House of Commons Journal Volume 5: 25 July 1648

Die Martis, 25 Julii, 1648.

Prayers.

Leave of Absence.

ORDERED, That Henry Elsynge Esquire, Clerk of this House, have Leave to go into the Country for a Week, for recovery of his Health.

Intercepted Letters.

A Letter from Barnard Castle, of Twentieth July 1648, from Colonel Lambert, with divers intercepted Letters from the Scotts, were this Day read.

Ordered, That the Letters in Cyphers, from the Scotts, be referred to the Committee where Mr. Scott hath the Chair: With Power to the said Committee to send for Persons, Papers, and Witnesses; and, if they find Cause, to secure the Persons.

Scotts Invasion.

Ordered, That it be particularly referred to the Committee at Derby House, to send such Forces from Gloucester from the Army, and all the Counties in the Kingdom, and all such other Forces whatsoever as can be spared, into the North, against the Forces brought out of Scotland, and other the Enemies Forces in the Northern Parts, to stop their further Advance into this Kingdom.

Letters referred.

Ordered, That the Letters sent from Cornewall and Devon be referred to the Committee at Derby House: And that the Gentlemen of Devonshire and Cornewall do attend that Committee, touching some Matters contained in the said Letters.

Ld. Admiral.

Mr. Strickland is to carry to the Lords the Orders touching the Lord Admiral.

Ordered, That Mr. John Ward be desired to go to the Earl of Warwick, Lord High Admiral.

Stopping Forces.

Ordered, That the Ships out of Munster, or any other Parts, be added to the Order touching Captain Clerke, made Yesterday, for stopping Forces from going into Scotland or England out of Ireland.

Message to Lords.

Sir Robert Harley carried to the Lords the Votes for recalling the Members of this House out of Scotland; and the Orders touching the Catechisms.

Collingwood's Information.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee where Mr. Scott hath the Chair, to examine the Information now given in by Mr. John Collingwood: And that the said Committee have Power to send for Parties, Papers, and Witnesses; and to examine any Persons, as well Members as others.

Delinquents Estates.

Ordered, That Leases be made, not exceeding Twentyone Years, of the Estates of all such Delinquents as have been in Arms against the Parliament since the First of March last, or in the last Engagement against the Parliament; and also of the Estates of all such as have not prosecuted, with Effect, their Compositions at Goldsmiths Hall.

Mr. Thorpe is to bring in an Ordinance to that purpose.

Navy.

Ordered, That the Lords Concurrence be desired to the Votes touching Mr. Bence and Mr. Strickland.

Army Pay.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of the North, who are to meet this Afternoon, to consider of a Way, how to raise Money for Pay of the Forces in the North; and to report the same to the House on Thursday Morning next.

Arears of Assessments.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee, that were formerly sent to confer with a Committee of Common Council in the City of London, to go again to the said Common Council, to acquaint them with the Necessity of the present Payment of the Arrears, due upon the several Assessments for the Army; and that some speedy and effectual Course be taken by them for Paying in of the same unto the Treasurers of the Army.

Ordered, That Colonel Venn do desire the Lord Mayor to call a Common Council, on Thursday next, at Two of the Clock in the Afternoon.

Ordered, That Letters be sent to the several Counties, to make speedy Payment in of their Arrears of the Assessment for the Army: And the Committee of the Army are to prepare these Letters.

Ordered, That the Gentlemen of the House, of every County, be enjoined to send the said Letters into the several Counties, for which they serve.

Stores.

Ordered, That the Business concerning the Stores be taken up on Thursday Morning next, the first Business.

Navy.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Lord Admiral for the Dismissing of such Ships as are not necessary for his Service.

Widows Petitions.

Ordered, That the Petitions of the several poor Widows, and others, be taken up on Thursday next.

Conference.

Ordered, That a Message be sent to the Lords, to desire them to take the Matter of the free Conference into their Consideration; and to send their Answer thereunto.

Mr. Crewe brings Answer, That the Lords have considered of the Message by him carried to them; and will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Colonel Harley have Leave to go into the Country.

Southampton Garison, &c.

Mr. Pierrepoint reports Letters touching Southampton and Calshot Castle.

Ordered, That there be added to the Forces now in the Garison of Southampton, so many as will make the Forces there full Two hundred Foot, besides Officers: And that the said Two hundred Men be paid upon the Establishment of the Army.

Resolved, &c. That Two Gunners more, with Matrosses suitable, be added to the Gunners in the Garison of Southampton: And that Twenty Barrels of Powder, One hundred Musquets with Bandeleers, Forty Pikes, and One Ton of Musquet Bullets, be provided and sent to the Garison of Southampton.

Navy, &c.

Mr. Miles Corbett reports from the Committee of the Navy, A Letter from the Lord Admiral of the * Day of *, sent to the said Committee.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of the Navy, to confer with the Commissioners of the Customs, to see that half the Customs may be free; and also to consider, How the Sum of Ten thousand Pounds may be presently advanced, and the Half Customs continued to the Use of the Parliament.

Ordered, That the Information, given in by Colonel Moore, be referred to the Committee of the Navy; to examine the Business. And

It is Ordered, That Colonel Temple take care to make Stay of the Ship, in the mean time.

Ordered, That, when the Report of the Stores is made, the House be put in mind of the Navy.

Southampton Town.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee of Southampton, and Committee of the Town and County of Southampton, and Governor of Southampton, to join together, to raise and list Two hundred Men of the wellaffected neighbouring Inhabitants: And that the said Governor have Power to command and draw them into the Town of Southampton upon all Occasions, to be ready to guard the said Town: And the said Forces are, during their Service there, to receive Pay.

Ordered, That the Town of Southampton, and County of the Town of Southampton, and Parts adjacent, be desired to help to make the Fortifications to Seaward, for Preservation of Gunners and Musqueteers in the said Town; and to prepare the old Fortifications there.

Calshot Castle.

Ordered, That it be referred to the Committee at Derby House, to confer with the Committee of the Army, to consider of the Condition of Calshot Castle; and to take a speedy Course for the Safety of that Castle, and Supply thereof with Men and Ammunition: And it is referred to the Committee of Hantshire, and Governors of Southampton and Calshott Castle, to supply the Castle of Calshott in the mean time, until the same be otherwise provided for.

Portsmouth Garison.

Ordered, That Mr. Cobb, Receiver General of the County of Southampton, and Mr. Falconberge, do speedily pay unto the Gunners and Soldiers, of the Garison of Portsmouth, the Pay due and owing unto them.

Lancaster.

Ordered, That the Report, touching Lancaster, be made on Friday next.

Ordered, That a Letter be written to the Gentlemen in Lancashire.

Leave of Absence.

Ordered, That Mr. Erasmus Erle have Leave to go into the Country; and to be excused, on the Day appointed for calling of the House.

Ordered, That Sir Nevill Poole have Leave to go to the Baith; and Mr. Love and Mr. Stephens Leave to go into the Country.

Conference, &c.

A Message from the Lords, by Dr. Bennett and Mr. Page;

The Lords desire a present Conference, in the Painted Chamber, concerning the Matter of the last free Conference, if it may stand with the Conveniency of this House: And have sent a Petition of the Merchant Adventurers: Which they recommend to this House. The Lords commanded us to put you in mind of the Petition of Sarah Nicholls, formerly sent to this House.

Answer returned by the same Messengers, That the House has considered of their Lordships Message; and do agree to give the free Conference presently, as is desired: To the rest, they will send Answer by Messengers of their own.

Mr. Crew, Mr. Gott, Mr. Corbett, Mr. Copley, Sir Dudley North, and Mr. Serjeant Wilde are appointed Managers of this Conference.

Reports deferred.

Ordered, That the several Reports, touching Tilbury, Summersett, Sussex, and Conway Castle, be made on Thursday next.