Die Veneris, 6 Februarii, 1645.
Prayers.
ORdered, That Thanks be given to Mr. Bond and Mr.
Harford, for the great Pains they took in the Sermons
they preached, at the Intreaty of this House, at St. Margaret's, Westminster, Yesterday, being the Day of Publick
Thanksgiving: And that they print their Sermons, with
the usual Privilege.
Mr. Rous and Mr. Nicoll are appointed to give them
Thanks.
Ordered, That the Members of this House that are of
the Committee of both Kingdoms, do, this Day at Ten of
the Clock, give the House an Account of Letters sent out
of Kent to that Committee, as the House is informed.
A Letter from Sir William Brereton, of the Second of
February 1645, from the Suburbs of Chester, relating
the Reducing of Chester to the Obedience of the Parliament,
and the Articles and Conditions upon which it was reduced,
were all this Day read.
Mr. Recorder and Mr. Ashurst are appointed to prepare
a Letter of Thanks, to be returned to Sir Wm. Brereton,
and to the rest of the Gentlemen, Chief Officers, and Commanders, in Acknowledgment of their faithful and very
good Services, especially in this great Action of Chester:
And that Sir William Brereton be ordered, That he do put
the Ordinance in Execution, against the Irish that were
taken in Chester.
Ordered, That Thursday next come Sevennight shall be
set apart for a Day of Publick Thanksgiving to Almighty
God for his great Mercy, in giving up the strong City of
Chester into the Hands of the Parliament, to be observed
and kept in all Churches and Chapels in the Cities of London and Westminster, and within the Lines of Communication, and Ten Miles of the said Cities: And that the Lord
Mayor be desired to give the several Ministers, within the
Limits aforesaid, timely Notice hereof; to the end they
may stir up the People to a due Thankfulness, in regard
both of the Seasonableness and Greatness of the Mercy.
Ordered, &c. That Mr. Recorder and Mr. Ashburst do,
from this House, desire Mr. Woodcock and Mr. Case to
preach before the House of Commons, on Thursday Sevennight, being the Day of Publick Thanksgiving for the
Taking of Chester.
The Question being propounded, Whether Colonel
Michael Jones should be appointed Governor of Chester;
The Question was put, Whether this Question should
be now put, or not:
It passed with the Affirmative.
Resolved, &c. That Colonel Michael Jones shall be appointed Governor of Chester: And that the Members of
both Houses that are of the Committee of both Kingdoms, do grant him a Commission accordingly.
The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.
Resolved, &c. That Alderman Edwards be appointed
Colonel to command the City-Regiment of Chester: And
that the Members of both Houses that are of the Committee of both Kingdoms, do grant him a Commission
accordingly.
The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.
Resolved, &c. That the Bishop of Armagh's Library of
Books and Manuscripts, at Chester, be all inventoried or
numbered, and sent up with Safety to the Parliament.
Ordered, &c. That it be referred to the Committee formerly appointed for the Preservation of Manuscripts and
Records, to advise with the Committee of Sequestrations
at Campden-House, and in Westminster, or such others as
they shall think sit; and provide some convenient and fitting Place, for the safe Keeping and Preservation of such
Books, Manuscripts, Evidences, or other Writings, as
come to their Hands.
Ordered, &c. That Thursday next come Three Weeks
shall be set apart for a Day of Publick Thanksgiving to
Almighty God, for His great Mercy, in giving up that
strong City of Chester into the Hands of the Parliament, to
be observed and kept in all Churches and Chapels in the
several Counties above Ten Miles distant from the Cities
of London and Westminster: And that the Gentlemen that
serve for the said several Counties and Places, do take care
that timely Notice may be given to the several Ministers in
the said respective Counties; to the end they may stir up
the People to a due Thankfulness, in regard both of the Seasonableness and Greatness of His Mercy.
The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.
Ordered, &c. That Mr. Parker, who brought the Letters and good News of the Rendition of Chester, shall have
the Sum of Fifty Pounds bestowed upon him for his Pains:
And that the Messenger that brought the good News of the
Taking of * Castle, shall have the Sum of Ten Pounds
bestowed upon him for his Pains: And that the Committee
of Lords and Commons for Advance of Monies, at Haberdashers-Hall, do pay the said several Sums of Fifty Pounds
and Ten Pounds to the said Mr. Parker, and the said other
Messenger, respectively.
The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.
Ordered, &c. That it be referred to the Committee of both
Kingdoms, to consider of, and to do, what they shall think
most sitting for the publick Service, for the gaining, and
reducing to the Obedience of the Parliament, any Places
of Strength in the Enemies Possession in North-Wales, or
elsewhere, in the North-west Parts of the Kingdom: And
they are herein to advise with the Gentlemen of those
Parts.
Ordered, &c. That Sir Henry Heyman, Mr. Oxenden,
and Mr. Westrowe, or any Two of them, do forthwith go
down into Kent, and take Order for securing Mr. Murrey
stayed there, and for keeping him in close Custody; and
to permit no Man to speak with him; and to examine
and search him, and all such other Persons as are of his
Company, and others, whom they shall suspect, upon
such Interrogatories as they shall think fit; and to secure
such other of his Company, or others, as Occasion shall
be; and to command the Assistance of all Officers, if
Need shall be.
Ordered, &c. That To-morrow, peremptorily, the first
Business, the Business of the Navy be taken into Consideration: And that Mr. Speaker put the House in mind
hereof: And that then the Propositions made by Mr.
Stephens, concerning the Navy, be considered of.
According to the Commands of the House, the Copies
of the Four Letters from Robert Wright, from Paris, to
Mr. Sollicitor; viz. one of Novembris 14/24;, one of Decembris 12/22;, one of Decembris 18/28;, and one other of Januarii 9/19;, were delivered to Mr. Oxenden, to be made
use of by him, Sir Henry Heyman and Mr. Westrow,
upon the Examination of Mr. Murray, staid in Kent
(fn. [a]) .
Ordered, &c. That the Business concerning Ireland, be
taken into Consideration on Monday Morning next, the first
Business, peremptorily: And that Mr. Speaker put the
House in mind thereof.
Resolved, &c. That it be referred to the Committee of
both Kingdoms, to examine the whole Business concerning the Letters informed to have been taken away out of
the Earl of Northumberland's Lodgings by Monsieur
Mounterul, and the Courier that brought them; and to
state the Matter of Fact; and to report the same, together with their Opinions, to both Houses, To-morrow
Morning.
Mr. Holles went to the Lord Inchiquin, to acquaint him,
That the Business of Ireland was appointed to be taken
into Consideration on Monday Morning next.
A Message from the Lords, by Sir Edward Leech and
Mr. Page;
The Lords have commanded us to deliver you this Report, from the Committee of Lords and Commons for
the Admiralty and Cinque-Ports, concerning Three Merchants Ships to be approved of to be added to the Summer-Guard: The Lords have agreed to it; and do desire
your Concurrence:- A Report likewise from the same
Committee: It is to put you in mind to pass an Ordinance for the Pressing of Mariners; which the Lords do
desire you to take into Consideration:-Two Petitions
from Captain John Poyar, Governor of Pembroke;
which they refer to your Consideration: - A Vote,
which moved from you: It concerneth the Number
of Horse in the Scotts Army: Wherein the Lords
have commanded us to let you know, That they
have agreed with you: - A Vote for Captain Henry Markham to be Governor of Belvoier-Castle; wherein they
desire your Concurrence.
The Lords do desire a free Conference, by Committees
of both Houses, in the Painted Chamber, concerning the
Propositions to be sent to the King, To-morrow Morning
at Ten of the Clock, in the Painted Chamber; if it may
stand with the Conveniency of this House.
Resolved, &c. That this House doth agree, That a
free Conference be had with the Lords, concerning the
Propositions, To-morrow Morning, as is desired: And
that, as to the rest of the Particulars of this Message, they be
taken into Consideration To-morrow Morning: And that
Answer be returned by Messengers of their own.
Answer returned by the same Messengers;
The House hath considered your Message: And, as to
the Conference To-morrow Morning, concerning the Propositions, they do agree: And, as to the rest of the Particulars, they will send Answer by Messengers of their own.
The House being acquainted, That divers of the Aldermen and Common-Council of the City of London were
at the Door;
They were called in: And Mr. Alderman Fowke informed the House of the Desires of the City concerning
. . . Proposition for the Militia; and their Reasons for the
same: To which Effect, he presented a Petition from the
City and Common-Council.
The Petition was received: And the Aldermen and
Citizens withdrew.
Ordered, &c. That the Petition, this Day presented
from the City, be read To-morrow Morning, the next
Business after the Reports concerning the Affairs of the
Navy are dispatched.
The Aldermen and Citizens were again called in: And
Mr. Speaker, by Command of the House, acquainted
them, That the House have received their Petition; and
they find it to be a Petition of Length; and do believe it
to be likewise a Business of Weight and Consequence; and
have therefore appointed to take it into Consideration Tomorrow Morning.