House of Commons Journal Volume 4: 7 April 1646

Die Martis, 7 Aprilis, 1646.

Prayers.

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

The Lords have commanded us to bring you this Ordinance: It is for the Displacing of Doctor Meredith, and the Placing of Mr. Job Graye in the Hospital called Wigston's Hospital, in the Town of Leicester: Unto which they desire your Concurrence:-This Petition of one Southcote a Surgeon; desiring, That you may be put in mind of a Vote, which the Lords formerly sent unto you, grounded out of a Report from the Committee of Lords and Commons for Sequestrations; who received good Satisfaction concerning him; and that he had cured many of the Parliament-Soldiers, that had been wounded: Therefore the Lords desire you will take that Vote into Consideration; and concurr with them in it:-A Petition of the Parishioners of St. Andrew's in Hertford; desiring, That one Mr. Raye may be their Minister there: Which the Lords agree unto; and desire your Concurrence:-A Petition of the Officers and Soldiers of the Castle of Windsor: Which the Lords refer to your Consideration.

The Ordinance for sequestring Doctor Meredith from the Mastership of the new Hospital in Leicester; and for putting Mr. Job Grey in his stead; and for authorizing the Grant thereof; under the Seal of the Duchy of Lancaster; was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed.

The Petition of Edmund Southcote, of Chichester, Surgeon, was this Day read. And

It is Resolved, &c. That this House doth agree with the Lords; and order accordingly, That the Sequestration of the Estate of the said Edmund Southcote, Surgeon, in the Garison of Chichester, be taken off: And that all Committees, Sequestrators, and others, whom that may concern, do take notice hereof, and yield Obedience thereunto, accordingly.

The Petition of the Parishioners of St. Andrew's in Hertford was read: And

It is Resolved, That the Lord Gray of Warke, and Mr. Speaker of the House of Commons, do, under the Seal of the Duchy of Lancaster, constitute and appoint Clement Raye Rector of the Church of St. Andrew's in the Town of Hertford; to have and enjoy the said Rectory, and all Rights and Profits thereunto belonging, during the Pleasure of both Houses: And that the Clerk of the Duchy of Lancaster do prepare the said Grant accordingly.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Mr. Selden, Mr. Rigby, Mr. Millington, Mr. Harrington, Mr. Whitelock, Sir Thomas Widdrington, Mr. George Fenwick, Mr. Hodges, Mr. Lisle, Sir Henry Vane, Mr. Recorder, Mr. Serjeant Wilde, Mr. John Stephens, Mr. Challoner, Mr. Yonge, Mr. Robinson, Mr. Rous, Mr. Ashurst, Mr. Noble, Mr. Fell, Mr. Hill, Mr. Ball, Sir William Lewes, Mr. Tate, Mr. Maynard, Sir William Masham, Sir Edward Partherich, Mr. West, Mr. Rolle, Mr. Salwey, Mr. Reynolds, Sir Gilbert Gerard, Mr. Blakiston, Mr. Bond, Sir John Corbett, Mr. Francis Allen: And all that will come, to have Voices:

This Committee is to consider, How a Preaching Ministry may be settled through the whole Kingdom of England, Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick upon Tweed; and how such Livings, as are, or shall be, void, and in the Gift and Presentation of the King, Bishops, Deans, Deans and Chapters, Papists, and Delinquents, may be filled, and presented unto: They are further to consider how to preserve the Rights of Patrons, not Delinquents; and likewise how that Power of Presentation, Institution, Induction, and Probate of Wills, formerly in Chancellors, and their Officials, may be executed by other Hands: They are further to take care, that none may enjoy more than one Benefice; and to consider of uniting or dividing Parishes; and of Erecting and Repairing of Churches, where it shall be necessary: They are likewise to consider, How such Delinquent Ministers, as are put out for Scandal in Life, Corruption in Doctrine, or manifest Disaffection to the Parliament, may be deprived; and those, that are put in by Sequestration, estated therein; without Prejudice to the Right of Patrons, not Delinquents: And are to prepare and bring in an Ordinance or Ordinances upon all these Points: And the Care of this Business is more particularly referred to Mr. George Fenwick and Mr. Rigby: And are to meet To-morrow at Two of the Clock in the Afternoon, in the StarChamber; and so de die in diem, as they shall think fit: And have Power to send for Parties, Witnesses, Papers, and Records.

The Petition of the Officers and Soldiers of the Castle of Windsor was read.

Ordered, That the Brass Statua at Windsor-Castle, and the Images there, defaced, and the other broken Pieces of Brass, be forthwith sold to the best Advantage of the State: And that Mr. Rous, Mr. Winwood, Mr. Whitelock, Mr. Maynard, Mr. Holland, Sir Thomas Widdrington, Mr. Recorder, Sir John Trevor, and Mr. Ouldesworth, or any Four of them, are to take care of the Sale thereof; and likewise to take Order, That the Proceed upon the Sale of the said Statua, not exceeding Four hundred Pounds, be paid, upon Account, to Colonel Whitchcote, Governor of Windsor-Castle; to be by him employed for the Pay of that Garison.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

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

Mr. Rous, Mr. Winwood, Mr. Whitelock, Mr. Maynard, Mr. Holland, Sir Thomas Widdrington, Mr. Recorder, Sir John Trevor, Mr. Oldsworth, and the Committee of Bucks, are to examine, By whose Industry the Goods of Sir James Palmer, found at Windsor-Castle, were first discovered and sequestred: And, in case it appear, that the said Goods were found out by the Governor or Soldiers of the said Castle; then the Proceed thereof is to be employed for the Repair of the said Castle of Windsor.

Answer returned by the same Messengers;

The House hath considered your Message: And, as to the Ordinance for Sequestring of Doctor Meredith, and appointing Mr. Job Grey Master of the new Hospital of Leicester; and the Vote for Discharge of the Sequestration of Mr. Southcote; they do agree: And, as to the Petition of the Parishioners of St. Andrew's in Hertford; and the Petition of the Officers and Soldiers of Windsor-Castle; they will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Ordered, That the Report concerning Sir John Danvers be made on Thursday Morning next.

Ordered, That the Business concerning Alum be taken into Consideration on Friday Morning next.

Ordered, That the Ordinance concerning the Court of Wards be read the Second time on Friday Morning, between the Hours of Ten and Twelve.

Ordered, upon the Question, That the Person, apprehended by Order of the Committee of Lords and Commons for the Safety, be kept close Prisoner: And that it be referred to the Committee of Lords and Commons for the Army, strictly to examine the said Person, or any other; and to proceed further, for the full Discovery of this Business, in such manner as they shall think fit, for the Safety of the City, Parliament, and Kingdom; and to apprehend and secure such Persons, as they shall find Cause, for the further Discovery of this Business.

According to former Order, the Paper from the Scotts Commissioners, of 6 Aprilis, concerning the Propositions for Peace to be sent to the King, was read.

Ordered, That the Members of this House that were of the Committee appointed to confer with the Scotts Commissioners, upon the Propositions for Peace, or any Five of them, do consider of this Paper from the Scotts Commissioners, of Aprilis 6 ; and do prepare an Answer unto it; wherein the Scotts Commissioners shall be desired to concurr that the Propositions, last sent unto them, may be sent to the King: They are further to consider of, and prepare, such further Answer to the Particulars of this Paper, as they shall think fit: And are to meet upon it this Afternoon at Two of Clock, in the Queen's Court: And are to report it To-morrow Morning.

Ordered, That the Business of the Proposition concerning the Militia of the City of London, and Lines of Communication, be taken into Consideration on Thursday Morning next.

The Question was propounded, Whether the House should appoint Thursday next for the taking into Consideration the taking away the Negative Voice from the King to what shall be agreed by both Houses:

And . . . . being put, Whether the Question should be now put;

It passed with the Negative.

Ordered, That Mr. Daniel Bissell, Physician to Colonel Betsworth, who brought the good News of the Defeat given to the Enemies Horse, by the Forces of the Parliament under the Command of Colonel Betsworth, shall have the Sum of Twenty Pounds bestowed upon him, for his Pains: And that the Committee of Lords and Commons for Advance of Money, at Haberdashers-Hall, do pay the same accordingly.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.