Die Mercurii, 14 Octobris, 1646.

Prayers.

ACcording to former Order, the Grand Committee of the House sat, to take into further Consideration the Ordinance for preventing the Growth and Spreading of Heresies and Blasphemies.

Mr. Whittacre in the Chair.

Mr. Speaker resumed the Chair.

Ordered, That nothing be printed in the University of Oxford, without the Consent, Licence, and Authority of Two or more of the Divines sent to that University from both Houses of Parliament.

Ordered, That the Ordinance concerning the regulating the University of Oxford be read on Tuesday next, peremptorily, the first Business.

Ordered, That the Ordinance for the Advancing and Lending of the Two hundred thousand Pounds, upon the Sale of the Bishops Lands, be brought in To-morrow Morning: And that they do proceed, with Effect, in the going on with the Subscriptions.

Mr. Pierpont reports, That, at the Conclusion of the Debate with the Scotts Commissioners, they did earnestly press, that no Report might be made thereof to the Houses, but what they delivered in Writing: That the Committee told them, That they were to obey the Commands of the Houses, and not to give Limitations to their Pleasures; but promised they would report this their Desire to the Houses.

The House being informed of some Papers that were at the Press, which related to Business transacted in Parliament; and that one Liptrat, who was at the Door, could give the House a more particular Account thereof;

He was called in; and informed the House, That he was told by one Blaiklock, a Sharer in the Printing of them, That those Papers were printing at the Houses of * Field, * Griffith, and one * Leech: And that they would come forth To-morrow Morning: And that they were printed by Warrant under the Hands of the Commissioners of Scotland, or of some of them: And that he would give him one of them, to bring Mr. Speaker Tomorrow Morning.

Ordered, That a Warrant do issue to William Liptratt, forthwith to repair to the several Houses of the said Field, Griffith, and Leech; and to bring some of the said printed Copies, together with the Original, and the Warrant for the Printing thereof, as likewise the Printers; and further to secure the Remainder of the said Copies; and to injoin the Printers not to divulge any of them, till the further Pleasure of the House be known.

Ordered, That the Ordinance concerning Printing be read the Second time on Friday Morning, peremptorily: And that then likewise the Ordinance concerning the Court of Wards be brought in, and read: And that Mr. Speaker do put the House in mind hereof.

Whereas Nathan Wright, of London, Merchant, in the Year 1641, advanced and lent the Sum of One thousand Pounds, for Relief of the Northern Parts of this Kingdom, upon the Credit of the Two Subsidies then granted; the simple Interest of which Sum, after the Rate of Eight Pounds per Cent. per Annum, from the Three-and-twentieth Day of June in the said Year of our Lord 1641 (at what Time the same was lent and paid), to the Nine-and-twentieth of September 1646, amounteth unto Four hundred Twenty-one Pounds Nine Shillings and Seven-pence: It is Ordered, by the Commons, assembled in Parliament, That One thousand Four hundred Twentyone Pounds Nine Shillings and Seven-pence, the Total of Principal and Interest, as aforesaid, be paid, in Course, out of the Receipts at Goldsmiths-Hall, together with Interest, after the Rate of Eight Pounds per Cent. per Annum, at the End of every Six Months, from the Nine-and-Twentieth of September aforesaid, until the same shall become due; and be paid unto the said Nathan Wright, his Executors, Administrators, or Assigns: Whose Receipt or Receipts shall be .. the Treasurers there, for the Time being, their sufficient Warrant and Discharge for Payment of the said Fourteen hundred Twenty-one Pounds Nine Shillings and Seven-pence, and Interest, and every Part and Parcel thereof, accordingly.

Mr. Pierrepoint reports, from the Committee to whom the Commissioners and Addresses from the Lieutenant and Council of Ireland was referred,

1. A Copy of the Propositions from the Lord-Lieutenant and Council of Ireland:

2. A Copy of the Instructions agreed on by the Lord-Lieutenant and Council of Ireland, and given to their Commissioners, Sir Gerard Lowther, Sir Francis Willoughby, and Sir Paul Davis:

3. A Copy of the additional Instructions, with a Copy of a Declaration of the Earl of Ormond, in relation to himself:

4. Verbal Instructions to the Commissioners, put in Writing by the said Commissioners:

5. A Copy of a Proposition made by Sir Gerard Lowther, &c. at Chester.

He further reported, That Sir Gerard Lowther, and the rest, employed from the Earl of Ormond, and others, at Dublyn, informed the Committee of a Letter sent by the Earl of Ormond, and the rest, by the Lord Moore, to the King: And, lest that should miscarry, they had a Duplicate (a Copy whereof they delivered to this Committee), which they were directed to deliver to the Scotts Commissioners, to be sent.

He reported a Copy of the said Letter: And the Committee desired to know the Pleasure of the House, concerning the Delivery thereof.

He further reported a Copy of a Letter sent from the Earl of Ormond, and others, at Dublyn, by Sir Gerard Lowther, and the rest, employed from thence, directed to the Lord Mayor of London: And the Committees desired to know the Pleasure of the House, concerning the Delivery thereof.

Resolved, &c. That this House doth declare, That they resolve to proceed upon the same Way of Overture made by the Earl of Ormond; and will appoint some Way of treating with him for his Retirement; and will employ such as they shall think fit, in the Trust of that Kingdom.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Ordered, That this whole Affair, concerning Ireland, in respect of the Secrecy and Expedition thereunto necessary, be referred to the Members of both Houses that are of the Committee of both Kingdoms; with the Addition of the Lord Lieutenant of Ireland, Mr. Holles, Sir John Clotworthy, Sir John Temple, Mr. Nathanael Fienis, Sir Wm. Lewes, and Mr. Robert Goodwyn: And this Committee has Power to give Instructions to such as they shall employ for the Pursuance and Transaction of that Affair, as they shall judge best for the publick Service: And are to meet this Afternoon; and so from time to time, as they shall see Cause.

The Question was propounded, Whether this House shall admit of the Sending of this Letter from the Earl of Ormond, and others of the Council at Dublyn, to the King:

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

It passed with the Affirmative.

And then the Question being put;

It is Resolved, &c. That this House will not admit of the Sending of this Letter from the Earl of Ormond, and others of the Council at Dublyn, to the King.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

The Question being put, Whether this House will admit of the Delivery of this Letter from the Earl of Ormond, and others of the Council, at Dublyn, to the Lord Mayor of the City of London;

It passed with the Negative.

The Lords Concurrence to be desired herein.

Resolved, &c. That the Lords Concurrence be desired to the Vote of this House, of the Ninth of October instant, concerning the Course and Order of the Payment of the Ten thousand Pounds for the poor Wives and Widows of Soldiers, &c.; and of the Four hundred Pounds for the Seventy poor Protestants of Ireland.

Ordered, That Mr. * Brown shall have Leave to go into the Country.

Ordered, That the Serjeant do seize all the Papers, Originals and Copies, now in printing, or printed, of Speeches, or other Matters, delivered at a Conference in the Painted Chamber, the First, Sixth, or Tenth of October, or any other Matters that relate to the Transaction of Business in Parliament, which he shall find in the Houses of Field, Chapman, Griffyth, or Leech; and secure the Presses, and disorder the Letters; and to seize the Persons of the said Field, Chapman, Griffith, and Leech.

Resolved, &c. That John Field, Printer, be forthwith committed Prisoner to Newgate, there to be kept in safe Custody a Prisoner, till the House take further Order.

Resolved, &c. That a Conference be desired with the Lords, concerning the Business of printing the Speeches delivered at several Conferences, by the Lord Lowdown, in the Painted Chamber, on several Days, this present October: And that a Committee be appointed to prepare the Matter of this Conference: And that the Subject of this Conference be, to acquaint the Lords with the Matter of Fact, together with the Circumstances, touching this Printing of these Papers; and to desire them to appoint a Committee to join with a Committee of this House, to consider of some Way of righting the Houses; and to prevent Inconveniences of the like Nature for the future: And

It is Resolved, That the Committee, formerly appointed to meet with a Committee of the Lords, to confer with the Scotts Commissioners, concerning the Disposal of the Person of the King, or any Three of them, do prepare the Matter of this Conference; and manage it with the Lords: And they have Power further to examine this Business: And the Care of examining it is more particularly referred to Mr. Selden, and Sir John Evelyn of Wiltes: And the Care of the whole Business is more particularly referred to Mr. Selden: And the Committee is to meet To-morrow at Eight of Clock.