House of Commons Journal Volume 5: 22 May 1648

Die Lunæ, 22Maii, 1648.

Prayers.

Publick Stores.

ORDERED, That it be referred to the Committee of the Army, and Committee of the Navy, respectively, to consider of an Establishment, to be paid monthly, for replenishing and furnishing the Stores, and taking off and employing the Saltpetre made in this Kingdom.

A Person pretending to be Prince of Wales.

A Letter from the Mayor and Jurates of Sandwiche, of 20 Maii, 1648, relating, That a Person came there, that affirms himself to be the Prince of Wales, was this Day read.

A Letter from Colonel Rainborowe, of 20 Maii 1648, to the like Purposes, as that from Sandwich, was this Day read.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee at Derby House, to send for the Person who gives himself out to be the Prince of Wales.

Letter from Rechester.

A Letter from Rochester of 21 Maii 1648, from the Mayor, and many others, of that City, was this Day read.

Captain Lee, Captain Westrow, and Mr. Oxenden, are appointed to prepare a Letter, in Answer of the Letter now read, from Rochester.

Letter, &c. from Newcastle, &c.

A Letter from Sir Arthur Hesilrige, from Newcastle, of 18 Maii 1648; with a Paper of Intelligence, from Edinburgh, of 14 Maii; and a Petition from divers Gentlemen of the Bishoprick of Duresme, inclosed; were read.

Defence of Yorkshire.

A Letter from Mr. Stockdale, of 19 Maii, 1648, out of Yorkshire, was this Day read; relating, That there was a Meeting of divers Gentlemen, consulting and taking Order, for raising Forces for the Defence of those Parts, and Safety of the Kingdom.

The Names of the Gentlemen that met were read.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth approve of what the Gentlemen in Yorkshire have done, in raising Forces for their Defence and Preservation, and Safety of those Parts; and to declare it an acceptable Service in them, and tending to the Peace and Safety of the Kingdom: And that a Letter of Approbation and Thanks be returned to those Gentlemen, signed by Mr. Speaker: And that Mr. Thorpe do prepare this Letter.

Affairs in Surrey.

A Message from the Lords, by Mr. Hakewill and Mr. Page;

The Lords do concur with this House, in the Instructions to be given to the Gentlemen that are to go into Surrey; with some small Alterations: In which they desire the Concurrence of this House.

The Alteration was read; and assented unto.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; That this House has considered their Lordships Message: And do agree to the Alteration as is desired.

Preserving Peace in Rochester.

Mr. Bois reports the Draught of a Letter, to be sent in Answer to the Letter from the City of Rochester: The which was read; and assented unto; and ordered to be signed by Mr. Speaker.

Ordered, That Captain Lee, Captain Westrowe, and Mr. Oxenden, be desired forthwith to go down into the County of Kent, and to the City of Rochester, to employ their best Endeavours, to satisfy those Parts, and preserve the Peace thereof.

Tumultuary petitioning.

Ordered, That the several and respective Committees in the several Counties of England and Wales be enjoined, and are hereby required, to disperse through their Counties, and publish in all the Market Towns, the Ordinance passed on Saturday last, concerning petitioning: And that the Knights and Burgesses of the several and respective Counties do send Copies of the said Ordinance to the said Committees, to be dispersed and published accordingly.

It is further Ordered, That Edward Usbands, the Printer, do forthwith print a sufficient Number of those Ordinances, and bring them in by To-morrow, Twelve of Clock, at farthest.

Excise Commissioners.

Sir Robert Pye carried to the Lords, for their Concurrence, the Commissioners of Excise Discharge for the Year 1645.

Affairs in Rochester.

Ordered, That, on this Day Fortnight, Captain Lee do make the Report in his Hands, concerning the City of Rochester, and Places thereabouts.

London Militia.

Resolved, &c. That the Thanks of this House be returned to the Committee of the Militia of London, and Major General Philip Skippon, for their great Care and Industry to prevent all Danger; and to preserve the Parliament and City: And that Major General Philip Skippon do return the Thanks for this House unto them accordingly.

Safety of Parliament, &c.

Resolved, &c. That it be referred to the Committee of the Militia of London, to consider of what Course they shall think fit to be taken, for the Safety of the Parliament and City, in the Interim, till the Militia be fully settled, and the Dangers thereby provided against: And Major General Skippon is appointed to acquaint the Committee of the Militia with this Order; and to make Report thereof to the House To-morrow.

Middlesex, &c. Militia.

Ordered, That the Gentlemen that serve in this House, that are of the County of Middlesex, of Westminster, Surrey, and Southwark, respectively, and the Lieutenant of the Tower, do bring in the Names of fit Persons to be Committees for the Militia in these respective Places of Middlesex, Westminster, Southwark, and the Hamlets.

Excise Commissioners.

Sir Robert Pye brings Answer, That the Lords do agree to the Ordinance for the Commissioners of Excise Discharge for the Year 1645.

Militia Committees.

Resolved, &c. That the several Committees in the several and respective Counties, and such other Persons, formerly intrusted with the Militia, by Authority of Parliament, not since particularly disabled thereunto, be hereby authorized and required to put in Execution the several Powers given to them by any Ordinance of Parliament, for the Safety and Preservation of their several Counties.

Ordered, That this Order be forthwith printed: And the Printer is required to bring them to the House Tomorrow by Twelve of Clock, at farthest: And that the Members of this House do send Copies of them into the several Places for which they serve.

Ordered, That, on Thursday Morning, the first Business, and nothing to intervene, * * * *.

Militia Committees.

Resolved, &c. That Mr. Thomas Love, the present Mayor of Coventry, be added to the Committee of the Militia for the City of Coventry.

Resolved, &c. That Sir Humphry Briggs be added to the Committee for the Militia of the County of Shropshire.

Resolved, &c. That Sir John Northcott and Sir Nicholas Marten be added to the Committee of Militia for the County of Devon.

Resolved, &c. That Mr. Trefusis and Mr. Penrose be added to the Committee of Militia for the County of Cornwall.

Resolved, &c. That Colonel Harvey be added to the Committee of the Militia for the County of Middlesex.

Intercepted Letters.

Ordered, That the intercepted Letters, out of Wales, most in Characters, be referred to the Committee at Derby House, to give Order for their Decyphering.

Ordinance of Supply.

Mr. Annesley reports the Amendments to the additional Ordinance for raising Fifty thousand Pounds for Ireland: The which were read; and, upon the Question, assented unto: And the Ordinance, so amended, upon the Question, passed; and is ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

Impresting Carts, &c.

Ordered, That the High Constables of the County of Middlesex be, and are hereby, required and injoined forthwith to imprest and take up Carts and Teams, for bringing of Hay to the Mewes, for the Regiments of Horse that are the Parliaments Guards; the Officers of the said Regiment paying for the Hire of the said Carts and Teams, such reasonable Rates as are usual.

Northern Militia.

An Ordinance for settling the Militia in the Northern Counties was this Day read the First and Second time.

Ordered, That Francis Lord Viscount Valentia be added to this Ordinance.

Resolved, &c. That the Time for the Continuance of this Ordinance shall be for Six Months.

The Ordinance, so amended, upon the Question, passed; and is ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

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

Removing Papists, &c.

An Ordinance for putting Papists and Delinquents out of the Liues of Communication was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent to the Lords for their Concurrence.

Preserving Peace in Kent.

Ordered, That Mr. Bois shall have Leave to go into the County of Kent, to employ his best Endeavours for the Preservation of the Peace of that County.

Bishops Lands.

Ordered, That Mr. John Corbett do, To-morrow, the first Business (after the Consideration of the Officers and Soldiers Petitions), make Report of the Ordinance touching the Obstructions in the Sale of Bishops Lands.