sequestration of the Estates of such Delinquents who shall have made their Compositions, and paid in the Moiety of their Fines.

He likewise carried the Order for Three hundred Pounds to Sir Piercy Smyth, out of Haberdashers-Hall.

He was likewise appointed to press them to give their Assent to the Ordinance for Continuance of the Excise.

Sir Robert Pye brings Answer, That, as to the Order for Three hundred Pounds, out of Haberdashers-Hall, for Sir Piercy Smith, they do agree: And, as to the Ordinance for enabling the Committee at Goldsmiths-Hall to discharge Sequestrations, they will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Mr. Reynolds brings Answer of the Message Yesterday carried by him to the Lords; That, as to the Letter to be sent to the King; and the Letter of Invitation to be sent unto the Prince; and the Ordinance for Four thousand Pounds, out of Mr. Henley's Fine, for Abingdon; they do agree: And, as to the Ordinance for Excise, and the Ordinance for Martial Law within the Lines of Communication, they will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Sir Robert Pye was appointed to go to the Lords, to desire them to sit awhile, in regard that this House shall have Occasion to come unto them, upon Business of Importance.

Sir Robert Pye brings Answer from the Lords, That they will sit awhile.

Resolved, &c. That, in case the King shall, contrary to the Advice of the Houses of Parliament already given to him, come, or attempt to come, within the Lines of Communication; that then the Committee of the Militia of London shall have Power, and are hereby injoined, upon Advice had with the Committee of Lords and Commons for the Army, to raise such Forces as they shall think necessary, to prevent any Tumults that may arise by his Coming; and to suppress any that shall happen; to apprehend and secure such as shall come with him; to prevent Resort unto him, and to secure his Person.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Sir John Evelyn of Wiltes is appointed to carry it to the Lords: And did carry the same accordingly.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms, to dispose, with all convenient Speed, those Forces that are before or at Dennington-Castle, in such Places, and in such Manner, as may be for the best Advantage of the Kingdom.

Resolved, &c. That the House do sit To-morrow in the Afternoon, to hear the Reports and Ordinances from the Committee at Goldsmiths-Hall: And that the House do not sit this Afternoon; but be adjourned till To-morrow Morning at Eight of the Clock.

Ordered, That the Business concerning the Northern Association be taken into Consideration, the first Business, To-morrow Morning, after Mr. Speaker comes to the Chair.

Ordered, That Colonel Lassells, a Member of this House, shall have Leave to go into the Country.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth approve of Mr. Henry Dawson, Alderman of the Town of Newcastle upon Tyne, to be Deputy-Mayor of the said Town, during the Absence of Mr. Blakiston, a Member of this House, and now Mayor there: And that the said Mr. Dawson, as Deputy-Mayor, shall have Power, and is enabled, to do, execute, and perform all and all manner of lawful Acts, Matters, and Things, belonging or appertaining to the Office of the Mayor of the said Town, as amply and as fully as the said Mr. Blakiston might or ought to do, if he were there personally present.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

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

The Lords have commanded us to return you this Order for a Day of Thanksgiving in the Country, for the Victories in the West: It came from you; and the Lords agree to it, with these Alterations; to which they desire your Concurrence:-Two Reports from the Committee of Admiralty and Cinque-Ports, one for Payment of Monies to the Lord Inchiquin, for the Service which a Frigate of his hath done at Sea; the other for Payment of Monies to Captain Hodders: Both which they refer to your Consideration:-An Ordinance for Mr. Woodriffe to be Parson of the Church of Chartham in the County of Kent; another for Mr. Corbett to be Parson of the Church of Haseley in the County of Oxford: To which they desire your Concurrence:-A Petition of the Lord Viscount Conway, desiring a Pass to go beyond Sea: Which the Lords have granted; and desire your Concurrence in it:- A Petition of a Wardour in the Tower, who is Keeper of the Lord Marquis of Winchester: Another Petition of Mr. Edward Broughton: Also a Petition of the Black-Friars Players: Which they refer to your Consideration:- They have commanded us to put you mind of a Report, from the Committee of the Admiralty, for the Settling of Mr. Roger Porter to be Judge of the Admiralty in the Counties of Cornewall and Devon; and of an Ordinance for Sutton's Hospital; both which were formerly sent unto you; and they desire you to take them into Consideration.

The Amendment to the Order for the Day of Thanksgiving in the Country was read; and, upon the Question, assented unto: And

Ordered, That the said Order shall be forthwith printed.

Upon reading the Report from the Committee of Lords and Commons for the Admiralty and CinquePorts;

It is Resolved, &c. That this House doth agree, That so much Money as shall be due to the Lord Inchiquin, for the Employment of a Frigate of his in the Service of the Parliament, from the Sixteenth of July, unto the Nine-and-twentieth of October 1644, according to the usual Rate, shall be paid unto him.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of the Navy, to give Direction to the Treasurer of the Navy, forthwith to satisfy and pay unto the Lord Inchiquin such Money as shall be due to him, for the Employment of a Frigate of his in the Service of the Parliament, from the Sixteenth of July, unto the Nine-and-twentieth of October 1644, according to the usual Rate.

Resolved, &c. That, as to the Report concerning Captain John Hodder, this House will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Ordered, That the Business concerning Captain John Hodder, Captain of the Hope, of Corke, be referred to the Committee of the Navy; to state the Matter of Fact; and report the same to the House.

An Ordinance for accepting of the Resignation of the Rectory of Chartham in the County of Kent, and for Making of Mr. Thomas Woodroffe, Master of Arts, Rector of the said Rectory of Chartham, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed.

An Ordinance for constituting and appointing Mr. Edward Corbett, Master of Arts, and Fellow of Merton College, Person of Haseley in the County of Oxon, was this Day read; and laid aside.-

Sir John Evelyn brings Answer, That the Lords will send speedy Answer to the Order carried by him to the Lords, by Messengers of their own.-

The Petition of Edward Viscount Conway was read; desiring, That he might have a Pass to transport himself and Servants, and Six Houses, and other Necessaries, into France.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth agree with the Lords, That Edward Viscount Conway shall have a Pass to transport himself and Servants, and Six Horses, and Necessaries, into France; provided they be transported all at one Time, and one Port; and that the Port be appointed in the Pass, and the Servants named.

The Petition of William Stewart Esquire was this Day read; shewing, That, in regard Three thousand Six hundred Pounds of his Estate, in ready Money, was taken into the Possession, and made use of, by the Parliament; that this House did grant him Privilege and Protection from Arrests and Suits: That, notwithstanding the said Order of Privilege, that he was arrested, by the Combination of one William Stevenson and others, and lies now a Prisoner in the Keeper's House of Newgate.

It is Ordered, upon the Question, That the said Mr. William Stewart be forthwith set at Liberty from any further Restraint upon the said Arrest: And the Keeper, in whose Custody he is, is hereby injoined to release him accordingly.

Ordered, That the whole Business concerning the Arrest of Mr. Stewart be referred to the Committee of Examinations.

Resolved, &c. That the Sum of Two thousand Pounds, lent by the Town of Southampton to the Parliament, with the Interest due, be charged upon the Receipts of the Grand Excise, and paid, in Course, with Interest at the Rate of Eight Pounds per Centum for the Forbearance thereof, at the End of every Six Months: And that the Ordinance formerly passed for securing and repaying the said Monies, with Interest, be discharged.

Resolved, &c. That the Monies belonging to Mr. Wm. Steward, and taken and made use of by both Houses of Parliament, together with the Interest due, be charged upon the Receipts of the Grand Excise, and paid, in Course, with Interest after the Rate of Eight Pounds per Centum for the Forbearance thereof, at every Six Months: And that the Ordinance, formerly passed for securing and repaying the said Monies and Interest, be discharged.

Resolved, &c. That the Monies, together with the Interest due, taken from Mr. Cholmley, be charged upon the Receipts of the Grand Excise, and paid, in Course, with Interest after the Rate of Eight Pounds per Centum for the Forbearance every Six Months: And that the Ordinance formerly passed, for securing and repaying these Monies, be discharged.

Mr. Prideaux and Mr. Lisle are to prepare Ordinances for charging these respective Sums upon the Excise, in the same Course as by former Ordinances they were appointed to be repaid.

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

The Lords have commanded us to return you this Order concerning the King's Coming within the Lines of Communication: It moved from this House; and they do agree to it, with this Amendment.

The Amendment was read; and was, for adding these Words, "from Danger," to the Word "Person," in the last Line; and was assented unto.

Answer returned by the First Messengers;

The House hath considered your Message: And, as to the Amendment to the Order for a Day of Thanksgiving; the Order for Payment of Money due to the Lord Inchiquin for a Frigate; the Ordinance for Mr. Woodrofe to be Parson of the Church of Chartham in Kent; and the Pass for the Lord Conway to go beyond Seas; they do agree: And, as to the rest, they will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Answer returned by the Second Messengers;

The House has considered their Lordships Message; and doth agree to the Amendments to the Order concerning the King's Coming within the Lines of Communication.

An Order for excluding Papists, and all Officers and Soldiers of Fortune, and all Persons that have been in Arms against the Parliament, not being under Restraint, out of the Lines of Communication, from the Third of April 1646, for a Month, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent to the Lords for their Concurrence.

Mr. Rigby is appointed to carry it to the Lords.

Mr. Speaker acquainted the House, That he had received a Letter from the Commissioners of the Parliament of Scotland.

And the Question being propounded, Whether this Letter should be now read, or not;

It passed with the Affirmative.

The Letter was read; and was, to desire a Pass for the Earl of Abercorne to go into Scotland. And

It is thereupon Ordered, That the Earl of Abercorne shall have a Pass to go into Scotland.

The Lords and Commons, in Parliament assembled, taking notice of the great Confluence and Resort of Papists, Officers and Soldiers of Fortune, and such as have borne Arms against the Parliament of England, from the Enemies Garisons and Quarters, unto the Cities of London and Westminster, and other Parts within the Lines of Communication, do, for the Prevention of such Inconveniences as may thereby arise, think fit to Order, and it is hereby Ordered, by the said Lords and Commons, That all Papists whatsoever, and all Officers and Soldiers of Fortune, and other Persons, that have borne Arms against the Parliament of England, not being under Restraint, do, before the End of the Third Day of April 1646, depart out of the said Cities of London and Westminster, and Lines of Communication: And, if any such Person shall continue within the said Lines after that Time, such Person is hereby declared a Spy; and shall be apprehended, imprisoned, and proceeded against, as a Spy, according to the Rules of War. And the said Lords and Commons do further Order, That all such Persons do forbear, upon the Penalty aforesaid, to return or come within the said Lines without Licence, under the Hands of the Committee appointed for Compositions at Goldsmiths-Hall: And the Committee of the Militia of London, and their Sub-Committees, in their several Limits respectively, are hereby required to keep strict Guards and Watches, and cause frequent Searches to be made, and to take care for the due Execution of this Order. Provided, That this Order, nor any thing therein contained, shall extend to any Person or Persons, who shall obtain Licence, under the Hand of the Committee of GoldsmithsHall, to continue within the Limits aforesaid. This Order to continue for the Space of one Month, and no longer.