House of Commons Journal Volume 5: 1 May 1648

Die Lunæ, 1Maii, 1648.

Prayers.

Cambridge University.

RESOLVED, &c. That it be referred to the Committee, formerly appointed for regulating the University of Cambridge, to consider of some effectual Course for settling the Rents and Profits of Deans, Deans and Chapters, for the Maintenance of Learning and Piety, according to a former Vote of this House in June 1641, and according to a Clause in the Bill, formerly passed both Houses for abolishing Archbishops and Bishops; and for the Provision of the Widows and Children of godly Ministers, that shall die, and not be able to provide Support for them in their Lives time: They are, in the Settlement, to take care, that former Resolutions and Grants to the University of Cambridge, and for the Improvement of Ministers Livings, be not prejudiced. And Mr. Crew and Mr. Prideaux be added to this Committee. And the Care of this Business is more particularly referred to Mr. Crew.

Invalid Soldiers.

The humble Petition . . about Threescore maimed and sick Soldiers in the Savoy Hospital, and other Hospitals of London.

Ordered, That the Sum of Two hundred Pounds be forthwith advanced to the Treasurers for the sick and maimed Soldiers; and be presently paid unto them, by the Committee of the Revenue; the said Two hundred Pounds to be paid out by the Treasurers, and bestowed on the sick and wounded Soldiers, that are necessarily, for their Cure, to repair to the Bathe; for defraying their extraordinary Charge therein, in such manner as shall be appointed by the Committee for maimed Soldiers.

Reports deferred.

Ordered, That, on Thursday Morning next, the first Business, the Reports be made concerning Mr. Tolson, and other Members, that forbear to come to the House, in regard of the Cases they have put in, and concerning Sir Robert Napier.

Governor of Gloucester.

Ordered, That Sir Wm. Constable shall have Liberty to repair to his Charge, as Governor of Gloucester.

Invalid Soldiers.

Whereas in an Order of both Houses, of 25 Aprilis 1648, concerning the Disposal of Ely House to the poor maimed Soldiers, the Contractors for Sale of Bishops Lands are required to dispose thereof accordingly: It is Ordered, That, instead thereof, the Trustees for the Sale of Bishops Lands to dispose thereof, at a Rent, for the Use of maimed Soldiers.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired in an Order to this Purpose.

Ministers Livings.

Ordered, That, on Friday Morning next, the first Business, the Commission and Instructions for inquiring after the Values of Ministers Livings, be read.

Absence from Publick Service.

Ordered, That Colonel Hungerford shall have Leave to come from his Charge in Ireland, for the Space of Two Months; and to go to the Bathe, for Recovery of his Health.

Message to Lords.

Mr. Tate is appointed to go to the Lords, to desire them to expedite their Answer to the Confession of Faith, returned unto them formerly from this House.

He likewise carried to the Lords an Order for disposing Elye House, for sick and wounded Soldiers: The Order for giving Liberty to the Earl of Northumberland to remove the King's Children.

Church Government.

An Ordinance for the further Settlement of some Points of Church Government was this Day read the First time; and ordered to be read the Second time, Friday Morning next.

Ordered, That, on Friday Morning next, the first Business, the Directory, formerly presented from the Assembly of Divines, concerning Admonition, Excommunication, and Absolution, be read.

Bathe Ministers.

Ordered, That, on Friday Morning next, Mr. Tate do bring in an Ordinance, to give Liberty to the Inhabitants of the Town of Northampton to assess themselves, for the better Maintenance of Preaching Ministers in the City of Bathe.

Mr. Harrington reports the Amendments to the Ordinance for settling Maintenance for Preaching Ministers in the City of Bathe: The which were twice read, and agreed unto: And the Ordinance, so amended, upon the Question, passed: And the Lords Concurrence ordered to be desired in the said Amendments.

Somersett Justices of Peace.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Members of this House, of the County of Somersett, to consider of the Names of Persons in the Commission of Peace in the County of Somersett; and agree of such Persons as they shall think fit to be in the said Commission of Peace; and offer them to the Commissioners of the Great Seal, to be put in accordingly.

Ordered, That it be referred to the several Members of this House that are of the respective Counties, to consider of the Names of such Persons as are in the Commissions of Peace, in the several Counties: and to offer the Names of such Persons as they shall conceive well-affected to the Parliament, and fit to be in the Commission of the Peace, to the Commissioners of the Great Seal, to be put into Commission accordingly.

Answer from Lords.

Mr. Tate brings Answer, That the Lords do agree to the Order for Ely House for maimed Soldiers; and to the Order concerning the Earl of Northumberland removing the King's Children.

Chapman's Delinquency.

Resolved, &c. That Mr. Henry Chapman, of Bath, be forthwith sent for, as a Delinquent, by the Serjeant at Arms attending on this House: And that the Sheriffs, Justices of Peace, and other Officers, be aiding and assisting to the Serjeant at Arms' Deputy; and deliver the said Chapman unto him, to be brought as a Delinquent accordingly.

Resolved, &c. That Dr. Jones be forthwith sent for, as a Delinquent, by the Serjeant.

Bristoll City.

A Letter from the Committee at Bristoll, of 29 Aprilis 1648, was this Day read: And

It is Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee at Derby House, and the Lord General, to take speedy and effectual Care in it: And the said Committee is to meet upon it this Afternoon: And the Burgesses that serve for the City of Bristoll are to repair to the Committee, upon this Business, this Afternoon. And

It is further Ordered, That all Informations of the like Danger and Nature, that are come to any Member from any other County or Place, be referred to the Committee at Derby House; to take speedy and effectual Course for preventing the Danger, and for Safety of the Places: And the particular Members that have any such Informations, are required to repair to the said Committee with those Informations; in particular, those Members that have received any Intelligence of this Nature, touching the County of Warwick, and the City and County of Coventry.

Ordered, That Mr. Luke Hodges, that serves for the City of Bristoll, do forthwith repair to the Lord General, with a Copy of the Letter this Day received from Bristoll; to whom it is especially referred to take speedy Care for preventing the Danger there, and for Preservation of that important Place.

Blasphemies and Heresies.

Mr. Whittacre reports from the Grand Committee, the Proceedings of the said Committee, upon the Ordinance for punishing the Publishing, and preventing the Growth of blasphemous and heretical Opinions.

And the First Clause, enumerating divers blasphemous Opinions, to the Word "after Death," in the Fourth Line of the Second Page, was assented unto, to be Part of the said Ordinance, as it was now reported from the said Committee.

And afterwards the House proceeded to the rest of the Ordinance.

Resolved, &c. That this Ordinance shall be of Force from the Date thereof.

And some Alterations and Omissions being made, the Ordinance, upon the Question, passed: And is ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.