House of Commons Journal Volume 4: 17 July 1646

Die Veneris, 17 Julii, 1646.

Prayers.

ORdered, That, on Tuesday next shall be Three Weeks, the House be Called.

Ordered, That the Members of the House, now in Town, do take care to send the Order for Calling the House into the several Counties, Cities, and Places, for which they serve.

Ordered, That Sir Peter Temple Knight, one of the Members of this House, shall have Leave to go into the Country.

Ordered, That Sir Edward Partherich, a Member of this House, shall have Leave to go into the Country.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth allow of Mr. Swanton to be continued Clerk of the Assize in the Western Circuit.

The humble Petition of John Swinfen Esquire, one of the Members of this House, was this Day read. And

It is thereupon Resolved, &c. That the Sum of Two hundred Pounds per Annum be allowed and paid to John Swinfen Esquire, a Member of this House, for his Subsistence, out of the sequestred Estate of Mr. Gifford, of the County of Stafford, a Papist, in Arms against the Parliament: And that the Sequestrators of the Estate of the said Mr. Gifford do pay the said Two hundred Pounds per Annum to the said Mr. Swinfen, until further Order, accordingly.

The humble Petition and Desires of John Ashe Esquire, a Member of this House, was this Day read; for Satisfaction and Payment of such Sums of Money as he hath disbursed for the Service of the Parliament, and is, by Bond, engaged to pay for the said Service. And

It is thereupon Ordered, That the several Fines and Compositions of Sir Edward Moseley, Sir John Stawell, and Mr. John Coventry, shall be allowed, and are assigned, unto Mr. John Ashe, a Member of this House, for the Satisfaction and Discharge of the several Disbursements and Engagements for the Service of the State, and now presented unto this House; amounting to the Sum of Ten thousand Nine hundred and Twenty Pounds: And the Monies, lent by himself and others, for the Service of the State, for which Mr. Holles, Mr. Fiennes, and Mr. Alexander Popham, together with Mr. Ashe, stand engaged, shall be paid with the First, and the Engagements discharged: And, when the said Fines and Compositions shall be ascertained, and the Monies secured, if any Overplus happen to be after all the said Disbursements and Engagements be satisfied and discharged, that then the same shall be reported unto this House; and, if the House think fit, applied for and towards the Repair of Mr. Ashe's Losses and Damages, or otherwise disposed of, as this House, upon the said Report, shall order and appoint: And the Treasurers at Goldsmiths-Hall are hereby ordered to pay the said Monies to Mr. John Ashe accordingly: Whose Acquittance shall be their sufficient Discharge for the same.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of the West, to examine what Title or Interest any Person or Persons, other than George Butcher, executed for Conspiracy at Bristoll, hath in the Sum of Six hundred Pounds, for which Mr. Nathanael Fiennes, Mr. Clement Walker, and Mr. John Ashe, Members of this House, stand bound unto the Widow Butcher; and to report the same to the House; and what Cause she pretends, that she doth not deliver up the Bond.

Ordered, That the Ordinance for Sale of Delinquents Estates be read, the first Business, on Wednesday Morning next.

Upon Mr. Nicoll's Report, That, upon Certificate from the Committee of Accompts, there appears to be due to Sir Wm. Waller the Sum of Seven thousand Three hundred and Seven Pounds upon his Arrears;

Ordered, That, out of the First Monies that shall be paid in to the Committee at Goldsmiths-Hall by Sir Edward Bishop and Sir Henry Cary, for their Fines and Compositions, and out of such Monies as shall be paid in by Sir Henry Spiller, for his Fine, or Composition for his Estate, not yet disposed of, the said Committee do pay unto Sir William Waller Knight, a Member of this House, the Sum of Seven thousand Three hundred and Seven Pounds, in full of all Sums of Money due, or claimed to be due, to the said Sir William Waller, for any Service to the Parliament, or otherwise certified to be due to him by the Committee of Accompts, for his Entertainment the Sixteenth Day of September 1645.

And it is further Ordered, That in case the Fines and Compositions of the said Sir Edward Bishop and Sir Henry Cary, and the Proceed of the Fine and Composition of the Estate of Sir Henry Spiller not yet disposed of, shall not satisfy the said Sum of Seven thousand Three hundred and Seven Pounds to the said Sir William Waller, that then what shall be wanting thereof, shall be paid to the said Sir Wm. Waller, out of the Fines or Compositions of any such other Delinquent or Delinquents, which have not compounded, as shall be named and presented to the said Committee at Goldsmiths-Hall by the said Sir William Waller.

The humble Petition of Sir Henry Spiller Knight, Prisoner in the Tower, was this Day read.

And it is thereupon Ordered, That Sir Henry Spiller Knight, now Prisoner in the Tower, be forthwith released from his Imprisonment, upon Bail, so as he prosecute and finish his Composition at Goldsmiths-Hall with Effect.

The humble Petition of Sir Francis Knollis Knight, a Member of the House of Commons, was this Day read.

And it is Ordered, upon the Question, That the Estate which the Lord Cottington hath for a Term of Years, in Reversion of a Term of Years in Being, of the Lands of the said Sir Francis Knollis, called Brigham's-Meade, Vasterne's and Frogg-Marsh, of the yearly Value of One hundred Pounds, or thereabouts, be forthwith granted unto the said Sir Francis Knollis: And that an Ordinance be brought in to this Purpose.

It is further Ordered, That the said Sir Francis Knollis shall have the Custody of the Abbey House at Redding, and the Appurtenances belonging to the same, granted to him by Lease, at the same yearly Rents which he formerly paid for them.

Sir Peter Wentworth and Sir Anthony Irby are appointed to take care of bringing in these Ordinances.

Mr. Selden, Mr. Lislebone Long, Mr. Nathanael Fiennes, Sir Henry Vane, Sir Richard Onslowe, Sir Hen. Mildmay, Mr. Whitelock, Mr. Hill, Sir Philip Stapilton, Mr. Rous, Mr. Reynolds, Sir Thomas Wroth, Mr. Buller, Sir John Northcote, Mr. Lawrence, Mr. Sandys, Sir William Strickland, Sir Thomas Widdrington, Mr. Recorder, Mr. Maynard, Sir Anthony Irby;

This Committee, or any Five of them, are to prepare and bring in an Ordinance for the Discharge of such Arrears of Fee-Farm Rents, or other Rents, to the Crown or State, as are due by Persons that have adhered to the Parliament, for such Lands or Hereditaments as they hold, that have been, or are, under the Power of the King's Armies or Garisons, or other Armies, under the Pay of the Parliament, whereby the Parties interessed were deprived of the Benefit of the said Lands or Hereditaments: They are further to consider of some Course for the Relief of such, who, being in the like Condition, have been enforced to pay in their Arrears: And are to take Course to recall such Messengers as are employed in bringing in the Arrears in the Cases aforesaid: And the Care of this Business is more particularly referred to Mr. Lislebone Long: And they are to meet To-morrow at Eight of the Clock, in the Exchequer-Chamber: And have Power to send for Parties, Witnesses, Papers, Records.

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

Ordered, That Sir John Coke, a Member of this House, shall have Leave to go into the Country.

Resolved, &c. That the Sum of Two thousand Pounds be forthwith advanced and raised, to be paid, upon Account, to Colonel Sanderson's Regiment of Horse, in order to their Disbanding: And that this Two thousand Pounds be charged upon the Receipts at Goldsmiths-Hall, to be there paid.

And it is further Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of the Three Counties, to consider and state their Accompts; what they have received, and what remains due unto them; and report it to the House.

Ordered, That Mr. Nicoll do prepare and bring in an Ordinance for Securing of Sir Thomas Trenchard, his Heirs, Executors, and Administrators, and his and their Estate, from any Damage or Molestation for or by reason of a Debt of Two thousand Five hundred Pounds due by him to Sir Wm. Poole, a Delinquent, and sequestred in his Hands by Order of the Four-and-twentieth of June One thousand Six hundred Forty-and-three.

The House being informed, by the Serjeant, That the French Ambassador Extraordinary was ready, and did attend, to present himself to the House;

The Serjeant, with his Mace, went to attend him to the House.

So soon as he was entered within the Doors, as far as the Bar, the Master of the Ceremonies, and the Serjeant, attended him, one at his Right-hand, and the other at his Left, until he came to the Chair; which was placed on the North-side of the House, upon a Turky Carpet, with a Cushion, and one long Cushion in it, and a Footstool by it. The Ambassador, sitting, delivered his Desires, in French, by Word of Mouth; and then gave his Credentials to the Master of the Ceremonies, who presented them to Mr. Speaker.

As soon as Mr. Speaker had received the Credentials from the Master of the Ceremonies, he acquainted the Ambassador, by the Master of the Ceremonies, That he would acquaint the House therewith: And then the Ambassador, with the Master of the Ceremonies, and the Serjeant at Arms attending him, withdrew.

The Credential Letters were in French; and were read; and then englished by the Clerk.

Ordered, That Mr. Speaker do send to the Sieur Bellieure, Ambassador Extraordinary to the French King, to desire him, from this House, to deliver unto him, in Writing, in French, and in English, that which in the House he this Day delivered by Word of Mouth.

Ordered, That the Heads of any the Colleges or Halls in the University of Oxford, or any other, by any Direction from them, or by Authority from any of the said Colleges or Halls, do forbear, and are hereby injoined not to cut or fell any Timber, or other Woods or Underwoods, in the said County of Oxford, or elsewhere, in any other County.

An Ordinance for securing and reimbursing, out of the Receipts of the Excise, Fifty thousand Pounds, together with Interest, at every Six Months, to the Advancers of the same, or any Part thereof, to be employed for the Service of Ireland, was this Day read; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

Mr. Bond reports, from the Committee, the Opinion of the Committee touching the Sending for, and Entertainment of, the Duke of York: The which Report he read. And

It is Ordered, That this Business be re-committed.

A Letter from Sir Thomas Fairfax General, of 16 Julii 1646, concerning the Articles for Surrender of Wallingford, was this Day read.

The Articles treated upon for Surrender of the Garison of Wallingford were read.

An Article for the Indemnity of such Persons as shall be included in the Articles of Surrender of Wallingford, from any Actions for any thing done by them in relation to the War, and from taking any Oath or Covenant, was likewise read.

And the Question being put, For Approving of the said Article;

It passed with the Negative.

Ordered, That the Letters from the County of Cumberland and Westmerland, and the North, be read on Wednesday Morning next, the first Business: And that no other Business do intervene.

Ordered, That Sir Thomas Fairfax General do take care for the Blocking up of the Garison of Wallingford.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of the Three Counties of Oxon, Buck', and Berk', to consider of some Course for the Maintenance of the Forces before Wallingford.

A Letter from the Commanders before Lichfield, of 14 Julii 1646; the Articles for Surrender of the Garison of Lichfield; and a List of the Officers and Commanders that were in the said Garison, at the Time of the Surrender thereof; were all this Day read.

Ordered, That the Ministers within the Cities of London and Westminster, and Lines of Communication, do, on Tuesday next (being appointed for a Day of Publick Thanksgiving for the Gaining of Oxford), take notice of the great Mercy of God in reducing the strong Garison of Lichfield: And that the Lord Mayor of London be desired to give the Ministers Notice of this Order.

A Message from the Lords, by Doctor Aylett and Doctor Heath;

Monsieur Bellieure, the French Ambassador Extraordinary, having presented his Letters of Credence, and made his Addresses to the House of Peers, desired a Pass from the Parliament, for himself, and his Train, to go to the King to Newcastle, and then to the Estates of Scotland, and to return again: Their Lordships think fit to grant him such a Pass; and desire the Concurrence of this House.

Ordered, That the Answer to this Message shall be, That this House will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

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

The Lords have commanded us to let you know, That the Lords have thought fit, upon the Intimation of some of the Commissioners that are gone down to the King, to send Sir Peter Killegrew down to attend them, that they may send him up to the Parliament upon any Occasion: That they have thought fit to grant Sir Arnold De Lisle to pass into France with Two Horses, Two Servants; wherein they desire the Concurrence of this House. They have commanded us to bring unto you these Three Petitions, of Mr. Coke, Mrs. Vere Carre, and Mr. Babington; which they refer to the Consideration of this House.

They have likewise granted a Pass for Six Horses to be sent to the Princess Royal of Orange; wherein they desire your Concurrence.

Resolved, &c. That the Answer to this Message shall be, That the House will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Ordered, That Sir Henry Mildmay and Mr. Gourdon do peruse the Journals of the House of Peers; and report to the House, what Orders they have made concerning the Resolution of this House, declaring, That there is no further Use of the Scotts Army in this Kingdom.

Answer returned by the First Messengers; That this House has considered their Lordships Message; and will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Answer returned by the Second Messengers; That this House has considered their Lordships Message, and every Part of it; and will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

A Message from the Lords, by Doctor Ailett and Doctor Heath;

The Lords have received a Letter from the Lady Dalkeith; and the Lords think fit, that it be referred to the Committee of the Houshold for the King's Children, to consider of some Provision for the Princess Henrietta, for her present Maintenance: And that some Course may be taken for Repayment of such Monies as the Lady Dalkeith hath disbursed about the Occasions of the Princess Henrietta.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; That this House has considered their Lordships Message; and will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Ordered, That Mr. Swynfen do take care for the speedy Raising and Procuring of such Monies as have been appointed and assigned out of the Excise, and out of Delinquents Estates, for the Forces before Lichfield: And that he write a Letter of Thanks to Adjutant-General Louthyan, and the Committee, for their good Service; and to assure them, that the House will take care for Monies for them.

The House being informed, That Captain Pudsey, who brought these Letters, and this good News, was at the Door;

He was called in; and related to the House the Manner of the Proceedings between the Governor of LichfieldClose, and the Commanders of the Forces of the Parliament there, upon the Articles of Surrender thereof.

Ordered, That the Sum of One hundred Pounds be paid to Captain Pudsey, by the Committee at GoldsmithsHall, out of the first Monies that shall come in upon the Fines and Compositions of any such Delinquent or Delinquents as was in Lichfield-Close at the Time of the Surrender thereof.

Ordered, That Adjutant-General Louthian shall have the Sum of Two hundred Pounds bestowed upon him for his good Service to the Parliament at Lichfield, and other Places: And that the Sum of Five hundred Pounds more be paid unto the said Adjutant-General Lowthian, by the Committee of Goldsmiths-Hall, upon Account: And that the said Two hundred Pounds, and Five hundred Pounds, be paid by the said Committee, out of the first Monies that shall come in upon the Fines or Compositions of any such Delinquent or Delinquents as was in LichfieldClose at the Time of the Surrender thereof, after One hundred Pounds shall be paid to Captain Pudsey.

Ordered, That the Letter from the Committee at Lichfield, of 14 Julii 1646, be referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms.

Ordered, That the Report concerning Oliver Cromwell be made on Wednesday Morning next.

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

And the House adjourned itself accordingly.