House of Commons Journal Volume 3: 8 January 1644

Die Lunæ, Januarii 8, 1643.

PRAYERS.

Recruiting the Army.

ORDERED, That the Grand Committee of the whole House do meet To-morrow, at Nine of Clock, to proceed with the Ordinances for recruiting the Army under the immediate Command of his Excellency my Lord General.

Taking of Arundell Castle.

A Letter, from Sir Wm. Waller, of the Sixth of January, from Arundell; relating the rendering of Arundell Castle unto him, with all Colours, Arms, Ammunition, therein, upon fair Quarter; and a List of the Officers, Soldiers, and other Prisoners there taken; was this Day read.

Ordered, That Mr. Recorder do desire the Committee of the Militia, that they will send present Order and Directions to Serjeant Major General Browne to march with the City Regiments to Sir Wm. Waller: And he is to communicate unto them, the Letter from Sir Wm. Waller; and the List of the Prisoners taken.

Surgeon of Saint Thomas' Hospital.

Ordered, That Mr. Cleere Surgeon be recommended to the Master and Governors of Saint Thomas' Hospital, to be chosen into the Place of Serjeant Major Moulins, Surgeon to the said Hospital, and now taken in Arms at Arundell Castle against the Parliament.

Master of Leicester Hospital.

Ordered, That the Place of the Master of the Hospital at Leicester, be sequestered from Dr. Chillingworth taken with the Forces in Arms against the Parliament at Arundell Castle, to the Benefit and Advantage of Mr. Gray, Minister, Brother to the Earl of Kent.

Excise.

Sir Rob. Pye, Sir Henry Mildmay, Alderman Pennington, Mr. Spurstoe, Mr. Prideaux, Mr. Reynolds, Sir H. Vane sen. Mr. Whittlock, Mr. Holland, Mr. Jo. Goodwyn, Mr. Maynard, Mr. Trenchard, Mr. Vassall, Mr. Rolle, Mr. Beddingfield, Mr. Green, Sir Gilb. Gerard, Mr. Scawen, Sir Jo. Wray;

This Committee is appointed to join with the former Committee for the Excise: And are to see and peruse the Books of Accounts and Entries of the Commissioners of Excise; and to know what Officers they do employ: And to consider of the whole State of the Business; and what other Officers, or other Matter, will be needful for the Advance of the Business: And they are to inquire into the State of their Cash, and of their Anticipations; and into the Obstructions, and into the Reasons, Grounds, and Causes of them, at such an Instant of Time as this is; and of a fit Means to remove them: And have Power to send for their Books of Accounts, and Entries, and Parties, and Witnesses, as Occasion shall require: And are to take care, that the Ordinance for Four thousand Pounds to Sir Wm. Waller be forthwith complied with, and speedily sent unto him: And are to give an Account of this whole Business, at the next Sitting of the House: And this Committee, or any Six of them, are to meet To-morrow Morning, at Eight of Clock, at the Excise Office.

The Care hereof is especially referred to Sir H. Vane sen.

Loan from Merchant Adventurers.

Resolved, &c. That it be referred to the Committee of the Navy, to treat with the Company of Merchant Adventurers, for the Loan of Ten thousand Pounds, upon the Credit of the Excise, to be employed for the Service of the Western Counties.

Letter to Sir Wm. Waller.

Sir H. Vane jun. and Sir Arth. Heselrig are appointed to prepare a Letter, to be signed by Mr. Speaker, and sent to Sir Wm. Waller, to congratulate his great and good Success; and to encourage him, according to his own Intentions, to prosecute the Advantages it has pleased God to bless him with.

Aylesbury Garison.

Resolved, &c. That the Committee at Haberdashers Hall do, out of the deposited Monies there, forthwith pay Fifteen hundred Pounds to the Treasurers at Guildhall; and that they do forthwith pay the said Fifteen hundred Pounds to Sir Gilb. Gerard, Treasurer at Wars; for the Garison at Aylesbury: And that the Lords Concurrence be desired herein.

Ordered, That this Fifteen hundred Pounds be borrowed of the Committee at Haberdashers Hall, in the mean time, till an Order can pass both Houses.

Military Affairs.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee for the Safety, to consider of all fit Ways and Means to improve the great Advantages gained by Sir Wm. Waller.

Mr. Downes, Mr. Ravenscroft, Colonel Alexander Popham, are appointed forthwith to go down to Sir Wm. Waller, to acquaint him what Sense this House has of his Resolution to improve this Advantage; and return him Thanks; and to acquaint him, what Esteem this House sets upon his own Valour and Resolution, and the Valour and Resolution of his Officers and Soldiers; and that this House doth much approve of all his Proceedings herein: And they perceiving, by the List, that there are many Gentlemen of the Country, that are not Soldiers, that are Men of good Estate, they do give Power to him to ransom them for Sums of Money; the which they leave to his Disposal, upon Account: And he is to certify unto this House the particular Sums set for their Ransom: And they are to consider what is fit to be done with the Prisoners, such as will not take the solemn League and Covenant; and to know if there be any Obstructions, that may hinder his Advance; and to return them to the House: And are to assure him, that nothing shall be wanting in this House for his Encouragement, and Furtherance in his Advance.

Message from Lords.

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

The Lords do desire, that Mr. Solicitor, Mr. Recorder, and Mr. Selden, and such others as this House shall think fit, may meet and consider with the Lords, concerning some Points arising from the Impeachment of the Queen.

The Lords have nominated a Committee of Eight of their House to go into the City this Afternoon, upon the Matter of the late Conference upon Saturday last; and desire this House to appoint a Committee of a proportionable Number.

Message to be considered.

Ordered, That the first Part of this Message be taken into Consideration, peremptorily, the first Business on Wednesday Morning.

Committee to the City.

Sir H. Vane jun. Mr. Solicitor, Sir Arth. Heselrig, Sir Gilb. Gerard, Mr. Recorder, Mr. Sam. Browne, Mr. Millington, Sir Tho. Barrington, Sir H. Vane sen. Mr. Jo. Crew, Mr. Strode, Sir Walt. Erle, Alderman Penington, Sir Tho. Soame, Mr. Long, Mr. Reynolds;

This Committee is appointed to meet with a Committee of a proportionable Number of the Lords, to go to the common Hall, to communicate the Matter of the late Design, according to the Votes, &c.

Answer to Lords.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; That this House has considered their Lordships Message: And, as to the first Part of it, they will take it into a speedy and serious Consideration; and will send Answer by Messengers of their own: And have appointed a Committee of a proportionable Number, to go into the City, as is desired.

Examinations of Brooke.

A second and farther Examination of Sir Basil Brooke was this Day read, by Sir H. Vane jun.

Ordered, That it be referred to this Committee, to acquaint the Committee of Lords with this Examination of Sir Basil Brooke. And it is referred to them, to communicate this second Examination to the City, at the Common Hall.

Reade's Escape.

Ordered, That the Examinations of Dr. Craig, Sir Oliver Flemming and Colonel Wm. Strode, concerning the Escape of Colonel Reade, be taken into further Consideration on Wednesday Morning next.

Bishop of Canterbury.

Ordered, That the Committee of this House, formerly appointed for the Business of the Bishop of Canterbury, shall be the Committee, in the Presence of whom, the Witnesses in the Case of the Bishop of Canterbury are to be examined upon Oath, by a Committee of Lords.

Ordered, That Sir H. Vane sen. Sir H. Mildmay, Mr. Hill, Members of this House, shall be examined upon Oath, by the Committee of Lords, in the Presence of the Committee of this House.

Lord Lisle's &c. Arrears.

An Ordinance for paying the Arrears due to the Lord Viscount Lisle, and Sir Rich. Grenvile, out of the Monies as are payable to the State by Delinquents, and are not yet collected, nor discovered, was this Day read the First time.

Military Affairs.

A Letter from Colonel Norton, from Portesmouth, of the Second of January, to his Excellency; relating the State of that Encounter, that was between him and some of Sir Ralph Hopton's Forces, about Havant, or thereabouts; was this Day read.

Importing Currans.

Upon Mr. Green's Report from the Committee to which the Petitions of divers Merchants, desiring to import Currans; and the Petition from the Levant Company, against the importing of the said Currans:

And the Question being proposed, whether the Rates put on the Currans brought in the Ship Rainbow, over and above the Custom and Excise, shall be Ten Shillings;

The Question was put, whether this Question should be now put:

The House was divided:

The Noes went forth.

Resolved Negatively.

Resolved, &c. That the Rates put on the Currans brought in the Ship Rainbow, over and above the Custom and Excise, shall be Six Shillings the Hundred.

Ordered, That it be referred to this Committee, to treat with the Merchants that desire to import these Currans.

Money for Army.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of the House, appointed to consider of the Ordinance for recruiting my Lord General's Army, likewise to consider of some Way of forthwith supplying the Lord General's Army with Money, in the mean time, until the said Ordinance can be dispatched.

Scotch Reformadoes.

Ordered, That it be referred to Sir Wm. Balfour, to consider of the Condition of the Scotch Reformado Officers, that attend the House daily for Pay; and certify unto the House, what Employments they are fit for.

Payment to Williams, &c.

Resolved, &c. That Two thousand Pounds shall be paid by the Committee at Haberdashers Hall to the Treasurers at Guildhall; and by them forthwith to Sir Gilb. Gerard, Treasurer at Wars; to pay, upon Account, proportionably, to Wm. Williamson, John Simkinson, Francis Camberbeeck, Elias Leenderse de Wit, and David Hemson, Merchants, that have furnished the State with Arms and Ammunition: And that the Lords Concurrence be desired.

Ordered, That this Fifteen hundred Pounds be borrowed of the Committee at Haberdashers Hall, in the mean time, till an Ordinance of both Houses can be had, for the Payment of the said Fifteen hundred Pounds, in the usual Way and Manner.

Brownksea Castle.

Ordered, That the Two Pieces of Ordnance, taken in the Isle of Purbeck by Captain Jones, be by him put on Shore at Brownksea Castle, for the Security of that Fort; and delivered over unto the Captain of that Fort.

Naval Ordnance.

Ordered, That the Officers of the Ordnance do forthwith, upon Sight hereof, give Warrant, and Order unto the Storekeeper, or other Officer or Officers whom it shall or may concern, at Portesmouth, to deliver, upon Account, unto Henry Dolling, Part-owner of the Ship Ark of Poole, appointed by the House to lie before that Town, for Defence and Safeguard thereof, Six Pieces of Ordnance, with Carriages, Ladles, Emptions, Shot, and other Gunners Stores, and Appurtenances to them fitting and belonging, out of the Ship May Flower, late Admiral of Falmouth, taken by his Majesty's Ship the Eighth Whelpe; the said Ordnance to be chosen by the said Henry Dolling, as he shall think fitting, for the Use of the said Ship Ark, for the Service aforesaid.

Girdlers, &c. Claims.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of the whole House appointed to consider of the Ordinance for recruiting the Army under the immediate Command of his Excellency, after they have finished the said Ordinance, and have considered of some Way and Means for the present Supply of his Excellency's Army with Monies, to consider of some Way and Means for the speedy satisfying unto the Girdlers, Bandalier-makers, and Drum-makers, such Sums of Money, as are due unto them for Wares and Commodities furnished unto the State by them.

Delinquents Estates.

Upon Mr. Pury's Report from the Committee appointed to consider of Sir Tho. Middleton's Propositions: It is Resolved, &c. That Delinquents Personal Estates, within the Cities of London and Westminster, and the Suburbs thereof, not yet Sequestred, nor discovered; and which shall be discovered by the said Sir Tho. Middleton, within one Month next ensuing; shall be allowed the said Sir Tho. Middleton, towards the Advancement of the said Service. Provided always, that the said concealed Estates do not exceed Three thousand Pounds; and that Sir Tho. Middleton do not possess himself thereof, before he acquaint the House of Commons therewith, to the end they may first judge of the Delinquency of the Person, before his Estate be sequestred, and taken away.

The Committee is to bring in an Ordinance to the Purpose of the Propositions passed the House.

Payment to Middleton.

Whereas Sir Tho. Middleton formerly advanced Five thousand Pounds, for the Service of reducing the Counties of North Wales; and had an Ordinance passed unto him for Re-payment thereof, out of the Monies comeing in upon the Sequestrations, or otherwise, by Five hundred Pounds a Week, till the whole Sum of Five thousand Pounds, with Interest, should be paid and satisfied. Notwithstanding all which, there has been only One thousand Pounds, of the said Five thousand Pounds repaid: It is now Ordered, That the Four thousand Pounds, Remainder of the said Five thousand Pounds, together with the Interest due, shall be satisfied and paid unto the said Sir Tho. Middleton, or his Assignees, by Five hundred Pounds by the Week, out of the Monies that come in upon the Excise.

Ordered, That the Lords Concurrence be desired herein.

Eliott's Petition.

Ordered, That Mr. Lisle, Mr. Niclas, Mr. Strode, Mr. Blakiston, Mr. Tho. Moore, Mr. Erle, be added to the Committee appointed to consider of Mr. Eliott's Petition.

Loan from Towse, &c.

Whereas John Towse Esquire, Alderman of the City of London, and other Commissioners of the Excise, and new Impost, have, at the Desire of the Committee of the Lords and Commons for the Safety of the Kingdom, consented, of their own private Money, to advance the Sum of Five hundred Pounds, for Supply of the pressing Necessities of the Town of Southampton; and paid the said Money unto Mr. George Gallop and Mr. Edward Exton, both Members of the House of Commons serving for that Town: It is now Ordered and Declared, by the Lords and Commons, in Parliament assembled, That they do accept and allow of the Loan of the Five hundred Pounds, and the Payment thereof unto the said Mr. Gallop and Mr. Exton, for the Use aforesaid: And do hereby authorize the said Commissioners of Excise to repay themselves the said Sum of Five hundred Pounds, out of such Monies as have, or shall first, come in upon the Receipt of the Excise, and new Impost.

The House adjourned till Wednesday Morning next, at eight of Clock.