House of Commons Journal Volume 3: 19 March 1644

Die Martis, 19 Martii, 1643.

PRAYERS.

Merchants Petition.

THE humble Petition of the Fellowship of English Merchants, for the Discovery of new Trade, was this Day read: And

It is Ordered, That the Consideration of it be referred to the Committee for the East India Company: And all, that will come, are to have Voices: And are to meet upon it peremptorily on Thursday next, at Two post Meridiem, in the Exchequer Court: And have Power to receive all Petitions from Yarmouth, or any other Place, concerning the same Business: And have Power to send for Parties, Witnesses, Papers, Records.

Salt-petre.

Mr. Nicoll reports the Amendments to the Ordinance for Salt-petre: The which were read; and, by Vote upon the Question, assented unto; and ordered to be fair written.

Naval Affairs.

A Letter from the Earl of Warwick, of the Fifteenth of March, and a Letter from him, of the Eighteenth of March, with an Extract of Captain Jorden's, and Captain Thomas his Letter from Portsmouth and Stokes Bay; relating their chasing of the Earl of Marleborough, and takeing of Four Prizes of good Value, the one, of Thirteen Guns, belonging to Lima; and a List of the Commanders of the Summer's Fleet.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of the Navy, to consider of the Number and Burthen of the Ships fit to be employed as the next Summer's Fleet, for securing of the Kingdom and Trade, with regard to be had of the Purse and Stock of the Kingdom, employable for that Purpose: And that they shall have Power to confer with the Committee of both Kingdoms upon this Business, if they shall see Cause: And are to meet upon it To-morrow, at Two post Meridiem, in the Star Chamber: And all the Members that are of that Committee are appointed to attend this Business: And they are speedily to return their Opinions upon this Business to the House: And they are likewise to consider of and prepare some Rules to be observed in the Matter of Convoy and Waftage, by the Ships of the next Summer's Fleet.

Mr. Jo. Ashe, Mr. Bond, Mr. Grimston, Sir Wm. Strickland, Mr. Scawen, Sir Tho. Barrington, Mr. Rolle, Mr. Gourdon, Mr. Spurstoe, Mr. Green, Sir Jo. Bampfield, Sir Anth. Irby, Mr. Corbett, Sir Hen. Mildmay, Mr. Cage, Mr. Jephson, Mr. Vassall, Mr. Prideaux, Mr. Bence, Sir Henry Heyman, Sir Gilb. Pykering, Mr. Ed. Ashe;

This Committee is appointed to consider of the List . . the Officers and Commanders, to be employed in the next Summer's Fleet; and to receive and examine the Informations concerning the Abuses in the Matter of Convoy and Waftage: And have Power to confer with my Lord Admiral, about the Officers and Commanders of the said Fleet; and to observe the same Directions, in point of Secrecy, as the Committee for the Lord General's List; and to present their Opinions to the House, of the said Officers: And are to meet this Afternoon, at Two of Clock, in the Duehy Court: And have Power to send for Parties, Witnesses, Papers, Records.

Message to Lords.

Sir Rob. Pye carried up to the Lords, besides the Messages Yesterday appointed, The Ordinance for opening Trade to Sunderland and Blythe; The Ordinance for Payment of the Arrears to Captain Guillaume, &c.; The Ordinance concerning Cheshire: And was to desire a Conference, concerning the Amendments to the Ordinance touching the Four associated Counties.

Scotts Army, &c.

A Letter from the Committee with the Scotts Army, of the Twelfth of March, relating the coming over of the Scotts over the Tyne, on the Twenty-eighth of February; and likewise some Letters inclosed concerning the Forces in Ireland; were this Day read: And

It is Ordered, That these Letters concerning Ireland, be referred to the Committee for the Affairs of Ireland, where Mr. Reynolds has the Chair: And they are to meet upon it this Afternoon; and to confer with the Committee of both Kingdoms concerning it; and afterwards to make Report to the House with all Speed.

Answer from Lords.

Sir Rob. Pye brings Answer, That the Lords do agree to a present Conference, concerning the Papers from the State Ambassadors, and concerning the Ordinance for the Four associated Counties, and the Lord Edw. Howard's: And, as touching the other Ordinances and Orders carried up by him, they will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Conference.

Sir H. Vane jun. Sir H. Mildmay, Mr. Prideaux, Mr. Lisle, are appointed Managers of this Conference.

Leave to visit a Prisoner.

Ordered, That Sir Jo. Trevor, the Lord Wenman, and Mr. F. Drake, shall have Liberty to visit Sir Alexander Denton, Prisoner in the Tower.

Army.

Ordered, That, To-morrow Morning, the first Business, Mr. Scawen do report the Ordinance concerning my Lord General's Army; and that no other Business intervene: And that Mr. Speaker put the House in mind hereof.

Message from Lords.

A Message from the Lords, by * * * *

The Lords having formerly received from this House a List, concerning the regulating of the Family at Saint James's, with some Alterations, and do agree to the List, with those Amendments.

They have likewise sent down an Ordinance concerning Currans: In which they desire the Concurrence of this House.

Ordinance agreed to.

The Ordinance was read; and, by Vote upon the Question, assented unto.

King's Children.

The Amendments to the List, concerning the Family at Saint James's, were likewise read; and, by Vote upon the Question, assented unto.

Letter referred.

A Letter from Sir Wm. Armyn and the Marquis of Argyll, from Sunderland, of the Eleventh of March, was read: And

It is Ordered, That this Letter be referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms, to take into Consideration; especially That Part that concerns the King of Denmarke, and the Crown of Swede.

Coal Trade.

Ordered, That the Members that serve for any of the Ports that are under the Power of the Parliament, to write down to their Ports, to encourage them to trade to Sunderland and Blythe, for Coals; and to carry down Provisions to supply those Counties, and the Army there.

List of Officers.

Resolved, &c. That the List of the Officers of Sir Wm. Waller's Brigade be referred to the Committee of the Western Gentlemen, in the like Manner, and with the like Directions, in point of Secrecy, as the List of my Lord General's Army was referred: And That Committee have Power to nominate a Sub-Committee, upon this Business.

Earl of Arundell's Jewels.

Ordered, That the Jewels of the Earl of Arundell's, now deposited in the Custody of Sir Thomas Woodhouse, be forthwith sent up to this House; and that the Consideration of the Property of those Jewels, be referred to the Committee of the Western Gentlemen, to examine unto whom they do properly belong: And, out of the Proceed thereof, if they shall prove sequestrable, and to belong to the State, that the Arms engaged for by Sir Arth. Hesilrig, be paid out of it.

Ashe's Accounts.

Ordered, That Mr. John and Mr. Edw. Ashe do shew their Accounts, this Afternoon, to Sir Arth. Hesilrig, concerning the Monies disbursed by them, for the Service of the West, and received.

Tonage and Poundage.

Ordered, That the Grand Committee of the whole House do presently meet, to consider of the Ordinance concerning Tonage and Poundage.

Letter referred.

Ordered, That the Letter from the Committee at Lewes, of the Second of March, be referred to the Consideration of the Committee of both Kingdoms.

Ordered, That a Stay be made of all Rents due to

Oxford University.

the University of Oxford, or to any of the Colleges or Halls at Oxford, for any Lands or Leases held of them; and that the several Tenants do detain the same Rents in their Hands, till this House give further Order: And, particularly, Sir Thomas Barrington is required to detain what Rents he or his Lady hath in their, Hands, due to University College in Oxford, till this House take further Order.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Cambridge, to consider what former Orders or Ordinances have been made, concerning the Stay or Payment of Rents to the several Universities, or to any of the Colleges in the Universities; and to present to the House what they think fit to be done, concerning the Rents due to the several Colleges and Halls at Oxford.

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 Ports 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 February last, it shall and may be lawful to and for all Merchants of the Levant Company, by way of Merchandize, or otherwise, to import, in English Bottoms, any Currans of the Growth of Zant and Cepholonia; and to land them into the Port of London, or any other Port within the Power of the Parliament, within Twelve Months next after the Publication of this Ordinance, from any Ports beyond the Seas; paying Six Shillings per Cent. for every Hundred Weight of the said Currans over and above the Customs 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, the said Six Shillings per Cent. for every Hundred Weight, over and above the Customs and Excise, as aforesaid: And the Proceed of the said Six Shillings per Cent., the said Commissioners are hereby required to pay over to Nathaniel Stephens, Thomas Hodges, and Thomas Pury, Esquires, Members of the House of Commons, for the Use of the Garison 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.