House of Commons Journal Volume 3: 29 March 1644

Die Veneris, 29 Martii, 1644.

PRAYERS.

Isle of Wighte Committee.

Sir Hen. Worsley, Sir Tho. Cheeke, Sir Antho. Irby, Sir Walt. Erle, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Oldesworth, Mr. Stevens, Mr. Salloway, Sir Jo. Draydon, Sir Edm. Fowell, Sir Jo. Curson, Mr. Grantham, Sir Edw. Aiscoughe, Sir Martin Lister, Sir Edw. Hungerforde, Mr. Bond, Mr. Broxham, Sir Pet. Wentworth, Mr. Montague, Sir Jo. Corbett, Mr. Buller, Mr. White, * Barrington, are added to the Committee for the Isle of Wighte: And are to meet this Afternoon, at Two a Clock, in the Court of Star Chamber.

Observing Lord's Day.

An Ordinance for the observing of the Lord's Day, was this Day read the First and Second time; and, upon Question, committed unto Sir Walt. Erle, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Maynard, Mr. Strode, Sir Jo. Clottworthy, Sir Peter Wentworth, Mr. Asheherst, Mr. Hill, Sir Rob. Harley, Mr. Jennour, Mr. White, Lieutenant of the Tower, Mr. Gourdon, Sir Simonds D'Ewes, Sir Tho. Barrington, Mr. Prideaux, Sir Wm. Alanson, Sir Jo. Corbett: And all that will come to have Voices: And are to meet To-morrow, at Two post Meridiem, in the Exchequer Chamber: And have Power to send for Parties, Witnesses, Papers, and Records: And are to bring it in on Tuesday Morning next: And the Care of it is especially recommended to Sir Rob. Harley.

Affairs at Newarke.

A Letter from the Governor of Nottingham Castle, of the Twenty-fifth of March; and the Copy of a Letter from some Gentlemen in Newarke, to the Governor of Nottingham Castle, of the same Date; touching the Business at Newarke; were this Day read: And

It is Ordered, That they be referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms: And the Gentlemen that are come from thence, are to attend the Committee to give them further Informations.

Grounds of Peace, &c.

Mr. Prideaux reported the Reasons to be offered to the Lords at a Conference, for the adhering to their former Votes, of referring the Grounds of a just Peace, and the Papers from the States Ambassadors, to the Committee of both Kingdoms: The which were read; and assented unto; and ordered to be delivered to the Lords, at a Conference (fn. a).

Message to Lords.

Sir H. Mildmay is appointed to go to the Lords, to desire a free Conference, so soon as may stand with their Lordships Conveniency, upon the Matter of a late Conference, touching the referring of the Grounds of a just Peace; and the Papers from the States Ambassadors.

He is likewise to carry up to the Lords, the Ordinance concerning the County of Northampton.

Prisoners of War.

Resolved, &c. That the Committee of Prisoners shall have Power to discharge all such common Soldiers, Prisoners of War, as shall take an Oath never to bear Arms against the Parliament or any Forces raised by Authority of Parliament.

Ordered, That the Hertfordshire Forces do conduct the Prisoners that now are under their Conduct, to London, to the Committee of Prisoners, to dispose of the same Prisoners.

Naval Officers.

Ordered, That the Report of the List of the Officers of this next Summer's Fleet, be made To-morrow Morning, the first Business.

Childbed Linen, &c. for the Queen.

A Message from the Lords, by Serjeant Whitfield and Mr. Page;

That the Lords formerly granted Leave to Mrs. Hodges, to provide some Childbed Linen for the Queen; and have now received a Petition from Mrs. Hodges, desiring Leave to convey the same Childbed Linen to Oxforde, to the Queen; and also, from Mr. Browne, of the Wardrobe, to convey some Necessaries to the Queen; and that the Things may be viewed, and sealed up; and that they may have a Pass to go, accordingly: Which the Lords hold reasonable; and do desire your Concurrence, that they may have Pass accordingly. -

Pardon of Prisoners.

Ordered, By the and Commons, That the Commissioners of the Great Seal be hereby required to pass a Pardon, in the usual Manner, to such convicted Prisoners of Newgate, as are certified by Mr. Recorder, and are specified in a particular List hereunto annexed.

Answer to Lords.

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

Conference with Lords, &c.

Sir H. Mildmay brings Answer, That the Lords will give a present Meeting, at a free Conference, by Committees of both Houses, as is desired: And as to the Ordinance concerning Northamptonshire, they will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

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

Antinomians, &c.

Ordered, That Sir H. Mildmay do prepare and bring in an Ordinance for suppressing the unlawful assembling and meeting together of Antinomians and Anabaptists; and the venting their erroneous and schisinatical Opinions, in the Countries as well as in London.

Isle of Elye.

An Ordinance for securing the Isle of Elye, and maintaining the Garison there, for the Defence thereof, was this Day read the First and Second time; and, by Vote upon the Question, committed unto the Committee of the Associations: Who are to meet upon it, this Afternoon, in the Duchy Court; and are to bring it in on Monday Morning next.

Lords desire a Conference.

A Message from the Lords, by Serjeant Whitfield and Mr. Page;

The Lords do desire a present Conference, by a Committee of both Houses, if it may stand with the Conveniency of this House, in the Painted Chamber, concerning the Matter of the last Conference.

Excise.

Ordered, That this Business concerning the Propositions from the Commissioners of Excise, be taken into Consideration To-morrow Morning, the first Business.

Conference agreed to.

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

Mr. Prideaux, Sir H. Vane jun. Mr. Holles, are appointed Reporters of this Conference.

Grounds of Peace, &c.

The House of Commons, taking into Consideration the Matter of the last Conference from your Lordships, concerning the Grounds of Peace, and the Papers of the Dutch Ambassadors; do not find any Cause but that they should adhere to their own Votes concerning the same: And therefore have thought fit, at this Conference, once again to desire your Lordships Concurrence with them therein: By which they are the rather encouraged, in respect your Lordships have declared yourselves, That in your Lordships Judgment, That which now rests in this Matter between the Two Houses, is but a Circumstance: Which, notwithstanding, the House of Commons do esteem a Matter very essential to the Good of the Publick; as by their Reasons, remaining with your Lordships, doth clearly appear: And that the Committee of Nine, desired by your Lordships, should be assented unto by the House of Commons, the Work of them that are of the Committee of both Kingdoms must necessarily thereby be exceedingly retarded, if not made altogether fruitless. And the House of Commons do assure themselves, from the Willingness which is expressed by your Lordships, of holding a good Correspondency between the Two Houses, that your Lordships would rather think fit to dispense with That, which, in your Judgments, is but a Circumstance, and which is attended with so much Prejudice to the Publick, than to expect the Consent of the House of Commons, to what your Lordships have propounded in this Particular, they having endeavoured to give your Lordships all possible Satisfaction in this Business, by several Conferences; the expediting whereof they hold to be of very great Importance, and such as cannot well admit any further Delay, as they find your Lordships do acknowledge: And therefore do promise themselves Concurrence from your Lordships.