House of Commons Journal Volume 2: 16 August 1642

Die Martis, 16 August, 1642.

PRAYERS.

Ly. Benion's Money.

THE Question being put, Whether the Money of the Lady Benion's, stayed by Order of this House, should be delivered into the Hands of Eliab Harvey, in Trust for her;

It pased with the Negative.

Letter from the King.

A Letter from his Majesty, of the Thirteenth of August, from Yorke; with a Message concerning an Order of the House of Commons, requiring the Committee for Adventurers to lend an Hundred thousand Pounds to the Committee for the Defence of the Kingdom; was this Day read; and referred to the Committee that prepared the last Declaration touching his Majesty's last Proclamation; to prepare an Answer unto it: And do expect an Account of it especially from Mr. Reynolds, Sir Tho. Barrington, Mr. Marten, Mr. Strode: And they are to meet this Afternoon, at Two of Clock, in the inner Court of Wards.

Holborne's Plute.

Ordered, That the Plate stayed by Order of this House, informed to be Mr. Holborne's, be kept at... Chamber of London, where now it is; until this House take farther Order.

Loans from Merchant Strangers, &c.

Ordered, That Mr. White do prepare an Ordinance for securing the Monies lent by the Merchant Strangers, and the Trinity House.

Proceedings against Baxter.

Lancelott Baxter, against whom an Information was given of dangerous Words spoken by him (the which Information was witnessed before the Committee for Informations, by Three Witnesses) ....

The Witnesses were likewise called in; and did witness the same.

Resolved, upon the Question, That Lancelott Baxter be forthwith committed a Prisoner to Newgate, and that the farther Examination of this Business be referred to the Lord Chief Justice of the King's Bench; and that the Witnesses be examined there before him; and that he be proceeded against according to Law.

Magazines in Kent.

Ordered, That the Arms and Ammunition in the several Magazines in the County of Kent, and the Arms returned from the late Northern Expedition, shall be disposed of and distributed for the Service of that County, by Order and Warrant of the Lord Lieutenant, or the Deputy Lieutenants of that County, nominated and approved of by both Houses, for executing the Ordinance of the Militia, or any Three of them. And whereas this House is informed, That Gervase Mapeston hath distributed divers of the Arms that were returned from the late Northern Expedition, and laid up at Maidston; It is Ordered, That the said Mapeston be accountable to the Lord Lieutenant, and Deputy Lieutenants, for the same.

Letter Office.

Mr. Ellis reports from the Committee to whom the Business of the Letter Office was referred * * * *

Resolved, upon the Question, That the Sequestration of the Inland Letter Office to Philip Burlamacchi is illegal and void, and ought to be taken off.

Resolved, upon the Question, That Philip Burlamacchi, and his Deputies, shall forthwith bring in an Account of the Profits of the Office received by him, or his Deputies, since the said illegal Sequestration, to the Committee for the Accounts, where Mr. Trenchard has the Chair.

Resolved, upon the Question, That the Proclamation in pursuance of the Sequestration is illegal and void.

Post Masters.

Upon Mr. Prideaux his Report from the Committee for the Post Masters; it was

Resolved, upon the Question, That the Taking of the several Letters in this Case from the several Carriers, and the several Restraints and Imprisonment of Grover, Chapman, Cotton and Mackerill, is against the Law, and Liberty and Freedom of the Subject.

Resolved, upon the Question, That these several Persons ought to have Reparations and Damages, from Sir Jo. Coke and Sir F. Windebanke, then Secretaries of State, and Mr. Witherings, respectively.

Resolved, upon the Question, That Sir Jo. Coke, Sir F. Windebanke, and Mr. Witherings, are Delinquents.

Message from Lords.

Message from the Lords by Dr. Aylett and Dr. Heath;

1. They do agree with the House in the Instructions, with the Amendments: 2. To the Order for the Customhouse: 3. To the Order for adjourning the Assizes to Surrey: 4. They have appointed a Committee of Four Lords to consider of the Hamborough Letters: 5. They have sent you a Letter directed to the Lord Roberts, with Two Warrants: 6. That Sir Ric. Greenvile and Jo. Arrundell should be forthwith sent for, as Delinquents.

Hamborough Letters.

Mr. Whittacre, Alderman Soames, Sir Rob. Harley, Mr. Bedingfeilde, Mr. Spurstoe, Mr. Wheeler, Sir Wm. Armyn, Sir Tho. Ceeke, are appointed to meet with a proportionable Number of the Lords, about the Hambrough Letters.

Persons sent for.

Resolved, &c. That Sir Bevile Greenvile and Jo. Arrundell shall be forthwith sent for, as Delinquents.

Message from Lords.

Message by Dr. Aylett and Dr. Heath;

The Lords do send these Two Declarations; the One concerning such as give any Assistance for the War against the Parliament; the other for the Indemnity of the V * * * which they agree to, with the Amendments.

Message to Lords.

Sir Antho. Irby carried up to the Lords the Order for Bringing in of Arms, and having Allowance as if it were Subscription Money; and also the Order for disarming the Commissioners of Array.

Lord Lieut. of Ireland.

Sir Philip Stapleton reports, That the Lords do agree to the Day for the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland to be at Chester; and to * * * *

Answer to Lords.

Answer returned by the same Messengers: That this House doth agree with the Lords in the several Amendments to the Instructions and the Orders.

Weston, &c. disabled to sit.

The House being informed, That Mr. Nich. Weston did ill Service to the Parliament, in the Business of Portesmouth and the Isle of Wight;

Resolved, upon the Question, That Mr. Nicho. Weston shall be disabled for serving any longer as a Member in this House, during this Parliament.

Resolved, &c. That Colonel Goringe shall be disabled for serving any longer as a Member of this House, in respect of the Business of Portesmouth.

New Writs.

Resolved, &c. That Warrants shall go forth for new Writs for Election of Two Members in their Steads.

Committee for Irish Affairs.

Ordered, That Sir Rob. Harley do go to the Lords with this Message; To acquaint them, That this House hath Ordered, that those Members of this House that are in the Commission for Ireland, or any Four of them, shall meet, as a Committee for the Affairs of Ireland; and desire the Lords Concurrence herein: And that.. the Members in their House, in that Commission, a proportionable .... of them, may have the like Power to meet, as a Committee, to prepare and consider of Things necessary for Ireland; and to present-the same to both Houses; in regard the Commissioners cannot meet, by reason that divers of them are out of Town, in the Service of the Parliament.

Leave of Absence.

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

Warrant to Bartley.

Ordered, That Mr. Bartley shall have Warrant to pass into France.

Turkish Captives.

WHEREAS, by an Act made this present Parliament, intituled, "An Act for the Relief of the Captives taken by the Turkish, Moorish, and other Pirates, and to prevent the Taking of others in Time to come," all Merchants, as well Denizens as Aliens, for any Goods exported or imported, from the 10th Day of December 1641, during the Term of Three Years then next ensuing, are to pay One in the Hundred, according to the Rates to be established by Parliament, within the Time therein mentioned; the Collection whereof is, by the said Act, committed unto the Care and Trust of the Lord Mayor of London, and the Chamberlain for the Time being, or their Deputies; who have omitted their Duty in not appointing their Deputies in the Out Ports of this Kingdom of England, and Dominion of Wales, whereby an Account of the said Duty might be justly and duly made: And, inasmuch as, by Ordinance made by the Lords and Commons, assembled in Parliament, it is Ordered, That all such Merchants as shall not advance Money by way of Loan, as therein is expressed, shall, at all Times hereafter, upon Entry of their Goods, make Payment of ready Money for the said Goods, according to the Tenor of the said Bill; and likewise all such other Sums of Money as by virtue of the said Bill are due from the said Merchants, upon Bill or otherwise, for Goods by them formerly entered, since the 10th Day of December 1641: And seeing no Man is yet appointed to take Charge of the Execution of the said Collection, in any of the Out Ports, as aforesaid: It is therefore Ordered, by the Lords and Commons, assembled in Parliament, That the Collectors or Commissioners, who have formerly received the several Duties upon Merchandizes, and are now appointed to receive the Customs, according to the Ordinance made in that Behalf, do forthwith give Order unto their several Deputies in the Out Ports of this Kingdom, and Dominion of Wales, to collect the said Duty of One per Cent. of all such Merchants as refuse to pay, by way of Loan, the Customs appointed to be paid by the said Ordinance, as aforesaid; or otherwise to take Bond only of all such others as conform themselves to the Loan of the said Customs, for the Payment of the said One per Cent. or so much thereof as shall be agreed on by the Lords and Commons in Parliament, according to a former Order made to that Effect; and to return their Accounts hereof from time to time, unto the said Commissioners: Who for so doing, shall be saved harmless against any Question whatsoever, by Authority of Parliament.

Member chosen for Ld. Mayor.

The House being this Day informed, That the City of London had made Choice of Alderman Penington, a Member of this House, to be Lord Mayor, in the Place and Stead of Sir Richard Gourney, late Lord Mayor, and since disabled and put out by Judgment of Parliament; and the House being moved, that the said Alderman Penington might take upon him, and attend the Trust of that great Charge, notwithstanding his being a Member of this House; It was

Resolved, upon the Question, That Alderman Penington shall have Leave to take upon him, and to attend the Trust and Charge of the Place of Lord Mayor of the City of London; and notwithstanding, still remain a Member of this House.