House of Commons Journal Volume 4: 24 November 1646

Die Martis, 24 Novembris, 1646.

Prayers.

Mr. Whittlock, Sir John Burgoyne, Mr. Swinfen, Mr. Wheeler, Sir Philip Stapleton, Sir Wm. Lewes, Mr. Holles, Mr. Nath. Fiennes, Mr. Pierrepont, Sir John Holland, Mr. Sollicitor, Sir Peter Wentworth, Mr. Strode, Mr. Buller, Sir Wm. Strickland, Mr. Peck, Mr. Harrison, Mr. Lane, Sir Christo. Yelverton, Lieutenant-General Cromwell, Mr. Francis Bacon, Sir Walter Erle, Sir Rich. Onslowe, Mr. Pelham, Sir Antho. Irby, Mr. Gourdon, Mr. John Goodwyn, Mr. Leaman, Mr. Thorpe, Mr. Knightley, Mr. Robinson, Mr. * Ash, Sir Edward Aiscough, Sir John Temple, Mr. Robert Goodwyn, Sir Henry Vane, Mr. Temple, Mr. Lawrence, Sir Edw. Baynton, Mr. Whittacre, Mr. Selden, Sir John D'Anvers, Sir Tho. Wroth, Mr. Mascie, Mr. Baynton, Colonel Harvey, Mr. * Stephens;

And they, or any Five of them, are to meet this Afternoon, in the Court of Wards, at Two of Clock: And have Power to send for Parties, Witnesses, Papers, Records.

Resolved, &c. That it be referred to this Committee, to consider of the Losses and Damages, that the Lord Say, Sir Ben. Rudyard, Sir Rowland Wandisford, Mr. Nath. Bacon, and Colonel Fleetwood, have suffered, by taking away the Court of Wards; and to report some sitting Recompence and Satisfaction to be made unto them, either in Money, or Delinquents Lands.

Resolved, &c. That it be likewise referred to this Committee, to consider of all the other ancient Officers of the Court of Wards, that hold their Places by Patent.

Ordered, &c. That the Declaration, upon the Scotts Paper, be brought in, and reported, on Thursday Morning next.

Ordered, &c. That there shall be a Collection To-morrow (being the Day of Publick Humiliation) in all the Churches and Chapels within the several Parishes, and Places within the Cities of London and Westminster, and within the Lines of Communication, and weekly Bills of Mortality: And that the Monies, so collected, shall be employed for the Relief of the Poor of the said respective Parishes and Places where the said Collections shall be made: And that the Lord Mayor of the City of London is desired to take care, that timely Notice may be given of this Order to the Ministers of the several Churches and Chapels within the Limits aforesaid.

The humble Certificate of the Accompts of Sir Edward Dodsworth, Commissary-General for the Muster of the Horse under the Command of the Earl of Essex, was this Day reported: And it appeareth, by the said Certificate, that there resteth due unto him, upon his Account, besides what is respited upon the Publick Faith, Four hundred Forty-six Pounds Nineteen Shillings and Eight-pence: The which is allowed of: And

It is Resolved, &c. That One hundred and Sixty Pounds of the said Debt be charged upon the Committee at Haberdashers-Hall: And that the Committee of Lords and Commons for Advance of Monies, at Haberdashers-Hall, do give Order, That present Payment may be made unto the said Sir Edward Dodsworth, or his Assignee, of the said One hundred and Sixty Pounds, in Part of the said Arrear of Four hundred Forty-and-six Pounds Nineteen Shillings and Eight-pence, due, as aforesaid, in respect of his pressing and crying Necessities, that can endure no Delay.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Ordered, &c. That the Remainder of the Four hundred Forty-six Pounds Nineteen Shillings and Eight-pence, due unto Sir Edward Dodsworth, upon his Entertainment, over and above the Hundred and Sixty Pounds charged upon Haberdashers-Hall, be paid, in Course, to Sir Edward Dodsworth, or his Assignee: And that the Acquittance of the said Sir Edward Dodsworth, or his Assignee, shall be a sufficient Warrant and Discharge to the said Committee, and their Treasurer, for the Payment thereof accordingly.

Whereas Ten thousand Pounds was formerly charged upon the Receipts at Goldsmiths-Hall, for the Relief of divers necessitous Persons: It is Ordered, upon the Question, That Interest, after the Rate of Eight Pounds per Centum, be allowed to all such Persons as shall lend the said Ten thousand Pounds, or any Part thereof, out of the Receipts at Goldsmiths-Hall: And the Treasurers at Goldsmiths-Hall are earnestly desired to employ their best Endeavours, in the Advancing of the said Ten thousand Pounds for the Uses aforesaid.

Ordered, &c. That the Commissioners of Excise be earnestly desired, from this House, to advance the Ten thousand Pounds, formerly charged upon the said Receipts, either by Sums, or Gross, or by a Thousand.... a Week: And that the said Sums, that shall be so advanced, be paid by the Order, and according to the Direction, of the Committee appointed for the Relief of divers necessitous Persons: And.... it be referred to Mr. Miles Corbett, Mr. Francis Allen, Colonel Harvey, and Mr. Nicholl, earnestly, from this House, to recommend this Work of Charity to the Commissioners of Excise; and to let them know, how acceptable a Service it will be to this House, to comply with.... Order, for the Relief of these very poor People.

Ordered, &c. That on Saturday next, peremptorily, the Obstructions in bringing in the Excise be reported; and likewise the Ordinances read, and the Reports made concerning Trade, and the Navy.

Ordered, &c. That the List of the Accompts of the several Officers, this Day reported by Mr. John Goodwyn, be referred, in the same manner, to the Consideration of the Committee where Mr. Bosevile has the Chair, as the former Three Lists, formerly reported by Mr. Bosevile, were referred; to receive Satisfaction, in like Proportion and Manner, out of Delinquents Estates, as the Officers of those Three former Lists were appointed to have.

A Letter from the General, from the Devizes, of 26 Octobris 1646, concerning the Reformadoes and Strangers, that were employed and disbanded in Major-General Masse's late Brigade, was this Day read; and likewise a Letter from the General, from the same Place, and of the same Date, concerning the Demeanor and Carriage of the Officers of the late Brigade, in the Disbanding of the said Forces.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth approve of the Proceedings of the General, and the Committee, in their Disbanding of Major-General Masse's Brigade, lately at the Devizes.

Ordered, &c. That it be referred to the Committee of the West, to take Consideration of the Strangers and Reformadoes, late of Major-General Masse's Brigade; and, out of the Monies remaining in their Hands, to give them such proportionable Satisfaction, as they, in their Discretions, shall think fit.

Ordered, &c. That the Officers of the late Brigade, under the Command of Major-General Massey, be referred to the Committee of Accompts; to state and certify their Accompts, that they may have Debentures for what remains due unto them.

Ordered, &c. That Colonel Edward Mountague be referred to the Committee of Accompts; to state, audite, and certify his Accompts to the House.

Ordered, &c. That the Committee concerning Sheriffs, or any Five of them, do meet this Afternoon: And that they do make Report concerning this Business on Monday Morning next.

A Letter from the Standing Committee of Cornewall, from Truro, of 18 Novembris 1646, directed to Mr. Buller, and Mr. Nicoll, Members of this House, was this Day read; and likewise the Examinations of John Treise Gentleman, of Henry Cowes Gentleman, and of Richard Lloyd, of the Inner-Temple, Esquire.

Ordered, upon the Question, That, on Monday next, peremptorily, the first Business, the House do proceed in the Consideration of the Ordinance concerning the Assessments for the Maintenance of the Parliament's Forces under the Command of Sir Thomas Fairefaxe.

Be it Ordained, by the Lords and Commons, in Parliament assembled, That the Messuage or Mansion-House of or belonging unto Sir Richard Gurney Knight, late Lord Mayor of the City of London, a Delinquent, situate in the Old Jewry, London, shall be applied, and made use of, by the Trustees and Contractors in the late Ordinance for appointing the Sale of the Bishops Lands, for their sitting in, and for their better Accommodation in the Discharge of the Trust thereby reposed in them respectively; and likewise for the safe Keeping and Laying up of all Records, Evidences, Writings, Books, and other Things appointed to be laid up and kept by the Register in the said Ordinance mentioned; and for such other of the Officers and Uses, as the Trustees, or the major Part of them, shall appoint.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Whereas, amongst other Things in the late Ordinance of 9 Octobris 1646, for the Abolishing of Archbishops and Bishops within the Kingdom of England, and Dominion of Wales, and for settling of their Lands and Possessions upon Trustees, for the Use of the Commonwealth, the Trustees in the said Ordinance mentioned, or any Three or more of them, are authorized and required to administer an Oath unto the Surveyors; by which said Oath the said Surveyors are to make their Returns, close sealed up, unto the said Trustees, or any Two of them: And whereas, by one other Ordinance, of the Sixteenth of this instant November, for appointing the Sale of Bishops Lands, for the Use of the Commonwealth, it is ordained, that the Surveyors shall make their Returns of all and every their respective Surveys unto the Register: Be it now further Ordained and Declared, That, notwithstanding any thing in the said Ordinance, of the Ninth of October, or in the said Oath, in the said Ordinance mentioned, That the said Returns be made, from time to time, unto the said Register: And that the said Oath be altered and amended; and shall be in hæc verba; viz. "I A. B. do swear, That I will faithfully and truly, according to my best Skill and Knowledge, execute the Place of a Surveyor, according to the Purport of an Ordinance of Parliament for the Abolishing of Archbishops and Bishops within the Kingdom of England, and Dominion of Wales, for Settling of their Lands and Possessions upon Trustees for the Use of the Commonwealth. I shall use my best Endeavour and Skill to discover the Estates therein mentioned, and every Part thereof, which shall be given me in Charge; and to find out the true Values and Improvements thereof: And therefore shall make true Surveys, according to my best Skill and Cunning; and the same, from time to time, deliver, in Writing, close sealed up, unto the Register, in one other Ordinance, of the Sixteenth of this instant November, mentioned, according to the true Intent and Meaning of the said Ordinance: And this I shall justly and faithfully execute, without any Gift or Reward, directly or indirectly, from any Person or Persons whatsoever:" Which said Oath the said Trustees, or any Three of them, are hereby authorized and required to administer unto the said Surveyors, and every of them, accordingly.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Colonel Harvey is appointed to carry these Two preceding Ordinances to the Lords for their Concurrence.

Ordered, &c. That it be referred to the Members of this House that are of the Committee of both Kingdoms, to confer with the Scotts Commissioners, and to consider of the Time and Place, and of the Manner, of the Payment of the Monies that shall be paid to the Scotts Army, upon their Marching out of this Kingdom; and of the Preservation and Ease of the Country in their Passage.

Ordered, &c. That the Letters of the Third and Fourth of this instant November, from Guernesey, from Colonel Russell, and Mr. Peter de Beauvoir, be referred to the Members of this House that are of the Committee of both Kingdoms.

Mr. Holles brings Answer, That the Lords do agree to the Ordinance for the Allowance to the Duke of Yorke: And, as to the rest of the Ordinances, they will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Ordered, &c. That so much of the Letters and Examinations from the Committee of Cornewall, as concerns the Members of this House, be referred to the Committee where Mr. Corbett hath the Chair, formerly appointed for Examination of the Business concerning Mr. Clements.

Ordered, &c. That the Letters and Informations from the Committee of Cornewall be communicated to the Lords, by a Message from this House.

Ordered, &c. That Colonel Blake, a Member of this House, be referred to the Committee of Accompts, to have his Accompts stated and certified.

A Declaration, concerning the Allowance of Receipts or Tickets for the Publick Faith, was this Day read the First and Second time; and, upon the Question, committed to Mr. Bacon, Colonel Harvey, and Mr. Holles: Who are to report the same on Thursday Morning next, the first Business.