Die Martis, 23 Decembris, 1645.

Prayers.

THE Grand Committee of the House, according to former Order, sat, to take into Consideration the Business of Propositions, to be sent to his Majesty for a safe and well-grounded Peace.

Sir Thomas Widdrington in the Chair.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Resolved, &c. That the Committee of the Army shall have Power to buy the Three hundred Dragoon-Horses, employed, from the City, for the Recruiting of Sir Thomas Fairfaxe's Army, or as many of them as they shall think fit.

Ordered, That Letters be written to the several and respective Committees of Hants and Wiltes, to take diligent Care to seize and apprehend all such Soldiers as shall come from the Army without Licence; and to return them, immediately, with like Care, to the Army.

Mr. Whitehead, Mr. Long, Sir John Evelyn, and Mr. Dove, are to write these Letters to the respective Committees accordingly.

Ordered, That Colonel Manwaring be very careful in apprehending all such Soldiers as come from the Army, and to bring them to the Committee of the Army; to the end they may be forthwith returned to the Army.

Ordered, That the Committee of the Army do bring in an Ordinance for renewing and continuing the Ordinance for pressing Soldiers, to continue for Six Months longer.

Resolved, &c. That Thirty thousand Pounds be charged upon the Receipts of the Excise, for the Service of the Army under Sir Thomas Fairfaxe; to be paid out of the Intervals, or in Course, of the said Receipts, which shall first happen, and where it may be first had: And that an Ordinance be brought in to charge it accordingly.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of the Army, to consider, What the Charge will be of recruiting the Army against the Spring; what the Sum will be; and where it may be charged; and to present it to the House.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of the Army, to consider of the Establishment of the Army; and what Alterations or Additions are fit to be made in it; and to present it to the House.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of the Army, to consider, What other Counties, that have been lately reduced, are fit to be added to the Ordinance for Maintenance of Sir Thomas Fairfaxe's Army; and to be charged towards the Pay of that Army; and what Sums are fit to be set upon the said Counties.

Ordered, That, on Friday next, the first Business, Mr. Scawen do make all his Reports of Ordinances, and other Matters, that concern the Settlement of the Army: And that, next after his Report ended, the Committee of both Kingdoms do make Report of the Propositions sent from Sir Thomas Fairfax, concerning his Army.

Resolved, &c. That the Sum of Two hundred Pounds be charged upon the Receipts of the Excise, and paid, in Course; to be employed for the Pay of the Regiment of Auxiliaries of the Hamlets of the Tower, under the Command of Colonel Willoughby, now at Abingdon, upon Account: And the Committee of the Militia are desired to take care for the Procuring of this Money, upon the Credit of the Excise: And that an Ordinance be brought in for Securing and Payment thereof accordingly.

Ordered, That the Proposition from the Brewers, and others, for increasing the Revenue of Beer and Ale, Perry and Cyder, through England and Wales, this Day presented, and read in the House, be referred to the Committee of the Excise: Who are to confer with the Commissioners of the Excise, and with the Parties who make the said Proposition; and, upon Consideration thereof, to report their Opinions to the House.

Sir Gilbert Gerard reports, from the Committee of both Kingdoms, a Letter from Prince Rupert, of 17 Decembris 1645, from Oxford, with a List inclosed, of Prisoners taken at Cotheridge, Brodees, and other adjoining Towns: Which were read.

Ordered, That Letters be written to the Governors of Gloucester, of Cannon-Froome, and of Evesham, to acquaint them with the Demand from Prince Rupert; and to require them to state the Matter of Fact concerning the taking any Gentlemen Prisoners, or any Horses, under Command of Prince Rupert; and also those that were lately slain in those Parts by the said Prince, or any of his Company, upon their coming away from Worcester; as also the Time when the said Persons were slain: And it is referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms, to write and send away these Letters.

Resolved, &c. That One hundred Foot be added to reinforce and strengthen the Garison of Windsor-Castle.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms, to consider, How the Horses, now at Wickham, may be best employed for the Service of the Commonwealth; and of some Horse for the Service of the Garison of Windsor; and also of the One hundred Foot, this Day appointed to be added for the Strengthening of that Garison; and how the same may be speedily done.

Ordered, That the Committee of the Eastern Association do report the Establishment for the several Garisons referred to their Considerations, the first Business after the Reports for Money from Goldsmiths-Hall shall be finished, on Saturday Morning next.

A Letter to be sent to his Majesty, in Answer to his Majesty's Two Letters of the Fifth and Fifteenth of December, reported from the Members of both Houses that are of the Committee of both Kingdoms, to whom it was referred to prepare this Letter, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, assented unto; and ordered to be sent to the Lords for their Concurrence: And that the Lords be desired, That this Letter may be communicated to the Scotts Commissioners for their Concurrence.

Mr. Crew carried it up.

He likewise carried to the Lords, for their Concurrence, the Vote for adhering to the Vote of having no Treaty upon the Propositions: The Vote for communicating this Vote to the Commissioners of Scotland; together with the Letter: And the Vote for a Letter to be sent to the Parliament of Scotland, to inform them of the Proceedings of the Houses upon the Propositions; and their Resolutions of having no Treaty thereupon.

He was likewise to acquaint the Lords, That, notwithstanding the Clause of having no Treaty upon the Propositions be omitted in the Letter, yet that this House doth adhere to their Resolution of having no Treaty; as may appear by the Vote to that Purpose.

He likewise carried to the Lords, for their Concurrence, the Vote for giving Power to the Committee of Northampton to raise Two hundred Horse within their own County, for Recruiting of their Horse and Dragoons.

Ordered, &c. That it be referred to the Members of both Houses that are of the Committee of both Kingdoms, to prepare the Letter to be sent to the Parliament of Scotland, for informing them of the Proceedings and Resolutions of the Houses upon the Propositions; and of having no Treaty thereupon; and to present the same to the House.

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

The Lords have commanded us to bring this Ordinance: It concerns one Mr. Quoytmore: They do agree to it; and desire the Concurrence of this House: An Order from the Committee of Lords and Commons for Sequestrations, concerning Mr. Sackvile: The Lords do agree to it; and desire likewise your Concurrence in it.

An Ordinance for making Mr. Robert Quoytmore Prothonotary, and Clerk of the Crown, of and for the Counties of Carmarthen, Pembroke, Cardigan, and the Village of Haverford-West, was this Day read the First time.

An Order of the Lords and Commons for Sequestrations, made in the Case of Mr. Thomas Sackvile, Decembris 12 1645, was this Day read.

Resolved, &c. That the Answer to these Messengers shall be, That the House will return Answer by Messengers of their own.

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

A Message from the Lords, by Mr. Justice Trevour and Mr. Justice Rolle;

The Lords have commanded us to acquaint you, That they do agree to the First of the Three Votes this Day sent to them from this House, with the Alteration in this Paper; and to the other Two Votes, as they are: And desire your Concurrence to the Alterations in the First Vote.

Mr. Crew brings Answer; That the Lords do agree to the Letter to be sent in Answer to the King's Letter: And, as to the Votes carried up by him, they will send Answer by Messengers of their own: They do likewise agree to the Vote for the County of Northampton, to raise Horse within their own County, for recruiting their own Troops, and for being Dragoons.

The Alterations, sent from the Lords, to the Vote concerning the Resolutions of the Houses to have no Treaty upon the Propositions, were read; and were in hæc verba; viz. before the First Word, to add, "That the Commissioners of Scotland be desired to represent to the Parliament of Scotland;" and, at the End, after the Word, "Treaty," to add these Words; viz. "according to the Resolution of both Houses of the Parliament of England;" and, upon the Question, assented unto.

And so the intire Vote was as followeth; viz.

"Resolved, That the Commissioners of Scotland be desired to represent to the Parliament of Scotland, That, to such Propositions as shall be agreed upon, and sent, from both Kingdoms, to his Majesty, for a safe and wellgrounded Peace, a positive Answer shall be desired, without any Treaty, according to the Resolution of both Houses of the Parliament of England."

Resolved, &c. That the Business concerning the Return of Mr. Henry Martyn to be a Burgess of the Borough of Abingdon, to serve in this present Parliament, be taken into Consideration on Monday next, the first Business.

An Ordinance for the Execution of Martial Law was this Day read the First time; and ordered to be read the Second time on Saturday next, between the Hours of Ten and Twelve.