House of Commons Journal Volume 5: 23 June 1648

Die Veneris, 23 Junii, 1648.

Prayers.

Letter read.

A LETTER from Carisbrooke Castle, of the Oneand-twentieth of June 1648, from Colonel Hamond, was this Day read.

Proceedings against Rolph.

The House being informed, That Major Rolph was at the Door;

He was called in: And, after Mr. Speaker had acquainted him, That what he was to speak, was to be spoken in an high Court of Justice; and therefore required and exhorted him to speak the Truth, as he would answer the same, at the dreadful Day of Judgment.

Mr. Speaker, by Command of the House, did strictly examine him, What he knew touching the Design of taking away the King's Life; wherewith he was charged by the Letter of Richard Osborne: Who, upon his Examination, denied that he ever knew of any such Design, either by Discourse or Letter; or that he ever received any Intimation from the Governor of the Isle of Wight, or from any other Person, by Writing, or otherwise, touching the Design of taking away the Life of the King.

Ordered, That Mr. Wheeler do go to the Lords, and acquaint them, That Major Rolph is come to Town: And that he do desire the Lords to nominate a Committee of Lords; who may, in the Presence of a Committee of this House, examine Major Rolph forthwith, upon Oath; and to take the Examinations of all other Persons that will come in, to testify their Knowledge touching the Allegations of Richard Osborne, in his Letter to the Speaker of this House, and to the Lord Wharton.

Lincolne Militia.

Mr. Wheeler is also to put the Lords in mind of the Ordinance for settling the Militia in the County of Lincolne.

R. Osborne.

Ordered, That the Order, That Mr. Richard Osborne may have Forty Days to come, and depart, with Safety to his Person, to make good his Allegations mentioned in his Letters to Mr. Speaker, and the Lord Wharton, be forthwith printed and published; and be forthwith posted up at Westminster, Paul's and both the Exchanges.

Apprehending Persons.

Ordered, That the Committee formerly appointed to apprehend Persons to be sent to the General into the County of Essex, do forthwith withdraw; and find out to the Number of Twenty Persons, and apprehend them, and send them to the General, to be disposed of according to the former Order: And the Serjeant at Arms, who attends this House, is forthwith to take care to apprehend the said Persons accordingly. And

It is further Ordered, That Sir Samuell Luke and Mr. Gurdon be added to the said Committee: And it is referred to the said Committee, to consider, How, and in what manner to send the said Persons to the General.

Ordered, That, in case so many such Persons cannot be forthwith found and apprehended here, that a Letter be written, to be signed by Mr. Speaker, and sent to the General, and desire him to give Order to apprehend so many of the most active Persons in raising and somenting the Insurrection in Essex, as will make up the said Number, to be used in such Sort as Sir Wm. Massam, and the rest of the Gentlemen of the Committee of the County of Essex, are used.

Defence of Suffolk, &c.

Ordered, That Sir Nathaniell Barnardiston, Sir William Spring, Sir William Playters, and Mr. Heveningham, do go down into the County of Suffolke, for Furtherance of the Service of the State, in Defence of the Country, and Preservation of the Peace of those Parts.

Ordered, That Sir Henry Mildmay do go down into the County of Essex, for Furtherance of the Service of the State there.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of the Eastern Association, to consider what Money is fit to be levied, and how, and in what manner, to proportion the said Levy, for Defraying of the Charges of the Associated Counties, in suppressing the Insurrection in Essex, and the Insurrections in other Places. And

It is Ordered, That the said Committee do meet this Afternoon: and do bring in an Ordinance To-morrow Morning to that Purpose.

Provincial Assembly of Divines;

The House being informed, That the Divines of the Provincial Assembly were at the Door;

They were called in; and presented a Petition:

Which (after they were withdrawn) was read; and intituled, "The humble Petition of the Provincial Assembly of London:"

Who being withdrawn; the House commanded Mr. Speaker to give them the Thanks of this House for their good Affection.

And they being again called in; Mr. Speaker returned them this Answer;

The House has read your Petition: And most of the Particulars they have in Debate: Some Parts thereof they have already finished; and have appointed a Day for the rest.

And Mr. Speaker did accordingly give them Thanks for their good Affections.

Ordered, That, on Wednesday Sevennight, the House do take into Consideration the several Particulars of the Petition of the Provincial Assembly of London.

Treaty with the King.

Ordered, That it be referred to a Committee, to consider, What the Parliament hath done towards the Settling of a Peace; and what the King hath offered; and what is fit further to be offered to the King, for his Satisfaction, for Settling of a speedy and well-grounded Peace: And that the said Committee do also consider of a Time, Place, and other Circumstances, where Addresses may be conveniently made to the King.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Colonel Booth is appointed to carry it to the Lords.

Isle of Wight.

Ordered, That the General do send Five hundred Men to the Isle of Wight: And that the General have Power to increase his Army to that Number, for the Safety and Defence of that Isle: And it is referred to the Committee at Derby House, to send this Direction away to the Governor forthwith.

Collecting Assessment.

An Ordinance, sent from the Lords, for appointing the Commissioners, formerly appointed by the Ordinance of the Sixteenth of February last, to nominate Sub Collectors to levy the Money to be assessed by virtue of the said Ordinance, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, agreed unto.

Adjournment.

Ordered, That when the House doth rise, the House do adjourn itself unto Monday Morning next: And that the House do adjourn every Week, from Friday until Tuesday following, all this Summer. And

It is Ordered, That the Lords be made acquainted with this Order. And

Committees.

It . . further Ordered, That all the several Committees shall have Power to sit, notwithstanding the said Adjournments.

Sabbathbreaking, &c.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Complaints, to take into Consideration the Breaches of the several Acts and Ordinances concerning the Sabbath and Fasts; and of the Ordinances concerning Playhouses: And that the said Committee have Power to send for Persons offending against the said several Acts and Ordinances; and to send for Witnesses: and to put the said several Acts and Ordinances in speedy Execution.

The Question being propounded, That the next Fast shall be kept here within the Walls of the House;

It passed in the Negative.

Ld. Pawlett.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth concur with the Lords, That the Lord Pawlett have Liberty to stay at his House at Cheswicke, notwithstanding the Ordinance of the Sixteenth of June, 1648.

Isle of Wight.

Sir John Danvers reports from the Committee at Derby House, the Opinion of that Committee, What Course is fit to be taken for the Safety of the Isle of Wight.

Letter to Col. Jones.

Sir John Temple reports a Letter to be sent to Colonel Jones, in Answer to his, of the One-and-thirtieth of March last: Which, being read, upon the Question, was agreed unto; and ordered to be sent to the Lords for their Concurrence: And that the said Letter be signed by the Speakers of both Houses.

Oxford University.

Mr. Swynfen reports an Ordinance, formerly sent from the Lords, for constituting Dr. Corbett Orator of the University of Oxford; Mr. Pococke, Hebrew Professor of the said University; and Dr. Corbet, Mr. Pococke, Mr. Milles, and Mr. Cornishe, Collegiate Prebendaries of Christ Church; with some Amendments: The which were this Day read: And the said Ordinance, with the Amendments, being put to the Question, passed: And

It was Ordered, That the said Ordinance, so amended, be sent to the Lords for their Concurrence.