Die Veneris, Januarii 24, 1644.

Prayers.

THE House being informed, That divers Gentlemen of the County of Bedford were at the Door, desirous to present a Petition to the House;

They were called in; and did prefer a Petition: The which was read.

Mr. Sam. Browne, Mr. Knightley, Sir Walt. Erle, Sir Hen. Heyman, Mr. Lane, Sir Wm. Allanson, Sir Tho. Dacres, Sir Jo. Trevor, Mr. Skinner, Mr. Fountaine, Sir Jo. Evelyn, Sir Beauch. St. Johns, Mr. Selden, Sir Anth. Irby, Mr. Wheler, Mr. Grimston, Mr. Cage, Sir Tho. Woodhowse, Sir Sam. Luke Two, Sir Roger Burgoyne, Mr. Winwood, Mr. Nutt, Mr. Whitelock, Mr. Cawley;

This Committee is appointed to examine the Truth of this Petition; and to receive all other Complaints of this Nature; and to inquire after the Names of the Commanders, whose Soldiers committed these Outrages; and to examine the Complaints and Informations given in concerning Colonel Crawford; and, if they shall see Cause, to desire the Earl of Manchester to send for him, to be examined at this Committee: And that they do desire the Earl of Manchester to send for Captain Crawford, to be examined at this Committee: And have Power to send for Parties, Witnesses, Papers, Records, &c.: And that the Petitions of Bucks and Sussex be referred to the Examination and Consideration of this Committee: And are to meet this Afternoon at Two of Clock, in the Exchequer-Chamber.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms, forthwith to send for Captain Hemming, Captain of a Troop of Horse that lies at Free-Quarter here at Totnam in Middlesex; and to take some Care speedy to put the Horse into Service; and to seize some of their Horse, to pay for the Free-Quarter they have taken; or to take some other Course, that the Inhabitants may be satisfied for their Free-Quarter from the Parties that lie there.

Ordered, That Mr. Whitelock do prepare a Letter, to be signed by Mr. Speaker, to be sent to the Commanders that are quartered in Buckinghamshire; to require them to use their Power in repressing the Violences and Outrages committed in that County by their Soldiers; and that more Civility and Respects may be shewed to the Inhabitants, and all Affronts forborn.

Ordered, That Colonel Stapeley do send up those Soldiers, that are here complained of, to commit Rapes, and other Outrages, upon .... that they may be proceeded with, and punished according to Law.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.
And Mr. Lisle called to the Chair.

And the Grand Committee proceeded to the Consideration for Establishment of the Army according to the new Model.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Mr. Lisle reports the Amendments to the Ordinance for levying Monies for Payment of the Forces to be raised and maintained according to the new Establishment, or new Model.

Ordered, That the Grand Committee of the whole House do meet this Afternoon; to perfect the Ordinance for raising Monies for Maintenance of the Forces to be raised and established according to the new Model: And the Members of the House are injoined to meet at the Committee, this Afternoon; and to bring in the Names of the Committees for the several Counties.

A Letter from Sir Wm. Brereton, of January 18, 1644, relating the good Success the Parliament's Forces had against the Enemies Forces that issued out of Chester with a Desire to relieve Bieston-Castle.

Resolved, &c. That Fifteen hundred Pounds be forthwith raised, to advance Colonel Asheton's Regiment out of Lancashire, to the Aid and Assistance of Sir Wm. Brere- ton's Forces: And that this Fifteen hundred Pounds be charged upon the Excise.

Ordered, That Lieutenant-Colonel Byron, now Prisoner at Manchester, be neither exchanged nor released without the Privity and Consent of this House.

Resolved, &c. That James Lewis of Cardigan Esquire, David Lewis of Gyrnos, Thomas Evans, Thomas Lloyd of Guernvilig, and John Lloyd of Veyrdref, Gentlemen, be added to the Committees of Caerdiganshire, Pembroke, and Caermarthenshire.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Sir Hen. Vane junior reports divers Papers and Propositions, from the Scotts Commissioners, concerning the Removal of their Forces Southward; and for recruiting their Forces with Arms and Cloaths.

Ordered, That this Report be taken into Consideration on Monday Morning next, peremptorily; and likewise the whole Business concerning the North; and the Ordinance for raising Twenty-one thousand Pounds for the Scotts Army: And that Mr. Speaker put the House in mind hereof.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms, to treat and agree with the Scotts Commissioners upon the Days of their Advance Southward; the Places of their Enquarterings upon their Removals; and the Place for the Payment of the Monies to be paid upon their Removal.

A Message from the Lords, by Serjeant Whitfield and Doctor Aylett;

The Lords have sent unto you a Draught of the SafeConduct, with a Schedule of the Names, to be signed by the Speaker of both Houses: A Letter from the Lord General to the Prince Rupert, concerning the Treaty, and the King's Propositions; Instructions for the Committees of both Kingdoms concerning the Treaty: A Letter to the States of the United Provinces concerning Ireland: And, that these Businesses may receive no Delay, the Lords have appointed to meet this Afternoon, at Three of Clock; and desire, if it may stand with the Conveniency of this House, that this House would do the like.

The Safe-Conduct was read; and assented unto, with leaving out the Honours and Titles conferred upon any the Persons mentioned in the said Safe-Conduct, since the Houses voted, That the King intended to levy War against the Parliament.

The Letter to be sent from my Lord General, and the Letter to be sent to the States of the United Provinces, were read; and assented unto.

Ordered, That the House meet this Afternoon at Three of Clock.

An Ordinance for continuing the Ordinance of Excise for a longer Time in the Persons that now manage it, was this Day read the First time.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; That this House has considered their Lordships Message; and do agree to the Letter to be sent to the States of the United Provinces; and to sit at Three of Clock.

Post Meridiem.

Mr. Wheeler carried up to the Lords the Assent of the House to the Letter from my Lord General to Prince Rupert; and to the Safe-Conduct, with some Alterations; and likewise the Ordinance for discharging Mr. Thomas Offleye's Sequestration.

Resolved, &c. That the Names of the Committees for Kent, in this Ordinance, shall be left out of the Names for the City of Canterbury: And that the Names of the Committees for Canterbury shall be left out of the Names for the County.

Mr. Wheeler brings Answer; As to the First Part of the Message, they will send Answer by Messengers of their own: And, as to the Ordinance for discharging Mr. Offlie's Sequestration, they do agree unto it.

A Message from the Lords, by Doctor Aylett and Doctor Heath;

The Lords desire a free Conference, by both Houses, presently, in the Painted Chamber, if it may stand with the Conveniency . . . . . . . ., concerning some Alterations in the Letter of Safe-Conduct.

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 Henry Vane, Mr. Sollicitor, Mr. Strode, and Mr. Whitelock, are appointed Managers, and Reporters of this Conference.

Ordered, That Sir John Trevor and Mr. Nicholas do acquaint the Commissioners of Excise with the Order of this House for Fifteen hundred Pounds out of the Excise for the Regiment of Colonel Ashton in Lancashire; and press them, upon the Importance of the Service, to furnish the said Monies accordingly.

Resolved, &c. That Sir Edward Powell be added to the Committees for the County of Middlesex.

Upon Sir John Evelin's Report, it is Resolved to agree with the Lords, as to Mr. Ashburnham and Mr. Palmer in the Safe-Conduct: And do adhere to the Alterations, as they went from hence, concerning Hyde, Lane, and Bridgman.

Sir John Evelyn reports, That the Lords do agree to the Alterations; and do desire, that the Committee of both Kingdoms may acquaint the Scotts Commissioners with them; and, if they agree unto them, that my Lord General be desired to send a Messenger with them; that, in case of Disagreement, the Commissioners may have timely Notice before the Time of meeting.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of the Revenue, to give Order to Mr. Kynnersley, WardrobeKeeper, to furnish the House for the Treaty at Uxbridge, out of what is in the Wardrobe; and what is wanting, to supply them with Money, for the Accommodating of the same, for the Persons that are there to treat.

WHereas Thomas Offley Esquire hath been sined at the Sum of One hundred Pounds for his Delinquency to the Parliament; and hath submitted thereunto, and paid the same; and hath besides paid his Twentieth Part: The Lords and Commons, in Parliament assembled, do hereby Order, Ordain, and Declare, That the said Thomas Offley is hereby discharged of his Delinquency, and of his Twentieth Part; and that the Estate of the said Thomas Offley, now under Sequestration, is, and shall be hereby free to him the said Thomas Offley, and the Sequestration taken off, and discharged: And the Committees, Sequestration, and others, whom it may concern, are hereby required to take Notice hereof, and to yield a ready Obedience hereunto.