House of Commons Journal Volume 4: 15 April 1646

Die Mercurii, 15 Aprilis, 1646.

Prayers.

THE humble Petition of Thomas Ellison, of Easington in the County of Durham, was this Day read. And

It is thereupon Ordered, That this House doth agree with the Lords, in recommending to the Committee of the County of Durham, Thomas Ellison, of Easington in the said County; and do Order accordingly, That the said Committee, and all others employed by the Parliament, do permit and suffer the said Thomas Ellison, his Executors, Administrators and Assigns, to have, hold, and enjoy, during the Sequestration thereof, all that Farm in Morton, in the Parish of Dalton in the said County of Durham, now in the Possession of the said Thomas Ellison; the which said Farm is Part of the Estate of Richard Hickson Esquire, a Recusant convict, and under Sequestration; he the said Thomas Ellison rendering and paying the yearly Rent or Sum of Five-and-twenty Pounds per Annum, by equal Portions, half-yearly, for the same, unto such as are or shall be authorized to receive the same, for and during so long time as the said Farms shall remain in Sequestration.

Ordered, That the Book of Psalms, set forth by Mr. Rous, and perused by the Assembly of Divines, be forthwith printed in sundry Volumes: And that the said Psalms, and none other, shall, after the First Day of January next, be sung in all Churches and Chapels within the Kingdom of England, Dominion of Wales, and Town of Berwick upon Tweede: And that it be referred to Mr. Rous, to take care for the true Printing thereof.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Upon a Report from the Committee of Lords and Commons for the Admiralty and Cinque-Ports;

It is Resolved, &c. That Two Ships, of Two hundred Tons apiece, each of them manned with between Forty and Fifty Men, and furnished with Sixteen Pieces of Ordnance, shall be employed in the Service of the Parliament, under the Command of the present Masters; and shall have allowed and paid to them, for the Entertainment of each of the said Ships, the Sum of One hundred Pounds per mensem: And that the said Masters shall defray and pay the Residue of the Charge for the said Ships, and either of them. And

It is further Ordered, That the said Two Ships, so equipped and manned, shall be employed, from time to time, for the better Protection and Convoy of Vessels trading from Newcastle, and other Parts, upon the Coasts of the Counties of Norfolke and Lincolne, and Parts adjacent: And that it be recommended to the Committee of the Navy, to see the said Two Ships set forth and employed accordingly.

Ordered, That it be recommended to the Committee for Foreign Affairs, to prepare Letters to be sent to the King of Denmarke, and to the States of Embden, and to any other Prince or State; to prevent the Mischief that arises to the Subjects of this Kingdom, by permitting Pirates, and Robbers at Sea, to sell the Ships and Goods of the English Subjects in their Dominions.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Admiralty and Cinque-Ports, to consider of some Course, by way of Declaration, or otherwise, as they shall think fit, to prevent the Mischief that happens to the Subjects of this Kingdom by Piracy committed by Englishmen.

The humble Petition of Colonel William Cromwell, Colonel of a Regiment of Foot in the Service of the Parliament in Ireland, in the Lord Lisle's Brigade, was this Day read; desiring some Part of his Arrears. And

It is Ordered, upon the Question, That Seven hundred Pounds be forthwith paid unto Colonel William Cromwell, upon Account, in Part of the Arrears due unto him upon his Entertainment in the Service of Ireland: And that the said Seven hundred Pounds be charged, in Course, upon that Moiety of the Monies coming in at Goldsmiths-Hall, not charged for Sir Thomas Fairfaxe's Army.

Ordered, That the humble Petition of the Mayor, Aldermen, Burgesses, and the rest of the Inhabitants of the Town of Newberry, be read To-morrow Morning.

Ordered, That the Business concerning the Settling of the Excise be taken into Consideration To-morrow Morning.

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

The Lords have commanded us to return unto you this Ordinance for continuing the Assessments for Sir Thomas Fairfaxe's Army: It moved from you; and the Lords have agreed unto it, with these Alterations; to which they desire your Concurrence. They have likewise commanded us to bring you this Paper from the Commissioners of Scotland; desiring, That Two Pinnaces may be sent to guard the Scottish Coast: The Lords do think fit to refer it to the Committee of the Admiralty; and desire your Concurrence therein. This Paper is also from the same Commissioners; desiring, That Ammunitions may be sent to the Scottish Army before Newarke: Which the Lords refer to your Consideration.- An Ordinance for Mr. Job Gray to be Master of Wigston's Hospital in Leicester; another for establishing a French Church in Dover; another for the Indemnity of Sir William Constable, and others, that raised Monies by Commission from the Earl of Essex; to which they desire your Concurrence: - An Order for Transporting of Ten Horses into France for the Count de Brienne, Secretary of State there, and a Pack of Hounds; to which they desire your Concurrence: - A Letter from the President of the Parliament of Scotland, on Behalf of a Nephew to Sir John Meldruim, deceased: It is directed to both Houses: And the Lords refer it to your Consideration: - A Petition of Sir Christopher Nevill, desiring to go to the Spa for his Health; and a Pass for Sir Christopher Hatton to go beyond Sea; unto which they desire your Concurrence. They desire to put you in mind of Major Pay; the Petition of Captain Fryer; and of the Ordinance for Mr. Fathers to be Parson of Stoke-Damerell in Cornewall; which they formerly sent unto you; and desire you will take them into Consideration.

The Amendments to the Ordinance for continuing the Assessments for Sir Thomas Fairfaxe's Army for Four Months longer were read; and, upon the Question, assented unto.

Ordered, That the Desire of the Scotts Commissioners, represented to the Houses this Day, in a Paper from them of 6 Aprilis 1646, to have Two Pinnaces to attend the Coasts between Scotland and Ireland, in lieu of One Ship appointed to attend those Coasts; which will be of no greater Charge to the State, and will be more useful in those narrow Seas; be referred to the Consideration of the Committee of the Admiralty and Cinque-Ports.

Resolved, &c. That One hundred Barrels of Powder, with a proportionable Quantity of Match and Bullet, together with Two hundred Three Pound Bullet, and Two hundred Hand-Granadoes, with their Squibs, be forthwith provided and furnished out of the publick Stores, and speedily sent to the Commissioners of both Houses before Newarke; with Directions unto them to furnish the Scotts Army with such Quantities of the Particulars aforesaid, as they shall have Occasion for.

An Ordinance for disabling Doctor Meredith to be Master of the new Hospital at Leicester, and for making void the Grant of the said Place to the said Doctor Meredith, and for passing the said Place to Mr. Job Grey, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed.

An Ordinance for appointing Mr. John Fathers, Master of Arts, a learned, godly, and orthodox Divine, to be Rector and Parson of the Church and Parish of StoakeDamerell in the County of Cornewall, was this Day read; and, upon the Question, passed.

An Ordinance for erecting a French or Walloon Church or Congregation in the Town and Port of Dover was this Day read the First and Second time: And,

Upon the Question of Committing of it;

The House was divided.

The Yeas went forth.

So that the Question for Commitment passed with the Negative.

And then the Question being put, For passing the Ordinance;

It passed with the Affirmative.

An Ordinance for the Indemnity of Sir Wm. Constable, and others, for raising divers Sums of Money, to the Value of above Twenty thousand Pounds, as a Committee appointed by the Earl of Essex his Commission of 1 April 1643, was this Day read the First time. And

It is Ordered, That this Ordinance be taken into further Consideration on this Day Fortnight, between the Hours of Ten and Twelve.

The Question being put, Whether Sir Christopher Hatton shall have a Pass for himself, and Six Servants, to pass from Oxon to Lynne-Regis, and thence into Holland;

It passed with the Negative.

Ordered, That, from this Day, no Pass be granted by both or either House of Parliament, for the Space of Three Months, for any Horse, Mare, or Gelding, to be transported, from any Port in this Kingdom, unto any the Parts beyond the Seas.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Ordered, That no Pass be granted by either House to any Person to go beyond the Seas, that is in Oxon, or in any other of the King's Garisons that is besieged or streightened, whiles it is so besieged or streightened.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein by Mr. Knightly.

Ordered, That the Committee of both Kingdoms do grant a Pass to the Earl of Northampton, and his Company, according to former Order; and that they do take effectual Course, that he and his Company may be forthwith gone accordingly.

Ordered, That Major-General Browne do take some Course, in what manner he shall think best and most fitting, for the gaining Mr. Edward Smyth into his Quarters, a Youth now in Oxon, taken at Sir Robert Harley's House, at the Taking thereof, and thence carried to Oxford.

Resolved, &c. That the Petition of the Assembly of Divines be taken into farther Consideration To-morrow Morning, the first Business, according to the former Order made in that Business; and that no other Business whatsoever do intervene: And that Mr. Speaker put the House in mind hereof.

Resolved, &c. That the Reports and Ordinances from Goldsmiths-Hall be taken into Consideration on Saturday next, the first Business: And that Mr. Speaker put the House in mind hereof.

Resolved, &c. That, as to the Pass for Ten Geldings, and a Pack of Hounds, to be transported into France, Custom and Impost free, for the Lord Leminey Count de Breene, First Secretary of State to the French King, the House will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

The Letter from the President of Scotland was read: Also the Petition of Robert Meldrum.

Ordered, That the humble Petition of Robert Meldrum Esquire, Nephew and Executor of Sir John Meldrum Knight, deceased, be read, and taken into Consideration, on Monday Morning next, the first Business.

Ordered, That Colonel Sir Ferdinando Knightley shall have a Pass for One Horse to be conveyed unto him into Holland.

Ordered, That Sir George Sayer, a Son to a Member of this House, shall have a Pass for himself, and Two Horses, to be transported into Holland.

The humble Petition of Sir Christopher Nevill Knight was read.

Ordered, That Sir Christopher Nevill be referred to the Committee at Goldsmiths-Hall, to make his Composition for the Discharge of his Delinquency, and for taking the Sequestration off from his Estate.

Ordered, That Sir Christopher Nevill shall have a Pass, under Mr. Speaker's Hand, to go to the Spa, beyond the Seas, for the Recovery of his Health.

Ordered, That Colonel Sidney be referred to the Committee of Accompts; to state his Accompts for his Service both in England and Ireland.

Ordered, That the Serjeant at Arms attending on this House be injoined to lock up the Door of Mr. Buchanon's Chamber or Study: And that he do secure the Books, Papers, and other Things there, until farther Order from this House.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth approve of the Commitment of Robert Bostock, who printed the Book, intituled, "Some Papers from the Commissioners of Scotland, given in lately to the Houses of Parliament, concerning the Propositions for Peace. London, printed for Robert Bostock, dwelling at the Sign of the King's-Head in Paul's Church-yard, April 11 1646," by the Committee where Mr. Lisle has the Chair.

Ordered, That Copies of the Examinations and Confessions of Robert Bostock, and Harrison his Servant, read at the late Conference, be delivered to the Clerk of the Lords House, for the Use of the House of Peers.

Ordered, That Colonel Dunkenfield be referred to the Committee of Accompts; to state and certify his Accompts.

Ordered, That Paul Best be brought to the Bar on Saturday Morning next, according to the former Order: And that he be remanded to the Gatehouse in the mean time.

Ordered, That the Committee of Lords and Commons for Advance of Monies, sitting at Haberdashers-Hall, do take care for the speedy Advancing of the Four thousand Pounds appointed for the Scotts Officers: And that Interest be allowed and paid to the Advancers of the said Four thousand Pounds, or any Part thereof, by the said Committee, for so long time as the said Four thousand Pounds, or any Part thereof, shall be forborn.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Answer returned by the same Messengers;

The House hath this whole Day taken their Lordships Message into Consideration: And, as to the Amendments to the Ordinance for Continuance of the Assessments for Sir Thomas Fairfaxe's Army; the Paper from the Commissioners of Scotland, concerning Two Pinnaces; and their Paper concerning Ammunition to be sent to their Army before Newark; the Ordinance for Job Grey to be Master of Wigston's Hospital at Leicester; the Ordinance for a French Church at Dover; the Ordinance for Mr. Fathers to be Minister of Stoke-Damarell; and for a Pass to Sir Christopher Nevill to go to the Spa; they do agree: And, as to the rest, they will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Ordered, That Sir Thomas Bendish, confined by Ordinance to reside within London, and Twenty Miles about, shall nevertheless have Liberty to go to his own House in the Country for One Month, for the Dispatch of his necessary Affairs of his Estate: And that he do then return again; and have Mr. Speaker's Pass for his going into the Country accordingly.

Ordered, That the Lady Walmesley shall have Leave to go to the Spa, beyond the Seas, for the Recovery of her Health: And that Mr. Speaker do give a Pass to the said Lady for her going thither accordingly.

A Letter from Tavistock, of Aprilis 12 1746, from Sir Thomas Fairfax General, was this Day read.

Ordered, That Mr. Standish, who brought the Letter concerning the Rendition of Barnstable from the General, shall have One hundred Pounds bestowed upon him, for his Pains: And that the Committee of Plymouth do forthwith pay the said One hundred Pounds accordingly.