House of Commons Journal Volume 5: 1 April 1647

Die Jovis, 1 Aprilis, 1647.

Prayers.

Leave of Absence.

ORDERED, That Mr. Millington, a Member of this House, shall have Leave to go into the Country, for the Recovery of his Health.

Capture by Pirates.

The Copy of a Letter, to be sent to Monsieur Augier, the Parliament's Agent at Paris, upon the Occasion of a small Vessel, with some Cloaths for the Soldiers in Ireland, taken by a Ship of Jersey, and carried into St. Malo in France, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, assented unto; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence; and that it may be signed by the Speakers of both Houses, and sent away by the Committee of Foreign Affairs.

Preventing Pirates.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of the Admiralty and Cinque Ports, to appoint some Slipping to lie upon the Coast of Sussex, to prevent Piracies and Spoils done unto Merchants, in their Ships and Goods, trading and passing by that Coast; and for Protection and Countenance of the Fishermen upon those Coasts.

Irish Affairs.

According to former Order, the House took into Consideration the Government of Ireland, and Command of the Forces.

Resolved, &c. That the Civil Power in the Kingdom of Ireland be put in a Way distinct from the Military Power.

Resolved, &c. That the Civil Government of the Kingdom of Ireland be put in the Hands of Two Lords Justices.

The Question was propounded, That Commissioners be appointed for the ordering, directing, and managing the War in Ireland.

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

It passed with the Affirmative.

The Question being put, Whether Commissioners shall be appointed for the ordering, directing, and managing the War in Ireland;

The House was divided.

The Yeas went forth.

So that the Question passed with the Affirmative.

Resolved, &c. That Commissioners shall be appointed for the ordering, directing, and managing the War in Ireland.

The Question was propounded, That Sir Wm. Waller shall command the Forces that are in Lempster and Ulster; and that are to be sent thither, for the Relief of Ireland.

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

The House was divided.

The Noes went forth.

So that the Question passed with the Negative.

Resolved, &c. That, To-morrow Morning at Ten of Clock, the House do take into Consideration, Who shall command the Forces that are in Lemster, Ulster, and Connaght; and that are to be sent thither for the Relief of Ireland.

Prince Elector.

Ordered, That the Lords be desired to concur with this House, That the Quorum of the Committee, appointed to go to the Prince Elector, may be brought to the Number of One Peer, and Two Members of the House of Commons.

Leave of Absence.

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

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

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

Bishops Lands.

Ordered, That the Members of this House that are of the Committee for the Sale of Bishops Lands, do confer with the Contractors, and receive an Account of their Proceedings.

Petitioning by the Army.

A Letter from the General, from Walden, of 30 Martii 1647; and a Letter inclosed, from Major General Skippon, from Newcastle, of 15 Martii 1646; was this Day read.

The Letter from the General was, in Answer to some Letters and Orders he received from this House, concerning a Petition that was carrying on in the Army.

The House being acquainted, That (according to the Directions of this House, intimated in a Letter to the General) Lieutenant General Hamond, Colonel Hamond, Colonel Lilburne, Lieutenant Colonel Pryde, and Lieutenant Colonel Grymes, were at the Door, to attend the Pleasure of the House;

The Question being put, Whether these Gentlemen shall be called in;

The House was divided.

The Yeas went forth.

So that the Question passed with the Affirmative.

Lieutenant Colonel Pryde was called in; and Mr. Speaker acquainted him with the particular Informations this House had received, concerning his promoting a Petition in the Army.

He answered in the Negative to all these particular Informations.

Resolved, &c. That the Officers of the Army, that be at the Door, be called in: And that Mr. Speaker do acquaint them, That this House has received Information of a Petition that is carrying on in the Army: The great Dislike the House had expressed of it: That they had received a Letter from the General concerning it: That they should repair to their Charges; employ their Endeavours for the suppressing it, or any other of the like Nature, either to the General, or otherwise.

They were all called in: And Mr. Speaker acquainted them, by the Command of the House, accordingly, That the House had received Information of a Petition that was going on in the Army: The House had expressed a very great Dislike of it: And that they had received a Letter from the General concerning it: That he was to enjoin them to go down to the Army, to their respective Charges; and to employ their best Endeavours for the effectual Stopping and Suppressing of this Petition, or any other of the like Nature, either to the General, or otherwise; and to keep all Things in the Army quiet, as hitherto they had done.