House of Commons Journal Volume 5: 25 May 1648

Die Jovis, 25 Maii, 1648.

Prayers.

Loan from London.

MR. Knightley reports from the Common Council Yesterday, That they were very sensible of the great Favours they have lately received from this House: They were likewise very sensible of the great Necessity there is for Money: They had taken the Desire for the Loan of Thirty thousand Pounds into serious Consideration: That they were not able to advance it by way of Loan: What Money should be requisite for Removal of the Soldiers out of the Tower, they had prevailed with the Treasurers to advance it: That, near the Sum desired, they had taken such Course as . . . bring it in almost as speedily as . . . it came in by way of Loan: They had appointed a Committee to consider of the Obstructions which shall be presented to the House; and Power desired for the Removal of them.

Soldiers in the Tower.

The humble Petitions of the Officers and Soldiers under the Command of Colonel Tichborne, Lieutenant of the Tower of London, and of the Twelve Gunners appointed by his Excellency the Lord Fairefax, for the Safeguard of the Tower, were this Day read.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Common Council of the City of London, to take care, that, according to these Petitions, the Officers, Soldiers, and Gunners, employed in the Tower, be paid all their Arrears; and likewise so much of the Monies upon the Engagement of the Six thousand Pounds, as shall be requisite for the Removal of the Soldiers out of the Tower.

Tumults in Kent.

Sir Gilbert Gerard reports from the Committee at Derby House, Instructions for the Earl of Thanett, upon Propositions by him offered, concerning appeasing the Tumults in Kent: The which were read; and, upon the Question, approved of; and were in hæc verba; viz.

Instructions for the Right Honourable John Earl of Thanet, upon Propositions by him offered, concerning appeasing the Tumults in Kent.

1. Your Lordship is desired to declare to those that are lately risen in Kent, That the Houses have lately published a Declaration concerning Petitions to be brought to the Houses (which is herewith delivered unto your Lordship); That, when they have delivered up the Towns, Magazines, and Arms, that they have seized, and shall be retired peaceably to their Houses, they may bring and present a Petition to the Houses, according to the said Declaration.

2. Your Lordship shall also declare unto them, That, upon their immediate Disbanding, and Departing home quietly to their Houses, they shall have Indemnity for what is past.

Your Lordship is also desired to return to the Houses, between this and Saturday Morning, an Answer, whether they do give Obedience to the Parliament, in laying down their Arms, delivering up the Magazines, and repairing quietly to their own Houses.

Ordered, That the Committee at Derby House do forthwith send down the Earl of Thanett, with these Instructions, into the County of Kent.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee at Derby House, to dispose of the Forces of Horse and Foot that are now to be removed out of the Tower, in such way as may be most serviceable for the Defence and Safety of the Parliament and City, according to the former Order of this House therein.

Ordered, That the Persons taken Yesterday in Westminster Hall, by Colonel Baxter, and the Informations now offered to the House by the said Colonel, be referred to the Consideration and Examination of the Committee at Derby House.

Westminster Militia.

Ordered, That, on Saturday Morning next, the Ordinance concerning the Militia of Westminster be reported, next after the Ordinance for the Removal of Obstructions in the Sale of the Bishops Lands.

Safety of Parliament, &c.

Ordered, That the Committee at Derby House do give Notice to the General, That this House has given Order for the present Stay of the Forces in the Tower, somewhere here about London, for the Safety and Defence of the Parliament and City.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Mr. Annesley shall have Leave to go into the Country.

Army.

Ordered, That To-morrow Morning, the first Business, the House do proceed in the Consideration of the Petitions and Desires of the Soldiery.

Admiralty.

Resolved, &c. That the Committee of the Admiralty and Cinque Ports do sit presently; and so de die in diem, till the Distractions in Kent be settled.

Message to Lords.

Mr. Bulkley went to the Lords, upon the Message Yesterday ordered him.

He likewise carried up the Addition of some Names to the Militia of Coventrey, Cornewall, and other Parts, ordered at the same time. And

Answer.

Brings Answer, That the Lords do agree to all the Particulars of his Message.

Affairs in Kent.

A Letter from Mr. Oxendon and Captain Lee was read, brought up by Captain Westrowe; together with the Copy of Articles agreed on between some of the Committee of Kent, and other Gentlemen at Pickenden Heath, signed, on the Committee's Part, Michaell Levesay; and, on the Part of the Gentlemen, Roger Le Strange.

Business deferred.

Ordered, That the Business, appointed for this Day, concerning the settling Religion, and Militia, and recalling the Declarations, be taken into Consideration To-morrow Morning, peremptorily, the first Business; and nothing to intervene.

Raising Forces.

The Question was propounded, That Power be given to the Committee at Derby House, to grant Commissions to such Persons in the several Counties, for raising Forces for Defence of the said Counties, as shall be recommended to the said Committee by the Gentlemen of the said several Counties, Members of this House, respectively, or the Major Part of them:

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

The House was divided.

The Noes went forth.

The Question being put, That Power be given to the Committee at Derby House, to grant Commissions to such Persons in the several Counties, for raising Forces for Defence of the said Counties, as shall be recommended to the said Committee by the Gentlemen of the said several Counties, Members of this House, respectively, or the major Part of them present;

It passed with the Negative.

Affairs in Surrey.

Ordered, That the Gentlemen formerly appointed to go into the County of Surrey with the Earl of Northumberland, shall have Power to meet when and where they please, upon the Instructions formerly given them.

Raising Forces.

Resolved, &c. That no Motion be made for Raising of new Forces, or Monies for the same, but between the Hours of Ten and Twelve.

Derby House Committee.

A Message from the Lords, by Doctor Bennett and Mr. Eltonhead;

The Lords have conceived, that the Number of the Committee at Derby House is too small for the Dispatch of Affairs: And therefore, they have added Six more of their Members; and desire this House to add a proportionable Number of theirs.

. . . . . . . . That the Debate of this Message from the Lords, concerning an Addition to the Committee at Derby House, be resumed on Saturday Morning next: And that then the several Powers granted to that Committee be brought in, together with the Names of that Committee.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; That this House has considered their Lordships Message; and will send Answer by Messengers of their own.