House of Commons Journal Volume 5: 22 October 1647

Die Veneris, 22 Octobris, 1647.

PRAYERS.

Leave of Absence.

ORDERED, That Colonel Thornhagh, and Mr. Pigott, Members of this House, shall have Leave to go into the Country; and to be absent for the Space of Three Weeks; notwithstanding the former Order, requiring the Attendance of the Members on the Third of November next.

Gell's Arrears.

The Certificate from the Committee of Accompts, certifying the State of the Accompts of Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Gell, Lieutenant Colonel and Captain of a Foot Company in the Regiment of Sir John Gell.

Ordered, That the Sum of Twelve hundred Pounds be paid unto Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Gell, upon Account, out of the Monies remaining in the Hands of Mr. Henry Buxton, late Treasurer to those Forces: And the said Henry Buxton is hereby required to pay the said Sum of Twelve hundred Pounds unto the said Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Gell; to be accounted as Part of the Arrears due unto the said Thomas Gell, upon his Entertainment in the Parliament Service: And that the Acquittance of the said Lieutenant Colonel Thomas Gell, shall be a sufficient Warrant and Discharge to the said Henry Buxton, for the Payment of the said Sum of Twelve hundred Pounds, accordingly.

Ordinance, &c.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of the Army, and Committee of the Navy, joined as to this Business, or any Five of them; whereof Two of each Committee to be present; to take care to secure those Pieces, Ordnance, Arms, Ammunition, and other Habiliments and Materials of War, that lie dispersed in Garisons, and other Places of the Kingdom, unsecured; to hear the particular Claims of private Men, to the end that such as are well-affected to the Parliament, may have Restitution; and to consider, what Ordnance, Arms, and other Habiliments and Materials of War, have been taken out of the Tower, or borrowed of the Navy; and to consider of some Way, and to take care, that they, together with the rest of the afore-mentioned Particulars, as shall not be thought fit to be left for the Garisons, may be brought home, and restored, respectively, to the Tower and Navy; and to examine the Abuses that have been in the Imbeziling of Metal, or any Arms, Ammunition, or other Habiliments of War; and to report to the House as Occasion shall be.

Earl of Mulgrave, &c.

Ordered, That, on the next Thursday after that the Propositions shall be sent to the King, the first Business, the Petition and Report concerning the Earl of Mulgrave, be read, and considered: And that the Report from the Committee of the Revenue, concerning the Alum Business, be then likewise made: And that Mr. Speaker do put the House in mind hereof.

East India Company.

The humble Petition of the present Members, the Governor, and Company of Merchants of London, trading into the East Indies, was this Day read: And likewise an Order of the Lords, of the Seventh of October, 1647: And

It is Ordered, upon the Question, That the whole Matter of this Petition be referred to the Examination and Consideration of the Committee unto which the Business concerning Lieutenant Colonel John Lilbourne is referred, where Mr. Maynard has the Chair: And, in the mean time, Alderman Fowk named in the said Petition, as likewise his Counsel, Solicitors, and Agents, are hereby required and enjoined forthwith to forbear any further Proceedings upon any Order or Orders made by the Lords upon the Matters mentioned in the said Petition, until the Report from the said Committee be made, and the House take further Order in this Business.

Message to Lords.

Sir John Hippisley carried to the Lords, for their Concurrence, the Letter from the King to Sir Thomas Fairefax, That his Children might come sometimes to see him: The Order thereupon, giving Liberty to the Earl of Northumberland to send the King's Children to visit him sometimes: The Order for Suppression of Stage Plays: The Order for the paying a thousand and odd Pounds to Colonel Thornhagh, out of a Papist's Estate in Arms against the Parliament: Order for Payment of the Sum of One hundred and Fourteen Pounds out of the Receipts at Goldsmiths Hall, in Course, unto Mrs. Jane Done.

Army Arrears.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth declare, That the Arrears of Pay due to the Army, and other the Soldiery of this Kingdom, who have faithfully served the Parliament in this War, shall be secured and paid unto them out of the remaining Part of the Lands and Revenues of Archbishops and Bishops, belonging to their Archbishopricks or Bishopricks, after such Engagements satisfied, as are already charged thereupon, by Ordinance of both Houses of Parliament.

Answers from Lords.

Sir John Hippisley brings Answer, That the Lords do agree to the Order concerning the King's Children: To the Order concerning Colonel Thornhagh: To the Order for suppressing of Stage Plays: And to the Order for One hundred and Fourteen Pounds to Mrs. Done, out of the Receipts at Goldsmiths Hall in Course.

Colonel Edwards brings Answer, That the Lords do agree to the Ordinance for appointing a Mayor and Sheriffs of the City of Chester.

Catechism.

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

They were called in: And Mr. Herle, the Prolocutor, acquainted the House, That, upon the Orders and Directions of this House, they had finished a Catechism; to which they have given the stile of, "A larger Catechism:" That they were in Hand with a briefer; which they did hope would be finished within few Days.

Ordered, That Thanks be returned to the Divines of the Assembly, for their great Pains in this Catechism.

Ordered, That Six hundred Copies, and no more, of the Advice of the Assembly of Divines, concerning a larger Catechism, be forthwith printed for the Service of both Houses, and the Assembly of Divines: And the Printer is enjoined, at his Peril, not to print more than Six hundred Copies of the said Catechism; or to divulge or publish any of them.

It is further Ordered, That no Person presume to reprint, divulge, or publish the said Catechism, till further Order be taken by Both or Either of the Houses of Parliament. And it is referred to the Assembly of Divines, to take care of the printing the said Six hundred Copies of the said Catechism.

The Divines of the Assembly were called in: And Mr. Speaker, by Command of the House, did return the Thanks of this House to the Divines of the Assembly; and did acquaint them, That this House had ordered the Printing of Six hundred Copies, and no more, of the said Catechism, for the Use of the Houses, and the Assembly of Divines.

Preacher appointed.

Ordered, That Mr. Bridges of Yarmouth be desired to preach before the Commons, at Margarett's Church, Westminster, on the Fifth Day of November next.

Mr. Miles Corbett is appointed to acquaint him herewith; or Sir John Trevour.

Impropriations, &c.

Resolved, &c. That all Impropriations, and all Tythes belonging to Deans, Deans and Chapters, be employed for the Maintenance of a Preaching Ministry, for the Advancement of Learning, and for Satisfaction of such charitable Uses as they are now charged with, and assigned unto.

Army Arrears.

Resolved, &c. That it be referred to a Committee, to consider upon the Debate now had in the House, How the Arrears of the Army and Soldiery, that have served the Parliament, may be secured and satisfied; viz. Unto Sir Henry Vane, Mr. Gourdon, Mr. Bois, Mr. Swinfen, Sir Arth. Hesilrigge, Mr. Long, Mr. Salwey, Colonel Birch, Mr. Allen, Mr. Nicholas, Sir Walter Erle, Mr. Lisle, Mr. Bowyer, Mr. Snelling, Mr. Holland, Mr. Annesly, Sir William Litton, Mr. Challoner, Mr. Bulkley, Sir John Francklyn, Mr. Selden, Serjeant Wilde, Sir Tho. Dacres, Mr. John Corbett, Mr. Rous, Mr. Jephson, Lieutenant General Cromwell, Sir Simonds D'Ewes, Colonel Rainborough, Mr. Knightley, Mr. Hobby, Mr. Morley, Sir Wm. Massam, Mr. Nath. Fienis, Mr. Ashhurst, Mr. Sam. Browne, Mr. Clive, Mr. Palmer, Captain Wingate, Colonel Harvey, Mr. Priestley: And are to meet, To-morrow at Three of Clock, in the Afternoon, in the Inner Court of Wards: And are to bring it in with all convenient Speed: And the Care of this Business is more particularly referred unto Mr. Bois and Mr. Challoner.

Court of Wards.

Ordered, That, To-morrow Morning, Mr. Nicholas do make Report of the Proposition in his Hands, concerning the Court of Wards.

Scotch Commissioners.

A Letter from the Commissioners of Scotland, at Worcester House, signifying that Commands laid upon them to attend his Majesty, and their Intentions thereupon, was this Day read.