House of Commons Journal Volume 2: 20 October 1641

Die Mercurii, 20 Oct. 1641.

PRAYERS .

Proceedings of Committee during the Recess.

MR. Pym reports, and gives an Account of, what the Committee appointed to sit during the Recess, had done, in pursuance of the Order of the House given to that Committee:

"The first Thing we had in Charge was, concerning the Declaration of the House concerning Innovations: The Committee have sent divers of them into the Country; and have found, that, in some Places where there were good Ministers, they were entertained; and in some other Places they are neglected; but, for the most part, it is by those that have been questioned here for other Matters. The Committee took into Consideration the Intention of the House, concerning the Publishing of this Declaration: Therefore they gave Directions to require the Publishing thereof in Churches; and that the Churchwardens might see the Execution thereof. Some particulars concerning this will come in a special Report, which I shall now only touch upon in the general, in regard of the great Importance of the Business first to be considered of this Day, touching the Troubles in Scotland; of which I shall give you an Account."

Proceedings of Committee during the Recess.

"Next Thing the Committee did take into Consideration, was the Correspondency with the Committee in Scotland, in receiving Letters from them, and sending Answers unto them: I shall not need to produce their several Letters now, it will take up too much Time: But the chief Point was touching the Disbanding of the Army, and the Two Garisons of Barwicke and Carlile: For Carlile, it is totally disbanded, and the Soldiers sent into Ireland, to be placed there, as they were before, in the King's Army; for we did conceive it fitter, those new Men, now in the King's Army there, should be dismissed; and these that were formerly taken from thence should be entertained again, for we hear a good Report of their Carriage at Carlile: For the Garison of Barwicke, That required longer Time of Consideration at the Committee: For, besides the Demolishing of the Works (which was much pressed by the Scotts, and seconded by a Letter from his Majesty out of Scotland) there was a want of Money; Yet the Committee got sufficient to disband all, and sent it down: And because the Scotche Commissioners desired to know a certain Day of our Disbanding, and then they would, upon Knowledge of that, disband their Forces; thereupon the Committee set down 15° Octobr. to be the last Day of disbanding. And the Letter Yesterday received from Sir Michael Yearnley, sheweth, that he hath Money enough to disband all; and that the Horse are disbanded, and Five Companies of Foot; And that on Friday last the other Companies of Foot remaining had been disbanded, but that a Letter came from Sir Hen. Vaine, in his Majesty's Name, requiring to stay the Disbanding of the rest till further Order, of which you shall hear more particularly, when I come to that Part of my Report."

"For the Arms and Ammunition at Carlite, the Committee gave Order for the Listing, and Safe-laying of them up, to be well kept till the next Spring, that it be more seasonable to send for them away, they being now Five or Six Miles from the Sea-side; which would have taken now much Time to have shipped them: And Sir Geo. Dalseston, and others, Members of the House, are desired to take care of the Safe-keeping of it in the mean time."

"For the Ammunition at Barwicke; the Committee have sent Six Ships to transport the same to the Tower; and agreed with them for a certain Sum, for the Doing thereof within such.. time; and if they stayed longer, to have so much per Diem for Demurrage."

"The next Thing we took into Consideration at the Committee, was concerning Tumults: Though we cannot say any great Tumults, yet there were Seeds sown, which might have occasioned some, in the Execution of the Order of the House touching Innovations: But I shall make a particular Report of those Parishes where they were at Blows, and likely to come to Blows, if the Committee had not sought the Prevention of it; which was the Ground why the Committee entertained their Petition."

"There was another like Trouble and Sign of Tumult, by the frequent Resort of Troopers to Town, and to the Committee, who delivered Thirty several Petitions to the Committee, in their own Names, and the Names of other discontented Persons in the Army. We could not refuse to accept their Petitions, lest they should grow to Tumults; and of their Complaints, and the Nature of them, I shall give you a particular Report; but the Committee did vote nothing concerning them: It will be very fit to resolve something concerning them, that they may depart the Town; for, under the Name of Soldiers, many Robberies are done; which occasioned the Committee to give Order, that all of them, that desire to have Passes to go beyond Sea, might have the same: But that would not serve their Turn, unless they might have Liberty to receive Pay here, to go in Companies under Conduct to the Service of foreign Princes; which the Committee could not give way unto, in regard of the Ordinance of both Houses to the contrary."

"There is another Head the Committee had in Charge, concerning the King's Revenue: All we could do in that, (which I did by the Direction of the Committee) was to take care for a Balance touching the same; and accordingly I spoke with the King's Officers about it; and a Balance will be ready when you please to call for it."

"Next was concerning the Exchange beyond Sea: I think, for That, there will be a good Return made for the Benefit of the Commonwealth."

"Another Thing was concerning the Irish Petitions; but the Gentleman that used to be in the Chair for Irish Affairs, (Mr. Whistler) was out of Town, and had most of their Petitions with him; so we could do nothing; only one Mr. Cope, and Mr. Lomach, who had long attended, had their Case made known to the Committee; the One desiring to have Two Witnesses examined, upon a Petition here depending, who are ready to go to Sea; and the other, Mr. Cope, of English Parents, and great Family, is a Petition for Recovery of an Estate of a great Value, which he conceives hath been long kept from him wrongfully; and desires that a Committee may but consider of the Depositions already taken, touching the same, in several Courts of Records, whether there be not just Cause for him to have Relief, and Matter of Ground to proceed on his Petition; and, if not, he will desist in petitioning the House."

"Next Thing in Charge was concerning the Delinquents: In that we made but a small Progress; for we had a Desire to have perfected the Charge against my Lord Archbishop of Canterbury; but in regard those of the long Robe of the Committee were for most part absent, we could not proceed therein."

"Next there came to me, to my Lodgings at Chelsea, Sir Jo. Barkeley, and Serjeant Major Oneale; who said they heard they were accused, and had rashly withdrawn themselves; but, upon better Considerations, they were returned to submit to the Pleasure of the House. I thought it my Duty to make some Privy Counsellor acquainted therewith: Whereupon I went to my Lord Willmott with them; who undertook, they should attend the Committee the next Sitting: Which they did accordingly: And, in pursuance of the Order and Warrant of the House for the Apprehending of them, they were both attached by the Serjeant's Deputy. So the House may be pleased to send for them, and to do therein as they see Cause."

"For the Letters last received out of Scotland from the Committee: They speak of something intended to be done there, upon the Persons of divers Lords of Scotland: And, in regard some of the Parties, suspected to have a Hand in that Design, are suspected to be Papists, the Committee did conceive it might have Correspondency with the like Party here; and therefore commanded me Yesterday to write to my Lord Mayor of London, to place convenient Guards in several Places of the City, till he received further Directions from the Parliament; and likewise to the Justices of Peace for Midd. and Westminster, and Southwarke; and to observe such further Direction, as they should receive from the Earl of Essex, who, in his Majesty's Absence, is appointed General on this Side Trent."

I forgot to report one Thing,- "That, upon Tuesday last was Sevennight, the Committee here agreed, and so ordered, that the Committee in Scotland should; unless they see Cause to the contrary, return Home; and, lest our Letters might miscarry, commanded me to send an express Messenger to them: And I did so; and writ also, by the weekly Post, of our Order, as also of the Lords Order, for their Commissioners to come Home: The Party I sent, who was commended to me for a very honest Man, should have been there on the Monday following, which he easily might have done, if he had been well; but on Friday last he was not come to Edenbrough, neither could he be heard of in all the Road; so that we may justly fear some Misfortune is befallen him; that he is knocked on the Head, and his Letters taken from him.

Letters read.

This Report ended, Two Letters; One from Secretary Vane to Sir Mich. Ernley, of the 14th of Oct. and a Letter from Sir Mich. Ernley, upon That Letter, from Barwick of the 15th of Oct....

Another Letter from the Committees in Scotland, to the Committee appointed to sit during the Recess, of the 14th of Oct. was likewise read.

Securing the Kingdom.

Resolved, upon the Question, That a Conference shall be desired with the Lords presently, about the Securing of the Kingdom, and the Parliament; and a Committee appointed to prepare Heads for that Conference.

Lord Falkland, Mr. Pimme, Sir Gilbert Gerrard, Sir Wm. Lewis, Sir Ben. Rudyard, Sir John Strangewayes, Mr. Selden, Mr. Solicitor, Sir Walth. Erle;

This Committee is presently to retire into the Inner Court of Wards, to prepare Heads, upon the Debate that this Day has arisen, for a Conference to be desired with the Lords presently, about securing the Kingdom and Parliament.

Proceedings against Sir J. Barkley, &c.

Resolved, upon the Question, That Sir Jo. Barkley, now in the Serjeant's Custody by Order of this House, shall, by Warrant from this House, be committed Prisoner to the Tower; there to remain in safe Custody, till the House shall take farther Order therein.

Resolved, upon the Question, That Mr. Daniel Oneale, now in the Serjeant's Custody, shall, by Warrant from this House, be committed Prisoner to the Gatehouse; there to remain in safe Custody during the Pleasure of the House.

Resolved, upon the Question, That the Examination of Mr. Oneale, and Sir John Barkeley, shall be referred to the former Committee, in the same manner as formerly it was.

Ordered, That the Committee that was appointed to sit during the Recess, or any Four of them, shall have Power to take and peruse such Depositions, as shall be offered by Mr. Cope upon his Petition; and likewise to take such Depositions as shall be offered by Lomach upon his Petition; and likewise to take such other Examinations upon both those Causes, as shall be offered by either of them.

Dartmouth Writ.

Ordered, That Mr. Speaker issue his Warrant to the Clerk of the Crown in Chancery, for the Sending forth of a Writ for Electing of another Burgess to serve in this present Parliament for the Town of Dartmouth, in the County of Devon, in the Room of Mr. Upton, formerly returned to serve as a Burgess for that Place, and is since deceased.

Privilege- Scandalous Words.

Resolved, upon the Question, That Tho. Bough, One of the Churchwardens of the Parish of St. Giles without Cripplegate, be forthwith sent for as a Delinquent, by the Serjeant at Arms attending on this House, for several Words spoken by him, and great Misdemeanors committed against the Orders and Privileges of this House.

Searching Irish Records.

Ordered, That the Letter from the Justices in Ireland, concerning one Jones, that had a Warrant from the Committee of Irish Affairs, to search Records in all Offices in Ireland, be referred to the Consideration of the Committee for Irish Affairs.

Poll-money.

Ordered, That Mr. Jo Pate, the now Sheriff of Leicestershire, shall pay in the Residue of the Poll-money for that County, not yet paid in at Yorke, to the Treasurers and Commissioners for the Poll-money at London; notwithstanding any former Order.

Importing Currans, &c.

Moved, That the Importation of Currans out of Holland, and the Trade to Venice concerning Currans, and the Importation of Wines and Sugars, be referred to the Consideration of the Committee appointed to sit during the Recess.

Safety of the Kingdom.

Mr. Pym reports the Heads for a Conference to be desired with the Lords, concerning the Safety of the Kingdom:

That the Committee in the First Place do conceive, that the Letter from the Committee be read (dated 14° Octobr.) at the Conference: And that this House hath taken into Consideration;

1. That when there was a Design, somewhat of the same Nature, in this Kingdom, to seduce the King's Army, to interrupt the Parliament here, that there was the like Design at that time in Scotland.

Next, the principal Party named in that Design in Scotland, is a Person suspected to be popishly affected; and therefore may have Correspondency with the like Party here.

3. That it hath been published here lately, that some Things were to be done there in Scotland before it broke out there. Therefore we may suspect some Correspondency here:

So, upon these Grounds, to propound, That a strong Guard be kept in the City of Westminster and London: Then, 2. That Care be taken for the future for the Defence of the whole Kingdom: But this in general.

Next, That these Two Gentlemen, Sir Jo. Berkeley, and Serjeant Major Oneal, did come in during the Recess; and that the One is committed to the Tower, and the other to the Gatehouse: And therefore to desire their Lordships, that they may be examined, according to the former Manner for the Examination of the other Parties accused for the same Crime, by the Committee of the Lords appointed for that Purpose.

Next, To let them know the Garison of Carlile is totally disbanded; and that, of the Garison of Barwicke, there remaineth only Five Companies of Foot, all the Horse being disbanded: And to acquaint them with his Majesty's Direction, sent by Secretary Vaine, for the Stay of those Soldiers: And that the Money designed for that Service, to disband that Garison, was proportioned only until 15° Octo. That the Commonwealth should be at no further Charge concerning the same, either for the Men or Shipping that are to stay there still; Order being taken, and Money sent down, for their Disbanding 15° Octob. according to the Treaty.

Resolved, upon the Question, That these Heads, now reported from the Committee by Mr. Pym, shall be the Heads of the Conference to be desired with the Lords, concerning the Safety of the Kingdom: And Mr. Pym, and the rest of the Committee, that was appointed to prepare these Heads, are ordered to manage this Conference.

Time of Meeting, &c.

Resolved, upon the Question, That the House shall meet every Morning at Nine of Clock, and sit till Two: And that they shall take into Consideration the general Businesses of the Kingdom only: And that all private Businesses shall be laid aside, till the House take farther Order.