House of Commons Journal Volume 5: 23 May 1648

Die Martis, 23 Maii, 1648.

Prayers.

Herefford Militia.

AN Ordinance for settling the Militia in the County of Herefford was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

Sir Robert Harley is appointed to carry it to the Lords.

Preserving Peace in Somersett.

Ordered, That Colonel Alexander Popham be desired to go into the County of Sommersett, to employ his best Endeavours for preserving the Peace of that County.

Ordered, That the Tenants of Camington, and of other the Manors and Lands late of Sir Bartholomew Michell, in the County of Sommersett, now settled upon Colonel Alexander Popham, Son and Heir of Sir Francis Popham, by Bill passed by the Lords and Commons, do pay all the Rents, and Arrearages of Rents, unto the said Alexander Popham, his Assignee or Assignees; and suffer him to be in the quiet and peaceable Possession thereof; or otherwise to stand in Contempt of this House.

Ordered, That Colonel Alexander Popham shall have Power to raise a Troop of Horse, for seizing, securing, and suppressing malignant, tumultuous, and riotous Meetings; and for the Preservation and Peace of the County of Somersett, and Kingdom.

Ordered, That a Letter be written, and signed by Mr. Speaker, to Sir John Horner in Somersettsheire, to encourage and desire him to employ his best Endeavours for the Preservation, Peace, and Safety of the County of Somersett.

Mr. Hill is appointed to prepare this Letter.

Officers Arrears.

The humble Petition of the supernumerary Officers lately disbanded, whose Accompts are stated by Ordinance of Parliament, and their Names in a List hereunto annexed, was read.

Resolved, &c. That this shall be the Answer to the Petition; That these Petitioners are such as are lately disbanded; and that their Accompts are stated, their Arrears secured, and Debentures given them for their Arrears, by Ordinance of Parliament: That they must, as others, expect Satisfaction from their Security; which the House declares they will make good unto them, and not any way impeach by any Act upon it: And that they must not look upon any Member of the House, Committee or Committees, or other particular Person, that has signed their Debentures, . . be Debtors unto them; their Debt being publick, and owing unto them by the Parliament only; and to be claimed from them.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Sir Roger North, Colonel William White, and Mr. Dennis Bond, have Leave to go into the Country.

Issue of Money.

An Ordinance for authorizing Wm. White Esquire to issue out the Sum of Five thousand Pounds, formerly granted for the Officers and Soldiers formerly under Major General Poynts, out of the Excise, with Interest, according as he shall receive Order, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords for their Concurrence.

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

Army Arrears.

The humble Petition of divers reduced Officers, late under the Command of the Right Honourable Ferdinando Lord Fairefax, who have their Accompts examined, taken upon Oath, and certified by the Sub Committee in the County of Yorke, and Deductions made, according to an Ordinance of Parliament, of Twenty-eighth of May last, and re-examined by the Northern Committee, in whose Hands the same now remain, and their Names inserted into a List delivered in with the Petition, was this Day read.

Ordered, That this Petition and List be referred to the Consideration and Examination of the Committee of the Northern Association; to consider, Whether any of these Officers be comprized under the List of the Northern reduced Officers, presented to the House 14 Maii 1647, or within the Order then granted; and to report the State of the whole Matter of Fact, together with their Opinions.

The humble Petition of divers Soldiers of the Parishes of Bradford and Leedes, and other Towns adjacent in the County of Yorke, late under the Command of Ferdinando Lord Fairefax; who have their Accompts examined, taken upon Oath, and certified by the Sub Committees in the said County, and re-examined by the Northern Committee; was this Day read.

There was likewise presented a List of the said Soldiers.

Ordered, That the Sum of Three thousand Pounds be advanced to the Petitioners comprehended in the List presented, and paid unto them, out of such Compounders Estates, who have compounded at Goldsmiths Hall, at Undervalues (such undervalued Compositions to be discovered by the Petitioners to the Committee at Goldsmiths Hall): Who are authorized, out of such Undervaluations so discovered by the Petitioners, to pay unto them the said Three thousand Pounds: Upon or in case they shall not be satisfied the said Three thousand Pounds, out of Undervaluations, that they be satisfied and paid, upon Accompt, the said Three thousand Pounds, out of such concealed Delinquents Estates, not yet sequestered, as they shall discover unto the Committee at Haberdashers Hall: Who are hereby authorized to receive such Discoveries, to proceed thereupon, and to pay the said Three thousand Pounds unto them accordingly.

Aldermen in the Tower.

The House being informed, That the Sheriffs, Aldermen, and other Citizens, were at the Door;

They were called in: And Mr. Sheriff Bide, after some Preamble, by way of Introduction, acquainted the House, That he was commanded by the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Commons, in Common Council assembled, humbly to present to this House an humble Petition.

The which (the Petitioners being withdrawn) was read; and was intituled, "The humble Petition of the Lord Mayor, Aldermen, and Commons, of the City of London, in Common Council assembled:" In which they desire the Discharge of the Aldermen now in the Tower, the Recorder, and other their Fellow Citizens, under Restraint upon the same Occasion.

Resolved, &c. That John Glyn Esquire be forthwith discharged from his Imprisonment or Restraint.

Resolved, &c. That John Glyn Esquire be discharged from any Proceedings upon the Vote for his Impeachment.

The Question was propounded, That Lieutenant Colonel Jeremie Baines be forthwith discharged from his Imprisonment and Restraint, and upon any Proceedings upon his Impeachment.

And the Question being put, Whether this Question shall be now put;

It passed with the Affirmative.

Resolved, &c. That Lieutenant Colonel Jeremy Baines be forthwith discharged from his Imprisonment and Restraint; and from any Proceedings upon his Impeachment.

Resolved, &c. That Colonel William Chapman be forthwith discharged from his Imprisonment and Restraint, and from any Proceedings upon the Vote for his Impeachment.

Resolved, &c. That Captain Cox be forthwith discharged from his Imprisonment and Restraint, and from any Proceedings upon the Matters for which he stands committed.

Resolved, &c. That Colonel Joseph Vaughan be forthwith discharged from his Imprisonment and Restraint, and from any Proceedings upon the Vote for his Impeachment.

Resolved, &c. That Colonel Laurence Bromfeild be forthwith discharged from his Imprisonment and Restraint, and from any Proceedings upon the Vote for his Impeachment.

Ordered, That Colonel Edward Hooker be forthwith discharged from his Imprisonment and Restraint, and from any Proceedings upon the Vote for his Impeachment.

Resolved, &c. That Captain John Jones be forthwith discharged from his Imprisonment and Restraint, and from any Proceedings upon the Vote for his Impeachment.

Resolved, &c. That Colonel Lionel Copley, now Prisoner in the Tower, be forthwith discharged from his Imprisonment or Restraint.

Resolved, &c. That That Part of the Petition that concerns the Aldermen, Prisoners in the Tower, be taken into Debate and Consideration on this Day Sevennight.

The Sheriffs, Aldermen, and other Citizens, the Petitioners, were again called in: And Mr. Speaker, by the Command of the House, acquainted them, That the House had considered their Petition: That, in it, are many Desires, which, in the Petition, are expressed to tend very much to the Union of the City in itself; which how much this House desires, will appear by the Votes this House has passed upon their Petition. And then Mr. Speaker acquainted them with the Votes concerning the Recorder, Colonel Bromfeild, and other Citizens: As to the Business concerning the Aldermen in the Tower; he informed them, That it is a Business of very serious and important Consideration: They have therefore resolved to resume the Debate of it on this Day Sevennight.

London Arrears.

Resolved, &c. That the Members of this House that are of the Committee that went last to the Common Council, be injoined to go to a Common Council, to be called to meet To-morrow at Three of Clock in the Afternoon; and represent unto them the great Necessity there is for the Payment of the Arrears due from the City to the Army: That they, the Parliament, nor City, can be long safe without a speedy Payment of those Arrears; besides the influence it hath upon other Parts, by the ill Precedent that this great City should be so far behind in Arrears, at such a Time; and to press, that Thirty thousand Pounds of the said Arrears may be forthwith advanced; and the Remainder thereof brought in with all Speed.

It is further Ordered, That Mr. Swinfen, Mr. Knightley, Sir John Northcott, the Citizens that serve for the City, and Mr. Allen, be added to that Committee.

Ordered, That Colonel Ven do desire the Lord Mayor to call a Common Council to meet To-morrow in the Afternoon at Three of Clock, the House having appointed a Committee to come unto them at that time.

Message to Lords.

Mr. Thorpe carried to the Lords, for their Concurrence, the Ordinance for settling the Militia in the Six Northern Counties, and putting them into a Posture to defend themselves: The Ordinance for putting Papists and Malignants out of the late Lines of Communication, and Twenty Miles distant: The Ordinance for appointing Colonel William White to issue the Five thousand Pounds formerly appointed for Colonel Points his Officers, upon the Directions and Orders of the Committee of this House for the Northern Association.

Horse at the Mewes.

Resolved, &c. That the Order of this House that enjoins the Officers of the Regiment of Horse at the Mewes to keep their Horse together in the Mewes, be discharged.

Army.

Resolved, &c. That, on Thursday Morning next, the first Business peremptorily, and nothing to intervene, the House do take into Consideration the several Matters and Desire depending before them, concerning Officers and Soldiers that have served the Parliament.

Derby House Committee.

Ordered, That the Members of this House that are of the Committee of Derby House, be enjoined diligently and duly to attend their Service at that Committee: And that the Serjeant at Arms do give particular Notice hereof to the several Members of that Committee: And that Mr. Bulkley do go to the Lords with a Message, To-morrow Morning; and acquaint their Lordships with the Injunction this House hath laid upon their Members of the Committee at Derby House, to attend with Diligence that Service; and desire the Lords to do the like, as to their Members.

He is further to put the Lords in mind of a Vote formerly sent to their Lordships, for the Addition of Mr. Knightley, a Member of this House, to the Committee at Derby House.

Exeter City.

A Letter from the General, from Windsore, of 21 Maii 1648, directed to the Committee at Derby House; and from thence reported by Sir John Eveyln concerning the late Business at Exon; and touching a former Order of this House, for withdrawing the Soldiers out of that City; was this Day read.

Resolved, &c. That a Letter be written to the General to desire him to remove the Forces out of the City of Exon.

Mr. Swynfen is appointed to prepare this Letter.

Resolved, &c. That the Arms and Ammunition belonging to the Magazines of the City of Exon, and County of Devon, be restored to the Places from whence they were taken by Sir Hardres Waller, or his Officers.

Mr. Swynfen reports the Draught of a Letter to be sent to the General, in Answer to His, now read, touching Exon: The which was read; and, upon the Question, assented unto; and ordered to be signed by Mr. Speaker, and sent to the General.

Resolved, &c. That the Matters of Complaint touching Sir Hardres Waller, and the City of Exon, be referred to the Hearing and Examination of the Committee formerly appointed to prepare the Ordinance for the Militia of the whole Kingdom, where Mr. Boys has the Chair: And that the said Committee be revived, as to this Business, to meet To-morrow at Three of Clock post meridiem, in the former Place that Committee sat formerly in.

Weldon's Acquittance.

The humble Petition of Colonel Ralph Weldon was this Day read.

Resolved, &c. That Colonel Ralph Weldon be discharged by the Committee of the Navy and Customs, and Commissioners of the Excise, of the several Sums taken up by him out of the Custom-house, Excise Office, and Reprisal Goods, amounting, in Whole, to the Sum of Three thousand and Eleven Pounds Four Shillings and One Peny; which he was forced to take up, to keep the poor Soldiers of the Garison of Plimouth from Perishing, and sudden Destruction: And this House doth declare, That they will make good the said several Sums to the said respective Receipts.

Resolved, &c. That the Sum of Six thousand Pounds, to discharge so much engaged for by Colonel Ralph Weldon, to pay the Debts of the Officers and Soldiers of the Garison of Plimouth, owing to the poor Inhabitants of the said Town, be charged upon the Receipts of the Grand Excise, with Interest for the same, at the Rate of Eight Pounds per Cent. payable every Six Months: And that Mr. Dodderidge do prepare and bring in an Ordinance to this Purpose.

Bishops Lands.

Ordered, That Mr. John Corbett do make Report of the Ordinance touching the Removal of Obstructions in the Sale of Bishops Lands, on Saturday Morning next, the first Business.

Letters from Commrs in Scotland.

Mr. Swynfen delivered in to the House the Copies of Two Letters, signed by Three of the Commissioners of both Houses, residing in Scotland; and sent one to Major General George Moncke in Ireland; the other to the Earl of Glanbrasil, the Lord Viscount Aires, Sir James Montgomery, and Sir Robert Steward, to prepare them against any Attempts as should be made upon them, for withdrawing their Forces from the Service against the Rebels of Ireland, to engage against the Parliament of England: The which Copies of Letters were read: And

It is Resolved, &c. That this House doth approve of what these Commissioners have done, in writing these Letters, as a very seasonable and good Service.

And it is Ordered, That Mr. Swynfen do send unto the said Commissioners this Approbation of the House.

Safety of Parliament, &c.

Major General Skippon reports from the Committee of the Militia of London, their Answer in Writing, upon the Order Yesterday sent unto them; That they do humbly acknowledge the Respect of this House, expressed in the said Order; and do humbly submit it to the Houses, to appoint such Guards for their own Safety, as in their Wisdom shall seem meet, until the said Committee have their Forces more fully completed; which they are endeavouring to the utmost of their Powers.

Parliament Guard.

Ordered, That the Forces of Horse and Foot, that are appointed to be removed out of the Tower of London, at such time as the City shall have the Guard thereof, be joined to the Forces at the Mewes, and Whitehall; and there continued, until the City shall declare they are in a Posture to defend the Parliament and themselves; and this House take further Order therein.