House of Commons Journal Volume 3: 20 March 1644

Die Mercurii, 20 Martii, 1643.

PRAYERS.

Customs.

MR. Green reports the Ordinance concerning the Continuance of the Collection of the Customs, in the same Manner and Hands as now it is, until the Twenty-sixth of March 1645, with a Proviso: The which was read; and, by Vote upon the Question, assented unto; and the Ordinance, with the Proviso, by Vote, passed; and ordered to be sent unto the Lords, for their Concurrence.

Army.

Mr. Scawen reports the Amendments to the Ordinance concerning the Army under the immediate Command of my Lord General: The which were Twice read; and the Ordinance, with the Amendments, and with this following Clause, passed; viz.

Resolved, &c.-"Lastly, Be it Ordained and Declared by the Authority aforesaid, That this Army under the immediate Command of the Lord General the Earl of Essex, shall be subject to the Orders and Directions of both Houses in Parliament; or the Committee of both Kingdoms; according to the Ordinance that both establish that Committee."

Resolved, &c. That the Lords Concurrence be desired in this Ordinance.

Archbishop of Canterbury's Trial.

Upon the Petition of the Archbishop of Canterbury, desiring that Sir Rob. Pye, and Mr. Lawrence Whittacre, Members of this House, may be examined at his Trial;

It is Ordered, That they shall have Liberty to be examined in that Cause.

Army.

Ordered, That Mr. Scawen do, on Friday Morning next, acquaint the House with such Doubts as do hinder and obstruct him in preparing the Establishment of the Army.

Lords desire a Conference.

A Message from the Lords, by Serjeant Whittfield and Dr. Aylett;

The Lords desire a Conference, by Committees of both Houses, presently, in the Painted Chamber, if it may stand with the Conveniency of this House, concerning the Business of Peace, brought up to the late Conference; and concerning the Papers from the States Ambassadors, delivered at a Conference Yesterday.

Report to be made.

Ordered, That the Report from the Committee for Ireland, where Mr. Reynolds has the Chair, be made To-morrow Morning, the first Business; and that Mr. Speaker put the House in mind hereof.

Conference.

Mr. Holles, Sir Hen. Vane jun. Mr. Recorder, Mr. Grimston, Mr. Prideaux, are appointed Reporters of this Conference.

Money seized.

Ordered, That, after the Conference, Mr. Whittacre make Report concerning the Thousand Pounds, or thereabouts, seized in Perpoole Lane.

Leicestershire.

Ordered, That the Leicestershire Business be reported To-morrow Morning peremptorily.

Conference with Lords.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; That this House has considered their Lordships Message; and will give a present Meeting at a Conference, as is desired.

Sir H. Vane reports from the Conference, that my Lord Grey of Warke did express the earnest Desire of the Lords, for conserving a good Correspondence between both Houses: And then presented a Paper: Which was read; and in it mentioned, that the Lords had appointed a Committee of Nine, for the Business of Peace; and that they had referred the Papers from the States Ambassadors to the same Committee.

Ordered, That this Business, and this Paper delivered at this Conference, be taken into Consideration To-morrow Morning.

Treating for Peace.

The Lords have always been ready, upon every Occasion, to join with you in any thing that concern the Good of the Kingdom; and are now most willing to agree with you, to consider and prepare Grounds, whereby all his Majesty's Dominions may enjoy a happy and safe Peace: But, whereas it is desired, that the same should be referred to the Committee of the Two Kingdoms, the Lords do consider, that many of the Members of that Committee, both Lords and Commons, are such as are, by their Employment, engaged to be upon Service abroad; and thereby necessitated to be absent from This, which is of so great Importance, and requires the best and ablest Assistance, they having already the whole Care of managing the War: So as to add unto them this further Employment must needs be some Prejudice to the publick Service, so few of them being in a Possibility to attend it.

And the Lords, desiring to retain the antient approved Parliamentary Way, for each House to nominate their own Members as Committees; and this being a new Power to be given unto them; have named a Committee of Nine of their House; and do desire, that you will name a proportionable Number of your House to join with them, to treat with the Commissioners of Scotland for the Purpose aforesaid.

And the Lords are the rather encouraged to expect a chearful Concurrence from you, because the Ordinance, that came from you, did restrain the Committee, in the former Ordinance, from treating of Peace: And they have now named their own Members, if any Delay be used in a Business they so much desire to advance and expedite, they hope it will not be imputed to them.

Money seized.

Mr. Whittacre reports from the Committee appointed to consider of the Business concerning the Nine hundred Pounds found in Perepoole Lane: Whereupon it was

Resolved, upon the Question, that That Business should be re-committed to the same Committee.