House of Commons Journal Volume 3: 5 March 1644

Die Martis, 5 Martii, 1643.

PRAYERS.

Importing Currans.

MR. Pury reports the Amendments to the Ordinance for importing Currans of the Growth of Zant and Cephalonia, paying Six Shillings the Hundred Weight over and above Excise and Custom, the Proceed to be employed for the Service of Gloucester: The which were read Twice; and assented unto; and the Ordinance, with the Amendments, by Vote upon the Question, assented unto; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords, for their Concurrence.

Merchant Adventurers Loan.

An Ordinance for securing Ten thousand Pounds, payable to the Merchant Adventurers, out of the Income of the Excise upon the Twelfth of July next, forborn by them, and lent to the Lord Fairefaxe; and to be paid in September next; was this Day read; and, by Vote upon the Question, assented unto; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords, for their Concurrence.

Money for Army.

An Ordinance for paying of Ten thousand Pounds, forborn by the Merchant Adventurers for Three Months, to Mr. White, Agent to the Lord Fairefaxe, for the Northern Army under his Command, and the Forces under the Command of Sir Thomas Fairefaxe, was this Day read; and, by Vote upon the Question, assented unto; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords, for their Concurrence.

Advance from Excise.

Whereas Jo. Towse Esquire, and Alderman of the City of London, and the rest of the Commissioners of Excise and new Impost, have, upon a late Ordinance of both Houses of Parliament, dated the First of February last, for the Payment of Twenty thousand Pounds, out of the Receipts of the Excise, towards the Recruit of his Excellency the Lord General's Army, advanced and lent Ten thousand Pounds thereof; Be it hereby Ordained, by the Lords and Commons, in Parliament assembled, That the said Jo. Towse Esquire, and Alderman of the City of London, and the rest of the Commissioners of Excise and new Impost aforesaid, shall and may repay themselves the said Ten thousand Pounds, with Interest after the Rate of Eight per Cent. out of the Receipts of the Excise, by Ordinance of the Eleventh of September last, within such Intervals of Time as other Ordinances of Parliament shall not happen to fall due, to be paid according to the several Dates thereof.

Prisoners to be sent up.

Ordered, That Colonel Warren, Colonel Monck, Sir Michael Ernley, and the Officers that came out of Ireland, that were taken Prisoners at the late Fight near Namptwiche, be forthwith sent up in safe Custody to the Parliament.

Money discovered, &c.

Ordered, That the Thousand Pounds, or thereabouts, discovered in an Alehouse near Gray's Inn, remain deposited where now it is, till the Business be further examined; and that if, after further Examination, the Money shall appear to be sequestrable and forfeitable to the State, it shall be paid unto Sir Tho. Middleton, upon Account, according to an Ordinance of Parliament; it being discovered by him: And that what Monies of the Lady Shelleye's Estate, a Papist, deceased, shall accrue to the State, shall be paid to Sir Tho. Middleton, upon Account; it being discovered by Sir Tho. Middleton.

Proceedings against Butler, &c.

Ordered, That Mr. Reynolds, Sir Jo. Clottworthy, Mr. Prideaux, and the Lord Lisle, do prepare and draw up the Matter of Proof against Sir F. Butler and Colonel Warren, and the rest of the Commanders come out of Ireland, taken in the late Fight near Namptwiche, concerning their Miscarriages in Ireland.

Conference with Lords.

Sir H. Mildmay is appointed to go to the Lords, to acquaint their Lordships, That, whereas Yesterday a Conference was prayed by their Lordships, and granted; and a Conference prayed by this House, and granted; and that a Debate intervening, it was not possible for this House to come up to those Conferences: Which they are now ready to do; and desire, that if it may stand with their Lordships Conveniency, that the said Conferences may be now presently.

League and Covenant.

Resolved, That the Manner of tendering taking of the National League and Covenant in the Kingdom of Ireland be referred to the Consideration of the Committee of both Kingdoms.

Oath of Secrecy.

I A. B. do, in the Presence and by the Name of God Almighty, promise and swear to be faithful in this Trust committed unto me; and that I will not reveal or disclose any thing, in Whole, or in Part, directly or indirectly, that shall be debated or resolved upon by this Committee, without the Command or Direction of those by whom I am intrusted; or without the Order of the major Part of this Committee, or of the major Part of them which shall be present at such Debates or Resolutions.

The like Order, for the taking of this Oath by the Members of this House that are of the Committee of both Houses, was made for this Oath; and carried up to the Lords, with the Oath at this Conference.

Answer from Lords.

Sir H. Mildmay brings Answer, That the Lords will give a present Meeting, as is desired.

Letters from the King.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Robert Rich and Mr. Page;

The Lords have commanded us to acquaint you, that there are Letters come to that House, that are signed by the King; and the Lords do desire, that the Committee formerly appointed to consider of the Letters formerly sent to the Lord General, may presently meet in the Prince's Lodgings, to consider of these Letters.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; That this House has considered their Lordships Message; and have appointed the Committee formerly appointed for the Letters sent to my Lord General, to meet presently in the Painted Chamber, as is desired.

Mr. Rous, Mr. Solicitor, Mr. Maynard, Mr. Whitelock, are appointed Managers and Reporters of this Conference.

Report deferred.

Ordered, That Sir H. Vane do proceed in his Report, this Day begun, the First Business To-morrow Morning: And Mr. Speaker to put the House in mind of it.

Payments to Carre, &c.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Rob. Riche and Mr. Page;

The Lords have returned an Order, which they Yesterday received, for the Payment of an Hundred Pounds to Colonel Carre; and Forty Pounds to Captain Bushell, and Captain Cromwell; which they assent unto, with one Amendment; viz. Whereas the said Monies were to be had out of Haberdashers Hall: That they might be had out of the King's Revenue:

The Amendments to the Order were read: And

Resolved, upon the Question, to adhere to the Order as it went from hence.

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

Money for Army.

Ordered, That the Committee for the Western Counties; and the Committee, made the Twenty-seventh of February, for providing of Monies to pay Sir Wm. Waller's Troops; be enjoined; and do meet this Afternoon, to raise Monies for enabling Sir Wm. Waller to march; and for the constant Pay of his own Troops.

Report.

Sir Ph. Stapilton reports, That the Committee of the Lords and Commons * * * *

King's Letter.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Rob. Riche and Mr. Page;

The Lords have resolved, That their Committee for the King's Letter shall meet To-morrow, at Eight of Clock, in the Prince's Lodgings; and desire that this Committee might meet at the same Place and Time; concerning the opening of the King's Letter.

Ordered, That the Committee shall meet To-morrow at Eight of Clock, as is desired.

Answer returned by the same Messengers;

The House hath resolved, that That Committee shall meet To-morrow at Eight of Clock, as is desired.

Importing Currans.

Whereas, by an Ordinance of both Houses of Parliament, dated 26 Augusti 1642, it is Ordained, for the Reasons therein expressed, that from and after the last Day of September 1642, no Currans should be imported into the Kingdom of England, or Dominion of Wales, by any Merchants or others, by way of Merchandize or otherwise, from any Parts beyond the Seas; but the Importation thereof is thereby utterly prohibited and forbidden: Now, forasmuch as, since the making of the said Ordinance, the Enemy is possessed of divers Havens and Port Towns of the said Kingdom, where Currans are daily imported; whereby the Benefit of the said Ordinance cannot be made useful for the publick Good of the Kingdom, as was intended; the Lords and Commons, now assembled in Parliament, do Order, Ordain, and Declare, That, from and after the Twelfth Day of this Instant February, it shall and may be lawful to and for all Merchants and others, by way of Merchandize or otherwise, to import and land any Currans of the Growth of Zant and Cepholonia into the Port of London, or any other Port in the Power of the Parliament, within Six Months after the Publication of this Ordinance, from any Parts beyond the Seas; paying Six Shillings per Cent. for every Hundred Weight of the said Currans, over and above the Custom and Excise due for the same; the said Ordinance of Prohibition to the contrary in any wise notwithstanding: And the Commissioners of the Customs are hereby required to take Entries for the said Currans, and to receive, of the said Merchants and others, the said Six Shillings per Cent. for every Hundred Weight, over and above the Custom and Excise as aforesaid: And the Proceed of the said Six Shillings per Cent. the said Commissioners are hereby required to pay over unto Nathaniel Stephens, Thomas Hodges, and Thomas Pury Esquires, Members of the House of Commons, for the Use of the Garison of the City of Gloucester, upon Account; taking their Receipt for the same: Which shall be, to the said Commissioners, and every of them, a sufficient Discharge, in that Behalf.

Merchant Adventurers Loan.

Whereas the Lords and Commons, assembled in Parliament, having, for the Service of the Commonwealth, treated with the Fellowship of Merchant Adventurers of England, for the Loan of Thirty thousand Pounds, upon the Security of the Income of Excise, or new Impost, did, the Seventh of October last, ordain, That, for the Repayment of the said Thirty thousand Pounds, Ten thousand Pounds, with Interest, should be repaid unto the Treasurer of the said Fellowship of Merchant Adventurers, on the Tenth Day of January last; a Second Ten thousand Pounds, with like Allowance of Interest, on the Eleventh Day of April following; and the last Ten thousand Pounds, with the Remainder of like Interest, on the Twentieth Day of July next; as by the said recited Ordinance more fully appeareth: Forasmuch as, upon further Treaty with the said Fellowship of Merchants Adventurers, they are willing, for the further Accommodation of the Commonwealth, to respite the Receipt of their said last Ten thousand Pounds, until the First Day of September next ensuing, the Interest thereof being paid on the said Twelfth of July; it is thereupon hereby Ordained, by the said Lords and Commons, That Ten thousand Pounds, with Interest, after the Rate of Eight Pounds per Cent. shall be repaid unto the Treasurer of the said Fellowship of Merchant Adventurers of England, for the Time being, residing in London, on the First Day of September next ensuing: Which said Ten thousand Pounds, with Interest, the Commissioners of Excise are hereby authorized and required to make due Payment of accordingly at the Day aforesaid; the Seal of the said Fellowship, witnessing the Receipt of all or any Part thereof, to be a sufficient Discharge, from time to time, to the said Commissioners. And the said Lords and Commons do hereby declare, That they will not pass or permit any other Assignment upon the said Security of Excise and new Impost, to proceed the said Fellowship in their Receipts: And if, in the Interim, the said Income of Excise and new Impost should fall short, or otherwise surcease, the said Lords and Commons will, nevertheless, provide for the Repayment of the said Fellowship, according to the true Intent of this Ordinance.

Money for Army.

It is this Day Ordained, by the Lords and Commons, assembled in Parliament, That Ten thousand Pounds, with Interest after the Rate of Eight Pounds per Cent. payable by virtue of an Ordinance of the Seventh of October last, from the Commissioners of Excise, out of the Income of the Excise or new Impost, unto the Treasurer of the Fellowship of the Merchant Adventurers of England, on the Twelfth Day of July next, shall be paid, towards the Maintenance of the Northern Army under the Command of the Right honourable Ferdinando Lord Fairfax, and of the Forces under the Command of Sir Thomas Fairfax, unto Wm. White Esquire, his Lordship's Agent, or to such Person or Persons as shall have Order from him, under his Hand and Seal, to receive the same or any Part or Portion thereof: Which said Ten thousand Pounds, with Interest, the said Commissioners of the Excise are hereby authorized and required duly to pay, at the Time aforesaid, accordingly: And the Receipt of the said Wm. White, or any other Person or Persons by his Order, under his Hand and Seal as aforesaid, of all or any Part of the said Sum of Ten thousand Pounds, with Interest, shall be, unto the said Commissioners, a sufficient Discharge; any thing in the aforesaid Ordinance of the Seventh of October, to the contrary thereof in any wise notwithstanding: Provision being made, by and with the Consent and Approbation of the said Fellowship of Merchants Adventurers, for the makeing good of the said Payment unto them at a further Time; as, by an Ordinance in that Behalf, bearing Date herewith, appeareth.