House of Commons Journal Volume 4: 20 August 1646

Die Jovis, 20 Augusti, 1646.

Prayers.

Ordered, That the Business, this Day informed of, concerning the Six Hundreds in Gloucestershire, that, by Ordinance of Parliament, are assigned to pay to Bristoll, be referred to the Members of this House that are of the Committee of both Kingdoms; to settle the Business, if they can; or otherwise to state and report it to the House.

Resolved, That the Forces of Bristoll and Gloucester be hereby required forthwith to withdraw, and retire to their several and respective Garisons; and that they proceed not in Levying of Monies: And that it be referred to the Committee of Gloucester, and the Committee of Bristoll, to take care, and give Order, that this be done accordingly.

Ordered, That the Lord Mayor of the City of London, and Court of Aldermen, the Committee of the Militia, and the Justices of the Peace for the City of Westminster, and for the Counties of Middlesex, Essex, and Surrey, do take care, That all such Houses and Persons in and about the said Cities of London and Westminster, Lines of Communication, and Weekly Bills of Mortality, that are, or shall be, infected with the Pestilence, be shut up, and the usual Marks set upon their Doors, to the end they may be known: And that such further Care be taken to prevent the Spreading of the Infection, and for Provision of sick Persons, as formerly hath been accustomed: And that no Person or Persons that shall die of the Infection, be buried in the Day-time, but after the Hour of Ten of the Clock in the Night.

And, for the better Carrying on of this Service, It is further Ordered, That the late Orders and Directions concerning the Plague be forthwith printed and published, and put in due Execution: And Mr. Alderman Pennington and Mr. Alderman Atkyn are to acquaint the Lord Mayor with this Order.

The humble Petition of many Widows, Wives, and Distressed of all Sorts, who attend for their Arrears due for Service, was this Day read.

The humble Petition of divers disconsolate Widows, whose Husbands have sacrificed their Lives in the Service of the Parliament, was this Day read.

The humble Petition of Lieutenant-Colonel Robert Greene was this Day read.

Resolved, &c. That the several Allowances of Four Pounds per Week, granted to the Members of this House, and all Pensions appointed to any Member of either House, be, from this Day, discharged: And that the Lords Concurrence be desired in the Taking away and Discharging of all Pensions that are granted by Order of both Houses.

Resolved, &c. That the Report from the Committee appointed to consider what Members do receive any Benefit by Allowances, Pensions, Sequestrations, Offices, or otherwise, from the House, be made on Tuesday next come Sevennight: And that the Members of this House that are concernedin any of the Businesses referred to this Committee, do and are required to come to this Committee, to inform this Committee their Knowledges therein; and give a perfect Account of what they have received to their own Uses; to the end the Report may be ready to be made at the Time appointed.

The Question was propounded, That all Sequestrations, granted by both or either House to any Member of either House, be from this Day discharged. And

It is Resolved, &c. That these Words, "all Offices and Employments of Advantage whatsoever," shall be added to the Question.

And then the Question being put, Whether this Question should be now put;

It passed with the Negative.

Ordered, That these Petitions of the poor Widows and Wives, this Day read, be referred to the Committee where Sir Thomas Dacres has the Chair; to call before them the Persons mentioned in the Petitions, that are willing to furnish Monies, by way of Loan, for Relief of the Necessities of the Petitioners, and others necessitous Persons referred to that Committee; and to know of them upon what Security they will advance these Monies; and to prepare an Ordinance for their Security; and to bring it in with convenient Speed: And that the Committee shall have Power to add to the List formerly presented to this House, the Names of such Widows and others, as they shall think fit, whose Wants shall appear to them to be equally as great as the others: And that they shall have Power to bring in an Ordinance for Ten thousand Pounds, for Relief of the Persons above-said, to be distributed by Order of this Committee, according to such a List as shall be approved of by this House.

It is further Ordered, That these Petitioners do remain quiet at their Houses, and not attend at the Doors of the House, in Numbers, as they do; but that they appoint Two of their Number to attend the Committee: And that all such others, besides those appointed, as shall come to the House, or trouble the Speaker, shall lose the Advantage of this intended Relief.

Ordered, That the Debate of the whole Business, concerning the Report made by Mr. Crew on Wednesday last, be taken into Consideration, the first Business, To-morrow Morning; and that nothing else do intervene: And that Mr. Speaker do put the House in mind thereof.

Ordered, That the Marchioness of Winchester shall have Liberty freely to repair to any of her Houses in the Country; and to have the free Use thereof to lie down in, without the Lett or Interruption of any; she being ready to be delivered.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Accompts, to cast up, state, and certify the Interest after the Rate of Eight Pounds per Centum for One Year, due unto Mr. Turner, Mr. Gethin, Mr. Milner, and Mr. Wollaston, for their principal Debt owing to them by the State.

Ordered, That the Report concerning Sir Thomas Glemham's Imprisonment be made To-morrow Morning, after the Scotts Business; and, if it cannot be then heard, that then it be made on Tuesday Morning next.

Ordered, That the Petition from the Committee of Darby be read To-morrow Morning.

Ordered, That the Report concerning Colonel Jones be made To-morrow Morning.