House of Commons Journal Volume 2: 28 December 1641

Die Martis, 28 Decembris, 1641.

PRAYERS.

Arundell Return.

ORDERED, That the Clerk of the Crown shall attend this House To-morrow Morning at Ten of Clock, and bring with him the Indenture of Return for the Town of Arundell.

Parliament Guard.

The Question being put, whether a Question shall be put, at this present, concerning the Joining with the Lords, in a Declaration, as is desired;

It went with the Negative.

Resolved, upon the Question, That this shall be the Answer to the Lords Proposition touching a Guard; That this House will join with their Lordships in a Petition to his Majesty for a Guard, so that the same may be commanded by the Earl of Essex, and approved of by both Houses of Parliament.

Scandals concerning Members.

Mr. Glyn presented, from the Committee appointed to meet with a Committee of Lords, for the Drawing of a Petition to be presented unto his Majesty concerning the Scandal laid upon some Members of both Houses, a Petition, in hac Verba:

To the King's most Excellent Majesty,

The humble Petition of the Lords and Commons in this present Parliament assembled.

Whereas, during the Time of Your Majesty's last being in Scotland, the Queen's Majesty received Information, that at a Meeting, in Kensington, where the Earl of Essex, [the Earl] of Newport, the Lord Viscount Say and Seale, the Lord Mandevile, the Lord Wharton, Members of the Lords House; the Lord Dungaroon, Mr. Nath. Fienis, Sir John Clotworthy, and Mr. John Pym, Members of the House of Commons; were all present, when a Discourse of some Plots, that should be done in this Kingdom, or in Scotland, the Earl of Newport should say, "If there be such a Plot, yet here are his Wife and Children;" insinuating the same to signify, that the Person of her Majesty, and her Children, should be seized upon:

And whereas Your Majesty, upon Friday last, was pleased to demand of the Earl of Newport, whether his Lordship heard any Debate at Kensington about seizing upon the Queen, and her Children; which when his Lordship had denied, with many and deep Asseverations, Your Majesty replied again, That he was to tell Your Majesty no more than You knew already; and therefore should consider well what he should answer: And his Lordship denying it the Second time, Your Majesty parting from him, replied, You were sorry for his ill Memory; seeming thereby to give Credit to that Information:

Which Information and Report tend not only to the great Scandal of the Members of both Houses of Parliament before named, but express an Endeavour to stir up Jealousies, and work a Division, between Your Majesty, and Your Parliament:

It is therefore the humble and instant Desire of the Lords and Commons in this Parliament, that Your Majesty will be pleased to declare, who was the Reporter or Reporters of those Words pretended to be spoken at Kensington by the Earl of Newport; and that Your Majesty will be likewise pleased to move her Majesty to discover who acquainted her therewith: And this, as Your greatest and most faithful Council, they advise Your Majesty to perform; the Exigency of the Affairs of both Kingdoms being such as necessarily require a sudden Remedy; which cannot expect any Possibility of Success, without a right Understanding between Your Majesty and the Parliament: The only Way of effecting whereof is by the present Discovery and Removal of ill Counsels, and false Informers, which, to our great Grief, we have, by Experience, found to be too frequent and active in these dangerous Times.

This Petition was put to the Question; and, upon the Question, assented unto.

Tumults about the House.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Ro. Rich and Mr. Page;

The Lords do desire an Answer of the last Conference, that was the last Night concerning the Multitudes assembled near both Houses, and the Tumults among them.

Answer returned, by the same Messengers: That this House has taken their Lordships Message into Consideration; and will send an Answer speedily by Messengers of their own.

Mr. Hollis is appointed to go to the Lords, to acquaint them, That this House will do whatsoever is fit to suppress any Tumults that shall be against the Safety or Privilege of Parliament: That the Declaration is a Matter of that Consequence, that they cannot as yet agree upon it.

Irish Affairs, &c.

He is likewise to deliver unto their Lordships the Two Letters sent from them last Night concerning Ireland; and to acquaint them of One Passage in that Letter directed to the Earl of Holland, "of Matters trusted to the Messenger, which he durst not commit to a Letter;" that of this Business they have as yet heard nothing: And likewise to put the Lords in mind of the Bills for Pressing of Mariners and Soldiers.

Information against Venn.

Ordered, That on Tuesday next [post meridiem] the Information given in to this House against Mr. Venn, shall be taken into Consideration.

Navy.

Ordered, That the Committee for the Navy, where Sir John Colpeper has the Chair, shall meet on Thursday next at Eight of Clock, in the Star-chamber.

State of Munster.

Sir John Colpeper reports from the Committee appointed to consider of the State of Munster-

Messengers recalled.

Ordered, That the Messengers sent from this House to the Lords be called back.-

Irish Affairs.

Resolved, upon the Question, That there shall be forthwith sent from hence One thousand Five hundred Musquets, and Five hundred Corslets, to Bristoll, to be with all Speed transported to Yohale, in Munster, to be disposed of by the President there, for the Defence and Security of that Province.

Resolved, &c. That a proportionable Provision of Match and Bullets be made and provided for the Relief of the Province of Munster, and the Bullets to be provided at Bristoll.

Resolved, That Ten Lasts of Powder be forthwith speeded by Carts to Bristoll for Yohale.

Resolved, That Two Regiments of One thousand Foot in a Regiment, be forthwith raised of Voluntiers out of the Western Counties; and that the Colonels may be contracted with . . Thirty Shillings for every Soldier, for the Raising and Transporting them into Munster; that their Entertainment may be the same that the House hath allowed for the other Officers; and that they may be mustered at their Landing in Munster; and that the Officers Pay may then begin.

Resolved, upon the Question, That Arms and Ammunition may be sent from hence for those Two Regiments.

Resolved, That Sir Charles Vavasor may be required to hasten the Raising of his Five hundred Men appointed by the House for Munster.

Resolved, That the Lords be desired to join with the House herein; and that his Majesty may be moved, from both Houses, for the Arms and Ammunition.

Resolved, upon the Question, That Two Ships, of about Two hundred Ton apiece, rigged and provided as Men of War, may be hired at Bristoll, for the present Guarding of the Coast of Munster, and to transport Men, Arms, and Ammunition, from hence.

Resolved, That a Message shall be sent to the Lords To-morrow Morning, to desire a Conference concerning Munster; and Sir John Colpeper to manage the Conference; and Mr. Jespon to go with a Message.

Resolved, That a Committee be appointed by this House to take care for the Execution of that which shall be ordered herein: And if there shall be any Delay or Obstruction therein, to examine where the Fault shall be, and to report it to the House.

Resolved, upon the Question, That there shall be an Addition of Three thousand Foot, and Three hundred Horse, over and above the Supplies already agreed upon, shall be forthwith sent into Dublyn; whereof a Thousand Foot, and Two Troops of Horse, to be sent into Connaught, for the Defence of that Province.

Resolved, &c. That Mr. Frost shall be appointed Commissary for the Magazine of Victuals, at Chester; and that he shall have Ten Shillings per Diem Wages for [that Service].

Resolved, &c. That Credit shall be given to Mr. Forst of a Thousand Pounds upon Account, towards the Provision of the Magazine of Victuals at Chester.

Issuing Arms, &c.

Resolved, &c. That the Lords shall be desired to join with this House, to move his Majesty to grant a general Warrant to the Earl of Newport, for the Issuing of such Arms and Ammunition, from time to time, as shall be thought fit by both Houses of Parliament.

Forces, &c. for Ireland.

Resolved, &c. That the Lords shall be desired to join with this House to move his Majesty to grant a general Warrant to the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, for the Transporting, from time to time, of such Men, Horse, and Ammunition, as shall be thought fit by both Houses of Parliament.

Ordered, That the Troop of Horse raised by Captain Baker, shall be part of the Three hundred Horse now agreed on to be sent into Dublyn.

Navy Supply.

Mr. Pym reports from the Committee appointed to prepare an Order, and present it to the House, concerning Power to be given to the Committee for the Navy.. Which was read in hæc Verba; viz.

It is this Day Ordered, by the Commons House of Parliament, That the Committee for the Navy, where Sir John Colpeper has the Chair, shall examine, why the Fifty-five thousand Pounds ordered in August last, by both Houses, for the Supply of the Navy, out of the last Bill of Tonage and Poundage, hath not been accordingly performed; and, having found out the Obstructions therein, shall present the same to this House with all convenient Speed; together with their Opinions, what is fittest to be done thereupon: And they are farther to examine, what Monies are likely to come in upon the present Bill of Tonage and Poundage, during the Time it is granted; and to report it to this House; that the ordinary and extraordinary Charge of the Navy for the Year 1642, may be provided for out of the same: And have Power to send for Parties, Witnesses, and Writings: And are to meet To-morrow Morning in the Star-chamber, at Eight of the Clock.

It is farther Ordered, That, in case the Monies arising out of the last Bill of Tonage and Poundage, shall not be found sufficient to discharge the above said Sum of Fiftyfive thousand Pounds, that then what shall be wanting thereof shall be forthwith paid to the Treasurers of the Navy, out of the Monies coming in upon the present Bill of Tonage and Poundage.

It is also Ordered, That the Sum of Two thousand Fifty-eight Pounds Ten Shillings shall be paid, out of the Monies payable by virtue of the aforesaid Bill, to the Officers of the Ordnance, for the Expences in their Office, for the Setting out of the last Summer's Fleet, according to the Engagement of this House.

It is the Opinion of the Committee, That, in the Case of Sir H. Vane junior, concerning the Office of the Treasurer of the Navy, that this House do declare, that they will take That into Consideration when they shall consider of the Passing the next Bill for a Subsidy of Tonage and Poundage.

This Order, being read, was voted; and, upon the Question, assented unto.