House of Commons Journal Volume 4: 16 May 1646

Die Sabbati, 16 Maii, 1646.

Prayers.

A Letter from the Lady Dalkeith, from Oatlands, of 14 Maii 1646, directed to the Committee of Surry, concerning the Princess Henrietta, was this Day read. And

It is Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Lords and Commons for the King's Childrens Family, to dispose of, and provide for, the Person of Princess Henrietta: And that the Committee do sit and take this Business into speedy Consideration; and make a Settlement therein.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Ordered, That Sir Thomas Middleton, a Member of this House, be referred to the Committee of Accompts, to state his Accompts; giving him such Allowance for his Entertainment as Major-General, as hath been allowed to others for the like Command and Service.

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

Ordered, That the Paper, this Day presented to the House by Mr. Robinson, of the several Sorts of Ammunition wanting for the Garison of Scarborough-Castle and Town, be referred to the Members of both Houses that are of the Committee of both Kingdoms; to take care for the Furnishing of the said Provisions, or such of them as are in their Power to be disposed of.

The House being informed, That some of the Committee of the Militia of London were at the Door;

They were called in; and did desire to know the Resolutions of the House, Whether they intended, that the Day formerly appointed for Drawing forth of the Forces of the City of London, and Lines of Communication, should hold, or not:-That which caused them to resort hither for a Resolution herein, was an Order which came Yesterday to the Lord Mayor.

Resolved, &c. That the Order, Yesterday made, concerning the putting off the Drawing forth of the Forces of the City, and Lines of Communication, to another Day, be vacated, and made null.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth approve of the former Day appointed, being Tuesday next, for the Drawing forth of the Forces of the City, and Lines of Communication.

Resolved, &c. That Mr. Speaker shall acquaint the Committee of the Militia of London, That the House doth intend to be at the Training of their Forces on Tuesday next, at Two of the Clock in the Afternoon.

The Committee of the Militia was again called in: And Mr. Speaker acquainted them with the Resolutions of this House, according to the Orders aforesaid.

Ordered, That, notwithstanding any Order formerly made in this House upon the Petition of Miles Temple, Collector of the Customs of Dover, the Court of Exchequer do proceed according to Law, and the usual Proceedings of the said Court, in the Cause depending there concerning the Wools mentioned in the said Petition: And that the Committee of Examinations do likewise proceed to the Examination of the said Petition; and of the Matters therein contained.

Ordered, That, notwithstanding any Orders made in this House, the Judges do proceed in the Cause concerning the Estate of Mr. Rumney, deceased, according to the ordinary Course, and Rules of Justice.

Ordered, That the Ordinance concerning Wools and Fullers-Earth be read on Wednesday Morning next, the first Business.

Ordered, That the House do sit on Monday next, in the Afternoon, to hear such Ordinances as shall be presented from the Committee at Goldsmiths-Hall, for Discharge of the Delinquencies of such Persons whose Fines have been accepted in this House.

Sir Richard Onslowe carried to the Lords, for their Concurrence, the Order for Eight hundred Seventy-three Pounds Seven Shillings and Ten-pence for Colonel Jeptson, out of Haberdashers-Hall: The Order for Disposal of the Princess Henrietta: And the Order for Fifty Pounds for Major Mathewes, out of Haberdashers-Hall.

The House, according to Order, proceeded to take into further Consideration the First of the Four Papers of the Scotts Commissioners, containing their Answer to the whole Propositions.

The Fifth and the Sixth Propositions concerning Religion were read.

That Part of the Scotts Paper which concerns the Fifth and Sixth Propositions concerning Religion, was read.

The House went to the Conference.

Mr. Recorder, Sir Peter Wentworth, Sir Arthur Hesilrige, Mr. Marten, Mr. Lilibone Long, are appointed Reporters of this Conference.

Mr. Recorder reports from the Conference, That the Earl of Manchester, in the Name of the House of Peers, acquainted the Members of this House, That they had received Two Votes from the House of Commons, at a Conference, concerning the Disposal of the King's Person: And then read the Votes, in hæc verba; viz.

"Ordered, by the Lords and Commons, assembled in Parliament, That it be desired of the Scotts Commissioners of the Parliament of Scotland, residing with the Scotts Army before Newarke, and also of the General of the Scotts Army there, That the Person of the King may be disposed of to such a Place within this Kingdom, as the Two Houses of Parliament shall appoint."

"Ordered, by the Lords and Commons, assembled in Parliament, That the Place to which the Person of the King shall be disposed, shall be Warwick-Castle."

That the Lords had returned Answer to these Votes, That they could not agree to them: That this House desired a Conference on Wednesday last: That, at That Conference, there were these Words spoken by Sir John Evelyn, a Member of this House, or to this Effect; viz. "Your Lordships have heard the Sense of the House of Commons, How much they conceive themselves concerned in Honour to have this Vote to be passed: Therefore they hope your Lordships will never depart from bearing your Part in such a Demand. They will be very unwilling to be necessitated to do this without your Lordships: Yet, if your Lordships shall not think fit to agree with them, they shall never fail to do their Part in making this Demand; it being a thing wherein the Parliament and Kingdom is so much concerned." That these Words, or Words to this Effect, were spoken by Sir John Evelyn: And that the Lords had thereupon resolved, That the Sense of these Words, as they conceive, do import, That, in case their Lordships do not agree with the House of Commons, that they will do it without them: And that the Words, spoken by Sir John Evelyn, were against the Course and Proceedings of Parliament: And that their Lordships do expect Reparation for the same.

Memorandum, That the Matter of the Conference on Wednesday last, at which the Words, alleged by the Lords to be spoken at that Conference by Sir John Evelyn, was only the former of those Two Votes, to which the House did adhere; viz. That it be desired of the Commissioners of the Parliament of Scotland, residing with the Scotts Army before Newarke, and also of the General of the Scotts Army there, That the Person of the King may be disposed of to such a Place within this Kingdom, as the Two Houses of Parliament shall appoint: And that the Words spoken by Sir John Evelyn were, to enforce the Reasons of the House of Commons for Adhering to this Vote; and were applicable to this Vote only.

Sir John Evelyn, being in the House, did say, That, to his Remembrance, Words to that Effect were spoken by him at that Conference.

Resolved, &c. That Sir John Evelyn, in delivering the Words alleged by the Lords, or Words to the like Effect, at that Conference, upon the Matter of that Conference, did nothing but his Duty: And the House doth approve and justify him therein.

Resolved, &c. That the Words, alleged by the Lords to be spoken by Sir John Evelyn, do not import the Sense the Lords put upon them.

Ordered, That it be referred to Mr. Sollicitor, Sir Henry Vane, Mr. Prideaux, Mr. Samuel Browne, Mr. Nathanael Fiennes, Mr. Holles, Mr. Whitelock, Sir William Strickland, Sir John Evelyn of Wiltes, Mr. Lisle, Sir William Lewes, Mr. Marten, Mr. Millington, Sir William Waller, Sir Thomas Widdrington, and Sir Thomas Wroth, or any Three of them, to prepare Heads, to be delivered to the Lords at a Conference, to this Sense, or the like; That the Words, alleged by the Lords to be spoken by Sir John Evelyn at a Conference, do not import the Sense the Lords put upon them: And, though they had imported that Sense, yet that the House cannot decline their Interest, to do their Parts, in Cases of Necessity, that concern the general Good of the Kingdom: They are likewise to observe the Unseasonableness of this Exception to these Words in this Conjuncture of Time, when, at other times, Words of the like Nature have been delivered, and no Exceptions at all taken: And that, at the same Conference, the Lords be pressed to concurr in the former Vote, concerning the Desire to be made to the Commissioners of the Parliament of Scotland, and the Scotts General, That the Person of the King may be disposed in such a Place within this Kingdom, as both Houses shall appoint. And Mr. Nathanael Fiennes is to take care hereof.

Mr. Sam. Browne, Mr. Sollicitor, Mr. Selden, Mr. Holles, Mr. Crew, Sir Arthur Hasilrig, Sir Simonds D'Ewes, Mr. Rigby, Mr. Rous, Sir Gilbert Gerard, Sir Wm. Waller, Sir Wm. Lewes, Mr. Prideaux, Sir Phil. Stapilton, Sir Henry Vane junior, Mr. Nath. Fienis, Sir John Evelyn, Mr. Marten, Mr. Recorder;

This Committee, or any Five of them, is appointed to assert and vindicate the Rights and Privileges of the Parliament of England, by a Declaration to be presented to this House, and to be sent to the Scotts Commissioners: And are to meet this Afternoon at Four of Clock, in the Queen's Court.