House of Commons Journal Volume 4: 3 December 1646

Die Jovis, 3 Decembris, 1646.

Prayers.

Ordered, That Sir Henry Vane senior, a Member of this House, shall have Leave to go into the Country, for Recovery of his Health.

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

Resolved, &c. That the same Order, that was made Yesterday for the Sheriffs of London to bring Mr. Simpson their Prisoner to the Bar of this House, be adjourned until Tuesday Morning next, and continued for that Day.

The House being informed, That divers Gentlemen of the County of Durham were at the Door;

They were called in; and did prefer an humble Petition.

The which (the Petitioners being withdrawn) was read: And

It is Ordered, upon the Question, That this Petition be read again, and taken into Consideration, on Tuesday Morning next.

The Petitioners were again called in: And Mr. Speaker, by the Command of the House, acquainted them, That the House did conceive the Petition to be very modest and discreet: That the House did give them Thanks for their great Care and Pains, and good Affections to the Publick; were very sensible of their Sufferings; and had appointed a speedy Time for the Taking of their Petition into Consideration.

Ordered, That the humble Petition of the Inhabitants of Richmondshire be read on Tuesday next, immediately after that the Petition of the Inhabitants of the County of Durham shall be read, and considered of.

The House, according to the Order Yesterday made, proceeded to take into further Consideration the Amendments to the Ordinance for the Maintaining of the Army under the Command of Sir Thomas Fairfaxe; and took into Debate the Proportions set upon several Counties for the Maintenance of the said Army.

The Question being propounded, Whether, in the Assessing of the Counties, not Yesterday proportioned, the Proportions shall be observed, that were brought in by the Committee;

The Question was put, Whether this Question shall be now put: And

It passed with the Affirmative.

Resolved, &c. That, in the Assessing of the Counties, not Yesterday proportioned, the Proportions shall be observed, that were brought in by the Committee.

A Proviso was offered, and read, for abating the Counties of Devon, Cornewall, Dorsett, Southampton, and Hereford, a Fifth-Part of the respective Sums of Money imposed upon them by this Ordinance:

And, upon the Question putting, Whether this Question shall be now put or not;

The House was divided.

The Noes went forth.

So as the Question passed with the Negative.

A Proviso was offered, concerning Free-Quarter, "That none be taken in any of the aforesaid Counties; and that no other weekly or monthly Taxes be laid on the said Counties, during the Six Months, without further Order; the Grand Excise only excepted:" The which said Proviso was once read.

And the Question being put, For reading it the Second time;

It passed with the Negative.

The Question being likewise put, For rejecting the said Proviso;

It passed with the Affirmative.

Another Proviso was offered, "To enable the Committees in the Ordinance named, in their respective Counties, to pay unto all Persons in their respective Counties such Free-Quarter, as hath been, or shall be, taken there, according to the Establishment of the Army:" The which was once read; and, upon the Question, rejected.

The Question being put, Whether Leave shall be given to Sir John Holland to speak against the Proportions set upon the Twelve Counties;

It passed with the Negative.-

Resolved, &c. That Mr. Thomas Wavell and Mr. Thomas Legge be added to the Committee for the Isle of Wight.-

A Proviso, for exempting the Rents and Revenues belonging to the Universities, and the Colleges of Winton, Eaton, and Westminster, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, rejected.

A Proviso, "for exempting such Hospitals from Assessments by this Ordinance, where the yearly Pensions of the Poor exceeds not Five Pounds per Annum," was this Day read; and, upon the Question, rejected.

Then the Ordinance, with the Amendments, upon the Question, passed: And

It is Ordered, That the Lords Concurrence be desired therein.

An Ordinance for continuing the Committees of the Army, and Treasurers at Wars, for and during Ten Months from the First Day of January next, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

Ordered, That, To-morrow Morning, the first Business, Mr. Scawen do make his Reports concerning the Army.

The House being informed, That divers Divines of the Assembly were at the Door;

They were called in: And Doctor Smyth acquainted the House, That the Assembly was very sensible of this great Judgment of Rain and Waters upon this Kingdom, and of the sad Consequences that may ensue: And the Assembly does desire, that it may be more conscientiously and religiously observed, than many of the former.

Resolved, &c. That a Day of Publick Humiliation be appointed for Removing of this great Judgment of immoderate Rain and Waters upon this Kingdom, and for preventing the sad Consequences that may ensue upon it.

Resolved, &c. That Wednesday next be appointed for a Day of Publick Humiliation, to be observed in all the Parishes and Places within the Cities of London and Westminster, Lines of Communication, and weekly Bills of Mortality; and Wednesday next come Fortnight to be observed by the whole Kingdom; for the Removing of the great Judgment of Rain and Waters now upon the Kingdom, and for preventing the sad Consequences that may ensue thereupon.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Ordered, That Mr. Allen do acquaint the Lord Mayor with the Order for appointing Wednesday next for a Day of Publick Humiliation, to be observed within the Cities of London, Westminster, Lines of Communication, and weekly Bills of Mortality, for removing this heavy Judgment of Rain and Waters upon the Kingdom, and for preventing the sad Consequences that may ensue thereupon; and to desire him to give timely Notice hereof to all the Ministers within the City of London, and Liberties thereof; and that he do take care, that the said Day may be more strictly and religiously observed, than many of such former Days have been.

Ordered, That the Justices of the Peace of Middlesex, Westminster, and Surrey, do give timely Notice to the several Ministers of Middlesex, Westminster, and Surrey, within the Lines of Communication, and weekly Bills of Mortality, of the appointing Wednesday next for a Day of Publick Humiliation, for removing the heavy and great Judgment of Rain and Waters now upon this Kingdom, and for preventing the sad Consequences that may ensue thereupon: And that the said Justices do take care in their several and respective Limits, that the said Day may be observed more strictly and religiously, than many of the former have been.

Ordered, That Mr. Whittacre, and Mr. Ward of Ipswich, be desired to preach before the Commons at Margarett's, Westminster, on Wednesday next, being appointed for a Day of Publick Humiliation, for removing this great and heavy Judgment of Rain and Waters now upon the Kingdom, and for preventing the sad Consequences that may ensue thereupon.

Mr. Oxenden is appointed to desire Mr. Whittacre; and Mr. Bulkley, Mr. Ward.

Ordered, That the Order for appointing Wednesday next come Fortnight a Day of Publick Humiliation, to be observed throughout the Kingdom, for removing this heavy Judgment of Rain and Waters, and for preventing the sad Consequences that may ensue thereupon, be forthwith printed: And that the several and respective Knights and Burgesses of the several and respective Counties, Cities, and Boroughs, do send Copies thereof to the several and respective Committees.

The said Committees are to give timely Notice thereof to the several and respective Ministers; and to take care, that the said Day may be more strictly observed, than many of the former have been.

Ordered, That Major-General Massy be referred to the Committee of Accompts, to audite, state, and certify his Accompts.