House of Commons Journal Volume 5: 17 July 1647

Die Sabbati, 17 Julii, 1647.

Prayers.

Leave of Absence.

RESOLVED, &c. That Mr. Trefusis, a Member of the House, shall have Leave to go into the Country, and continue for Six Weeks.

Resolved, &c. That Mr. Wm. Aiscough, a Member of this House, shall have Leave to go into the Country, and to continue for Six Weeks.

Resolved, &c. That Colonel Holcroft, a Member of this House, shall have Leave to go into the Country, for the Recovery of his Health.

Northern Association, &c.

According to former Order, the Letter from the General, from Reading, of 10 Julii 1647, was now again read: And likewise (that were inclosed) the humble Representations of the Soldiers of the Northern Association, presented first to his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairefax, and to be by him presented to the honourable Houses of Parliament: A Declaration of the free Consent and Coherence of the Soldiers in the Northern Association, with the Army now under the Command of his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairefax: The humble Desires of the Soldiers of the Northern Association, presented to his Excellency: The Petition of the Nottinghamshire Horse, presented to his Excellency: The Petition of the Nottinghamshire Horse, to both Houses of Parliament: The Engagement of the Nottinghamshire Horse, Julii 7 1647.

Bristoll Garison.

A Letter from Reading, of 13° Julii 1647, from the General, was read: And was, to represent the Desires of the City of Bristoll, that Colonel Rolfe might be continued Governor of that Garison.

Message from Lords.

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

The Lords have returned you this Ordinance concerning Stage Plays: They do agree to it, with one Amendment; wherein they desire your Concurrence. The Lords having received this Petition from divers Officers, in their own Name, and in the Name of others, do conceive it a Matter of Importance; and therefore, do especially recommend the Prayer of the Petition to the serious Consideration of the House of Commons, that a speedy Course may be taken for their Satisfaction, in point of their Arrears.

Suppressing. Stage Plays, &c.

The Amendment to the Ordinance concerning Stage Plays was read; and was, after the Word "Ropes," to add the Words "and Bear-baitings:" This Order to continue until the First of January next.

Leave of Absence.

Resolved, &c. That Sir John Potts, a Member of this House, shall have Leave to go into the Country, for Recovery of his Health.

Officers Petitions.

The Petition of the reduced Officers, sent from the Lords, was read, with the Lords Sense thereupon: Also The most humble Petition of some most distressed Officers, in the List managed by Sir John Norwich, were this Day read.

Lords interference in Money Matters.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth declare, that they cannot take this Desire of the Lords into Consideration, in regard it concerneth Money: And that Answer shall be returned thereunto by Messengers of their own.

Answer returned by the same Messengers;

Answer to Lords.

The House hath considered your Lordships Message: And, as to the Amendment of the Ordinance concerning Stage Plays, they do agree: And, as to the rest, they will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Message to Lords.

Resolved, &c. That the Lords Concurrence be desired in the several Votes passed Yesterday, for Disbanding the Forces of the Four Regiments that came off from the Army; and likewise, the other Forces that are come off from the Army, that are in the Places in and near about the City of London: And likewise, in the Votes and Orders Yesterday passed, for distributing the Twenty-five thousand Pounds for Ireland: And the other Votes, in relation to the Forces and Affairs of Ireland.

Mr. Salwey is appointed to carry these Votes to the Lords.

He is likewise to carry to the Lords an Abstract or List of the Officers and Soldiers of the said Four Regiments.

He is likewise to move the Lords to pass the Ordinance for enabling the Committee of the Army to bring in the Arrears.

Answer from Lords.

Mr. Salwey brings Answer, that the Lords do agree to the Votes concerning Ireland: And as to the Votes concerning the Disbanding of the Forces that came off from the Army, and Ordinance for the Committee of the Army, they will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Letter read.

The Letter from Sir Thomas Fairefax, of 10 Julii 1647, from Reading, was read the Second time.

Sir Thomas Fairefaxe to be Commander in Chief.

The Question being put, That all the Land Forces within the Kingdom of England, Dominion of Wales, and the Isles of Guernsey and Jersey, under the Pay of the Parliament, shall be under the immediate Command of Sir Thomas Fairefaxe, in order to the Security and Peace of the Kingdom, the Reducing of Ireland, and disbanding such as shall be thought fit by both Houses.

The House was divided.

The Yeas went forth.

So as the Question passed with the Affirmative.

Resolved, &c. That all the Land Forces within the Kingdom of England, Dominion of Wales, and the Isles of Guernsey and Jersey, under the Pay of the Parliament, shall be under the immediate Command of Sir Thomas Fairefax, in Order to the Security and Peace of the Kingdom, the Reducing of Ireland, and disbanding such as shall be thought fit by both Houses.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Bailing Benson.

Ordered, That Mr. Robert Benson, now Prisoner in Newgate, shall have his Liberty for One Month, upon sufficient Bail, to return to Prison again at the End of the said One Month; and that he do not go into the County of Yorke.

Cheshire.

Ordered, That the Letters from Cheshire be read and taken into Consideration on Tuesday Morning next.

Reduced Officers, &c.

The House took into Consideration the humble Petition of the reduced Officers and Soldiers in and about the City of London.

London Militia.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth expect, that the Militia of the City of London do put the late Ordinances of the Ninth of this instant July into Execution.

And Mr. Alderman Atkin and Colonel Venne are to acquaint my Lord Mayor with this Order.

Payment to Mazier.

Resolved, &c. That the Sum of Three hundred and Eighty Pounds be charged upon the Receipts of Monies coming in at Haberdashers Hall, in Course; and paid to Colonel Mazier, in full Satisfaction of such Money as are due to him, upon a clear Accompt, for his Entertainment in the Service of the Parliament.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Accompt of Publick Money.

An Accompt, dated the Seventeenth of July 1647, under the Hand of Mr. Alderman Bunce, Mr. Richard Glyde, and Colonel Lawrence Blomfield, for the Sum of Two hundred thousand Pounds, acknow edged to have been received by them of several Persons, was this Day read.

And it is appearing by the said Accompt, that there resteth in Cash, to balance the said Accompt, the Sum of Sixteen thousand Eight hundred Eighty-two Pounds Ten Shillings and Eight-pence.

It is thereupon Ordered, That the Sum of Sixteen thousand Eight hundred Eighty-two Pounds Ten Shilings and Eight-pence be forthwith paid over by Mr. Alderman Bunce, and the rest of the Treasurers at Weavers Hall, unto Sir John Wollaston, and the rest of the Treasurers at Wars, as Part of the Sum of Twenty thousand Pounds, appointed, by former Ordinance, to be paid by the said Treasurers at Weavers Hall, to the said Treasurer at Wars, for the Use of the Army.

Ordered, That the Accompt of Mr. Alderman Bunce, and the rest of the Treasurers at Weavers Hall, this Day read, be referred to the Examination of the Committee for the Army.

Ordered, That Mr. Alderman Fowke do give his Attendance, and take care for the Keeping of a due Comptrol upon the Receipts and Payments of all Monies that are or were to be raised, by virtue or in pursuance of the late Ordinance of Parliament for the raising of Two hundred thousand Pounds for the Service of England, and Ireland, wherein Mr. Alderman Bunce, Mr. Glyde, and Colonel Lawrence Bromfield, are named Treasurers, in like manner as the said Mr. Alderman Fowke is to keep the Comptrol of all Monies to be raised by the several Ordinances for the Sale of the Lands and Possessions of the late Archbishops and Bishops.

Garisons.

Ordered, That the Report concerning Garisons be taken into Consideration on Monday Morning next, the first Business.

Reduced Officers.

Ordered, That Sir John Evelyn of Wiltes, and Mr. Salwey junior, do immediately withdraw, and prepare an Answer to be given to the Petition of the reduced Officers, according to the Debate of this House.

Disbanding Forces.

Resolved, &c. That those Persons or Forces that have been raised or listed, and added to the Four Regiments of Foot that came lately off from the Army, sithence their coming off, be forthwith disbanded; and that they do repair to their own Homes, into their several Countries: And that it be referred to the Members of this House, that are of the Committee for the Affairs of Ireland, to take care, that the said new-raised or listed Men be disbanded, and sent home accordingly.

Resolved, &c. That Captain Pepper's Foot Company in Yorkshire, which were formerly disbanded, and are now listed or raised again, be forthwith disbanded, and repair to their own Homes, into their several Counties: And that it be referred to the Northern Committee, to take care that this Order be put in due Execution.

Gunmakers, &c.

Ordered, That Mr. Pocock, Mr. Greenhill, and the rest of the Treasurers for maimed Soldiers, or any Two of them, be appointed to receive the Monies appointed to be paid to the Gunmakers, Sadlers, Money-lenders, Officers, and other Persons who performed Service, suffered Loss, or trusted the State, in the Expedition under the late Lord Brook, from the Treasurers at Goldsmiths Hall: And that the Acquittance of the said Treasurers for maimed Soldiers, or any Two of them, shall be a good Discharge to the said Treasurers at Goldsmiths Hall, for the Payment of the said Monies to them, accordingly. And

It is further Ordered, That the said Treasurers for maimed Soldiers, or any Two of Them, do issue the Monies so to be received by them, unto the respective Persons to whom the same is due and payable, according to their several Proportions and Shares therein.

Message from Lords.

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

The Lords have commanded us to bring you this Letter and Papers from the Scotts Commissioners at Worcester House; which they think fit to impart unto you: An Order for Collection for the Town of Barton upon Humber, whereof a great Part thereof is lately destroyed by Fire, with their Petition, and the Certificate from the Justices of Peace; in which Order they desire your Concurrence: This Petition of Francis Duffield, with the Order of the Committee of the Northern Association; which they refer to your Consideration. They have commanded us to put you in mind of an Order which they formerly sent unto you, for the Pardoning of Captain Burrowes; which they desire you to take into speedy Consideration, because of the Sessions now at Newgate.

Letter from Scots Commissioners.

The Letter from the Scotts Commissioners, from Worcester House, bearing Date the 15th of this instant July; and Two Papers there inclosed, bearing Date the 16th of this instant July; were all of them read; and ordered to be taken into Consideration on Friday Morning next.

Pardon of Borrowes.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth agree with the Lords, in the Order formerly sent from their Lordships, for the Pardoning of Captain Borrowes, as it came to this House.

Reduced Officers.

Sir John Evelyn reports the Answer to be given to the Petition of the reduced Officers: The which was read; and was in hæc verba;

"That divers great Sums of Money have been lately paid to the Petitioners, and other the reduced Officers and Soldiers in . . . about the Cities of London and Westminster: That, for the present, there lieth an Impossibility on the Parliament, to satisfy the Desires of the Petitioners; which, without their Departure from these Cities, cannot be removed."

"That, they yielding their Obedience to the Ordinance of Parliament of the Ninth of this instant July, this House will, with all convenient Speed, take their Desires into a due Consideration;"

And, upon the Question, assented unto.

Resolved, &c. That Mr. Strode and Mr. Alderman Atkins do give them this Answer.

Answer returned by the same Messengers;

Answer to Lords.

The House has considered their Lordships Message: And, as to the Order for Captain Burrowes's Pardon, they do agree: And, as to the rest, they will send Answer by Messengers of their own.