House of Commons Journal Volume 3: 15 May 1644

Die Mercurii, 15 Maii, 1644.

PRAYERS.

Serjeant at Arms.

RESOLVED, &c. That this House doth approve of Edw. Birkett, Serjeant at Arms to attend the Seal. Mr. Browne is appointed to carry up this Vote to the Lords for their Concurrence: And is to acquaint them with the Necessity of passing the Ordinance concerning Writs of Error; and to desire them to expedite it.

Army.

A Letter from my Lord General, of Maii 14 representing that the Draught Horses are not come in, according to Promise; and that it would be an Act of great Charity to provide Shoes for the common Soldier; was this Day read; and ordered to be referred to the Gentlemen of the Associations; together with the List of such Horse as are received: And are to take some Course, that the Horse may speedily be provided, and sent according to their respective Engagements: And that they consider of some Course, for Security to be given to the respective Counties for the said Horse: And to present it to the House.

Ordered, That the Committee at Northampton do contract for Two thousand Pair of Shoes, to be sent with all convenient Speed to the common Soldier of my Lord General's Army: And that they do repay themselves out of the Monies that come in upon the Excise in the Town of Northampton: And Mr. Knightley is appointed to write to the Committee at Northampton, to this Purpose.

Mr. Speaker is appointed to write to my Lord General, to acquaint him what this House has done, concerning Shoes for the common Soldier of his Army.

Sir William Waller.

Ordered, That Sir Wm. Waller do forthwith go down to his own Charge.

Army Pay.

The humble Petition of Colonel Rich. Norton, desiring Pay for his Soldiers, who have received very little since their first Entertainment, was this Day read.

Resolved, &c. That Two thousand Pounds shall be paid to Colonel Rich. Norton, upon Account, towards the Pay of the Arrears due to his Forces, out of the Arrears and growing Profits of the Court of Wards; to be paid next after the Assignments already set upon the Revenue of that Court.

Washborne's Troop.

Resolved, &c. That Colonel Harvey be enjoined forthwith to issue a proportionable Part out of the Recruit Monies assigned unto him, unto Colonel Washborne, to complete his Troop with Horse and Arms: And that the Committee for the Militia be desired to see this done accordingly.

Sir H. Mildmay, and Mr. Ashe, are appointed to acquaint the Committee of the Militia with this Order.

Shoes for Army.

Resolved, &c. That Two thousand Pair of Shoes shall be forthwith provided for the common Soldier of my Lord General's Army, upon the Credit of the Excise: And that Mr. Nicoll do take care for the providing of this Proportion of Shoes.

Letter concerning the King.

Resolved, &c. That a Letter be written to his Excellency to this Purpose; To acquaint his Lordship with the flying Rumour spread here, of his Majesty's coming to his Parliament; to desire him, if there be any Grounds for it, to endeavour to find it out; and not to do any thing therein, till the Houses be first acquainted with it; and his Lordship receive their Directions therein.

Removing suspicious Persons, &c.

Ordered, That Directions be given to the Lord Mayor, Court of Aldermen, and the Committee of the Militia, to take some special and strict Course for the Removal of all suspicious Persons, and all such as have lately come from Oxon, or any other of the King's Quarters, and the Wives of Recusants, and the Wives of such Persons as are in Arms against the Parliament, out of the Cities of London and Westminster, and the Suburbs, the Inns of Court and Chancery, and all other Places within the Line of Communication; and to take some Course to prevent the Return of them, or the coming in of any other: And likewise to take Order, That all the Forces of the Cities of London, Westminster, Suburbs, and Line of Communication, may be put in a Posture ready to march at two Hours Warning: And that they will give Order, That good Watches, by faithful and good Men, may be kept at all the Guards, and upon all the Avenues to the City.

The like Directions, mutatis mutandis, to be sent to the several and respective Committees of the several and respective Counties.

They are further required, That if, upon the Search after suspicious Persons, they shall meet with any Soldiers, that they take Course that they may be sent to their Colours, to be proceeded with according to their Demerits, and the Course of War.

Sir H. Mildmay, Mr. Recorder, Mr. Ashe, Mr. Vassall, Sir Tho. Soame, Sir Martin Lumley, are appointed to acquaint the Lord Mayor, Court of Aldermen, Common Council, and the Committee of the Militia, with this Order.

Ordered, That the several Keepers of the several and respective Prisons be strictly enjoined, at their Peril, not to permit any of their Prisoners to go abroad, nor any Persons to have Access unto them, but such as bring them their Provisions; and not to suffer any Intercourse by Messages, or Messengers, between the Prisoners of one Prison and another.

Committee of both Kingdoms.

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

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 Committee of both Kingdoms.

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

Mr. Ellis, Mr. Holles, Sir H. Mildmay, are appointed Reporters of this Conference.

Colonel Middleton, &c.

Upon the humble Petition of Colonel John Middleton, Colonel James Holborne, Captain Gilb. Ker, and Captain James Ennis, this Day read in the House, the House doth think fit, that they forthwith repair to their Charges.

Waller's Petition.

The humble Petition of Edm. Waller, late a Member of this House, was this Day read; and ordered to be taken into further Consideration, on Saturday Morning next.

Windesore Garison.

Ordered, That Mr. Pierrepont do, To-morrow, report the Business concerning Windesore Garison.

Sir Thomas Middleton, &c.

Ordered, That the Report concerning Sir Tho. Middleton, and Sir Wm. Brereton, be made the first Business, To-morrow Morning.

Answer from Lords.

Mr. Browne reports, the Lords do agree to the Ordinance for the Writs of Error; and to the Letter to be sent to my Lord General.

Colonel King, &c.

Ordered, That the Committee appointed to examine the Business of Newarke, do meet this Afternoon; and consider of the Letter of the Earl of Manchester, concerning Colonel King; and of the Desire, now presented to the House, on Sir Miles Hobbart and Sir Jo. Palgrave's Behalf: And present their Opinions to this House.

Committee of both Kingdoms.

Mr. Ellis reports, That the Lord Grey expressed their great Desire of maintaining a good Correspondence between the two Houses: And then the Earl of Stamford presented a Paper: Which was read; purporting a Desire, that this House would send up an Ordinance, with a Blank, for the Names of their Members.

The Question being put, whether this House should send up a new Ordinance to the Lords, concerning the Committee of both Kingdoms, as is desired by the Lords;

It passed with the Negative.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee formerly appointed to prepare Reasons for adhering to the Earl of Manchester's Ordinance as it went from hence, to prepare an Answer to this Paper from the Lords; and to justify the Proceedings of this House upon the former Ordinance concerning the Committee of both Kingdoms: And they are to meet upon this Business this Afternoon: And to make Report To-morrow Morning.

Serjeant at Arms.

Ordered, by the Lords and Commons, That Edw. Byrkhead Esquire, nominated by the Commissioners of the Great Seal of England, to be Serjeant at Arms to attend the said Great Seal, shall have and enjoy that Place, with the Advantages thereunto incident, for his Life: And, that the Commissioners for the said Great Seal do give effectual Warrant to Mr. Solicitor General to prepare a Bill, containing a Grant of the same Office to the said Edw. Birkhead: Which Bill, together with this Ordinance, shall be a good Warrant to the said Commissioners, for passing the same under the Great Seal accordingly.