House of Commons Journal Volume 4: 9 October 1646

Die Veneris, 9 Octobris, 1646.

Prayers.

ACcording to former Order, the Grand Committee of the House sat, to take into Consideration the Advice of the Assembly of Divines, concerning a Part of the Confession of Faith.

Mr. Whittacre in the Chair.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Upon Mr. Whittacre's Report from the Grand Committee;

It is Resolved, &c. That Five hundred Copies of the Advice of the Assembly of Divines, concerning Part of a Confession of Faith, brought into this House, and no more, be forthwith printed for the Use of the Members of both Houses only; with some Expression in the TitlePage, that they are printed to the end that the Members of both Houses may advise thereupon: And that the Divines be desired to put in the Margin the Proofs out of the Scripture, to confirm what they have offered to the House, in such Places as they shall think it most necessary.

Ordered, That Mr. Selden and Mr. Tate do acquaint the Assembly of Divines with this Order: And that, according to the Meaning and Purport of the said Order, Mr. Selden and Mr. Tate do likewise prepare some convenient Expression to be put upon the Title-Page, That the said Books are printed, to the end the Members of both Houses may advise thereupon.

Resolved, &c. That the House be resolved into a Grand Committee, on Wednesday Morning next; to take into further Consideration the Ordinance for preventing the Growth of Heresies, the first Business.

Ordered, upon the Question, That the Committee appointed to confer with the Commissioners of Scotland, touching the Disposal of the Person of the King by both Houses of Parliament, do make their Report on Monday Morning next.

Ordered, That the Ordinance for laying Assessments, for Maintenance of the Army under the Command of Sir Thomas Fairfax, General, for Six Months longer, be brought in on Monday Morning next.

Ordered, That the Ordinance, formerly sent from the Lords, for appointing Commissioners for the Custody of the Great Seal, be committed to Mr. Lane, Sir Thomas Widdrington, and Mr. Serjeant Wilde; with the Addition of all the Lawyers of the House: Who are to meet upon it this Afternoon; and report it To-morrow Morning, the first Business.

Ordered, That the Reports concerning the Breach of the Articles of Oxford, and Exeter, Truro, and other Places, be made on Tuesday Morning next, the first Business: And that Mr. Speaker do put the House in mind hereof.

A Message from the Lords, by Mr. Baron Atkin and Mr. Serjeant Finch;

The Lords have commanded us to acquaint you, that they have agreed to the Ordinance for the Sale of the Bishops Lands, as it came from this House. They likewise desire you to take into Consideration the Ordinance, formerly sent from their Lordships, for Appointing of Commissioners for the Custody of the Great Seal; the Term now approaching, and it hath remained some time here: The Ordinance for taking away Country-Committees. They have likewise sent you an Ordinance for appointing one Mr. Thomas Willis to be Vicar of Twickenham, in the place of Doctor Soame: To which they desire your Concurrence.

An Ordinance for nominating Mr. Thomas Willis to the Vicarage of Twickenham in the County of Middlesex, this Day sent from the Lords, was this Day read.

And the Question was propounded, for the Passing of it:

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

It passed with the Affirmative.

And thereupon the Ordinance, upon the Question, passed.

Ordered, That the Committee, formerly appointed to meet with the Committee of the Common-Council, concerning the Advance of Monies upon the Credit of the Sale of the Bishops Lands, do this Afternoon communicate unto the said Committee a Copy of the Ordinance now passed both Houses, for Abolishing of Archbishops and Bishops within the Kingdom of England, and Dominion of Wales; and for estating their Lands in the Hands of Feoffees.

And this is referred to the more particular Care of Mr. Gotte.

Resolved, &c. That no other Sums of Money, except the Two particular Sums of Ten thousand Pounds for the poor Wives and Widows of Soldiers, &c. and of Four hundred Pounds for Seventy poor distressed Protestants of Ireland, charged upon the Receipts of the Excise, in Course, shall have Precedency before the Engagements to the City, Secured upon those Receipts, for the Loan of Two hundred thousand Pounds.

An Ordinance for Charging of Four hundred Pounds upon the Receipts of the Grand Excise, in Course, to be employed for the Relief of Seventy poor Protestants of Ireland, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

Ordered, That the Committee to whom the Distribution of the Four hundred Pounds, charged upon the ReReceipts of the Excise, in Course, to be employed for the Relief of Seventy poor Protestants, do take especial Care, that the said Monies may be distributed to none but to such as shall appear unto them, upon good Certificate, to be such as may in Charity deserve Relief.

An Ordinance, by way of Declaration, upon the Engagements for the Raising of Two hundred thousand Pounds, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence, and that it may be printed.

Ordered, That Sir Walter Earle do bring in an Ordinance for preventing any Lapse to be incurred by the Patron, for want of Institution or Induction to be given to the Vicar of Axmouth in the County of Devon.

An Ordinance for Settling of One hundred and Fifty Pounds apiece upon Three Ministers, to preach in the City of Chichester, to be paid out of the Revenues belonging to the Dean, and Dean and Chapter of the said City, was this Day read the First time; and, upon the Question, ordered to be read the Second time on Tuesday Morning next.

Ordered, That the Reports from the Committee of the Navy, and concerning Trade, be made, and taken into Consideration on this Day Sevennight, the first Business.

Ordered, That Mr. Pierepoint do make the Report from the Committee of both Kingdoms, concerning the Scotts Commissioners, To-morrow Morning.

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

The Lords have commanded us to bring you this Petition of Doctor Joseph Hall, with a Resolve of the House of Commons, formerly made, annexed thereunto; and an Order of the Lords thereupon: To which the Lords desire your Concurrence: A Declaration of the Lords, concerning an Order of their Lordships, formerly made, about the Estate of Sir John Wolstenholme; and relating to Mr. Richard Shewte, Merchant. They have commanded us to put you in mind of Mr. Greenhill's Ordinance; and Doctor Bastwick's Petition. They have sent you Four Reports from the Committee of the Admiralty: Which the Lords approve of; and desire your Concurrence therein. And the Lords do agree to the Order concerning the Commissioners of Ulster; with one Amendment: And that Sir John Clotworthy be added to the Commissioners, as is desired.

The Report from the Committee of the Admiralty was read; and was, for Approving of Captain William Penne to command the Assurance Frigate, lately built at Debtford. And

It is thereupon Resolved, &c. That this House doth agree with the Lords; and doth approve of Captain William Penn to command the lesser Frigate, lately built at Debtford, called the Assurance; he having served the Parliament formerly, in several Expeditions at Sea, with Courage and Fidelity.

The Amendment, from the Lords, to the Order for the Commissioners for Ulster, was read; and was, upon the Question, assented unto: And the Order agreed was as followeth, in hæc verba; videlicet,

"Ordered, by the Lords and Commons, assembled in Parliament, That the Commissioners in Ulster be continued until the Last of November next: And that they have Power to act alone, according to the former Ordinance, in case, upon due Notice given unto the Commissioners of Scotland, or any of them, of the Time and Place of Meeting, the Commissioners of Scotland shall not be present to join with them."

Ordered, That the several Ordinances, formerly sent from the Lords, for Placing of Ministers, be read on Thursday Morning next.

The First Messengers were called in: And the House returned this Answer; That they had taken their Lordships Message into Consideration; and did take Notice of the Lords Assent to the Ordinance for Sale of Bishops Lands; and did agree to the Ordinance for appointing Mr. Willys to be Minister of Twickenham: And, as to ... rest, will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

The Second Messengers were called in: And the House returned this Answer; That they had taken their Lordships Message into Consideration: And, as to the Report concerning Captain Penn, and the Amendments to the Order concerning the Commissioners in Ulster, they do agree: And, as to the rest, they will send Answer by Messengers of their own.