House of Commons Journal Volume 4: 1 October 1646

Die Jovis, 1 Octobris, 1646.

Prayers.

ORdered, That the Letters, and other Business, concerning Herefordshire, be taken into Consideration on Thursday Morning next.

Ordered, That the Committee of the Revenue do forthwith pay unto Samuel Avery and Richard Bateman Esquires, Treasurers of the Customs, the Sum of Two hundred and Fifty Pounds, for so much received at Newcastle by the Commissioners appointed from both Houses to present the Propositions to his Majesty; as appears by a Bill, signed by them, bearing Date at Newcastle, 31 Julii 1646.

The Question was propounded, Whether the Petitions, now offered, shall be read on Saturday next:

And the Question being put, Whether this Question shall be now put;

It passed with the Affirmative. And

It is Resolved, &c. That the Petitions, now offered, shall be read on Saturday next.

Resolved, &c. That the Business of the North, and the Business of Ireland, be taken into Consideration on Saturday next, the next Business after the Petition now ordered to be read on that Day.

Ordered, That Five thousand Pounds be paid to the Executors of the Earl of Essex, towards the Discharging of his Debts, and desraying the Expences of his Funeral, out of the Rents and Estates assigned to the Earl of Essex by Ordinance of Parliament.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Resolved, &c. That so much of the Four thousand Five hundred Pounds, owing from the Estate of the Earl of Essex to the Countess of Essex, as shall come to the State, shall be paid and disposed by the Executors of the Earl of Essex, Five hundred Pounds to Major-General Mathewes; the Remainder to be disposed as a Reward and Recompence amongst his Servants, for their Service.

Mr. Sollicitor is appointed to bring in an Ordinance accordingly.

Ordered, That Thomas Wheeler, of White-Fryers, be appointed to receive the Monies assigned for the paying and disbanding the Forces of Worcestershire; and to give Acquittances and Discharges for the Receipt thereof.

Upon Mr. Knightley's Report from the Committee for the Affairs of Ireland;

It is Resolved, &c. That Sir John Clotworthy shall be one of the Commissioners of the Parliament for the Province of Ulster in the Kingdom of Ireland.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Ordered, That Sir John Clotworthy shall have the Leave of the House to go down to Chester, for the sending over the Forces to Ireland; and to go himself, if Occasion require.

Ordered, That Sir John Clotworthy's Accompts be brought in from the Committee of Accompts: And Mr. Prideaux, or Lieutenant-General Cromwell, are desired to go to the Committee of Accompts, to acquaint them with this Order; and to speed the Perfecting thereof.

Ordered, That Sir Robert King's Petition be read on Saturday next, the next Business after the Northern Business, and the Business of Ireland.

Mr. Pierpont reports the Copy of a Paper from the Commissioners of Scotland, of 29 Septembris, signed, "By Command of the Commissioners of Scotland, Jo. Chieslie."

Which was read; and was, That they had perused the Votes of both Houses communicated unto them by the Members of the Committee of both Kingdoms: And that, as they did formerly desire in their Paper of 11 Augusti last; so they shall be ready, on Thursday next, to conser, debate, and consult, with such as the Honourable Houses have thought fit to appoint: And, if their Committee cannot, with Conveniency, meet at that Time, they desire it may be as soon as possibly they can.

Ordered, That the Committee, formerly appointed to meet with the Commissioners of Scotland, do meet, this Afternoon at Three of the Clock, with the said Commissioners; to confer, debate, and consult, with them, concerning the Disposal of the Person of the King, according to the former Votes and Declarations of both Houses.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Mr. Pierpont is to go to the Lords with it.

Ordered, That Sir Thomas Widdrington do prepare, and bring in, an Ordinance for settling Five thousand Pounds per Annum, according to the former Vote, upon Sir Thomas Fairfax, General of the Parliament's Forces, and his Heirs for ever, out of the Estates assigned by a former Ordinance for the Support of the Earl of Essex, formerly General of the Parliament's Forces; or other Delinquents Estates, if those should not suffice.

The House being informed, That divers Aldermen, and others of the Common-Council, were at the Door, desiring to offer something to the Consideration of the House;

They were called in: And Mr. Alderman Gibb informed the House, That they were commanded by the Common-Council to propound to the House, whether they thought fit to continue the Guards about the City; and, if they did, that then they would be pleased to grant Twelve thousand Pounds to the City, out of the Excise, or otherwise, as they shall think fit, for the Maintenance of them.

Mr. Pierpont carried to the Lords, for their Concurrence, the Order for the Meeting of the Committee of both Houses with the Scotts Commissioners, this Afternoon, to debate concerning the Person of the King: The Ordinance for continuing the Commissioners in Ulster until the last of November next, according to their former Powers: And the Order for authorizing the Committee for Irish Affairs, during Six Months, . . give Conditions to Towns, Forts, and Persons, in Ireland.

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

The Lords have commanded us to bring you this Paper from the Scotts Commissioners: And, according to their Desire, the Lords have appointed their Committee to give them a Meeting, this Afternoon at Three of the Clock, in the Painted Chamber; and desire, that your Committee may meet then likewise, if it may stand with your Conveniency. They have likewise commanded us to put you in mind of an Ordinance they formerly sent unto you, for the Appointing of Commissioners for the Great Seal: Which they desire you to take into Consideration. They have returned you this Ordinance, concerning the City of Chester: To which they do agree, with this Amendment: To which they desire your Concurrence.

Ordered, That the Members of this House that are of the Committee of the Army, with the Addition of Sir James Harrington, Mr. Snelling, Major-General Browne, Mr. Ball, Colonel Harvey, Mr. Greene, Mr. Walter Long, Mr. Scott, Mr. Allen, and the Knights and Burgesses that serve for the Cities of London, Westminster, Middlesex, and Surrey, be appointed to conser and advise with the Committee of the Militia, touching the Business concerning the Guards about the City; and report their Opinions, to the House, upon the whole Matter, on Thursday next.

The Gentlemen of the City, and Aldermen, from the Common-Council, were called in: And Mr. Speaker, by the Command of the House, acquainted them, That he was to return the Thanks of this House to the Lord Mayor, Court of Aldermen, and Common-Council: And that they had appointed a Committee to conser with the Committee of the Militia of London, concerning the Guards about the City; and to report their Opinions, upon the whole Matter, to the House, on Thursday next.

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

Ordered, That, To-morrow Morning, next after the Business of the Army, the Establishment for Bristoll be reported, and taken into Consideration.

Resolved, &c. That, as to the Meeting of the Committee with the Commissioners of Scotland, this House will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

An Ordinance for committing the Great Seal of England into the Hands and Custody of Commissioners therein named and appointed, sent from the Lords, was this Day read the First and Second time.

The Addition to the Ordinance concerning the City of Chester was read; and, upon the Question, assented unto; and was, That, if Francis Gamull shall, by both Houses of Parliament, be admitted to make his Composition for his Delinquency, then the said Francis Gamull shall receive Satisfaction for the said Mills, out of his Fine.

Answer returned by the same Messengers;

The House hath considered your Message: And, as to the Addition to the Ordinance concerning the City of Chester, they do agree: And, as to the rest, they will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Mr. Pierpont brings Answer, That the Lords will send Answer to the Messages carried by him to their Lordships, by Messengers of their own.

A Message from the Lords, by Dr. Aylett and Mr. Page;

The Lords have commanded us to deliver unto you this Order: It is concerning the Committee's meeting with the Commissioners of Scotland, to confer touching the Disposal of the Person of the King.

The Order was read; and, upon the Question, assented unto; and was in bæc verba; viz.

"Ordered, That the Committee, formerly appointed to meet with the Commissioners of Scotland, do meet this Afternoon at Two of the Clock, in the Painted Chamber, with the said Commissioners; to confer, debate, and consult, with them, concerning the Disposal of the Person of the King, according to the former Votes and Declarations of both Houses."

Answer returned by the same Messengers, That this House has considered their Lordships Message; and do agree to the Order sent from them.

The Question being put, Whether the Custody of the Great Seal shall be committed to Members of both Houses;

The House was divided.

The Yeas went forth.

So that the Question passed with the Negative.

Ordered, upon the Question, That the Number of the Commissioners to whom the Custody of the Great Seal of England shall be committed, shall be Three.

The Question being put, Whether the House shall now proceed to the Nomination of the Commissioners of the Great Seal;

It passed with the Negative.

Ordered, That, on Saturday next, the first Business, the House do proceed to the Nomination of Commissioners, to whom the Custody of the Great Seal shall be committed.

Ordered, That the Members of this House, late Commissioners of the Great Seal, shall have a Thousand Pounds apiece bestowed upon each of them, in Recompence of their faithful Service in the Execution of that Trust, and paid unto them by the Committee of the Revenue.

Ordered, That the Earl of Kent, and the Earl of Bolingbrook, late Commissioners of the Great Seal, shall have each of them a Thousand Pounds apiece bestowed upon them, in Recompence of their faithful Service in the Execution of that Trust; and paid unto them, their Executors or Assigns, by the Committee of the Revenue.

Ordered, That the Members of this House, late Commissioners of the Great Seal, as a Mark of Honour unto them, and in Acknowledgment of their faithful Discharge of that Trust, shall, in all Courts of Westminster, practise within the Bar; and have Precedence next after his Majesty's Sollicitor-General.

Ordered, That the Earl of Salisbury, late one of the Commissioners of the Great Seal, shall have the Thanks of this House returned unto him, in Acknowledgment of his faithful Discharge of that Trust.

Ordered, That the Grand Committee for the Bill concerning the Sale of Bishops Lands do meet To-morrow at Eight of Clock.

A Letter from Monsieur Augier, from Fountainebleau of 4 Octobris /21 Septembris 1646, was this Day read.

A Letter from Mr. Strickland, from the Hagh, of 4 Octobris /24 Septembris 1646, was this Day read.

Resolved, &c. That Mr. Walter Strickland, now Agent for the Parliament with the States of the United Provinces, shall have Leave to come over into this Kingdom for One Month.