Die Martis, Junii 10, 1645.

Prayers.

Whereas the Commissioners of Excise are appointed to pay Two Parts of the new Excise to the Treasurers for the maimed Soldiers: It is this Day Ordered and Declared, That the Receipt and Acquittance or Acquittances of the said Treasurers for maimed Soldiers, or any Two of them, shall be a sufficient Discharge to the said Commissioners of Excise, for so much Monies as they shall pay unto the said Treasurers, in pursuance of the said Ordinance:

It is further Ordered, That the Commissioners of Excise do forthwith pay-in all such Monies as remain in their Hands, of the Two Parts of the said new Excise, to the Treasurers for maimed Soldiers.

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

The Lords have sent unto you an Ordinance concerning the Clerkship of the Court of Wards: To which they desire your Concurrence; it being a Place, that, in Term Time, requires Execution.

The Ordinance was, for Gabriel Beck, of Lincolne's-Inn, Gentleman, to have the Office of one of the Clerks of the Court of Wards and Liveries, which formerly belonged to Mr. Chamberlaine; and was by the Parliament granted to Mr. Miles Corbett, a Member of this House; rendering the Profits thereof to the Commonwealth, during the War, upon a Salary: And was read the First and Second time.

And the Question being put, For the Commitment of it;

The House was divided.

The Yeas went forth.

And then the Question being put, For the Passing of it;

It passed with the Affirmative.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; That this House has considered their Lordships Message; and do agree with the Lords in passing the Ordinance for constituting Mr. Gabriel Beck one of the Clerks of the Court of Wards, in that Place that Mr. Miles Corbett, a Member of this House, formerly held.

A Letter from Sir Tho. Fairefaxe, and divers of the chief Officers of his Army, from Sherrington, of June the Eighth, desiring, That Lieutenant-General Cromwell might command the Horse in Chief in Sir Tho. Fairefaxe his Army, was this Day read.

Resolved, upon the Question, That Sir Thomas Fairfax be desired (if he thinks fit) to appoint Lieutenant-General Cromwell to command the Horse under Sir Thomas Fairfax, as Lieutenant-General, during such Time as this House shall please to dispense with his Attendance: And that Sir Thomas Widdrington do prepare a Letter to be signed by Mr. Speaker, and forthwith sent to Sir Thomas Fairfax, to acquaint him with this Vote.

Ordered, That the Committee of the whole House do, on Friday Morning, proceed to take into Consideration the Business concerning the Government of the Church.

A Message from the Lords, by Sir Edward Leech and Mr. Page;

The Lords have commanded us to return this Ordinance: It is for establishing a Committee in Hants: It moved first from this House: And they do agree to it with these Additions and Amendments.

They have likewise commanded us to put you in mind of a Petition of the Earl of Stanford's, formerly sent from the Lords: They desire it may be speedily taken into Consideration, because it concerns him very much.

The Amendments were read; and, upon the Question, assented unto.

Answer returned by the same Messengers; That this House hath considered their Lordships Message: And, as to the Amendments in the Hants Ordinance, they do concurr: And, as to the Earl of Stanford's Petition, they will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Ordered, That the Lords be desired, That the Committee of Lords and Commons for the better carrying on the Affairs of the Excise may meet this Afternoon at Two of the Clock, in the Star-Chamber.

Whereas it is very probable, that the Two Armies may be engaged very speedily: It is Ordered, That Mr. Tate and Mr. Salwey do, from this House, go to the Assembly of Divines; and desire them to set apart To-morrow for seeking God by Prayers to bless and prosper the Parliament's Army, under the Command of Sir Thomas Fairfax.

A Letter from the Committee of Kent, from Aylisford, of June 9, 1645, relating, That they would send One hundred and Sixty Dragoons, and a Troop of Horse, consisting of Eighty, for a Month, into the West, was this Day read: And,

It is Ordered, That Sir Peter Wentworth and Mr. Browne do forthwith prepare a Letter to be sent from Mr. Speaker, to return them Thanks; and to acquaint them with the Necessities, that all Expedition be used in this Relief of Taunton.

Ordered, That the House do sit To-morrow at Eight of Clock: And Mr. Millington do, from this House, repair to the Assembly of Divines; and desire them, That they would appoint some one of their Members to pray with this House, To-morrow Morning at Eight of Clock, for an Hour, to seek God for a Blessing upon Sir Thomas Fairfax his Army, very likely to be very suddenly engaged.

A Letter from General Leven, from Rippon, of June the Sixth, 1645, was this Day read; and likewise a Paper from the Scotts Commissioners at London, of June the Ninth, 1645; and likewise a Letter from Sir Wm. Armyn and Mr. Robert Fenwick, from Newcastle, of June the Fifth, 1645, relating, That they had sent up Sir John Marley Prisoner; and likewise Two Persons suspected to be Popish Priests (Peter Good and Wm. Johnson); and also Captain Bradshaw, Captain of a small Vessel that robbed upon the Irish Seas.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Examinations, to dispose of these Prisoners; and to discharge the Persons that brought them up.

Mr. Tate brings Answer, That the Divines of the Assembly will disperse themselves into the several Churches and Chapels of London and Westminster, to seek God for a Blessing upon Sir Thomas Fairfaxe's Army.

Sir Robert Pye carried up to the Lords, for their Concurrence, the Vote for the Exchange of Colonel Henry Tillier for Sir Robert Pye junior: The Votes for adding Mr. Francis Gerard, and Mr. Gilbert Gerard, to the Committees of Middlesex and Westminster: The Desire, That the Committee of the Lords and Commons for the better carrying on the Affairs of the Excise may meet this Afternoon at Three of Clock, in the Star-Chamber.

He was likewise to desire the Lords to expedite the Ordinance for enabling the Committee of Goldsmiths-Hall with Power for the better bringing in the Monies, upon the Ordinance for the Entertainment of the Scotts Army.

Sir Thomas Widdrington reports a Letter to be sent from the House, and signed by Mr. Speaker, to Sir Thomas Fairfax, in pursuance of a Vote of this House, to desire him (if he shall so think fit) to appoint Lieutenant-General Cromwell to command the Horse, during so long time as the House shall dispense with his Absence: The which was read; and, upon the Question, assented unto; and ordered to be forthwith sent away to Sir Thomas Fairfax.

Sir Robert Pye brings Answer, That the Lords do agree to all the Messages carried up by him: And, as to the Ordinance concerning Goldsmiths-Hall, that they have already returned it to this House, with some Alterations.

Ordered, That so much of the Paper, of 9 Junii 1645, from the Scotts Commissioners, be referred to the Committee at Goldsmiths-Hall, as concerns the Providing of Monies for the Payment of the Scotts Army: And that the Members of this House, that are of that Committee, be injoined to meet concerning this Business of Monies; and to consider of sending down a Treasurer and Mustermaster to that Army, according to the former Order.

The House being informed, That the Body of the Assembly of Divines were at the Door;

They were called in: And Mr. Prolocutor and the Two Assessors, represented, severally, the Blasphemies of one Paul Best against the Deity of our Saviour Jesus Christ, and of the Holy Ghost, contained in Books, Treatises, and Notes of his; and in his Answer to Twelve Interrogatories drawn out of the Writings of the said Paul Best: And they desired, that the Parliament would use that Authority they were intrusted with, for Executing of condign Punishment upon an Offender of so high a Nature; that, in reference to the Crime, he may be made exemplary; that all the World may know, how much you detest such prodigious Blasphemies, and Heresies of so fearful a Nature.

The Interrogatories and Answers were severally read.

And the Divines were again called in: And Mr. Speaker, by Command of the House, acquainted them, That the House did acknowledge the Assistance they had received from them; and had ever found their Care and Desire of suppressing erroneous Opinions, that spread too much abroad in this Town, and elsewhere: And, for this Particular, the House returns the Assembly Thanks, both for their Care in it, and for their speedy acquainting the House with it: And, for the Things themselves, the House will take them into Consideration; and put them into such a Way, that there may be condign Punishment executed for so horrid a Blasphemy.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of plundered Ministers, to examine, with all Diligence, the Truth of the Fact of the Informations against Paul Best, of divers prodigious Blasphemies against the Deity of our Saviour, and the Holy Ghost, contained in Notes and Writings of the said Paul Best: And that they do not meddle with any other Business, until they have dispatched this: And that they bring their Opinions to the House with all Speed, What they think fit to be done in this Business: And they have Power to call to their Assistance such of the Divines of the Assembly as they shall think fit; and to send for Books, Writings, and Papers.

Resolved, &c. That Paul Best be forthwith committed close Prisoner to the Prison of the Gatehouse: And that none be permitted to speak with him, but such as shall be appointed by the Committee of plundered Ministers: And that the Committee of plundered Ministers shall have Power, from time to time, to send for him, as they have Occasion, to examine him.

Resolved, &c. That Major Ennys shall have One hundred Pounds forthwith bestowed upon him, as a Gift from this House.

Resolved, &c. That it be referred to the Committee of Prisoners where Mr. Knightley has the Chair, to consider of Exchanges for all those Prisoners that were taken at Leicester.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee at Goldsmiths-Hall, to compound with Captain Thomas Bradnax, for the Two-Thirds of a Farm, called Newenham, in the Parish of Wickham Brewx, and Preston in the County of Kent; being the Lands of the Lord Roper of Tenham, a Recusant: And Major Ennys to have the Proceed thereof, in Satisfaction of this One hundred Pounds bestowed on him this Day, by the House: And that the Sequestration be taken off, and discharged.

A Message from the Lords, by Dr. Leech and Mr. Page;

The Lords have commanded us to return this Ordinance, to enable the Committee at Goldsmiths-Hall with Power for bringing in Monies for Payment of the Scotts: It moved first from this House: They do agree to it with these Additions.

They commanded us likewise to deliver this Ordinance: It is to enable Sir Thomas Fairfax to press Men for the present Service.

The Additions were read; and, upon the Question, assented unto.

The Ordinance for giving Power to Sir Thomas Fairfax for impresting Men was read; and, upon the Question, assented unto; and ordered to be forthwith printed.

And it is further Ordered, That Sir Thomas Widdrington do take care for Sending of this Ordinance to Sir Thomas Fairfax.

The humble Petition of Wm. Crosse and Thomas Vincent Merchants, and others, was this Day read; shewing, That Sir Walter Erle, and John Trenchard Esquire, being appointed, by Order of Parliament, to make Sale of certain Spanish Wools free of Custom, Excise, and all other Duties; the which Wools were sold to the said Petitioners, and other: And, forasmuch as the said Wools are not so vendible here, by reason of Deadness of Trade, as in Foreign Parts, the Petitioners desired to have Liberty to transport the said Wools free from Custom and Excise.

It is thereupon Ordered, That the said Petitioners, Mr. Andrewes, Mr. Broomfeild, and Mr. Cranley, who bought Two hundred Forty-four Bags of the said Spanish or Segovia Wools of Sir Walter Erle and Mr. John Trenchard, shall have free Liberty to transport the same, without paying any Customs for them; or to sell the said Wools in this Kingdom, without paying any Excise for the same, in pursuance of the said Contract.