House of Commons Journal Volume 5: 10 July 1648

Die Lunæ, 10 Julii, 1648.

Prayers.

Exchange of Prisoners.

TWO Letters from the Leaguer before Colchester, of 8 and 9 Julii 1648.

Resolved, &c. That Mr. John Ashburnham, a Prisoner, by Order of this House, be forthwith exchanged for Sir Wm. Massam, and the Gentlemen of the Committee of Essex, now Prisoners in Colchester.

Claimants Accompts.

Ordered, That Mr. Auditor Wilcox, Auditor Broad, Auditor Bond, Auditor Prince, and Auditor Richardson, or any Two of them, be required to attend the House every Morning, and to take the Women that are attending here at the Door, and receive their Accompts, and state them to the House; that it may appear what is justly due unto any of them, that Course may be taken to give Satisfaction to such as have any thing due; and that such as clamour without Cause, may be punished.

Ordered, That the Committee appointed to treat with the Committee of London, touching the Guards during the Time of the intended Treaty, do acquaint that Committee, touching the Misbehaviour of some of the Guards; and particularly of one of them, viz. Francis Falkener, in Lieutenant Colonel Brett's Company, of Algate, that on Saturday last conducted Mr. Speaker to his Coach; and then uttered these Words, by way of Incitement and Encouragement to the clamorous Women; "That now he was out of their Charge, they should tear him in pieces."

Relief of Wrexham.

Ordered, by the Lords and Commons, in Parliament assembled, That a Grant be prepared, and that the Commissioners of the Great Seal be hereby authorized and required to pass the same, under the Great Seal, unto the Inhabitants of the Town of Wrexham in the County of Denbigh; for a general Collection of the Charity of well-disposed People within the Cities of London and Westminster, and Liberties thereof, and Counties of Middlesex, Chester, Salopp, and Stafford, and the Dominion of Wales, for the Relief of the said Inhabitants of the said Town of Wrexham, who sustained by Firing, to the Value of Four thousand Pounds, and upwards.

Strickland's Credentials.

Ordered, That the Letters Credential to Mr. Walth. Strickland do bear this Date.

Army Accompts.

Mr. Scott reports the Amendments to the Ordinance for stating and determining the Accompts of all such Officers and Soldiers, that have served the Parliament in the late Wars, and have not been under the Entertainment and Pay of the particular Counties and Associations of this Kingdom, nor are of the present Army under the Command of Thomas Lord Fairefax: The which were twice read; and, upon the Question, assented unto.

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

Auditors Salaries.

Mr. Scott reports the Amendments to the Ordinance appointing a Salary to the Auditors employed in the stating and determining the Accompts of the Soldiery: The which were twice 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.

Satisfaction of Soldiery.

Ordered, That Mr. Scott do, To-morrow, bring in the Declaration, touching what the Parliament has done for Satisfaction of the Soldiery.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Colonel Norton and Mr. Edwards, Members of this House, have Leave to go into the Country.

Ordered, That Colonel Purefoy, a Member of this House, have Leave to go into the Country.

Raising Forces.

Ordered, That Power be, and is hereby, given to the Committee of Surrey, to raise a Troop of Horse for the Defence and Safety of the said County: And that the said Troop be raised and maintained out of the new Sequestrations of those Persons, that have been engaged in the late Rising in that County: And Power is hereby given to the Committee at Derby House, to grant a Commission to Captain Wm. Hill, to command the said Troop.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Ordered, That, Power be, and is hereby, given to the Committee of the County of Hants, to raise a Troop of Horse for the Defence and Safety of the said County of Hants: And that Power is hereby given to the Committee at Derby House, to give Commission to Captain Norris Jephson to command the said Troop.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Obnoxious Publication.

Upon Mr. Challoner's Report from the Committee for suppressing scandalous Pamphlets;

It is Resolved, &c. That a printed Paper, intituled, "A Motive to all loyal Subjects, to endeavour the Preservation of his Majesty's Person," wherein Major General Skippon . . slanderously charged, with notorious Falsities, is a malicious and scandalous Libel.

2. Resolved, &c. That this House doth declare, That it doth appear to them, that Captain Rolfe, charged by Mr. Osborne to conspire the Taking away of his Majesty's Life, is not Son-in law to Major General Skippon; neither hath any Relation unto him; as is falsly charged in the said Paper.

3. Resolved, &c. That it doth appear to this House, That Mr. Rolfe, who is Son-in-law to Major General Skippon, hath no Command in this Army, or hath, or ever had, any Command in the Isle of Wight.

4. Resolved, &c. That the foul Aspersions in the said Libel, cast upon Major General Skippon, tended to blast him in his Reputation, to raise Mutiny and Sedition, and to stir up the Hatred of the People against him, thereby to render him useless in these distracted Times, he being a Person of such eminent Worth.

Resolved, &c. That these Votes be forthwith printed, and set up in the most publick Places of the City, to discover to the People the wicked Designs of these Libels; and to vindicate Major General Skippon in his Honour, from the false Calumnies thereby cast upon him.

Ordered, That these Votes be forthwith printed.

Westminster, &c. Militia.

An Ordinance for joining the Militias of Westminster, Hamlets, and Borough of Southwarke, to the Militia of the City of London, was this Day read the First and Second time.

The humble Petition of the Inhabitants of the Parish of Lambeth was likewise read.

The humble Petition of the Inhabitants of the City and Liberty of Westminster, Hamlets of the Tower, and Borough of Southwark, was likewise read. And

It is Ordered, upon the Question, That the said Ordinance, and the aforesaid Petitions, be committed unto Mr. Sandys, Colonel Temple, Mr. Sallwey junior, Mr. Recorder, Mr. Herbert Hay, Mr. Wheeler, Colonel Copley, Mr. Scott, Sir Anthony Irby, Mr. Lenthall, Sir John Evelyn of Surrey, Sir Symonds D'Ewes, Mr. Drake, Mr. Snelling, Mr. Love, Mr. Lister, Mr. Bell, Sir Edward Partherich, Sir Samuell Luke, Sir Robert Pye, Colonel Harley, Mr. Bois, Sir Thomas Dacres, Alderman Pennington, Major General Browne, Colonel Strode, Sir Richard Onslowe, Sir Gilbert Gerrard, Mr. Edwards, Colonel Edwards, Mr. Lane, Mr. Whittacre, Mr. Trenchard, Mr. Lechmore, Sir John Potts, Sir Robert Harley, the Knights and Burgesses of Surrey, Westminster, and Southwark, the Citizens and Burgesses of London: And are to meet To-morrow at Two of Clock in the Afternoon, in the Exchequer Chamber: And have Power to send for Parties, Witnesses, Papers, Records: And the Care of this Business is more particularly referred to Mr. Sandys.

Message to Lords.

Ordered, That the Lords Concurrence be desired in the Orders lately made, touching Carnarvonshire.

Mr. Sandis is appointed to carry them to the Lords; as likewise the Orders for raising a Troop of Horse in Surrey, and for raising a Troop of Horse in the County of Hants, for Defence of those Counties.

Newcastle Garrison, &c.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee appointed to . . . . . . . . Committee appointed by the Common Council, this Afternoon, to press unto the Common Council the Necessities of Newcastle, and the Prejudice it hath already suffered, and is likely further to suffer, by Delay of their Answer to the former Orders touching that Place; and to desire their speedy and positive Answer touching them; and likewise their positive Answer touching the speedy Payment in of the Arrears due to the Army; without which, that Place, as likewise other the publick Affairs of the Kingdom, will suffer very much: And they are to make Report hereof To-morrow Morning, the first Business.

Message from Lords.

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

The Lords have commanded us to communicate unto you a Petition of the reduced Officers and Soldiers; which they recommend to the Consideration of this House: A Pass for Sir Theodore Mayerne; in which they desire the Concurrence of this House.

Ordered, That no Notice be taken of the other Part of the Message, nor any Entry made thereof.

Reduced Officers, &c.

The Petition stiled, "The humble Petition of divers reduced Officers and Soldiers, who have faithfully served the Parliament," was this Day read.

Mayerne's Pass.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth concur with the Lords, That Sir Theodore Mayerne, and his Lady be permitted, with their Children, Company, and Servants, to pass quietly and freely from London, unto any Port or Ports of this Kingdom, or in the River of Thames, to ship and embark themselves, with their Housholdstuff, Plate, Books, and other Goods, jointly and severally, to be transported beyond the Seas, together with Eight Horses, Custom-free, without the Lett, Search, Stay, or Hindrance of any Person or Persons, as well unto as upon the Seas, in their said Journey and Voyage, as aforesaid: And this to be sufficient Warrant in that Behalf.

Transporting Horses.

Ordered, That Colonel Harvy shall have Mr. Speaker's Warrant for the Transporting of Two Horses, Custom and Impost free.

Sir John Dingley.

Ordered, That Sir John Dingley Knight, Secretary to the Queen of Bohemia, desirous to return to his Attendance, shall have Mr. Speaker's Warrant to embark, and transport himself, Three Persons, and Four Horses, with such Trunks and Goods, as are for their necessary Use, Custom and Impost free.

French Ambassador.

IT is this Day Declared, by the Lords and Commons, in Parliament assembled, That their Intention was and is, That the French Ambassador shall have the Immunity of Exception from paying any Excise, Custom, or New Impost, for any such Commodities, or Things, as are for their own Use, or consumed within their own Family: And they do order all Commissioners of Excise and Customs, and all their Under Officers, respectively, to take notice hereof, and so yield Obedience hereunto, accordingly.

Reduced Officers, &c.

Ordered, That the Petition of reduced Officers, now sent from the Lords; the Petitions of Lieutenant Colonel Elsynge, Colonel Purbeck Temple, and others; be referred to the Committee where Sir Thomas Dacres has the Chair; to receive the Informations and Proofs; and to consider, what is fit to be done herein; and report their Opinions to the House with all convenient Speed.

It is further Ordered, That Colonel Copley, Sir Edward Partherich, Colonel Harvey, Colonel Bossevile, Mr. Hungerford, Mr. Nelthorpe, Mr. Hobby, are added to this Committee: And are to meet this Afternoon, in the Queen's Court.

Bishops Lands.

Ordered, That the Ordinances for Removing of Obstructions in the Sale of Bishops Lands be read next immediately after the Business concerning Newcastle.

Message from Lords.

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

The Lords have returned unto you an Ordinance for settling the Militia of Exeter, with some Additions; in which the Lords desire the Concurrence of this House. The Lords desire, That the Conference, which was desired on Saturday last, touching the not insisting upon the Three Propositions to be sent to the King, before a Treaty, may be now had, if it may stand with the Conveniency of this House.

Conference.

Sir Harbottle Grimston, Mr. Samuell Browne, Mr. Wheeler, Mr. Stephens, Mr. Waller, are appointed Reporters of this Conference.

Exeter Militia.

The Additions, sent from the Lords, to the Ordinance for settling the Militia in the City of Exeter, were read; and, upon the Question, assented unto; and were only, For the Addition of John Lord Roberts to the said Militia; and that the Persons named in the said Ordinance, should not act, till they should take the National League and Covenant.

Answers to Lords.

Answer returned to the First Messengers; That this House has considered their Lordships Message: And, to the Pass for Sir Theodore Mayherne to go beyond Sea, the House do agree: And, to the Petition of the reduced Officers, they will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Answer returned to the Second Messengers;

The House has considered their Lordships Message; and do agree to the Amendments to the Ordinance for settling the Militia of the City of Exon.

Officers of Stores.

Ordered, That, on Thursday Morning next, the Ordinance touching the Officers of the Stores be read.