House of Commons Journal Volume 4: 1 January 1646

Die Jovis, primo Die Januarii, 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.

Ordered, That the King's Letter, of the Nine-and-twentieth of December, be referred to the Members of both Houses that are of the Committee of both Kingdoms, to communicate the same to the Scotts Commissioners; and to advise with them; and prepare an Answer thereunto; and report the same to the Houses.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

That both Houses of Parliament shall arm, train, and discipline, or cause to be armed, trained, and disciplined, all the Forces of the Kingdoms of England and Ireland, and Dominion of Wales, the Isles of Guernesey and Jernesey, and the Town of Berwick upon Tweede, already raised, both for Sea and Land-Service; and shall, from time to time, raise, levy, arm, train, and discipline, or cause to be levied, armed, trained, and disciplined, any other Forces for Land and Sea-Service, as in their Judgments they shall, from time to time, think sit and appoint.

That Monies be raised and levied, for the Maintenance and Use of the said Forces, for Land-Service, and of the Navy and Forces for Sea-Service, in such Sort, and by such Ways and Means, as both Houses of Parliament shall, from time to time, think fit and appoint; and not otherwise.

That all the said Forces, both for Land and Sea-Service, so raised or levied, or to be raised or levied, and also the Admiralty and Navy, shall be, from time to time, employed, managed, ordered, and disposed, by both Houses of Parliament, in such Sort, and by such Ways and Means, as they shall think fit and appoint, and not otherwise; to suppress all Forces raised, or to be raised, without Authority and Consent of both Houses of Parliament, to the Disturbance of the publick Peace of the Kingdoms of England, and Dominion of Wales, the Isles of Guernesey and Jernesey, and the Town of Berwick upon Tweede, or any of them; to suppress any Foreign Forces, who shall invade, or endeavour to invade, the Kingdoms of England and Ireland, Dominion of Wales, the Isles of Guernesey and Jernesey, and the Town of Berwick upon Tweede, or any of them:

And that it shall be High-Treason in any Person or Persons, who shall levy, conduct, or command, any Forces, without such Authority or Consent, to the Disturbance of the publick Peace of the said Kingdoms; any Commission under the Great Seal, or other Warrant, to the contrary notwithstanding: And he or they to be incapable of any Pardon from his Majesty; and their Estates shall be disposed, as both Houses of Parliament shall think fit, and not otherwise:

To conjoin such Forces of the Kingdom of England with the Forces of the Kingdom of Scotland, as the said Houses of Parliament shall, from time to time, judge fit and necessary, to resist all Foreign Invasions, and to suppress any Forces raised, or to be raised, against or within either of the said Kingdoms, to the Disturbance of the publick Peace of the said Kingdoms, or any of them, by any Authority under the Great Seal, or other Warrant whatsoever, without Consent of both Houses of Parliament of England; and the Parliament, or the Estates of the Parliament of Scotland, respectively.

Resolved, &c. That the Lords and Commons, upon reading the King's Letters of the Six-and-twentieth and Nine-and-twentieth of December, do find a greater Necessity to continue in their Resolution, That the Militia of this Kingdom shall be put in the Power of both Houses of Parliament; and not otherwise; according to the Propositions before expressed.

Resolved, &c. That the Propositions before-mentioned, concerning the Militia of this Kingdom, be communicated by the Members of both Houses that are of the Committee of both Kingdoms, to the Scotts Commissioners; and their Concurrence desired in the said Propositions: And that, with their Consent, they may be presented to the King, in the place of the former Propositions concerning the Militia, on the Behalf of the Kingdom of England, with the rest of the Propositions that shall be agreed on by the mutual Consent of both Kingdoms.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Sir Henry Vane the younger carried to the Lords, for their Concurrence, the Vote concerning the King's Letter of the Nine-and-twentieth of December; and the Votes concerning the Militia of the Kingdom of England; together with the Propositions concerning the said Militia; which were formerly sent to the Lords with the other Propositions.

A Letter from Grantham, of Decembris 27 1645, from the Commissioners residing with the Forces about Newarke, was this Day read.

Ordered, &c. That a Letter be written to the Committee of War at Yorke, forthwith to send the Foot that were lately before Skipton, to Newarke: And that they take care and make Provision to pay them.

Ordered, &c. That it be referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms, to consider, What Horse are fit to be removed out of Yorkeshire; and to dispose of them for the best Advantage of the Kingdom.

The Gentlemen of Yorkeshire and Lincolneshire to advise with the Committee herein.

Ordered, &c. That it be referred to the Committee of both Kingdoms, to remove the Scotts Horse that lie upon Yorkshire and Darbyshire; and to dispose of them upon Service, for the Advantage of the Kingdom.

Ordered, &c. That the Monies formerly assigned by Ordinances of Parliament, for Maintenance of the Lincolneshire Forces since the Association, which could not then be gathered by the Collectors of those Parts, and are sithence gotten in by the Sub-Committee of Accompts, and remaining in their Hands, be paid to the Treasurer of the Forces there; and disposed of, according to the Directions of the Committee appointed to reside with those Forces.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Ordered, &c. That Fifty Barrels of Powder, with Match and Bullet proportionably, be forthwith provided and furnished, out of the publick Stores, for the Service of the Forces of North-Wales: And that the Committee for Powder, Match, and Bullet, do take care for the speedy Providing hereof, accordingly.

Ordered, &c. That Five Ton of Match be forthwith provided and furnished out of the publick Stores, for the Service of the English Forces before Newarke: And that the Committee for Powder, Match, and Bullet, do take care for the speedy providing hereof, accordingly.

Ordered, &c. That the whole Business, concerning the Forces before Denington-Castle, be taken into Consideration this Afternoon.

A Letter from Colonel John Digbie to Colonel James Kerr, Governor of Plymouth; and the Answer of the said Colonel James Kerr unto him; were both this Day read; and ordered to be forthwith printed: And that the Committee of Plymouth do prepare a Letter to be sent unto him, from this House, in Testimony and Acknowledgment of his great Fidelity: And that Five hundred Pounds be, from this House, bestowed on him; and paid unto him, or his Assigns, by the Committee of Plymouth: And that he be, in an especial Manner, recommended from this House to the Committee of the Army, for some Place befitting a Man of such approved Integrity.

Mr. Speaker left the Chair.

The House returned to a Grand Committee.

Sir Thomas Widdrington in the Chair.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair. And

Adjourned till Two of the Clock.

Post Meridiem.

THE House being informed, That divers of the Gentlemen and Freeholders of the County of Summersett were at the Door;

They were called in: And Colonel Edward Popham presented to the House the humble Petition of the Gentlemen and Freeholders of the County of Summersett.

Which were read; and nothing done upon it.

Ordered, &c. That a Warrant shall issue forth, under Mr. Speaker's Hand, directed to the Clerk of the Crown in Chancery, to issue forth a Writ, for the new Election of Two Burgesses for the Town of Retford, in the places of the Lord Mansfeild and Sir Gervas Clifton.

Ordered, &c. That a Warrant shall issue forth, under Mr. Speaker's Hand, directed to the Clerk of the Crown in Chancery, to issue forth a Writ, for the new Election of a Burgess for Lynn-Regis in the County of Norfolke, in the place of Mr. Percivall, deceased.

The Question being propounded, Whether the Committee of Privileges should sit Four Days in the Week, or not;

The Question was put, Whether this Question should be put or no: And

It passed with the Negative.

Ordered, &c. That it be referred to the Committee of the West, to take into their Considerations the Distractions of the County of Somersett; and how they may be best quieted and settled; and to report the same to the House.

An Ordinance of the Lords and Commons, for the Execution of Martial Law, was this Day read the Second time and, upon the Question, resolved to be committed.

And the Question being propounded, Whether it should be committed to a Committee of the whole House;

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

The House was divided.

The Noes went forth.

The Question passing with the Negative;

The Ordinance was committed unto Mr. Hill, Sir Tho. Widdrington, Mr. Whitlocke, Mr. Recorder, Mr. Vassall, Mr. Thorpe, Mr. Maynard, Colonel Venn, Sir Wm. Lewes, Mr. Robert Goodwyn, Mr. Ellis, Sir Philip Stapleton, Mr. Selden, Sir John Corbett, Mr. Jesson, Mr. Holles, Sir Hen. Heyman, Mr. Longe, Mr. Prideaux, Sir John Danvers, Sir Robert Pye, Sir Peter Wentworth, Sir Antho. Irby, Sir Robert Harley, Sir Symonds D'Ewes, Mr. Lisle, Mr. Stephens, Sir John Potts, Sir Wm. Constable, Mr. Bond, Mr. Stephens, Mr. Holland, Mr. Nicholas, Mr. Nathanael Fienis, Mr. Baynton, Mr. Swynfen, Mr. Wheeler, Mr. Hoyle, Sir Gilbert Gerrard, Sir Gregory Norton, Mr. Stoughton, Mr. Heveningham, Mr. Sallawey, Sir Mich. Livesay, Mr. Onslowe: And all that will come to have Voices: And are to meet To-morrow at Two post meridiem, in the Star-Chamber: And are to report it on Saturday next, between the Hours of Ten and Twelve.

Mr. Lisle and Mr. Selden are to take care hereof.