House of Commons Journal Volume 5: 18 September 1647

Die Sabbati, 18 Septembris, 1647.

PRAYERS.

Leave of Absence.

ORDERED, &c. That Sir Edward Masters and Colonel Hunt, Members of this House, shall have Leave to go into the Country.

Call of the House.

Resolved, &c. That the House be called on this Day Three Weeks.

Irish Affairs.

A Letter from Colonel Michaell Jones, from Dublyn, of 11Septembris, 1647, with Letters inclosed and intercepted, from Major General Robert Sterling to the General of Scotland, to Major Monroe, to the Dublyn Army, and to divers others; and Copies of a Remonstrance of the Officers of the Army in Munster; and likewise, a Letter from one Thomas Marshall, from Corke, of August the last to the Lord Hunby; were all this Day read.

Resolved, &c. That a Letter be written to Colonel Michaell Jones, to acknowledge his good Service, and to encourage him in it; and to require him forthwith to send over Major General Robert Sterling's Servant, the Bearer of the Letters intercepted, and sent over by him: And that it be referred to the Members of this House that are of the Committee for the Affairs of Ireland, or any Three of them, to prepare this Letter to be signed by Mr. Speaker: And that, in the same Letter, Colonel Jones be required to send over Colonel Midhope; and likewise, to take care of sending over very safely Preston's Cabinet.

Resolved, &c. That a Letter be written to the Lord Inchiquin, to require him forthwith to send over Major General Robert Sterling and Mr. Thomas Mershell to the Parliament, in safe Custody; and to acquaint him with the Grounds thereof: And that it be referred to the Members of this House that are of the Committee for the Affairs of Ireland, at Derby House, or any Three of them, to prepare this Letter, to be signed and sent from Mr. Speaker.

Resolved, &c. That the Messenger that brought these Letters from Colonel Michaell Jones, shall have the Sum of Fifty Pounds bestowed upon him for the Pains and Expence in his Journey: and that the Committee of . . . Revenue do forthwith pay this Fifty Pounds unto the Messenger that brought the said Letters.

Forces for Ireland.

Ordered, &c. That the Committee for the Affairs of Ireland, at Derby House, do confer with the General, and take the best care they can for the sending the Forces designed for Ireland speedily into Ireland; and especially that they take care, that Colonel Ponsonby's Regiment be speedily sent over.

Tythes.

Ordered, &c. That the Committee appointed for the Ordinance concerning Tythes do meet this Afternoon; and so de die in diem.

Members Cases.

Ordered, That the Committee for Members Cases, or any Five of them, shall have Power to meet de die in diem.

Army Declaration, &c.

A Letter from the General, from Putney, of 17 Septembris, 1647, to the Commissioners of the Army; with a Paper inclosed, containing a Declaration from his Excellency Sir Thomas Fairefaxe, and the General Council of the Army, held at Putney, on Thursday, Septembris 16 1647, concerning the Delays in raising Money for Supply of the Army, and other Forces of the Kingdom; and their humble Offers and Desires in relation thereunto, to be tendered to the Right honourable Commissioners of Parliament residing with the Army; and by them to be presented to the Houses; were this Day read.

Ordered, &c. That Mr. Vassall do acquaint the Lord Mayor, Court of Aldermen, and Common Council, That this House hath this Day received this Declaration from the Army: That, before they would proceed thereupon, they thought fit to communicate it unto them, to quicken the Advance of the Money formerly demanded: The House had formerly ordered this Day for the bringing in the Fifty thousand Pounds: they expect it to be brought in according to the Time limited by the said Order.

Mr. Vassall is appointed to give an Account of the Delivery of this Order, on Monday Morning next.

Army, &c.

According to the Order Yesterday made, the House proceeded in the Consideration of the Report formerly made, concerning the Forces of England and Ireland, and the Garisons.

For all these Forces designed for Ireland, it is agreed, That there be One Month's Pay, by way of Advance, paid them at the Water's Side; and for their Arrears, the Proportions following; viz.

For such of the Two thousand before-mentioned, as left the Army, Two Month's Arrears; and for the rest of that Number that were not of the Army, but have since joined to them, One Month's Arrears.

For Colonel Birch his Foot, One Month's Arrears to what they have had already.

For the Three thousand out of Wales, Devonshire, Cheshire, Yorkshire, and Lancashire, Two Months Arrears.

And, for the Horse and Dragoons, Two Months Arrears.

For stating the Accompts, and settling the Certainty of the Arrears of all these Forces, it is agreed.

For those of the Army to go for Ireland, and such of the Train as are to be reduced; it is agreed, That the Committee of the Army, and Treasurers at Wars, do state their Accompts; deducting for Free Quarter of private Soldier and Troopers: One half is offered to be abated.

For the rest, it is agreed, That Letters be written to the several Committees of the Counties under which they served, upon a List, signed by the Colonel under whom they shall now go for Ireland, to require the several Committees, with all Diligence, to state the Accompts of the Persons mentioned in such Lists, according to the late Instructions of both Houses; and give Debentures.

For the rest of the Forces that remain in the Kingdom, after these Two Bodies for England and Ireland be completed; it is agreed, That they be forthwith disbanded by the respective Committees of the Counties, upon Advice with the General: And that they do pay them Two Months Arrears; and they to be repaid again by the Parliament, if the said Counties be not already enabled by the Parliament thereunto.

Army, &c.

Heads of an Establishment of Pay of such Forces as are to be kept up in England; Seven thousand Two hundred Horse, One thousand Dragoons, Eighteen thousand Foot, and Two hundred Firelocks.

AGREED, All Pay upon Publick Faith to be taken off, while they remain in England; and, if they go into Ireland, then to be under the Irish Establishment; and the Officers and Soldiers to have the Pay following; viz.

Agreed, The General Officers of Horse and Foot, and General Train, except the Scoutmaster, from whom Three Pounds per diem is to be deducted, to be paid as in the present Establishment for the Army, Publick Faith being deducted; only an Establishment to be inserted for a Lieutenant General of the Army, at Three Pounds per diem, as formerly have been allowed to the Field Marshal.

Agreed, The Pay of General Officers of Regiments to be as followeth; viz.

Surgeon and his Mates, as in the last Establishment; nothing being settled for them by the Vote of the Thirteenth of April last.

For these was no Provision made by the Vote of the Thirteenth of April last; and thereof, it is agreed as proportionable with the Pay of the like Officers for Horse then voted.

For the Pay of the Officers of private Companies.

For the Horse.

Agreed, as in the Vote of the Thirteenth of April last.

For the Foot: Agreed; viz.

Serjeants, Corporals, and Drummers, as in the last Establishment.

For an Establishment for such Forces as go for Ireland; Six thousand Foot, Two thousand Four hundred Horse, and Five hundred Dragoons, being agreed to be sent over; the same to be as followeth.

The same for present Pay, according to the Old Establishment, for the Army now under Sir Thomas Fairefaxe, and for the Monies respited on Publick Faith; to be paid them in Rebels Lands in Ireland, at the End of the War, and when the Adventurers are satisfied their Shares.

Ordered, &c. That it be referred to the Commissioners of the Army, to confer and debate with the General, or whom he shall appoint, touching the Propositions concerning some few of the Garisons now to be settled: In which is propounded as needful, That Governors be made that cannot be of the Army: For whom it is desired, That some Entertainment may be settled for them, when the Particulars shall be offered; and to make Report to the House.

Resolved, &c. That it be left to the General, to retain here one of the Regiments of Horse designed for Ireland, till the Spring, if he shall see Occasion, and the Service of Ireland will permit.

Ordered, &c. That it be referred to the Commissioners of the Army, to communicate the Votes passed upon the Report concerning the Forces for England and Ireland, and Garisons; and what remains yet undetermined of that Report, to perfect, and return it to the Consideration of the House.

Army Committee, &c.

Mr. Pury reports the Amendments to the Ordinance for the Committee of the Army and Treasurers: The which were twice read; and, upon the Question, assented unto: And the Ordinance, upon the Question, passed; and is ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

Mr. Pury is appointed to carry it to the Lords.

Advances to the Publick.

Ordered, &c. That the Committee of the Army do prepare an Ordinance for securing the Treasurers that advance the Forty thousand Pounds, upon the Credit of the Ordinance for the Threescore thousand Pounds per mensem. And

It is further Ordered, That the said Treasurers do forthwith advance and pay in the said Forty thousand Pounds.

It is likewise Ordered, That the Committee of the Army do prepare an Ordinance for securing such other Persons, as shall advance any Monies upon the Credit of the said Ordinance for the Sixty thousand Pounds per mensem Assessments.

Lancashire Forces.

Ordered, &c. That, on Wednesday next, peremptorily, the Report be made concerning Lancashire Forces.

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